The Book Club Review

Kate and Laura are back and diving in to two book club reads, one recent release and one modern classic. Transcription by Ben Lerner was published earlier this year to much critical fanfare. It's a playful, intellectually ambitious exploration of writing, memory, technology and the slippery relationship between fiction and reality. When the narrator's phone fails to record his final interview with an eminent cultural figure, he reconstructs the conversation from memory. But does the truth of an encounter depend on an accurate transcript? And what happens when a novel begins to fold back on itself?We discuss Lerner's auto-fictional project, his fascination with the act of writing, the glass flowers at Harvard's Natural History Museum, and whether Lerner's novels are genuinely profound or sometimes guilty of taking themselves a little too seriously. Laura’s book club, meanwhile headed back to the mid-20th century with Dorothy Baker’s classic Cassandra at the Wedding, a brilliantly funny, unsettling and…

A post-summer-reading catch-up, with fantasy, Booker contenders, campus novels, literary fiction and a brilliant unexpected discovery. Kate and Laura discuss the books they loved, the ones that disappointed them, and what they’re looking forward to reading next.

What are the best books to read this summer? Kate, Laura Potter and Phil Chaffee compare the biggest summer reading recommendations from The New York Times, The Times, Lit Hub and The Booker Prize, debate which are worth packing, and share their own holiday reading lists.

What makes secondhand books so special? Kate and Laura celebrate the joy of used bookshops, favourite literary finds and the thrill of unexpected discoveries before Kate meets W. B. Gooderham, author of Dedicated To, to explore the hidden lives of inscribed books. Together they uncover forgotten friendships, lost loves and remarkable stories preserved in the handwritten dedications tucked inside secondhand books.

George Saunders' new novel Vigil puts mortality, morality and climate change under the microscope – but does it make a great book club book?

In this episode Kate is joined by Amanda Moulson, co-host of Curious Readers, to consider the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist. Ahead of the prize ceremony next week, which one do we think will win?Perhaps like Amanda you have read them all, but if, like Kate, you're going to struggle to get to all six, which ones should you focus on? Which are the standout reads? Which are the books most likely to delight, surprise, and stay with you long after you've turned the final page? We're covering all six books, and you’ll also find out what Amanda has on her TBR, the books she most loves recommending, and how a busy book podcaster organises her bookshelves. Timestamps for the time-poor00:00 Welcome and Prize Preview01:31 Meet Amanda Molson01:44 Quickfire Reading Habits03:18 Bookshelf Organization04:06 Favorite Recs and Current Reads06:20 Kate’s Power Broker Detour08:54 Patreon Readalong and Book Club10:12 Women’s Prize Context and History15:09 Shortlist Book 1 Flashlight20:51 Shortlist Book 2 Dominion25:23…

When the Guardian drops a list of the 100 Greatest Novels in English it's time to drop everything to talk about it. Luckily pod-regular guest, journalist Phil Chaffee and Joseph Dance, host of the Curious Readers podcast, also had views, and were willing to get together on a Sunday evening to share them. You'll hear our hits, our misses, how many we’ve read, whether we should have read more and much musing on whether a list like this is the way to get people excited about reading. We explore the joys of the sub-lists – the contributor lists – all squirrelled away on a sub-section of the Guardian's website, that arguably provide more excitement and inspiration than the fairly canonical top 100. Which is the best Brontë? Which is the best Austen? Do we age into certain books? If you've read all seven volumes of Proust shouldn't that count for more than one entry? All this and much, much more. Enjoy – this was an absolute delight to make and I hope it makes you smile as much as it did me.Have your say: get in…

What if the antidote to our increasingly frantic world isn't a grand gesture, but simply the act of paying attention?This week, Kate and Laura are joined by actor, podcaster, and author Miranda Keeling – returning to the pod to talk about her wonderful new book, The Place I'm In, a collection of the small, luminous moments she's gathered from daily life. After her debut The Year I Stopped to Notice, Miranda is back with more of her 'noticings': fragments from parks, supermarket queues, and streets that remind us how much magic is hiding in the everyday.Their book club read is the perfect complement: The Anthropologists by Ayşegül Şavas – a soulful, quietly funny novel following Asya and Manu as they hunt for an apartment, trying on different futures for size in a city far from home. Asya, a documentary filmmaker, spends her days in the park gathering footage – an anthropologist of the ordinary – and her project rhymes beautifully with Miranda's own.Plus recommendations inspired by the art of the everyday.You…

Kate records the first live episode of The Book Club Review at the 2026 Barnsbury Book Festival, speaking with author and broadcaster Bee Rowlatt about her books, Mary Wollstonecraft, feminism, and the themes of wealth, power, and inequality in contemporary London.

The Book of Love vs The Dud Avocado: Fantasy, Paris & Book Club VerdictsIn this episode of The Book Club Review, we return to our book club roots with two wildly different novels: The Book of Love by Kelly Link and The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy.The Book of Love is the first novel from acclaimed American short story virtuoso and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link. In a seemingly ordinary coastal town three teenagers become pawns in a supernatural power struggle. Vulture magazine named it ‘the escapist masterpiece of the year’ but what did Laura’s book club think?Our second book-club pick is Elaine Dundy's The Dud Avocado – a fizzing, exuberant novel from 1958 about a young American woman let loose in Paris, determined to live life on her own terms. It gained instant cult status on first publication and remains a timeless portrait of a woman hellbent on living, a book that feels bracingly modern despite being nearly seventy years old. But did it make for a good book club read?We've also got some listener…

Valentine’s-ish Literary Romance: Lucas Oakley on Nearly Departed, Boys Book Club & love stories that stay with you long after readingJoin Kate and Lucas Oakeley for this Valentine's-ish episode of The Book Club Review, recorded at Housmans Bookshop in King's Cross. We're exploring literary fiction where love takes centre stage, but the reward is complexity rather than a guaranteed happy ending.Nearly Departed manages to combine the enjoyable tropes of Rom Com with the thoughtful exploration through writing that we associate with literary fiction. We explore how Lucas’s real-life experiences—witnessing a fatal cycling accident and his father's first wife dying young—shaped the book's exploration of love, loss, and second chances, and the art of balancing humour with heartbreak while playing with rom-com tropes.Of course, we’ve got plenty of recommendations for love stories with emotional depth, including Lily King's Writers & Lovers, Andrew Kaufman's All My Friends Are Superheroes, Kazuo Ishiguro's The…

What makes a bestseller? Is it the quality of the writing, or just the right book at the right time? This week Kate is joined by co-host Laura Potter and returning guest Phil Chaffee to find out.Between us we've tackled six of the biggest bestsellers out there – Dan Brown's The Secret of Secrets, Freida McFadden's The Housemaid, Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, Matt Dinnerman's Dungeon Crawler Carl, SenLinYu's Alchemised, and Sarah Adams' In Your Dreams – and we have some opinions.We're sharing our honest experiences of each one: what worked, what didn't, and whether these books truly earned their place on the bestseller lists. But this isn't just a round of verdicts. We're also pooling our recommendations for the bestsellers we genuinely think are worth your time, like The Correspondant by Virginia Evans – because there are some real gems out there among the hype.And as always, we round off with our current and upcoming reads.Press play to find out which bestsellers passed the test – and which ones…

New year, new intentions – but if you're in the northern hemisphere, January can feel less like renewal and more like the darkest, coldest stretch of endless winter. Maybe what you need isn't another resolution. Maybe you just need the right book.Ella Berthoud is an writer and an artist, but most importantly from our point of view a bibliotherapist. She has been prescribing fiction for life's ailments for over a decade. She co-wrote The Novel Cure, a brilliant guide that matches books to every psychological state and is packed with sound recommendations.Who better then to give me some great suggestions for avoiding the January blues. Join Kate and Ella as they talk about the questions that vex every reader: how do we find more time for reading? How do we escape reading slumps? And how can we read more deeply without it feeling like homework?Plus of course we're swapping lots of great book recommendations for January and the year ahead. Listen in for a shot of literary inspiration that might be just what you…

We're celebrating the end of the year with a look back over our favourite reads of 2025, from new releases to backlist gems, best book club books, best non-fiction, best comfort reads and more. Between us we read over 350 books in 2025. Listen in to hear the ones we loved best. We've also got a radical new idea for a book club involving cold-water swimming and the works of Robert B. Parker, and how to embrace DNFing without guilt. Join us for recommendations to see you through the festive season and set your new reading year off in style.With Phil Chaffee and Sarah OliverSerious ReadersTake advantage of Serious Readers offer. Head to seriousreaders.com/bcr and use the code BCR at checkout for £150 off any HD light.PatreonHead to Patreon.com/thebookclubreview for all the benefits of membership and how to sign up.You can also buy someone gift membership at https://www.patreon.com/thebookclubreview/gift BooklistMother Mary Come to Me by Arundhati RoyThe Silver Book by Olivia LaingCrudo by Olivia LaingDream…

'I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train' wrote Oscar Wilde, in the Importance of Being Ernest. In this episode Kate is joined by critic, editor and podcaster Lucy Scholes and regular pod guest Phil Chaffee to explore the intimate world of diaries. Can immersing ourselves in the details of other people's lives offer us valuable insight into how to fully appreciate the passing moments of our own? From gossipy self-mythologising Samuel Pepys right up to the present with the experimentation of Sheila Heti's Alphabetical Diaries, and the beauty and hard-won insight of Helen Garner's Baillie Gifford prize-winning diaries. Also not to be missed, living it up Vanity Fair style through the glitz and glamour of 80s New York, with Tina Brown.And if you enjoy this conversation don't miss Part II, over on the Patreon, where we swap notes on our favourite fictional diaries, consider the diaries we'd love to read if they had only been published and share some…

Explore this year's Booker Prize shortlist on the latest episode of the Book Club Review! Hosts Kate and Laura and contributors Phil Chaffee and Martin Vovk discuss and debate the six shortlisted novels.Listen in to hear our predictions, and then find out our reaction to the winner as we listen in to the live Booker Prize ceremony. We won't spoil the plots for you, just whet your appetite to read some or all of the books, all of which make for brilliant discussion.BooklistPaddy Clark, Ha, H, Ha by Roddy DoyleLincoln in the Bardo by George SaundersFlesh by David SzalayAll That Man Is by David SzalayStarling House by Alex E. HarrowAny Human Heart by William BoydThe Rest of Our Lives by Ben MarkowitsCarmageddon by Daniel KnowlesYou Don't Have To Live Like This by Ben MarkowitsOh William by Elizabeth StroutAll Fours by Miranda JulyThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran DesaiThe Inheritance of Loss by Kiran DesaiAudition by Katie KitamuraOrbital by Samantha HarveyFlashlight by Susan ChoiNothing to Envy by…

In which Kate is joined by pod regular, journalist Phil Chaffee and Professor Elizabeth Eva Leach. Both read over 200 books a year, and their reading stacks this year have included the Booker longlist. And so who better to consider the books that didn't make the final cut – but which are, notwithstanding, the 'best' books selected from over 150 submitted titles. As we know, really great books can get overlooked for the shortlist. Consider Trust by Hernan Diaz, longlisted but not shortlisted, or, going further back Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and before that Penelope Fitzgerald's miraculous novel The Blue Flower. The fallibility of the judging process thus proven let's leave no stone unturned in considering this year's selection. Did the judges overlook a new favourite read? The Booker Prize is announced on 10th November and we'll be recording an episode on the shortlist on the night. Coming soon! Booklist Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga Seascraper by Benjamin Wood Endling by Maria Reva One Boat by…

In this episode: Kate and Laura are catching up on their pre-Booker season reading. Did You Are Here by David Nicholls make Laura want to lace up her walking boots? How did Kate get on with A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm, a page-turning account that explores a side of the city that tourists never see. We're also reporting back on book club reads Mouthing by Orla Mackey and The Pretender by Jo Harkin. Mix in the enjoyment of Curtis Sittenfeld's latest collection of short stories, and the all-too relevant classic Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and that's our Autumn bookshelf. Books mentioned You Are Here and One Day by David Nicholls The Wedding People by Alison Espach A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky Your Life and Other Stories and Exhalations by Ted Chiang The Left-Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury…

Book Club: Universality by Natasha Brown & Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell Welcome to The Book Club Review! In this episode, Laura joins Kate to dive into two book club picks: Natasha Brown's much-anticipated second novel, Universality, and the debut Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell. In this episode: Kate and Laura catch up on their current reads, including Sky Daddy by Kate Folk and A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett, before diving into a discussion of Universality. How did it compare to Brown's acclaimed debut Assembly, and did the satirical style, bold narrative choices, and themes of media, class, and culture wars work for our book club. We then move on to Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell, an historical tale of alchemy set across 18th-century London and Ireland. We're exploring the vivid sense of place and real-life inspirations behind the story, but did the many different characters and story arcs knit together? We're also meeting Kristina Ambrosia, who…

Something a little different this episode as I invite you to head down the rabbit hole with me into the world of books about books. Accompanying us into this particular wonderland is Joseph Dance, host of the Curious Readers podcast. From meta-fictional narratives to booksellers with shadowy agendas, we're flagging up some of our favourites both for behind-the-scenes insights into the literary world, and for the way they allow us to discover yet more books we might want to read. From Alberto Manguel's library of 35,000 titles, to Alejandro Zambra's essay collection On Not Reading, we're considering a broad spectrum of perspectives that help us reflect on and enrich our reading lives. And so listen in to hear what happens when two book podcasters get together to talk about their favourite topic. Booklist The Library Book by Susan Orlean The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón Possession by A.S. Byatt Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan The Bookshop by Penelope…

Seattle, forever linked with books and reading thanks to Sleepless in Seattle. Also Maria Semple's Where d'you Go Bernadette, tho' to be clear, Bernadette was not a fan of the rainy city. Londoners, though, umbrella always at hand, feel right at home. A recent family holiday offered a rare chance for an in-person bookish catchup. Listen in for our thoughts on our latest reads including the new novel from Lily King and some purchases from the inimitable Elliot Bay bookshop. Embracing the holiday spirit we're also getting into our bookish cocktails. Luckily Margaret C. Beeler, author of literary cocktail book Tropetails, is on hand to help us out. She shares one of her favourites, scroll down for the recipe, and if you like the sound of the book and want to get yourself a copy, US listeners, if you use the code TROPECLUBREVIEW at checkout you'll get free shipping. Don't forget to check out The Book Club Review on Patreon to support Kate in making the show. In return you'll get extra episodes, chat group access…

Join Kate as she takes the Book Club Review on tour to New York, a city filled with incredible bookshops, and book podcasters. Christopher Hermelin of So Many Damn Books and Drew Broussard of The Lit Hub Podcast share cocktails and book recommendations on the theme of friendship.Notes and BooklistRough Draft Bar & Books The Friend by Sigrid NunezGrief is for People by Sloane Crosley Who Will Watch the Frog Hospital by Lorrie MooreMarlena by Julie Bunton Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan Stay True by Hua Hsu The Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conan DoyleLiar and Spy by Rebecca Stead It by Stephen KingThe Wonder State by Sarah Flannery Murphy A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara The Interestings by Meg Wollizer Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon The Animators by Kayla Raye Whittaker Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin A/S/L by Jeanne Thornton Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles The Elegance of the…

From lightening and dragons in Iron Flame to trembling mountains in A Court of Thorns and Roses, from Sally Rooney's Connell and Marianne to Ice Planet Barbarians - sex in books has gone mainstream. From serious high-brow literature to warm and cozy rom-coms, what do we want or need from writers when it comes to including sex in their books? To consider the matter Kate is joined by critic Elizabeth Morris (Crib Notes), and author Alex Allison' (The Art of the Body and Greatest of All Time) We'll be bringing you our recommendations for books we think push all the right buttons,once we've figured out what those are. Patreon Find out how to support the show, get ad-free episodes and extra content at patreon.com/thebookclubreview Keep in touch Find the pod on Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast Browse the archive Find full shownotes and a transcript plus our full episode archive at thebookclubreview.co.uk Booklist Greatest of All Time by Alex Allison Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Mrs Caliban by Rachel Ingals…

From Murderbot to Sense and Sensiblity, what are our favourite adaptations from books that we love? Inspired by the recent Apple adaptation of Martha Wells sci-fi novels The Murderbot Diaries, this episode is a celebration of the world of books to film. From the joy of seeing a book that we love brought to the big screen, to the pitfalls when things don't match up to our expectations, we're considering the hits and misses, and passing on our recommendations. You'll be hearing from pod regulars Laura Potter and Phil Chaffee, plus we meet Philippa Donovan, a literary scout to the film and TV world. Philippa founded her consultancy Smart Quill to bridge the gap between agents, publishers and authors around the world. She's giving us the inside track on the world of book to film. All that, plus a peek into the future and the upcoming projects we've earmarked as ones to watch. Interview Listen to the full interview with literary scout Philippa Donovan here [TO COME] Patreon Come and listen to the episodes ad-free…

At a time in which digital information is increasingly uncertain it feels more essential than ever to engage with books that tell us about the world, diversify our perspectives and propose solutions for change. Yet these 'serious' books aren't always what we feel like reading. In this episode Kate is joined by regular contributor Phil Chaffee to talk about the books so good they powered through them like a good novel, and felt changed afterwards. The books they want to pass on to someone else. The books that make for great book club discussions. One such is Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What To Do About It by Daniel Knowles, a persuasive book that advocates for a world in which we rely on cars far less than we do currently. Daniel joines Kate and Phil from Chicago to discuss it. Booklist Humanly Possible by Sarah Bakewall Putin's People by Catherine Belton Papyrus by Irene Vallejo Invisible Child by Andrea Elliot Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie Stranger in the Shogun's City by Amy…

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon is a novel that takes us back to ancient Syracuse, where war, art, and humanity collide. This gripping tale follows two down-on-their-luck potters who hatch an audacious plan to produce a performance of the works of Euripedes despite the fact that their actors are prisoners of war and their stage set a death camp in a marble pit. It's a story of resilience, friendship, and the power of art in the face of destruction, but did it make for a good book club book? Regular book-club reporter Phil Chaffee dials in from New York to join Kate alongside keen readers and returning pod guests Emily Bohill and Sarah Oliver in London. And find out Laura's thoughts at the end as we consider what makes Glorious Exploits such a standout debut, whether or not you need to know about Classical history to enjoy it, and why the audio version is such a particular joy. All this plus our recommendations for follow on reads inspired by Glorious Exploits. Booklist The Unselected Journals of Emma M.…

Author, podcaster and reader Daisy Buchanan joins Kate to discuss Read Yourself Happy, her latest book that explores 'shelf-help' and the healing power of books and reading to inspire, comfort and fortify. You might not think that someone who regularly interviews literary stars like Anne Patchett and Lauren Groff on her podcast 'You're Booked' might also be someone who has struggled throughout her life with anxiety. Find out how books helped Daisy overcome her fears and inspired her to be adventurous in the manner of her favourite literary heroines. We also discuss the practicalities of the reading life, how to manage a mountainous TBR, and insider stories from the Jilly Cooper book club. With Valentine's Day in mind, find out how to 'Read Yourself Romantic' with Daisy's favourite romance novels. Oh, and you'll get about a million other brilliant book recommendations along the way! Notes If you're interested to try a Serious Readers lamp use our special offer code BCR at checkout for £150 off any HD light.…

Olga Tokarczuk's haunting 'health resort horror story' may have wow-ed the critics, but how did it fare with Laura's book club? Phil, Sarah and Laura join Kate to discuss it. You'll also find out the books we've been reading lately, and our suggestions for follow-on reads if The Empusium leaves you hankering for more. Books mentioned The Sewing Girl's Tale by John Wood Sweet Two Step Devil by Jamie Quattro The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary Book Lovers by Emily Henry Strange Beach by Oluwaseum Olayiwola The Fizcarraldo poetry subscription The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk Sanatorium by W. Somerset Maugham The Wind Rises by Hayao Miyazaki The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft The Paper Hound bookshop The Plague and I by Betty Macdonald Backlisted episode #138 The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Schwärmerai NOTES Support the show and get exclusive subscriber benefits On Patreon: weekly-ish minisodes, chat groups, special feature episodes, War & Peace…

Step into a world of philosophical musings and practical wisdom with Oliver Burkeman. 'Meditations for Mortals' is his latest book designed as a four-week mental retreat, promising to help readers lead a 'saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life'. Oliver joins Kate to talk about everything from the inspiration he took from Marcus Aurelius to how to invite people over without feeling like you have to spend three hours tidying the house. He also reveals his tips on making life-changes that stick, and the books he turns to when he's not reading for work. Keen to test out the methodology, Kate is then joined by City high-flyer and busy mother-of-three Emily Bohill to discover how Meditations for Mortals works in practice. From managing work-life balance to facing literal rats in the PTA shed, we explore whether the lessons of Meditations are ones that will stay. This episode is for everyone who is keen to turn knowledge into action and embrace life's imperfections. No less important is the fact that…

It's a new year and a new episode. Join Kate and Laura as they consider reading intentions for the year ahead, and try to set some realistic goals. Will 2025 be the year Kate gets into poetry? Will it be the year Laura weans herself off romance novels? And as always, they're thinking of book club reads to come. Meanwhile Phil sets a goal for himself in 2025 that might surprise you.Books mentioned 4,000 Weeks and Meditations for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanRejection by Tony TulithamutteBliss Montage by Ling MaThe George Smiley novels by John le Carre Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway My Struggle, Karl Ove KnausgardThe Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan Assembly and Universality by Natasha BrownAlso a Poet and Crush by Ada CalhounOur Country Friends and Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart Intimacies and Audition by Katie Kitamura Robert Caro's Fifth Lyndon Johnson book Polostan by Neal StephensonFinance for the People by Paca Leon Essays of E. B. White The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna ClarkeThe Very Secret Society…

Wrap up your year with the Book Club Review podcast! Celebrate the joy of reading with us as we highlight the standout books we read in 2024, from page-turners to genre reads, to literary fiction and best book club books. We'll finish with our 'if we could only choose one' favourites for our overall book(s) of the year. This episode also features recommendations from our podcast book clubbers, fantastic readers all, who bring their choices into the mix. This is a bonus length episode as there was so much to go through, so take that dog for an extra long walk, get the children prepared for a long swing at the park or just curl up in a cozy spot with notepad in hand to jot down some of these books we think you shouldn't miss. Or, of course, use the handy list below. Books mentioned Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa What You Are Looking For is In The Library by Michiko Ayoyama Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree Most enjoyable read Loot by Tania James Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly The…

Curious about the 2024 Booker Prize? Wondering if the shortlisted novels live up to the hype? In this latest episode Kate and Laura are joined by returning guests Phil, Sarah and Martin to dive deep into this year's shortlist bringing you their usual frank, honest opinions in true book-club style. This isn't your typical review show — you get real, unfiltered thoughts from book lovers who tell it like it is. From literary brilliance to unexpected twists, find out which books wowed us, which ones left us wanting more, and whether this year's Booker picks truly deserve the spotlight. Plus of course our guesses as to which one might win. Notes Check out Martin's brilliant blog Eyes on the Prize for a fantastic look back through Booker Winners past, including his 'worst to best' ranking. Other books mentioned Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware We Solve Murders by Richard Osman The Trees by Percival Everett Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver My Friends by Hisham Matar Subscribe…

Summer Reading Report: hits, misses, and anticipations We're back from the beach and reflecting on our summer reading in this bonus length bookshelf episode. On Kate's stack summer favourite GRETA AND VALDIN by Rebecca K. Reilly, Olivia Laing's memoir The Garden Against Time, the hotly tipped HEADSHOT by Rita Bullwinkel, TRUST by Hernan Diaz, Miranda July's new novel ALL FOURS and upcoming book club reads THE FRAUD by Zadie Smith and HUMANELY POSSIBLE by Sarah Bakewell. Meanwhile Laura talks about REAL AMERICANS by Rachel Kong, THE LAST UNICORN by Peter S. Beagle, THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Stuart Turton, Kiley Reid's latest COME AND GET IT, Reese's Book Club pick SLOW DANCE by Rainbow Rowell and Austeriltz by W. G. Sebald. We also hear about the best bookish party Laura attended courtsey of the Vancouver Public Library, and the Kate's experience of reading just one book, and one book only, at a time – a strong departure from her usual habits of three on the go at once. But will she stick to…

In this special episode, originally released for our Patreon subscribers, Kate celebrates the joys of the perfect notebook with fellow enthusiast and stationery shop owner David Frostick (Lift, Southwold). From the importance of flat-lay paper to the perfect pen we've got it all covered just in time for back-to-school season. And then we turn to the art of notetaking. Kate and Laura discuss how they take notes on the books they're discussing on the show, and then we find out how the professionals do it, with friends of the pod, journalist Phil Chaffee and literary critic Emily Rhodes. We also hear from Bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud whose book, The Art of Mindful Reading, is full of great suggestions for how to get the most from your reading. If this whets your appetite come and join us at Patreon.com/thebookclubreview where for a small monthly fee (or you can sign up for annual membership if you prefer) you'll receive benefits such as Kate's weekly books email, occasional special episodes, and at the higher…

We love a list, and we love an excuse for a conversation about books, and so we couldn't have been more delighted when the New York Times released their list of the best books of the 21st century, so far. From 503 top tens submitted by authors and other literary world folk, and a bit of statistical magic, they boiled it down to their definitive top 100. And we had to hand it to them, it's a damn good list. Still, we might argue with a few of their choices, and of course have some thoughts of our own. And so in this episode you'll get our own Book Club Review top 20 books, some of which were on the NYT's list, most of which were not. They're the books we felt had been overlooked, books we loved and were desparate to talk about, books we want to share with you. And so join me (Kate) and Sarah in London, Phil in New York and Laura in Vancouver as we spend a delightful hour considering the best of the best. I guarantee you'll come away with at least one book for your TBR, and hopefully you'll love it as much as…

Laura's on a flying visit to London, and so of course we took the opportunity to get together and swap notes on our recent reading. Regular guest Phil Chaffee dialled in from New York to add his picks to the mix. Find out what we thought of summer it-book The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, we consider the auto fictional world of Deborah Levy, Kate reports back on Francis Spufford's new novel – and podcast book club read – Cahokia Jazz and we round it off with art-world memoir All That Glitters by Orlando Whitfield – unputdownable in Kate's opinion, find out why. It's also our first ever sponsored episode. Introducing Serious Readers, a company dedicated to creating the world's best reading lamps. Listen in for Kate's interview with founder Alex Pratt, and learn more about why your eyes might struggle under standard LED lighting. We know how much as readers you care about your eyes, so we were happy to tell you about a product that feels like just what they need. Listen in for all the details, and if…

Inspired by the folk at the New York Times article '22 of the funniest novels since Catch 22', join me (Kate), Phil and Laura as we consider the books that make us laugh. Listen in as we explore the NYT's suggestions and add in a few of our own. Find out the author we can't believe they missed, and the book that reliably makes Laura – a tough customer when it comes to funny books – laugh every time. Books mentioned The New York Times article '22 of the funniest novels since Catch 22' Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut The Idiot and Either/Or by Elif Batuman The Possessed by Elif Batuman Uncle Napoleon by Iraj Pezeshkzad Martyr by Kaveh Akbar Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi Where d'You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W.E. Bowman Three Men and a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome Scoop by Evelyn Waugh Vanity Fair by William MakepieceThackarey The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald Lincoln in the…

Exploring literary worlds beyond fiction: a dive into non-fiction Join Kate, as she ventures to South London to visit Backstory, a unique indie bookstore founded by former journalist Tom Rowley. Rowley shares his journey from journalism to opening a bookshop, the challenges and joys of running a bookstore, the importance of community engagement, and launching the second issue of the Backstory Magazine. We then turn our attention to non-fiction, pulling out some favourites, both backlist and new releases. As Tom says, 'I just read. I want good stories, I don't care whether they're true or not' 00:40 A visit to south London's indie bookshop Backstory, and why Kate's name is on the wall 01:53 From journalism to bookshop owner: Tom's lockdown dream comes true 04:25 Embracing the community: the transition from market stall to bookshop 09:26 Launching Backstory Magazine: a new chapter in storytelling 14:54 Exploring non-fiction: feel the fear and read it anyway 17:49 Just what is deep backlist? Tom's first…

So Many Damn Books podcast creator and host Christoper Hermelin joins Kate to swap book recommendations and discuss the magic of book club, recent book discoveries and bookish pet peeves. EPISODE BOOK LIST The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggers A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers McSweeney's magazine, including The Panorama issue How I Won A Nobel Prize by Julius Taranto Non-Fiction by Julie Myerson Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Polly Barton, trans.) Mild Vertigo by Mieko Kanai (Polly Barton, trans.) Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton The Extinction of Irena Ray by Jennifer Croft James by Percival Everett, and we also mentioned Erasure and The Trees Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schultz by Luca Debus and Francesco Mateuzzi NOTES Join the club and support us on Patreon Follow The Book Club Review on Instagram and Threads @bookclubreviewpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two marriages, two forbidden love affairs, and the passionate search for social and sexual freedom in late 19th-century London. Publishers Penguin call The New Life by Tom Crewe 'A brilliant and captivating debut, in the tradition of Alan Hollinghurst and Colm Tóibín' but what did our book club make of it? Kate is reporting back, with regular guest Philip Chaffee joining from New York. We'll be catching up on the discussion as well as bringing you our take on recent reads FAKE ACCOUNTS by Lauren Oyler and NORTH WOODS by Daniel Mason, as well as our recommendations for books inspired by Crewe's novel. Booklist Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler The Smiley Novels by John Le Carre North Woods by Daniel Mason Maurice by E. M. Forster Alec by William di Canzio Young Bloomsbury by Nino Strachey Blackouts by Justin Torres Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant The Ladies Lindores by Margaret Oliphant Tom Crewe's booklist on bookshop.org.uk Podcast episode on Young Bloomsbury The audiobook of The New Life is read by…

What did our podcast book club make of Mild Vertigo, Japanese author Mieko Kanai's 1997 novel, recently translated into English by Polly Barton. A 'modernist masterpiece' written in sentences that go on for pages with hardly any paragraph breaks might not seem like an obvious book club winner; listen in to find out if we were won over. To discuss it Kate is joined by Yuki Tejima, also known as @booknerdtokyo, and Shawn Mooney, aka Shawn the Book Maniac. Listen in for their thoughts on Mild Vertigo, their current reads and our book recommendations for anyone wanting the inside track on great Japanese fiction. Book list A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata (trans. Juliet Winters Carpenter) Home Reading Service by Fabio Morábito (trans. Curtis Bauer) Woman Running in the Mountains by Yūko Tsushima (trans. Geraldine Harcourt) Also Territory of Light and Child of Fortune by Yoko Tsutshima Grass for my Pillow by Sayiichi Maruya (trans. Dennis Keene) The Little House by Kyoto Nakajima (trans. Ginny Tapley Takamori)…

Join me (Kate) and Laura as we go through our bookstacks and discuss our recent reads. Find out what why Laura can't put down The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Meanwhile I've discovered Mrs Miniver, a comfort read from the 1930s that still has a message for us today, Laura's made a discovery of her own – that there's more to Anita Brookner than Hotel du Lac, with her 1988 novel The Latecomers. We go from one good book club read to another with The Fraud by Zadie Smith, and Laura reports in from the recent backlist past with How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang. I take a detour through a ring of enchanted toadstools with Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, and Laura confesses to having spent a weekend lost in the pages of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. She's only interested in the dragons, mind. Books mentioned The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells Mrs Miniver by Jan Struther The Latecomers by Anita Brookner The Fraud by Zadie Smith (UK paperback out in June) How Much of…

We've put our 2023 reading lists behind us, and now it's time to look ahead to 2024. Who better to guide us through all the new titles coming our way than Chrissy Ryan, owner of North London's buzziest bookshop and social space, Bookbar. New books by favourite authors, a non-fiction page-turner that will have you hooked, a high-concept potential blockbuster and a follow-up novel from the author of a debut that got people talking, we've got something for everyone. Not to mention our tips and strategies for how to avoid feeling overwhelmed by that TBR. Listen via the media player above or your preferred podcast player with this podfollow link. Books mentioned You are Here by David Nicholls (April) All that Glitters by Orlando Whitfield (May) Some Trick by Helen DeWitt The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Glass Houses (May), and Voyeur by Francesca Reece England is Mine by Nicholas Padamsee (April) The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (out in paperback May 2024) Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson Fire Weather by John…

It's our 2023 review of the year. Join me (Kate), Laura and Phil as we look back over our favourites, from new releases to backlist gems. Find out our overall book of the year, plus the books we're looking forward to in 2024. If you're wondering what to read next, this is the show for you, with over fifty tried and tested recommendations. Support the show, get our weekly newsletter or join our monthly book club via Patreon. Follow us on Instagram or Threads Find full shownotes and a transcript on our website thebookclubreview.co.uk Book list Favourite New Release August Blue by Deborah Levy The Rainbow by Yasunari Kawabata, and we also discussed Snow Country Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlan Favourite backlist title Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston Charlotte by David Foenkinos A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary…

We read all six Booker shortlisted books, now join us as we evaluate them and try to second-guess the Booker judges, before finding out the winner - don't miss our hot take. 'A novel is a mirror carried along a high road' says Chair of the Booker judges Esi Edyugan, quoting Stendhal. 'Year after year', she continues, 'the Booker Prize encourages us to take sight of ourselves in the lives of others, to slip for the length of a story into different skins, to grapple with unfamiliar worlds that allow us to see our own afresh.' Unsurprisingly, seeing the world as it is right now has led to the most downbeat shortlist in our collective memory, but that doesn't mean these books don't make for fantastic discussion. As ever, we won't spoil the plots we'll just give you a sense of what we thought of them. Join me, Kate, with Laura, our regular guest Phil Chaffee, and first-timer, book blogger Martin Voke, as we talk through The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (audiobook narrated by Heather O'Sullivan, Barry Fitzgerald, Beau…

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry has sold over 2 and a half million copies worldwide since publication in 1985, and won a Pulitzer Prize. With prose as 'as smooth as worn saddle-leather', USA today writes 'If you read only one Western novel in your life, read this one . . . no other has ever approached the accomplishment of Lonesome Dove'. More interesting to us, Lonesome Dove is one of those 'if-you-know-you-know' books, passed from reader to reader, once read, never forgotten. And yet not everyone is a fan – listen in to see what Laura's book club made of it. As ever we're careful not to spoil the plot, so rest assured we won't give away any of the book's secrets. We're also recommending some follow-ons and some favourites from our recent reading piles. Book list Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser Days Without End by Sebastian Barry The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff Austerlitz by W.G. Seabed Sharp by Michelle Dean How to Talk About Books you Haven't Read by Pierre Bayard Notes If you read one article on…

Irish author Claire Keegan is generally considered to be one of the finest writers working today. 'Every word is the right word in the right place, and the effect is resonant and deeply moving' said Hilary Mantel, of her work, while for Colm Toiíbín 'Claire Keegan makes her moments real – and then she makes them matter.' Praise indeed, but what did our brand new podcast book club make of So Late in the Day, her most recently published short story? We'll be reporting back. And we're also rounding up a few stand-outs from our recent reading piles, from J. L. Carr's meditative classic A Month in the Country to V.E. Schwab's latest fantasy novel The Fragile Threads of Power. Book list So Late in the Day and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt, The Road to the City by Natalia Ginsberg in the Storybook ND series Tom Lake, Bel Canto and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn Miss Pym…

Is there any point in doing a nice thing if you can't flaunt it on social media? Can we ever know what it's like to be a bat? If we know Cinderella isn't real, why do we care about whether or not she marries the prince? In this episode Kate is joined by Jonny Thomson, the man behind the popular Instagram account @philosophyminis, and a bestselling book of the same name. With a new title out, Mini Big Ideas, it seemed the perfect time to catch up with him and consider the philosophical ideas that lie behind three works of fiction: The Death of Yvan Illyich by Leo Tolstoy, Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Just what connects these three titles? Listen in to find out, plus a few more book recommendations. All that, plus discover 'the gap', and how knowing about it might change your life, and the benefits of scepticism. Book list On Fairy Stories by J.R.R. Tolkien The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Death of Ivan Illyich by Leo Tolstoy (and in particular…

Whether you're after fly-through-them page-turners or immersive long-reads, or perhaps you're after a challenge, or the perfect discussion book, we've got the list for you. Find out our expert picks from indie-bookshop Bookbar's Chrissy Ryan, a woman at the centre of a hub of reading recommendations from authors, customers and booksellers alike. Kate is swapping notes and sharing her own summer reading pile. Plus just to pack in even more book tips we've got a few extra recommendations from Chrissy's Bookbar team. And so sit back and let us give you books to inspire, inform, amuse and entertain as we see out the summer and anticipate our Autumn reads.BooklistThe Guest by Emma ClineYellowface by Rebecca F. KuangThe Centre, by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqui,Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinSmall Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson,Time's Shelter by Gyorgi Gospodinov,Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwanHow to Read Now and America is not the Heart by Elaine CastilloCahokia Jazz by Francis SpuffordThe Maniac by…

If you've been wondering whether or not to tackle the work of Nobel-prizewinner Annie Ernaux, and in partiular The Years, generally considered to be definitive, listen in and find out what Laura's book club thought (you might be surprised). We're also generally delighted by how interesting the life of 17th-century poet John Donne is in the hands of Katherine Rundell, and her Baillie-Gifford prizewinner Super-Infinite. But were Kate's book club unanimous in their praise? Discover more great reads as we delve into our recent reading piles. Find out the hits and misses, plus the books we've got on the go right now. Booklist The Years by Annie Ernaux Super-Infinite by Katherine Rundell The Banished Immortal by Ha Jin Grey Bees by Andrei Kurkov Avid Reader by Robert Gottlieb (and we also mentioned the film Turn Every Page) Book Lovers by Emily Henry Watch us Dance by Leila Slimani (and we also mentioned her other books Lullaby or The Perfect Nanny, and The Country of Others) Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton (and we…