The Book Club Review

Join us as we discuss the 2020 Costa Book of the Year, The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey. 'A fishy tale of doomed womanhood', even Margaret Atwood got excited about it, tweeting 'Not your standard mermaid. No comb and glass, no Lorelei hair. No catch and release…' This unusual novel weaves together sex, misogny and race with love, music, magic and myth, plus it throws in a few spliffs, a virginal mermaid, a crooked cop, and a chorus of vindictive women. All that in one book? Yes, indeed. Did it make for a good book club book? Listen in to find out. Our book recommendations were Indigo by Marina Warner, Blonde Roots by Bernadine Evaristo, The Left-Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin, Kitsch by Anthony Joseph, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar. Want to keep up with us between episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, or follow us for daily book reviews and recommendations on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. Don't miss our website thebookclubreview.co.uk for our episode archive and library of book reviews and articles. Do subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, and never miss an episode. If you like what we do please take a moment to rate and review the show, which help other listeners find us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is a reader's dream cookbook? One that has delicious recipes but also a wealth of literary references to inspire your next read? It turns out these books exist! With her Little Library series of cookbooks Kate Young has carved out a particular niche intertwining her love of food with the books that have inspired her and shaped her life. And so you might find a recipe for French Toast inspired by Maria Semple's comic novel Where d'You Go Bernadette? or lemon verbena lemonade to accompany the perfect picnic inspired by Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte lounging on the lawn together in Brideshead Revisited. These are cookbooks with two indexes, one of things to eat, the other of things to read. We talk about lockdown cuisine, book recommendations and the difficulties of finding the right book club – and of course a ton of book recommendations. Books mentioned were: Midnight Chicken by Ella Risbriger, A Half-Baked Idea by Olivia Potts, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The Stranding by Kate Sawyer, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller, Real Life by Brandon Taylor, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen and Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. And you can find all the details about Kate, her books and her recipes at her website thelittlelibrarycafe.com Enjoyed this episode? Looking for more? Check out thebookclubreview.co.uk where you can find our archive of over 80 shows to browse through, including our most recent episode on Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, we've also covered everything mega-hits like Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Normal People by Sally Rooney to hidden gems from the backlist like All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West. You can also explore our 'library' of book reviews and articles, and find our weekly round-ups of reading inspiration under 'what to read'. We're also launching a newsletter – check the website for details of how to sign up. Follow us for daily book reviews and recommendations on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate and review the show, and help other listeners find us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the one hand 'bleak, meandering and depressing' on the other a beautifully written book that has touched the hearts of its readers – but what did Kate's book club make of Douglas Stuart's 2020 Booker winner Shuggie Bain? We're joined by friend and journalist Phil Chaffee to discuss it. Has Laura managed to make it through more than the first sixty pages? Listen in to find out, plus our usual recommendations for follow-on reads. Books recommended Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijnveld Follow us for daily recommendations and reviews on Instagram or Facebook @bookclubreviewpodcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod, or check out our website thebookclubreview.co.uk for our archive of over 80 episodes plus reviews, articles and reading guides. Drop us a line and let us know what you're reading for book club or any thoughts you have about the show. We love to hear from you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Catch up on what we've been reading outside of book club, the books we choose for ourselves. If you're looking for lockdown recommendations we've got a couple of brilliant suggestions here we think you'll love, plus one book we can save you the time of having to read. We also talk upcoming reads and our newly launched Bookshop on Bookshop.org.uk Booklist: Intimations by Zadie Smith A Start in Life by Anita Brookner Trio by William Boyd Memorial by Bryan Washington The Moth and the Mountain by Ed Caesar I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou We also mentioned Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner, Any Human Heart and Restless by William Boyd, Two Hours: The Quest to Run The Impossible Marathon by Ed Caesar and His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie Enjoyed the show? Looking for more? Browse our complete archive of episodes at thebookclubreview.co.uk, from blockbusting bestseller Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens to life-changing non-fiction like Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. You can also follow us for daily book reviews and recommendations on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're welcoming in a new year of reading with not one but two books, Writers & Lovers by Lily King, and Early Work by Andrew Martin. Two aspiring writers, two messy love lives, two very different books that each take the craft of writing as their main theme, one from the female perspective and one from the male. How did they compare? What did Laura's book club make of them? Should they be on your TBR? Listen in to find out. Plus a maximalist recommendations session at the end partly because we love 'em, and partly because we had so many great books on the subject to share. BOOKLIST: The Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon, The Possessed and The Idiot by Elif Batuman, Bleaker House by Nell Stevens, Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney, Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan and Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez Browse our complete archive of episodes at thebookclubreview.co.uk, from blockbusting bestseller Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens to life-changing non-fiction like Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. You can also follow us for daily book reviews and recommendations on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A book sent from friend to friend around the world, with a notebook full of comments. Have we found the perfect Covid lockdown bookclub? We're joined by podcaster and books blogger Simon Thomas who explains how it works. We also get some wonderful book recommendations from authors you may not have read or even heard of, and catch up about his Book of the Year club (in which all the books read come from a single year). Books mentioned in this episode: Once a Week by A. A. Milne, A House and its Head by Ivy Compton Burnet, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Haunting of Hill House, Life Among The Savages and Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson, The British Library Woman Writers series – including Chatterton Square by E.H. Young and Dangerous Ages by Rose Macaulay, The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield, Tea at Four O'Clock by Janet McNeill and The Stone of Chastity by Margery Sharp Don't miss our website, thebookclubreview.co.uk, for our archive of over 80 episodes from book club books to interviews with bookish folk. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. If you want to hear more from Simon listen to his Tea or Books? Podcast, available on your podcast player of choice, or find him online at stuckinabook.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's our biggest recommendations show yet, with over 50 books loved by us, our book clubs, and our three special guests. But what were our most loved reads of 2020? Listen in for our top threes and our absolute favourites. There were some obvious contenders such as Maggie O'Farrell's Hamlet and Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain, but we've tried to steer clear of the main current to pick out some slightly more eclectic choices that we think will delight you as much as us. We also hear from three special guests, Seb Emina, editor of Penguin's Happy Reader magazine, Simon Thomas of the Tea or Books podcast, and Claire Handscombe of the Brit Lit podcast. They let us know their favourite reads of 2020, and books they're looking forward to in 2021. And last but by no means least we hear from our book clubs, who told us the books that stood out for them in 2020. And so start off your New Year's reading resolutions in style, with a stack of books that have been tried and tested, so we know they will be good. Check our website thebookclubreview.co.uk for full show notes including a booklist for this episode and links to buy on Bookshop.org. If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate and review the show, and help other listeners find us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feeling quizzical? Missing your favourite festive pub quiz? Compete along with us as Gary Wigglesworth, author of 'The Book Lover's Quiz Book', puts us through our literary paces in another seasonal special. Will you beat us? For detailed show notes and links to all the podcasts we've mentioned today, visit our website thebookclubreview.co.uk. In the UK and Australia, you can order a copy of The Book Lover's Quiz Book online from your favourite local bookshop, or on bookshop.org. And it's currently available in Canada and the US as an e-book. You can find out more about Gary and his quizzes at gpwigglesworth.co.uk, including his ready-made answer sheet to print out and use. And you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @gpwigglesworth. If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate and review the show, we hugely appreciate it and it helps other listeners find us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We look back over the ten books we read for bookclub in 2020. From Taffy Brodesser-Akner's snappy take on contemporary relationships with Fleishman is in Trouble, to The Memory Police, Yoko Ogawa's carefully considered look at memory and the objects that bring meaning to our lives, we read and discussed a wide range of books that we're delighted to go back and revisit – like seeing old friends. But which will be our book club book of the year? On the shortlist: Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang That Glimpse of Truth, 100 of the Finest Short Stories Ever Written The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa Lanny by Max Porter Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. Do share the show link with your bookish friends, we love to find new listeners. And if you're not already, do subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, and never miss an episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's it like to set up your own publishing business? What does it take to succeed? And how do you find the right books? We talk to Kate Macdonald of Handheld Press, who gives us some behind-the-scenes insights into running a small, independent publishers, and her mission to seek out forgotten fiction and authors who need to be rediscovered. Business as Usual by Jane Oliver and Anne Stafford Save Me The Waltz by Zelda Fitzgerald The Exile Waiting by Vonda N. McIntyre Women's Weird, Melissa Edmundson (ed.) British Weird, James Machin (ed.) Kingdoms of Elfin by Silvia Townsend Warner After the Death Of Ellen Keldberg by Eddie Thomas Petersen The Caravaners, by Elizabeth von Arnim www.handheldpress.co.uk For more detailed show notes and our archive of over 80 episodes go to thebookclubreview.co.uk. If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate and review the show, it helps other listeners find us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We discuss The Memory Police, a haunting dystopian novel that explores questions of power, trauma and state surveillance written by Yoko Ogawa, one of Japan's leading contemporary novelists. Set on an unnamed island, the narrator of The Memory Police describes how every so often something in the inhabitants' lives will disappear. Birds, roses, books, one by one these things vanish overnight and the next day people wake up to find they have lost the memory of them. The Memory Police then arrive to enforce the disappearance, rounding up and destroying all evidence of the disappeared thing. They are also on the hunt for those few members of the population who have the ability to retain their memories, something hard to disguise. These people too must disappear, but what happens to them? The narrator tries to save her friend, R, by hiding him in a concealed room. But as more and more things disappear it starts to become unclear what she is saving him for. An uncomfortable read that provoked mixed feelings among Laura's book group, but which, on reflection, we think could have been one of the best book club books we have ever done. Listen in to hear more, why Yoko Ogawa is the Georgette Heyer of Japan, and how Laura is about to become a disappeared thing herself. Plus our recommendations for your next book club read. Books mentioned on the show: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Never Let Me Go and The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin and The Happy Reader magazine. Find full show notes, plus our archive of over 80 episodes, book reviews and articles on our new website: thebookclubreview.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondering which of the Booker shortlisted novels to read? Look no further, we've got the rundown of all of them in our Booker Prize special. We're joined by previous podcast guests Phil Chaffee and Sarah Oliver to discuss the six titles. Due to Covid we weren't able to be in the same room, but that didn't hold us back. It's book club, so whether we loved them or loathed them, you'll get to hear what we really thought. Plus we play a game of 'Snog, Marry, Avoid' with Booker books, and offer up our favourite reads from past years. • Find full show notes including extra links on our website www.thebookclubreview.co.uk See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The perfect solution when your book club wants to read a classic, but no-one quite has the energy for the 19th-century greats, Bonjour Tristesse clocks in at just over 100 pages and was written by Françoise Sagan when she was only a teenager. It became an instant bestseller in France, and subsequently around the world, and has remained a hugely popular read ever since. What did Kate's book club make of it? Did they find it fabulous or frivolous? Listen in to find out. We also have some book recommendations for your next read or book club discussion. Check out our new website for extended show notes including some extra links: www.thebookclubreview.co.uk Book recommendations Cheri and Claudine at School by Colette Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald Au Revoir, Tristesse by Viv Groskop See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our bookshelf episodes are the ones where we get to let our hair down and talk about the things we're reading outside of our book clubs, the books that we get to pick and choose. So listen in as Kate is bewitched by the new Susanna Clarke novel Piranesi, charmed by Shirley Jackson's memoir of raising her children in Life Among the Savages, and has a guilty confession to make about To Calais in Ordinary Time by James Meek. In Laura's stack are supernatural thriller Himself by Jess Kidd, Midnight in Sicily by Peter Robb and The Observations by Jane Harris. Not to mention some guilty pleasure reading of Georgette Heyer and Alison Croggon's fantasy series of Pellinor novels. It's a packed episode, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did making it. For detailed notes on this episode, and over 70 other episodes of book club discussions, interviews and features you can find us at our new website: www.thebookclubreview.co.uk. Drop us a line there and say hello, we'd love to hear from you. Tell us what books are keeping you turning the pages right now?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Identical twin sisters Stella and Desiree Vignes grow up together in a small, southern black community where the inhabitants have noteably light skin. When they run away at the age sixteen they make very different choices. One will marry and then return to her hometown, the other will live her life passing for white, knowing she can never go back. What will happen, though, when the next generation of their families connects? Race, identity, family, love, belonging, all thoughtfully woven through a compulsive page-turner that had both Laura and Kate's book clubs talking... We may just have found the perfect book club book. Did we have anything bad to say about it? Listen in to find out. Booklist: A Drop of Patience by William Melvin Kelley, Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo and Passing by Nella Larsen Upcoming shows will be on Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan and The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. Why not read along with us. Drop us a line and let us know what you think, and we can weave your comments into the show. If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than ever as we gradually emerge from lockdown we find ourselves appreciating the natural world and the joys of walking. The perfect time then to revisit our interview with Emily's Walking Book Club to hear about the inherent pleasures of walking and talking about books. And picking up on the theme we have some handpicked recommendations for you, perfect for topping up your TBR pile. From past-podcast favourites such as Peter Matthiessen's Snow Leopard to new release The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith, we found walking and the natural world an easy fit when it came to recommendations. Laura has a theory that all readers like walking, and walkers like reading. But is she right? Or maybe like Kate you try to do both at the same time. Listen in to hear all about it. For more information about Emily's walking book club including what's coming up and how to book tickets, check out Emily's website emilyrhodeswriter.com Books mentioned by Emily: The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson, West with the Night by Beryl Markham, Westwood by Stella Gibbons, All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West, The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee, Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple, Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig, and Brodeck's Report by Philippe Claudel. Kate and Laura's recommendations: The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn, The Gift by Alison Croggon, The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen, The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane, Flâneuse: Women Walk the City by Lauren Elkin, and The Well-Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or drop us a line at [email protected]. And if you're not already, do subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In real life, Bill Clinton asked Hillary Rodham to marry him three times before she finally said yes. The rest is history. But in Sittenfeld's alternative world, Hillary says no, and their lives diverge from there. Hillary is alone and heartbroken, but she's also free to pursue her own political ambitions – and free from the humiliating sexual scandals that will plague Bill's political career. Sittenfeld deftly mines the 'What if?" possibilities of her premise, but does the novel live up to the hype? Or is it just literary fan fiction? An exercise in wishful thinking? Journalist Phil Chaffee joins us to give Rodham the full book club treatment. It's a no holds barred discussion as we try to figure out whether the novel is an ingenious yet plausible glimpse of an alternative reality, or just a writer capitalising on a famous name. What is your book club reading next? At the end of the show, keep listening for our follow-on recommendations, all inspired by Rodham. In this episode, that includes: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld Becoming by Michelle Obama What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton 'Up, Simba' from Consider the Lobster and Other Essays by David Foster Wallace Political Fictions by Joan Didion Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin Other books mentioned in this episode: Prep, Sisterland and You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld Infinite Jest by David Foster WallaceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

'Beach read', 'holiday read', 'summer read'. This year there's another term in the mix: the 'stay-cation read'. But whatever you call it, for us summer reading is all about choice. Reading what you want. Not reading what you should. So, what do YOU feel like reading? Well, we're here to help you decide. Speed read. Comforting classic. Wish fulfillment romance. Genre-bending Whodunnit. Rollicking historical epic. Forgotten 1930s gem. We've got you covered. Listen in to find your perfect 'beach read' – even if you're nowhere near a beach. We're joined by Emily of the Walking Book Group of Hampstead Heath, Elizabeth Morris of the Crib Notes newsletter, friend and journalist Phil Chaffee – who joins us on upcoming episode devoted to Rodham – and Simon of the Tea and Books podcast. This show is all about recommendations. Here's a list of everything we cover: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner Sea of Poppies by Amitav Gosh Highland Fling by Nancy Mitford Middlemarch by George Eliot Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman Business As Usual by Jane Oliver and Ann Stafford The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Blonde Roots by Bernadine Evaristo Also mentioned: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala The Meaning of Rice by Michael Booth Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld Beloved by Toni Morrison War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Love in a Cold Climate, The Pursuit of Love and Wigs on the Green by Nancy Mitford In an Antique Land by Amitav Ghosh Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald The Road by Cormac McCarthy Lord of the Flies by William Golding Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo You can find out more about Emily's Walking Book Club, including how to join, here. We'd also encourage you to watch Emily sing the praises of Middlemarch, part of her brilliant lockdown series. Have a listen to Tea or Books with Simon (Stuck in a Book) and Rachel (Book Snob) as they debate ideas around books. Warning: have your notepad at the ready, as this show will leave you with a ton of recommendations. For more recommendations, from the back list to the hottest new new releases, sign up for Crib Notes, Elizabeth Morris's monthly newsletter. Follow her on Instagram @cribnotesbookclub and Twitter @elizabethmoya for more tips and reviews.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a summer sizzler of a Bookshelf with rave reviews from both Laura and Kate for their eclectic books of choice. For Kate, it's all about hot contemporary reads, including Carmen Maria Machado's In the Dream House, an eye-opening memoir about an abusive lesbian relationship. Whereas Laura's enchanted by the African adventures of 1930s aviatrix Beryl Markham, and dazzled by William Melvin Kelley's portrait of a black musician in Jazz Age America.Listen in to hear what we made of… In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener Morning by Allan Jenkins West with the Night by Beryl Markham A Drop of Patience by William Melvin Kelley The Mirror & the Light by Hilary MantelAlso mentioned on this episode: A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen Out of Africa by Karen Blixen Mrs Hemingway by Naomi Wood Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou – listen in to episode 55 for a full discussion Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris Plot 29 by Allan Jenkins Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker – listen in to episode 38 for a full discussionIf you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected] you like what we do please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts – we love to hear from you, and you'll never miss an episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The short story. Sad sister to the novel? Or pinnacle of the literary form? In this episode, Laura sets out to persuade Kate, self-professed short story sceptic, she's got it all wrong. Since the Covid Crisis went global, Laura's book club has been working their way through That Glimpse of Truth: 100 of the Finest Short Stories Ever Written selected by the late literary agent David Miller. One short story, once a week, with a Zoom chat every Monday to discuss it. Listen in to hear the standout stories – and if Kate is convinced. * Books mentioned on this episode: Too Much Happiness by Alice Munroe The Tenth of December by George Saunders Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang, which we discussed in detail on episode 63. * Laura's book club read: That Glimpse of Truth: 100 of the Finest Short Stories Ever Written, selected by David Miller Stories from the collection mentioned on the show: 'Mr Know-All' by W. Somerset Maugham 'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe 'The Children Stay' by Alice Munro 'D'Accord Baby' by Hanif Kureishi * Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReviewPodcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod, or email [email protected]. Subscribe to us and never miss an episode. And if you like what we do please take a moment to rate and review us! It helps other listeners find us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In honour of National Reading Group Day and World Refugee Day, we discuss The Beekeeper of Aleppo, the bestselling novel by Christy Lefteri. It's a heartrending and important novel. The story of Nuri and Afra, a devastated couple forced to flee their home in Aleppo in the hopes of reaching safety in the UK. Harrowing and haunting, it's a must read. But did it make for a good discussion book? Is there any hope amid the heartbreak? Listen in to find out. We sat down to discuss it with special guest and fellow podcast host Anna Baillie Karas of Books on the Go. * If you'd like to be more involved, Christy Lefteri suggests at the end of her book that you seek out the following organisations: Open Cultural Centre, an NGO and education project in northern Greece Faros (The Lighthouse), a Christian non-profit providing humanitarian care in Athens Salusbury World, a charity supporting refugees in the UK. The Buzz Project, a Yorkshire charity founded by the Syrian apiarist Professor Ryad Alsous. * Books mentioned in this episode: The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri No Friend but the Mountains by Behrouz Boochani The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan Disoriental by Negar Djavadi I Will Never See the World Again by Ahmet Altan What Is The What by Dave Eggers Cleanness by Garth Greenwell How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang The Nickel Boys and Zone One by Colson Whitehead Simon the Fiddler and The News of the World by Paulette Jiles Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke Au Revoir, Tristesse by Viv Groskop * Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReviewPodcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod, or email [email protected]. Subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts to never miss an episode. And if you like what we do please take a moment to rate and review us. It helps other listeners find us.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We cross the Atlantic to catch up with Claire Handscombe, presenter and producer of BritLit, a fortnightly podcast that tracks what's going on in the British publishing world. We talk about Claire's novel Unscripted, which she highly recommends as a beach read, whether you're able to go to an actual beach or just have to make do with a deckchair in your garden. Claire also gives us a shelf's worth of great book recommendations, plus some top tips for anyone thinking of making a books podcast of their own. • Books mentioned in this episode: Unscripted by Claire Handscombe Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng Little Fires Everywhere by Celest Ng The Roxy Letters by Mary Pauline Lowry The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Rules for Being a Girl by Candice Bushnell and Katy Cotugno What You Wish For by Katherine Center Head over Heels by Hannah Orenstein The Book of Hidden Wonders by Polly Crosby • For more details on Claire, check out her website Britlitblog.com. We also love her Twitter feed @britlitpodcast, which is regularly updated with great links from the book world. For any Wingnuts out there who might be listening, you can also check out Claire's book Walk With Us: How the West Wing Changed Our Lives. • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. Do subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts and take a moment to rate and review us, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode. Plus we love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a publishing phenomenon: a debut novel that has sold more print copies in 2019 than any other adult title, fiction or non-fiction. Appropriately, given our current Corona lockdown situation, it's a book about a girl who lives isolated in the wilderness, wrestling with loneliness. The plot draws together romance, crime and a courtroom drama building to a suspenseful conclusion. A page-turner, then, but what did Kate's book club make of it? Listen in to find out. • Books mentioned on this episode: Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, Furious Hours by Casey Cep, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald and The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. • For more book reviews and recommendations between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. Do subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts and if you like what we do please help other listeners to find us by taking a moment to rate and review us on iTunes, we always appreciate it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We love our book clubs, but what do we read when we get to choose for ourselves? In this episode we have an eclectic mix, encompassing everything from hot new releases to out-of-print old childhood favourites, with some musing on just what it is we're looking for in a good Lockdown read. • Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Weather by Jenny Offill The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky Early Riser by Jasper Fforde Home by Abu Bakr Al Rabeeah • Keep up with us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected], and if you enjoyed this episode please rate us on iTunes and subscribe, we hugely appreciate it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The London Metropolitan Archives was established to collect, preserve, celebrate and share the stories of London and Londoners. They also have a book club. We sit down with Claire Titley and Charlie Turpie to learn more about it in an episode chock-full of great reading suggestions. If you're interested in joining the London Metropolitan Archives book club you can stay up to date with all their events by following them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @ldnmetarchives. And you can find Claire on Instagram @clairelouisetitley and Charlie @charliebooksandcoffee Books mentioned in this episode were: Penelope Lively's City of the Mind This is London by Ben Judah, and do check out our episode 9 for my book club's spirited discussion of that book Margery Allingham's Campion Novels, including The Tiger in the Smoke Mrs Dalloway and The Years by Virginia Woolf, Mr Loverman and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo James Boswell's London Journal, Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series Next episode: Bookshelf, in which we discuss Exciting Times by Naoise Doolan, Early Riser by Jasper Fforde, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, The Hottest Dishes of the Tatar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky, Weather by Jenny Offill and Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. That episode is coming soon. Next up for book club is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, a haunting tale of love and murder set in the marshland of South Carolina that has found millions of readers, topping bestseller lists around the world, but what did my book club think? Were they as ravished as Reese Witherspoon, who didn't read the last ten pages because she didn't want the book to end. Coming soon. If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. If you like what we do please take a moment to rate and review us on iTunes, we really appreciate it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part novel, part poem, Lanny evokes a typical English village whose residents are observed by an ancient spirit of nature – with a particular interest in one child. The Guardian called it '...a fable, a collage, a dramatic chorus, a joyously stirred cauldron of words', but what did Kate's book club make of it? We discuss, and share some recommendations for your next book club read, including Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss and The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry. • Books mentioned on this episode: Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss Gwelio, Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood by Martin Booth The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comfort reads to curl up with? Or books that provoke, stimulate and challenge? In this episode, we share our latest lockdown reads. We stay close to home with period drama Belgravia by Julian Fellowes, and London-based fantasy Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. We escape to Provence with unreconstructed male-wish-fulfillment novel Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle, and escape altogether with the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Cobb. We're delighted by heartwarming romance Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda, and intrigued by Lost at Sea by Jon Ronson. We walk in the footsteps of Raynor Winn on The Salt Path and finally consider the practicalities of sheep farming with The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For many parents home-schooling their children over the coming weeks, the idea of reading in snatches of borrowed time will strike a strong chord. After the birth of her son, Elizabeth Morris decided to put her career in the book world to good use and set up Crib Notes, a book club in newsletter form. Every month, she curates the perfect book recommendations for new and busy mothers. 'Sometimes you just need a little spark of mental stimulation to remind you of who you are beyond being a mother', Elizabeth explains. Listen in for some fantastic book recommendations – for all readers, not just mums! – and some great practical tips for how to fit in reading when all you have are stolen moments. • Sign up for Crib Notes at tinyletter.com/CribNotes Find Elizabeth on Twitter @elizabethmoya and on Instagram @cribnotesbookclub • Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo My Wild and Furious Nights by Clover Stroud Constellations, Sinead Gleeson I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell Weather by Jenny Offill The Panic Years, Nell Frizzell Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman • Keep up with what we're doing between episodes on Instagram and facebook @bookclubreviewpodcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod, and email us anytime at [email protected], we'd love to hear from you. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang clocked in at number 80 on The Guardian's list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. Barack Obama's a fan too. But what about Laura's book club? What did they make of this mesmerising collection of eight stories, one of which formed the basis of the film Arrival starring Amy Adams? Real-life rocket scientists Kristy and Ed join the discussion and weigh in on the big questions. Like, will reading Chiang make you more intelligent? Do you have to be a sci-fi devotee to enjoy these stories? And finally, did the book make for a good book club discussion? All this, plus some great book recommendations for your next read. • Find us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod email [email protected] Please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode. • Books mentioned This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal el-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Wally Funk's Race for Space: The Extraordinary Story of a Female Aviation Pioneer by Sue Nelson Pavane by Keith Roberts Ed's author recommendations: John Brunner, James Blish ('Cities in Flight' and 'The Seedling Stars' [with the puddle story 'Surface Tension'] among others), and Algis BudrysSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laura reports in on The Wych Elm by Tana French, The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne and The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman. Kate's stack consists of Love by Hanne Ostavik, The Anna Karenina Effect by Viv Groskop and Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. Join us as we review them and figure out if there are any book club gems in there. • Drop us a line at [email protected], follow us on facebook or instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast or on twitter @bookclubrvwpod. And if you enjoy the show do take a moment to rate and review us on iTunes, it helps other listeners find us and brings us joy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fleishman is in Trouble tells the story of Toby, a successful NYC doctor whose almost ex-wife Rachel has vanished, leaving him alone with their two children. But is she the selfish, self-absorbed, neglectful mother he portrays? It's been described as a Trojan Horse of a novel, a sharp, dry portrait of the blind spots that come with male privilege and entitlement. But what did Laura's book club make of it? Listen in to find out. • This Tom Hanks Story Will Help You Feel Less Bad (New York Times) How Taffy Brodesser-Akner Thrives on Stress (Real Simple magazine) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reading the right books is key to making your book club a success. But how to choose? Listen in to hear the top 10 books we think make for perfect book club reads. They vary from fiction to non-fiction, and cut across every genre and subject. But they're all highly readable, packed full of ideas and will divide opinion – always good for a sparky debate. Want more? See below for links to the episodes where we've discussed these books in more detail. • 1. Educated by Tara Westover. Episode 22 2. Putney by Sofka Zinovieff 3. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou. Episode 55 4. Supper Club by Lara Williams 5. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Episode 33 6. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. 7. East West Street by Philippe Sands. Episode 18 8. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead 9. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. Episode 8 10. This is London by Ben Judah. Episode 9 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ready to start your own book club? This special episode tells you how, from who to invite and what books (or genre) to read, to the pitfalls you'll want to avoid. It's packed full of inspiration and advice from book clubs we've interviewed over the years, including the Proust Book Group in Paris, London's own Jilly Cooper book club, a Horror Book Club and the Walking Book Club of Hampstead Heath. We've even come up with the top 10 recommended book club books guaranteed to get the discussing going. So, listen in for everything you need to know to start and run a flourishing book group. How to find the right book club books? Here are some of our recommended places to look: newspapers summer reading guides and end of year lists, in particular The Times and Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Observer and The Financial Times, The Washington Post and the New York Times; prizes The Booker Prize, The Booker International Prize (for books in translation), The Women's Prize, The Wainwright Prize (for nature writing), The Costa Book Awards, The Goldsmiths Prize (for books that open up new possibilities in the novel form), The Baillie Gifford Prize (for non-fiction), The Walter Scott Prize (for historical-fiction), in the US The National Book Award, the Pulitzer, Barack Obama's annual reading list, in Australia the Miles Franklin and the Stella Prize, and back in Europe Kate's favourite, The Dublin Literary Award (for books nominated by libraries around the world) Book clubs mentioned in the show: Emily's Walking Book Club of Hampstead Heath Simon Thomas's Book of the Year Club The Horror Book Club The Lesbian Book Club The London Literary Salon (Toby Brothers) Ink84 Bookshop book clubSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our stacks this episode: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, Becoming by Michelle Obama, Seven Days in the Artworld by Sarah Thornton, 84 Charing Cross Road and The Duchess of Bloomsbury by Helene Hanff and Help Me! by Marianne Power. Listen in to find out what we thought of them, and whether there are any gems in there for your next book club read.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pat Barker's retelling of the Iliad from the female perspective proves a surprisingly marmite read. It was shortlisted for the Women's Prize and received widespread critical praise but Kate's book club was less convinced. Listen in to find out whether we loved or loathed it, plus some recommendations for your next book club read. Laura's off for this episode, back for our next Bookshelf show, coming soon. THIS SHOW CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A book club for people who don't like the idea of all having to read the same book. At Bee's Bookshare everyone brings a book they've loved, loathed, can't put down or can't get into and shares them – best of all everyone gets to take away a new read at the end. We met up with Bryony Bishop, founder of Bee's Bookshare, to find out more. • Books mentioned: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting Stoner by John Williams God Help the Child by Toni Morrison Having a Wonderful Crime by Craig Rice Salt on your Tongue by Charlotte Runcie. • Bees Bookshare meets every other month, visit beesbookshare.co.uk for the latest event details and news. • Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. If you like what we do please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode. Thanks :) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We delve into the whirlwind story of Elizabeth Holmes and her biotech company Theranos. At its height, valued at 9 billion dollars. At its heart, a product that didn't work. In this compelling book, Wall Street Journal writer John Carreyrou sets out his dogged efforts to penetrate the wall of fear and intimidation that hid the truth. Gripping stuff, but did it make for a good book club read? What did Kate's book club think? Listen in to find out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Listen in as we discuss the books we've reading outside of book club. In Laura's stack: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and Queenie, by Candice Carty Williams, while Kate has The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, The Friend by Sigrid Nunez and The Easternmost House by Juliet Blaxland. We also discuss the Wainwright Prize shortlist, how to dip into your TBR and whether there are any gems in all of these for your next book club read.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Annie and Dave tell us about their family book club that has kept their family engaging with books and debating their merits for seven years now. They give us their tips for making it work and we follow up with some recommendations for books we might try out on our own families.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A sweeping and evocative portrait of an Egyptian family at a time of great social change, from Nobel Prizewinning author Naguib Mahfouz. 'Writing worthy of a Tolstoy, a Flaubert or a Proust' said The Independent newspaper but what did Laura's book club make of it? Listen in to find out, plus lots of great recommendations to help you find your next book club read. • Recommendations were Women of Sand and Myrrh by Hanan Al-Shaykh, The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany, A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth and Sally recommended The Map of Love by Ahdef Soueif and The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning. • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you like what we do please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our latest interview is with Tyona Campbell, owner of Barnabees, a very special secondhand bookshop tucked away in the small Suffolk village of Westleton. Tyona tells us about how her shop is in a small way a protest against the data-gathering online giants, why in her shop you don't so much find the books as they find you, and why books benefit from being coddled and canoodled. She also has a couple of great recommendations for your next book club read. • Follow Barnabees on Instagram @barnabeesbooks, and if you want to visit in person the shop is located on the Yoxford Road in Westleton, IP17 2AF. It's open Thursday–Sunday 11am–5pm. • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow BCRP on Instagram or Facebook @bookclubreviewpodcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you like what we do please do take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us on iTunes, it helps other listeners find us and means you'll never miss an episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Happy Reader is a magazine that takes the idea of a book club as its inspiration. To celebrate the launch of their latest issue we're revisiting one of our favourite interviews, with editor Seb Emina. He told us about the careful thinking and attention to detail that goes into putting the magazine together plus has some great book recommendations and a radical suggestion for a book club where no-one is allowed to mention the book club book. Intrigued? Then listen on. • Find out more about The Happy Reader magazine and read along with their next book of the season at www.thehappyreader.com • Books recommended were Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard, The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura and We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, which we also covered in episode 13 of the podcast. • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or why not drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us about your book club. And if you're not already, do subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My Sister the Serial Killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite's superbly titled debut novel, has been one of the literary sensations of 2019 –nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction and long listed for the Booker. But what did both our book clubs make of it? Does it merit all the acclaim? Listen in to find out. Heads up: it's SPOILER-full, so don't listen unless you've read the book, or have no intention of reading it. • Books mentioned on this episode: Ponti by Sharlene Teo, Half of a Yellow Sun, Why We Should All be Feminists, and Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngoze Adiche and Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. • On our next book club show, we'll be discussing Palace Walk, the first novel in Nobel Prize-winner Naguib Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy. • To keep up with us between shows follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. If you have time to rate and review us we will love you forever, it helps other listeners find our pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tucked away in London's Soho is a hidden gem of a bookshop. The Second Shelf sells rare and antiquarian books, modern first editions, ephemera, manuscripts, and rediscovered works – all by women. We sit down with proprietor A. N. Devers to learn how she went from rare-book dealing to shopkeeping. We also hear about the bookshelves that regularly make customers gasp, and why all women should think about collecting books by women writers. • For more information check out The Second Shelf's website www.thesecondshelf.com, find them on Twitter @secondshelfbks or Instagram @secondshelfbooks • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a slight volume, but packs a powerful punch. Each of its short essays was smuggled out of the prison where Altan serves – and continues to serve – a life sentence. The book has been championed by author, international human rights lawyer and general real-life Mark Darcy figure Philippe Sands, while writer A. L. Kennedy said 'Read this – it will explain why you ever read anything, why anyone ever writes.' But what did Kate's book club make of it? Listen in to find out. Plus our usual range of recommendations for your next book club read. • Books mentioned on this episode: A Strangeness in my Mind by Orhan Pamuk A Day in the Life of Yvan Denisovich by Alexander Solyenitzhn The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernières • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever dreamed of owning a bookstore? How about one a stone's throw from the beach? When she realised the British seaside town of Margate didn't have a bookshop for new titles, Francesca Wilkins realised it would be the perfect place to realise her lifelong ambition and launch her own store. Listen in for the behind-the-scenes story, some great book recommendations and the secret, in a nutshell, to running a successful bookshop. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our Bookshelf shows we discuss the books we're reading outside of book club, the ones we get to pick and choose! Join us as we successfully identify a book perfect for beach reading this summer, get to the bottom of Kate's problem with audio books (and the cure, The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton), muse on what it's like reading a book when there's no cover image (the joys of the elegant but inscrutable Fitzcarraldo edition), discuss Laura's intentions to set aside lightweight fluff and get back into some serious reading and hear Kate's true-life encounter with Philippa Perry, author of 'The Book You Wish Your Parents had Read'. • Books mentioned in this episode: Becoming by Michelle Obama, A Brief History of Seven Killings and Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James, The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton, Transcription by Kate Atkinson, Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead, Flights and The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk, Mr Salary by Sally Rooney, The Book You Wish Your Parents had Read by Philippa Perry and The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast, on Facebook and Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email us at [email protected] Subscribe, like us, leave a comment, we love all that, and never miss an episode. Thanks for listening and happy reading.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever dreamed of switching everything off and being able to read for hours, then this is the show for you. Reading Retreats run holidays where people can rediscover their love of uninterrupted reading but what is the experience really like? Your intrepid reporter from The Book Club Review went along to Matlock in Derbyshire with a stack from the TBR pile to find out. • To find out more about Reading Retreats check out their website www.readingretreat.co.uk, or find them on facebook and twitter @retreatandread. • Books mentioned on this show were: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey; in Annie's stack were A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab, Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Aisha Malik, Rosewater by Tade Thompson, Belonging by Umi Sinha and Among Others by Jo Walton; in Sheila's stack were The Only Story by Julian Barnes, Revenge on the Rye by Alice Castle, Washington Black by Esi Edugyan and Broken Ground by Val McDermid and A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert; Sarah Ward recommended The Silence of the Sea by Yrsa Sigurdardottir and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters; and in my stack were Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner, There There by Tommy Orange, Bad Blood by Jon Carreyrou and Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday. • If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected]. And if you're not already, why not subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One book club in south London have found a way to get even more out of their book club meetings, and that's to invite the authors along. Listen in to hear more about the 'Wilde Imagination' book club, plus tips on how to manage your group so that everyone, from the loudest to the quietest, gets to have a say. Books mentioned on this show: A Girl In Traffick by Mamta Valderrama, Eleanor Oliphant is Perfectly Fine by Gail Honeyman, Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant by Shrabani Basu, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Get in touch with us at [email protected], follow us on Instagram @thebookclubreviewpod or leave us a comment on iTunes, we'd love to hear from you. Subscribe and never miss an episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're joined by author Phyllis Richardson to discuss Golden Hill, Francis Spufford's rollicking historical novel. It has plot full of more twists and turns than a slide at Centerparcs so we've split the episode into two; the first half is the safety zone where we won't spoil the plot for you, but if you have read it and want to dive deeper listen on for part two. Come back to us at the end for our recommendations and to hear more about Phyllis's wonderful book about authors and their houses, House of Fiction. • Books mentioned: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord by Kim Leine (discussed in full detail in episode 6 of the pod), The Sealwoman's Gift by Sally Magnusson, The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey, Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne. • House of Fiction by Phyllis Richardson is published by Unbound.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.