You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy.

My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds.

The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that.

With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to

helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all

put together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your

life, check out BBC Sounds. This is the BBC. Hello, today we celebrate Finland's

centenary, but we start with a question far older. Can a man and a woman ever be just good friends?

Having tackled some of the biggest issues of the day, from terrorism to healthcare, overpopulation to teenage killers,

possibly the only way Lionel Shriver could shock us is by turning to love.

In The Standing Chandelier, the UK-residing American author of Best-Seller We Need to Talk About Kevin,

turns her focus to an emotional menager-tois,

but with her trademark forensic acuity.

You may not particularly care for Gillian and Weston, old friends and occasional lovers of

20 years standing, or even Paige, Weston's uncompromising new girlfriend, but I defy you to put

this book down before it reaches its conclusion.

To discuss her rather surprising latest novel, Lionel Shriver, joins me now.

Welcome, Lionel.

Pleasure to be here.

As one critic cleverly observed, you treat love like an appliance,

taking off the casing and casting your eye over the workings.

What was it that prompted this pitiless study of human foible?

...