Sentimental Garbage

If I should stay, I would only get in your way. Caroline and Irenosen Okojie get extremely giddy about The Bodyguard, arguably the best date movie of all time. We talk about the tragic history of Whitney, the power of sister relationships in art, and the psychological weight of assassinations within contemporary culture. Irenosen is the author of several books, including the most recent Nudibranch. She is the winner of the Betty Trask award, the Caine Prize for African Writing, and was recently awarded an MBE for her services to literature. Caroline is an author and eats trash for dinner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did ANTM become one of the most influential reality shows of all time? Caroline and Juno bond over their shared love of this pioneering reality series, its absurd lens on the modelling industry, and the competitors who have stuck in our brains for well over a decade at this stage. We also find out what, exactly, makes fashion photographer Nigel Barker so *noted* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 1997 and Bridget Jones is navigating New Labour, the sudden death of Princess Diana, and her on-again off-again relationship with the elusive Mark Darcy. Caroline and novelist Ayisha Malik discuss why Helen Fielding remains one of the greatest comic novelists of the 20th century (and yours, Mrs Townsend, are quite good too),as well as the everlasting and occasionally frustrating thick behaviour of our best mate Bridget. Ayisha Malik is the author of several books, most recently This Green and Pleasant Land. Her next novel, The Movement, is out in 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Super Trouper Zoe Terakes has brought Mamma Mia to the garbage dump and is ready to celebrate it for the mad camp wonderland it truly is. We talk about how Mamma Mia rejects patriarchal frameworks, whether or not Sophie is in the middle of twelve steps, our love of Pierce Brosnan, and the high lesbian energy coming off Does Your Mother Know. This episode is sponsored by Nine Perfect Strangers, available on Amazon Prime Video now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebecca Taylor of Self Esteem (formerly Slow Club) talks about how Drag Race literally dragged her out of a dark post-break up depression and helped redefine her musical persona. We gush unabashedly about how this show changed our lives, admit to reading the Reddit and confess to drag queen sex dreams. There's also a preview of her new single, HOW CAN I HELP YOU, at the very end, so stay tuned!Rebecca is @selfesteemselfesteem on everything and her new album, Prioritise Pleasure, is coming October 2021.Caroline is @czaronline on Instagram and her books are on sale where you get books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with season 8 and TV presenter Muireann O'Connell is making the case for award season red carpets being a competitive sport in their own right. We talk about Joan Rivers and Fashion Police, the questionable feminism of judging professionals on how they look in formal wear, the risks and rewards of the red carpet, and Muireann's very own revenge dress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a whole new season of Sentimental Garbage on the way! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was edited by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varrall, with music by Harry Harris and artwork by Gavin Day. Dolly Alderton is the author of two books, Everything I Know About Love and Ghosts. Caroline O'Donoghue is the author of Promising Young Women and Scenes of a Graphic Nature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the movie!!! And it's... not as good as we remember! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the winter of this content, and we're debating Aleksandr Petrovsky (call me Bob) so hard that it risks ending our friendship entirely. We discuss the Paris episodes, the infamous demise of Lexi Featherstone, the Wizard of Oz journey each of the girls go on, and the astounding fashion of the final few episodes. We're back for the movies and a Q&A soon, if you want to join in, email us on [email protected]. This episode was edited by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varrall, with music by Harry Harris and artwork by Gavin Day. Dolly Alderton is the author of two books, Everything I Know About Love and Ghosts. Caroline O'Donoghue is the author of Promising Young Women and Scenes of a Graphic Nature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Charlotte do all day? We finally have the answer and it's Judaism. We go hell for leather on Jack Berger, fall in love with Smith the baby chick and discuss the Post-It heard around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the FIRST class sleeper? Put on your visor and trapeze dress, it's time for the big bag of fun that is season five. We talk about Atlantic City, big wing woman energy, how everyone must open for a dog eventually, the continued comedic genius of Chris Noth, the FINAL act of the MacDougalls Are Coming For Supper, the dangers of falling for Jack Berger and the inspiring self-love of Harry Goldenblatt. Carrie clangs out while 'dating the city' and the fashion is disappointing but not without its charms.Caroline O'Donoghue is the author of Promising Young Women, Scenes of a Graphic Nature and the forthcoming All Our Hidden GiftsDolly Alderton is the author of Everything I Know About Love and GhostsThis podcast was produced by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varral, with music by Harry Harris and art by Gavin Day Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't you bring that cardboard baby in here! This week we're coming into Season 4 with tears, and the firm knowledge that CABS ARE BULLLSSSSH*T. We discuss the comic chops of Chris Noth, the confusing friendship of Aidan and Steve, the great When Harry Met Sally drama that never was, and we go very deep on the financial awkwardness of friendship. We praise the hugely under-sung Walker Lewis and wonder what the hell is going with Richard Wright (creature of the night)Dolly Alderton is the author of Everything I Know About Love and GhostsCaroline O'Donoghue is the author of Promising Young Women, Scenes of a Graphic Nature and All Our Hidden GiftsThis episode was produced by Caroline O'Donoghue and mixed by Hannah Varral. Music by Harry Harris, artwork by Gavin Day Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Take your seats, turn off your phones, it's time to settle in for the National Theatre's presentation of THE MCDOUGALLS ARE COMING FOR SUPPER and there will be no intermission. This week we discuss everyone's favourite members of the Scottish-American aristocracy, Aidan and the affair, and the general neglect of dogs in this season. We also discuss how and why this is Sex and the City's most problematic season – did the writers take their own status as being the Big Sex Show for granted? We rhapsodise about Bill Kelly the piss politician and the great Power Lad divide between Caroline and Dolly.Dolly Alderton is the author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About LoveCaroline O'Donoghue is the author of Promising Young Women, Scenes of a Graphic Nature and the forthcoming All Our Hidden GiftsThis podcast was edited by Caroline O'Donoghue and mixed by Hannah Varrall. Artwork by Gavin Day and music by Harry Harris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's season two and the hair is great, the clothes are even better, and Mr Big is fundamentally depressing. We argue that season two of Sex and the City is Miranda's Season as twenty episodes of sexual humiliation threatens to break her, until she's given the greatest meet-cute in the show's history. We profess our love for Steve Brady, investigate class in Britain as well as in the show, and dissect the meaning of the gold corduroy suit. We discuss why, exactly, the girls are still single and discuss the vagaries of Charlotte York's personality. Also, don't invite someone to your house unless you have food in it.Dolly Alderton is the author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About LoveCaroline O'Donoghue is the author of Promising Young Women, Scenes of a Graphic Nature, and the forthcoming All Our Hidden GiftsHarry Harris did the music and Gavin Day (Steve Brady) did the artwork. This podcast was produced and edited by Caroline O'Donoghue and mixed by Hannah Varral Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're kicking off our Sex and the City mini-series with our discussion of the character arcs and themes (take a drink) of season one. After a round dismissal of the pilot episode (abso-f*cking-who-cares?) we get right into the meat of The Valley of 20-Something Guys, where we re-enact the infamous taxi scene that landed the tone of the whole series, dissect the cultural practice of Carrie-bashing, and generally watch as a previously sane New York party girl loses her goddamn mind for the most boring man in the tri-state area. We round off the chat with Man of the Season (he misses the touch of a woman), Outfit of the Season (or lack thereof) and the Carrie Clanger of the Season (the prayer book drop heard around the world).Dolly Alderton is the author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About LoveCaroline O'Donoghue is the author of Promising Young Women, Scenes of a Graphic Nature, and the forthcoming All Our Hidden Gifts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the first ever Sentimental Garbage mini-series: a big basket of episodes about Sex and the City! In this mini-series, author Dolly Alderton joins me as we spend each episode discussing every season of the TV show Sex and the City for the great American novel it truly is. This is not an episode by episode analysis but a look at each season as an individual piece of work, where we discuss the themes, character journeys and lasting messages of it. We examine the big thesis topics such as: The Corsage and Saddlebag Tragedy of Series Three, The Absence of Strap-ons in Sex and The City, and Big’s Weekend Shirts: Wide-fitting sleeves to house an absent soul. Crucially: we don't know the most about Sex and the City, we just feel the most about Sex and the City. Pour yourself a cocktail and ask yourself some huge questions about the McDougall family trust, and we’ll see you every Thursday for the next six weeks! (Plus maybe again for the movies, who knows) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophfronia Scott re-imagination of Dangerous Liaisons set in the Harlem Renaissance is sexy, surprising and so entertaining that we're willing to forgive the baseball references. Author of IF I DON'T HAVE YOU Sareeta Domingo talks us through her love for a book that, despite only coming out in 2017, has already earned a cult classic status. Be prepared for moustache-twirling, hand-rubbing, god-fearing, and hot hot jazz.Unforgivable Love is a retelling of Dangerous Liaisons set in post-war Harlem among an elite set of the wealthy African American upper classes. Among them we have Mae Marveaux, a beautiful conniving young widow whose desperate need to be loved is offset by her need to destroy other people’s lives. She is obsessed with her similarly conniving friend, Val Jackson, and the two of them decide to prey on Elizabeth Townsend, a devout married Christian, and Cecily, an innocent young virgin who has been brought from North Carolina for an arranged marriage to one of Mae’s former lovers. Over a single summer, Cecily is deflowered, Elizabeth falls for Val, and almost everyone is either pregnant or dead.Find Sareeta Domingo here: https://twitter.com/SareetaDomingo and anywhere you buy books! Find Caroline O'Donoghue here: https://twitter.com/Czaroline and in those same places that you buy books! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciao bella! It's our second Maeve Binchy-cast of the season, with returning guest Sarah Maria Griffin. It’s the dawn of the Celtic Tiger in early nineties Ireland, and Nora O’Donoghue, or Signora, is returning home after over 20 years away. Having spent her youth in Sicily, in love with a married man, she has returned with no money, no friends and no prospects. She begins teaching italian at Mountainview school, where the beleaguered Aidan Dunne has just been passed over for the job of principal in favour of the womanising Tony O’Brien. Tony, meanwhile, is in love with Aidan’s adult daughter. The book follows every student in the evening class, subtly changing each of their destinies, and culminating with a trip to Italy at the end of the book. Sarah Maria Griffin is an award winning novelist and zine maker, follower her at @griffski Caroline O'Donoghue is a novelist, her latest novel, Scenes of a Graphic Nature, is out now. All Our Hidden Gifts is available for pre-order Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get your Kelly bag and your load-bearing beams ready, this week we're talking about Diane Johnson's Le Divorce with real-life American Girl in Paris, Fiona Zublin! Isabel Walker is a young, bored film school graduate who has decamped to Paris to help her older sister Roxy, with her second pregnancy. Upon her arrival she discovers that Roxy has just been left by her French husband, Charles-Henri for another woman. As Roxy tries to negotiate French divorce courts and her estranged husbands family, Isabel slowly ingratiates herself into Paris life, becoming the mistress to Isabel’s 70 year old uncle-in-law, Edgar. When a valuable painting belonging to the Walker family gets implicated in the divorce, both families are forced to come together to find a way out.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas everyone! Usually this time of year, you’d be in your childhood bedroom, re-reading the books that got you through primary school. This year, a lot of us can’t go home this Christmas, but there’s still every reason to revisit the books that made life better when you were nine. It might even make life better now? Caroline and occasional co-host Ella Risbridger talk about childhood reading habits, magazines, tough but beautiful Christmases, and why the Secret Garden is the greatest love triangle of all time.We mention:Tom's Midnight GardenCharmed LifeMiss Happiness & Miss FlowerThe Secret GardenBack Homethe "My Story" booksThe Illustrated MumThe Suitcase KidThe Lottie ProjectGoing SoloDanny The Champion of The World& more! Caroline and Ella both have books for younger people coming out next year! Pick up The Secret Detectives by Ella Risbridger and All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue. See you in 2021! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best-selling romance novelist and Yorkshire lass Milly Johnson talks to us about her biggest writing inspiration, Catherine Cookson. If you haven't read Cookson's books, you've almost certainly seen one of her many, maaaaaaany costume dramas that have been adapted for TV, probably while sick with chicken box circa 1998. We discuss Cookson's first novel, The Fifteen Streets, which tells the story of an Irish Catholic family struggling in the slums of Newcastle. We talk religion, poverty, family, starting your writing career after 40 and mysterious boating accidents Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the best-selling fictional oral history about your favourite 70s rock band that never existed! This week, Caroline and writer/musician Tom McInnes deconstruct last year's big sun lounger surprise hit, Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. We talk about the advantages and shortcomings of the unusual format, the competing narratives of the book, the difference between literary twists and stunts. We start out a little bit cynical but ultimately, we really liked it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't even act like you don't know her. This week we talk about the diva of all divas, Mariah Carey with author of The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney, Okechukwu Nzelu. Stay tuned for Tommy Mottola, that TRL appearance, and Mariah's surprisingly incisive takes on mental illness and cycles of abuse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back after a long break with our first Jackie Collins episode, with the one and only Jessie Burton! Jessie's debut novel The Miniaturist became a global bestseller and has since been followed up with the highly feted The Muse and The Confession, along with The Restless Girls, a novel for children. Here she talks about Jackie Collins as the patron saint of Authors Who Like Nice Things, and we talk about Jackie the product versus Jackie the person. We also discuss female authors and self awareness, Lucky Santangelo as a James Bond for women, satire, sex, parenting and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scenes of a Graphic Nature has been out for over a month, so Caroline and Ella are talking about it! We say this is an 'all spoiler' edition, but in practice there are actually very few spoilers and a lot of discussion of grief, working together, how it feels when a book comes out, how perceptions of Ireland have changed in less than a decade, the use of music in the novel, friendship and porn. Buy the book! https://www.waterstones.com/book/9780349009940https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WN4QNYN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're talking about food, friendship and the cult favourite of Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin. Brian Eno once said that everyone who bought The Velvet Underground's first record went on to form a band, and the same can be said of Home Cooking and people who went on to write cookbooks. We talk about recipe writing, the godlike power of food writers, our dowdy twenties, tiny flats, and the uselessness of describing someone as "the new Nora Ephron". Caroline O'Donoghue has two books out, the most recent of which is Scenes of a Graphic Nature and is available in all book shops. Ella Risbridger is the author of Midnight Chicken and Set Me On Fire, as well as a forthcoming children's fiction series The Secret Detectives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENT WARNING: frequent, graphic mentions of suicide We're back after a short break with more Covid-appropriate reading material, and what's more pandemic-y than The Virgin Suicides, a book where everyone dies and no one leaves their house. We talk about bad faith readings, Lolita, Sylvia Plath, the 'we' voice, suburbia, and Jeffrey's talent for smells. Caroline O'Donoghue has two books out, the most recent of which is Scenes of a Graphic Nature and is available in all book shops from August 6thElla Risbridger is the author of Midnight Chicken and Set Me On Fire, as well as a forthcoming children's fiction series The Secret Detectives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My second book is out on audio and ebook today, here's me talking about it and doing a reading! Scenes of a Graphic Nature by Caroline O'Donoghue https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07WN4QNYN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1Audio narration by Esther O'Moore Donohoe https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Scenes-of-a-Graphic-Nature-Audiobook/1004001509?qid=1592504228&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=c6e316b8-14da-418d-8f91-b3cad83c5183&pf_rd_r=2B3Z57HX8WY3E9XPZPXW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No new episode this week, but here are some fiction recommendations that you might be interested in given the current political climate:Heads Of The Coloured People - Nafissa Thompson-SpiresKindred - Octavia E ButlerSong of Solomon - Toni MorrisonNudibranch - Irenosen OkojieSuch a Fun Age - Kiley ReidProperty - Valerie MartinThe Wedding Date - Jasmine GuilloryGirl, Woman, Other - Bernardine EvaristoDonate to UK Black Lives Matter: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fundExist Loudly Fund to Support Queer Black YP: https://www.gofundme.com/f/exist-loudly-fund-to-support-queer-black-ypSARI Stand Against Racism and Inequality https://www.sariweb.org.uk/who-we-are/donate/Girl Guiding: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're talking about 1989's smash-hit debut The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. We talk debut novels, immigration literature, why so many women find Amy Tan in their teens, mothers and their daughters, food and how it travels, and why we're still obsessed with Waverly Jong. Lillian Li's "The Love Hate Joy Luck Club” - https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/2015/05/the-love-hate-joy-luck-club/Sentimental Garbage is produced and edited by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varrall and hosted by Acast.You can find Caroline's books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caroline-ODonoghue/e/B07CR7SFJM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1588717449&sr=1-1You can find Ella Risbridger's books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ella-Risbridger/e/B07KR8NDY8?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1588717479&sr=1-1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Corona Cast, Caroline and Ella discuss the ultimate smart lady holiday book (she's going to Split) American Wife! American Wife is a 2009 novel inspired by the life of Laura Bush, former First Lady and wife of George Bush junior. Here, we know her as Alice Blackwell. Beginning in the mid-west in the 1950s, we follow Alice from her quiet childhood to the car accident in her teens that killed her first crush and changed her life forever. After becoming a school librarian, she meets Charlie Blackwell at the barbecue of some mutual friends and begins a whirlwind romance that leads to a long marriage, and eventually, the White House. Sentimental Garbage is produced and edited by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varrall and hosted by Acast. You can find Caroline's books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caroline-ODonoghue/e/B07CR7SFJM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1588717449&sr=1-1You can find Ella Risbridger's books here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ella-Risbridger/e/B07KR8NDY8?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1588717479&sr=1-1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENT WARNING: rape, fat shaming, homophobia, literally all possible triggers a person could have. This week it's another special edition of Sentimental Garbage, where we talk about the novels that are getting us through the corona virus! Today we’re talking about VALLEY OF THE DOLLS by Jacqueline SusannWhen twenty year-old Anne Welles moves from New England to New York in the summer of 1945, she’s pretty enough to be a model but settles for being a secretary at a theatrical agency. Here she meets a host of showbiz characters, including Neely, a vaudevillian teenager; Jennifer North, a starlet fresh from a marriage to an Italian prince; Helen Lawson, an ageing broadway star and Lyon Burke, a wannabe writer who she falls in love with. Over twenty years, the novel covers their rise and fall through show business, as each woman battles with age, men, and their mutual pill addictions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's week two of the Corona Cast, and we're still stuck in our bedrooms. What better time to get into supernatural YA classic, Margaret Mahy's The Changeover? Ella and Caroline talk about going back to adolescence, magical admin, morally ambiguous witches, suburban New Zealand, forgiveness, the extremely good film adaptation, and "changing over" from girl to woman. Caroline O'Donoghue is an author and would like you to pre-order her new book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9780349009940Ella Risbridger is a cookbook writer and children's author, and would also like if you bought her books: https://www.waterstones.com/books/search/term/ella+risbridger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our Corona Cast, a series where I invite my favourite people (mostly Ella) to record remotely on their favourite books, regardless of genre, sentimentality, or garbage-y content. Today, we're doing Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido. Katherine is an eighteen year old first year university student who, after meeting the flamboyant and much older John Millet at a book shop, is asked to join him for a weekend in the country to visit some old friends. When she gets there, she realises that it’s the home of her University professor, Jacob Goldman. What follows is a love story spanning two decades as Katherine attaches herself to various members of the Goldman family, including Jacob’s two sons Roger and Jonathan, as well as his wife, Jane.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hold steady everyone, there’s a WAR ON! Joining Caroline O'Donoghue is author, cook and currently in love with a set of twins, KATE YOUNG and today we’re talking about The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley published in 1984. Every summer, a group of young cousins – Oliver, Walter, Calypso, Polly and the much younger Sophy – gather at their Aunt Helena and Uncle Richard’s house in Cornwall for an idyllic beachside holiday. We meet them in August of 1939, where people are still saying that the Nazis are splendid and the war will never happen. That night after their inaugral dinner party, it does. What follows is the explosion of their teenage innocence, and we watch them grow up through the war and find the Blitz isn’t actually all that bad, when you get used to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nothing says Christmas like freezing to death in your country estate while your sisters commit themselves to fascism and/or Marxist theory! Caroline O'Donoghue and returning guest Ella Risbridger discuss the Mitford sisters, the political climate (yikes) and why we will never stop loving Nancy, Pam, Diana, Unity, Decca and Debo. The Pursuit of Love - Nancy MitfordHons & Rebels - Jessica MitfordWait for Me - Deborah DevonshireThe Mitfords: Letters from Six Sisters The Mitford Girls - Mary S LovellCaroline fan-casting the Mitford movie: http://www.workinprowess.com/2015/02/09/dream-casting-the-mitford-sisters-film/?LMCL=uu47bBElla's selection of lines from Wait For Me: https://the-toast.net/2014/10/03/best-sentences-debo-mitfords-wait/ This is the last episode of season four, see you in 2020 for more sentimentality and more garbage! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rupert Campbell Black is back, he's fighting for a TV franchise in rural Gloucestershire (????) and he's in love with an Irish teenager! This week bestselling Irish author Cathy Kelly joins us to talk Jilly Cooper's Rivals. Here, the vast cast of characters are condensed into 800 page epic that shows us that Jilly doesn't just do horses and sex - she also does corporate takeovers. Cathy talks eighties feminism, animal-loving, bees (?), Anglo-Irish relationships in English literature, plot envy, and the underestimated intellect of Jilly Cooper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why DOES Mummy Drink? This week we're talking about the Gill Simms blog-turned-literary sensation WHY MUMMY DRINKS. WMD tells the story of Ellen, a mother of two who drinks too much, swears too much, and probably likes her kids when she's not aggressively despising everyone around her. Bestselling author of Lies Lies Lies Adele Parks joins us to talk about her relationship with the series as well as school gates rivalries, solidarity between mums, being a single mother, diary formats in British literature and why "living in a society" is the basic job that everyone on earth is expected to have Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regular guest and deep friend of the pod Ella Risbridger is back, but this time to talk about poetry! In her anthology SET ME ON FIRE, Ella gathers some of the best, weirdest, sexiest poetry that she could afford and dedicated it to MEEEE!!!!! We talk about our long and bitter arguments about poetry, why it's such a easy artform to hate, and how you can change your mind about it (especially if school has ruined it for you). We read some our favourites from the book, including Our Love Could Spoil Dinner by Emily Berry, Monica by Hera Lindsay Bird, Mr Darcy by Victoria Chang, Solitude by Franny Choi. It's a break from our usual format, but I think you'll like it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this the only Sentimental Garbage to win a Pulitzer? This week we talk to writer, editor and spiritual bottom Phil Ellis about Andrew Sean Greer's LESS, the funniest and sweetest novel to ever win a major literary prize. We talk about love, the struggles of freelance life, ageing while gay, being friends with your exes and why we're both so bad at spotting twists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is the anniversary of our first episode, so what better way to celebrate than with the MOST requested book on our list - yes, I've received your emails, and we are doing Riders. Jojo Moyes talks to us about her horsey beginnings in Hackney, and we discuss Rupert Campbell Black, the world of competitive showjumping, and the overall genius of Dame Jilly Cooper. Get your feet firmly in the stirrups, as this one is a spirited young filly. Produced by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varrall, artwork by Gavin Day, theme music by Harry Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab your bucket and spade and your flask of ginger beer, because we're taking a trip back to 1930s Bognor Regis! Today we're talking about RC Sheriff's The Fortnight in September with Backlisted's own Andy Miller. We talk family holidays, unreasonable fears of Clapham Junction, and why it's so rare to read good books about nice people. Yes, they're boring and annoying. But aren't we all? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rev up your motorcycle and buckle in for your drink driving accident because the Sweet Valley twins are here and a trail of death and destruction usually follows them. This week we talk to author of I'm Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come author Jessica Pan about her childhood in conservative Texas, high drama, slut-shaming, ghost-writing, the romance of twins and what it's like longing for twindom when no one else looks like you. This episode was produced and hosted by Caroline O'Donoghue and mixed by Hannah Varrall with music by Harry Harris and artwork by Gavin Day. Recorded courtesy of Acast Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're exploring Sarah J Maas's insanely popular A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES series with Litwitchure maven Jennifer Cownie. This fantasy-retelling of Beauty and the Beast lets us explore horny pagan rituals, blind worms, Stockholm Syndrome, exquisite sexual tension and why NA (New Adult) fiction has become so huge with adult women. Spoiler: it's because we're all randy as hell and love magic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back for season 4 with Caroline Kepnes, the bestselling author of YOU, to talk about the book that made her lock herself into an ice-cream shop. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough is a sweeping inter-generational epic that focuses on a love triangle between an old woman, a little girl and a Catholic priest. We talk about destiny in romance literature, Bunny McDougall, the horrors of Australia, forbidden love, disappointing sex scenes, shitty babies and how little we care about Justine. Produced by Caroline O'Donoghue, mixed by Hannah Varrall, music by Harry Harris. recorded at Acast studios, London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the last episode of the season, and we're rounding it off with one of my favourite books of all time The Signature Of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, with one of my favourite people of all time, artist and photographer Gavin Day. We talk about swashbuckling dads, rivalries with Kew Gardens, how historical novels make us face contemporary issues, masturbating in closets and how we want to raise our future children the Whittaker way. Music by Harry Harris, artwork by (guest!) Gavin Day, mixed by Hannah Varrall, recorded by Acast studios in London. We're taking a break for a little while but catch me on sentimentalgarbage.substack.com to stay involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: addiction, anorexia, bulimia. They tried to make her go to rehab... and frankly, it was a good idea. This week we're talking about the most anticipated book ever on Sentimental Garbage, Rachel's Holiday. Marian Keyes' modern classic tells the story of Rachel, a deeply insecure Irish ex-pat who has developed a coke addiction while living in New York and becomes committed by her family to a rehab centre in her native Dublin. Our guest Louise O'Neill discusses her own experiences with addiction, recovery and society's expectations of what a Sober Woman should look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What came first, the music or the misery? We invite podcaster Alan Maguire on to talk about Nick Hornby's classic High Fidelity, discussing relationships, break-ups, Jack Black's animal magnetism, performing your relationship for other people, the world of record shops, the biting insight that still makes us cringe in recognition, and whether we can cancel Rob in good faith when he's trying so hard to be less objectively awful. Produced by Caroline O'Donoghue, artwork by Gavin Day, music by Harry Harris, mixed by Hannah Varrall. Recorded at Tall Tales Studios in Dublin. This episode was sponsored by The Croke Park Hotel, modern luxury in the heart of Dublin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate the release of the audiobook of Caroline's book, Promising Young Women, writer, podcaster and now audiobook star Tessa Coates comes to talk to us about Carrie Fisher's Postcards From The Edge, as well as discussing the unnervingly unsupervised world of audio books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.