205 - Author Joanne Harris: ending the invisibility of menopausal women

Bestselling author of Chocolat Joanne Harris joins Dr Louise Newson to talk about her latest book, Broken Light.

Broken Light’s protagonist is Bernie, a 49-year-old who has given her life to her family and friends, and feels invisible. But Bernie finds her supernatural powers as she reaches the menopause, which becomes a metaphor for the anger of women in later life who are too often silenced in art and reality.

In this episode, Joanne talks about her own menopause experience, and her and Dr Louise discuss their work in ensuring the voices of women are heard as they get older – and the progress that still needs to be made.

Joanne’s four reasons to read her new novel: 

1. Menopause is a universal experience that needs to be understood. The way women feel shapes our world and shouldn’t be ignored
2. Because if you are a woman you will experience the menopause
3. If you are man, menopause will also be part of your experience at some point, and you need to be informed
4. Because it is a fun read!

Click here to find out more about Joanne Harris, and follow her on Twitter at @Joannechocolat