Which book defined your generation? With Irvine Welsh and Derek Owusu
About this episode
<p>What would you recommend an inspiring writer to read? What is the best gateway book to get into reading? Who are the new and upcoming Scottish novelists working today to watch out for?</p><p> </p><p>Recorded live at Latitude Festival, Irvine Welsh sits down with host Rhianna Dhillon to delve into his new novel <em>Men in Love</em>, the eagerly awaited sequel to <em>Trainspotting</em>, which explores the vibrant landscape of youth culture through the decades and the nuances of defining a generation through the arts. Plus, award-winning author and Penguin colleague Derek Owusu joins the panel, providing personalised book recommendations to audience members. We also speak to readers at the festival and ask them: what is the book that defined your youth? </p><p> </p><br><p>Find all the books mentioned in this episode and more at by clicking this link: <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/the-penguin-podcast-latitude-special/?utm_campaign=PodcastLatitude&utm_source=acast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Penguin Podcast: Latitude special</a></p><p>Follow our dedicated Broadcast channel on Instagram for exclusive content and giveaways: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/penguinukbooks?igsh=N2VoM3pyMjN1Nm1y?utm_campaign=PodcastLatitude&utm_source=acast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@PenguinUKBooks </a></p><br><p>Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk</p><p>Website: <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/podcast?utm_campaign=Ask+Penguin+Series+2+Book+Club+Books&utm_source=acast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_camteam=penguin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.penguin.co.uk/podcast</a></p><br><p>Irvine Welsh was born and raised in Edinburgh. His first novel, <em>Trainspotting</em>, has sold over one million copies in the UK and was adapted into an era-defining film. He has written fourteen further novels, including the number one Sunday Times bestseller <em>Dead Men’s Trousers</em>, four books of shorter fiction and numerous plays and screenplays. Irvine Welsh currently lives between London, Edinburgh and Miami.</p><p> </p><p>Derek Owusu is a writer, poet and podcaster from north London. He discovered his passion for literature at the age of twenty-three while studying exercise science at university. Unable to afford a change of degree, Derek began reading voraciously and sneaking into English Literature lectures at the University of Manchester. Derek first book <em>That Reminds Me</em>, won the Desmond Elliott Prize 2020 and his new novel <em>Recovery House</em> will be published in 2026.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
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Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. Which book defined your generation? With Irvine Welsh and Derek Owusu from Ask Penguin gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
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