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Storyville

added 17 October 2005 at 14.02

Who says we don't do proper culture here at Xfm? Its not all superb new music, classic indie and rock tunes and thrashing about like salmon at clubs and gigs. Oh no. We have intellectual literary ambitions too. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...

Put down that Arctic Monkeys EP, stop pawing the kitchen window while waiting for the new Radiohead album to be completed and please refrain from licking that Foo Fighters poster (the ink will get all over your tongue). Now it's time to settle down with a good book.

Well, not exactly. As with Storyville, we'll be doing it for you. Each week we'll be getting a different celebrity, DJ or musician to read out parts of their favourite books, for your listening pleasure. And we'll be putting them up on the Xfm website right here for you to enjoy at your leisure. Check out our audio library right there...

Bill Bryson Part 1 [listen] Part 2 [listen] Part 3 [listen] Part 4 [listen]  

One of the most successful travel writers of all time, Bryson's humorous views on the globe, science and world cultures has been enjoyed bymillions of fans the world over. His latest work 'The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid' is  a personal memoir of his childhood growing up in 1950's Ohio and it's from this excellent book he reads a series of hilarious extracts.

Malcolm Burgess Part 1 [listen] Part 2 [listen]

The journalist and scriptwriter has worked for a whole variety of publications alongside producing a comedy series for Radio 4. Now he has written the hilarious 'I Hate The Office' that cynically examines the angst of modern office life from which he reads a couple of extracts.

One of the most popular bands to emerge in Britain over the past couple of years, The Futureheads have just unleashed their second album ‘News & Tributes’ to fantastic reviews and will be appearing at many a festival over the summer.

The well read Ross Millard of Mackem’s finest chose to read extracts from Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, a classic slice of literature that looks at American intolerance and cultural blindness from the point of view of a young black boy.

Al Murray Clip 1 [listen] Clip 2 [listen] Clip 3 [listen] Clip 4 [listen] Clip 5 [listen]

Having started is career as a warm up comedian for the likes of Frank Skinner and Harry Hill, in 1999 Al won the prestigious Perrier Award with his pub landlord alter ego. 

The former Spitting Image writer chose to read extracts from his favourite book, Toby Young's excellent and highly scathing 'How To Lose Friends & Alienate People'.  

 Paul Gorman Clip 1 [listen] Clip 2 [listen] Clip 3 [listen] Clip 4 [listen] Clip 5 [listen]

The highly respected freelance rock journalist started his successful career contributing articles for Mojo and the Evening Standard before embarking on a far more glamorous role as editor of Screen International in L.A. Stints as contributing editor at Music Week and Music International saw him travelling the globe and interviewing the likes of Bowie, Bjork and Elvis Costello. Not bad for some eh...

Here he reads clips from his new book 'The Look: Adventures In Rock and Pop Fashion' which traces the ever changing link between rock music and fashion.  

Chuck Palahniuk - UNCENSORED

Chuck Palahniuk is not your ordinary writer. As the author of Fight Club, Choke and Lullaby, he's been responsible for some of the most shocking and most disturbing books of the past ten years. Here he reads clips from his new book of short stories 'Haunted'.

WARNING: These are not suitabel for children or those of a nervous disposition. Really. We're not kidding.

• The dark side of reflexology. Foot jobs? Toe hookers? Hmmmm [listen]
• Marilyn Monroe's aborted baby? In a jar? For sale? Nice [listen]
• Boiling hot springs, foolish kids, horrible consequences [listen]

Got any brilliant books that you've read that you could recommend? Maybe you've got an opinion on one of the books reviewed on the show? Or perhaps you've go a viewpoint on the celeb narrator and want to hear a clip again? Let us know by dropping Lauren a line by clicking here.

Malcolm Gladwell Clip 1 [listen] Clip 2 [listen] Clip 3 [listen] Clip 4 [listen] Clip 5 [listen]

The celebrated author and a man who was recently named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people…get him eh, read extracts from his new book 'Blink', which is all about snap judgements and first impressions. At a glance it appears to be the best book ever written…

Gary Numan Clip 1 [listen] Clip 2 [listen] Clip 3 [listen] Clip 4 [listen] Clip 5 [listen]

The founding father of synth pop put aside his electrical friends to read selected parts of his favourite book 'Gardens Of The Moon' by Steven Erikson which apparently concerns the military campaign by the Malazan Empire to capture the last remaining Free City on the Gernsbackian continent. One for Richard and Judy’s book club then.

 
Wayne Coyne Clip 1 [listen] Clip 2 [listen] Clip 3 [listen] Clip 4 [listen]

Rather than read a segment from his favourite novel Wayne chose to read out from a book about the current situation between America and international terrorists. NB: The views expressed by Wayne are his own and not necessarily reflected by Xfm or the Breakfast Show.

For more Storyville's from Charlie Higson, James Walsh and Derek Acorah, click on the word Continue below.

Go back to the Breakfast Show Homepage by clicking here.

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