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Oliver Burkeman for books podcast episode on Meditations for Mortals

Meditations for Mortals, with Oliver Burkeman • Episode #169

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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 […]

With New Year's resolutions still in mind it's the perfect time to 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'. He joins Kate to discuss it.

So Many Damn Books interview with Christopher Hermelin

So Many Damn Books • Episode #143

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So Many Damn Books is a show that aims to celebrate reading in all its forms, and to do so with a cocktail in hand. For over 200 episodes now Christoper Hermelin has been chatting to authors and crafting them bespoke drinks. From George Saunders and Ruth Ozeki to lesser-known but no less interesting authors, […]

So Many Damn Books is a show that aims to celebrate reading in all its forms, and to do so with a cocktail in hand. Kate catches up with host Christopher Hermelin to discuss crafting the perfect cocktail, all-time favourite reads and how to stay on top of the TBR.

Books podcast: Fitzcarraldo editions podcast interview

Fitzcarraldo Editions, with Jacques Testard • #132

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This episode is a celebration of the joy we find in Fitzcarraldo Editions, an independent publishing house that makes no concessions towards mass appeal but instead offers up books that are consistently ambitious, imaginative and innovative. Their hallmark is their plain typographic covers that allow the words inside to speak for themselves. The editorial line […]

Join us as we deep-dive into Fitzcarraldo Editions, the independent publisher started by Jacques Testard and now publishing four Nobel prizewinners. Which of their books are our favourites? Which do we recommend? And why are they all so sad? Important questions, and we’re joined by Sam MacAuslan, keen Fitzcarraldo reader, to help answer them and uncover some particular gems from the list. Listen here or via your favourite podcatcher at this link, or go to the episode page for full show notes.

Books podcast: Rob Delaney A Heart That Works podcast episode

A Heart That Works, with Rob Delaney • #131

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In episode #131 we’re joined by comedian, actor and author Rob Delaney to talk about his book A Heart That Works. As so often with books that pack a powerful emotional punch this deals with a difficult subject as Rob tells the story of the death of his young son Henry, and considers his own […]

We’re joined by comedian, actor and author Rob Delaney to talk about his book A Heart That Works, in which he tells the story of the death of his young son. We discuss the wisdom and solace to be found in books with some great recommendations along the way.

Mrs Dalloway • #123

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Dull account of one woman’s day or rich and resonant masterpiece? Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf has divided readers since it was published and continues to spark debate today. In London, one day in June, 1923, society hostess Clarissa Dalloway sets out to buy flowers for a party she is giving that evening. Returning home […]

Dull account of one woman’s day or rich and resonant masterpiece? Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf has divided readers since it was published and continues to spark debate today. Join Kate and special guest, prolific reader and Instagram book reviewer Charles Pignal as they dive into Dalloway and debate the results. Plus a host of other book recommendations on a London theme.

The Year I Stopped to Notice by Miranda Keeling

The Year I Stopped to Notice, with Miranda Keeling • #120

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We fly through books pretty fast here at The Book Club Review. And so we were delighted to be joined by Miranda Keeling, whose book The Year I Stopped to Notice showed us the delights of slowing down and noticing the little things happening all around us. She joined us in the shed to talk […]

We fly through books pretty fast here at The Book Club Review. And so we were delighted to be joined by Miranda Keeling, whose book The Year I Stopped to Notice showed us the delights of slowing down and noticing the little things happening all around us. We've also got some fabulous related book recommendations so listen in and let us help you choose your next read.

What to read and when podcast episode

What to read and when, with Francesca Beauman • #115

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Book recommendations galore from author Francesca Beauman, who is also publisher and bookshop proprietor of Persephone Books. In her latest book, The Literaray Almanac, Francesca aims to guide readers in choosing books that chime with moments in the year – from hopeful books to read in March to school-curriculum classics not-nearly-as-boring-as-you-remember them in September. We […]

Join us as we learn how to pick the right book at the right time, with Francesca Beauman, author of The Literary Almanac and publisher and bookseller at Persephone Books.

Kate Sawyer author

The Stranding with Kate Sawyer • #108

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Join us as we talk all things books, whales and the 2021 Costa Prize shortlist with Kate Sawyer, author of The Stranding. It’s a novel about a woman who survives the end-of-the-world by hiding inside the belly of a whale. Listen via the media player above or your favourite podcast app. ‘Ruth lives in the […]

Kate Sawyer, joins us, author of the Costa shortlisted novel The Stranding, in which a woman survives the end of the world by hiding inside a beached whale. We also consider the broader canon of apocalypse novels, we've got three brilliant book-club recommendations from Kate (see below) plus follow-on reads from us, and we get a sneak peak into Kate's reading pile as she lets us in on some of her recent favourites.

Adam Ashton and Adam Jones

‘What You Will Learn’ with Adam Ashton and Adam Jones • #103

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We love book discussion here at The Book Club Review, the more books the better, so we were interested in two Australians who devour books on everything from self-improvement to business and marketing for their weekly podcast What You Will Learn. Adam Ashton and Adam Jones have recently launched their own book, The Sh*t They […]

Listen in to find out the books that can help you improve your life from Adam Ashton and Adam Jones, two Australians who have turned reading improving books into an art form with their weekly podcast What You Will Learn.

Seb Emina The Happy Reader

The Happy Reader, with Seb Emina • #98

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A magazine that has always been dear to our hearts is Penguin’s Happy Reader, an occasional publication that takes inspiration from the idea of a book club. In the early days of the podcast we were delighted to interview its editor Seb Emina. To celebrate the launch of The Happy Reader‘s latest edition we’re releasing […]

To celebrate the launch of the latest issue of our favourite magazine, Penguin's Happy Reader, we're happily re-releasing our interview with its editor, Seb Emina. Listen in for his best book discoveries, find out what goes into creating the perfect bookish magazine and if you're thinking of starting a book club, Seb has some interesting suggestions for meet ups.

Chrissy Ryan of Bookbar bookshop

Bookbar, with Chrissy Ryan • #96

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We got together with Chrissy Ryan, founder of new North London bookshop and bar Bookbar to talk about her vision for a social space where people feel welcome whether they read a book a day, a week, a month or a year. You know when you walk into an independent bookshop and the selection is […]

Combining bookshop and bar seems almost too good to be true. Join us as we live the dream chatting to Chrissy Ryan of Bookbar, a bookshop and events space that embraces the social side of reading. Listen in for a dose of Chrissy's joyous enthusiasm for books, her essential selection of books she loves right now and her hot picks of the ones that are coming soon.

portrait of Ella Berthoud

92. Ella Berthoud and The Art of Mindful Reading

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Or listen via your podcast feed: https://pod.fo/e/c5bc5 Bibliotherapist and author (with Susan Elderkin) of classic books about books The Novel Cure and The Story Cure, Ella Berthoud’s most recent work is The Art of Mindful Reading, a practical guide that promises to help people to read more mindfully, bringing their lives to books and books […]

We're joined by Bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud whose book The Art of Mindful Reading promises to help us engage more deeply with the books that we read. Expect lots of book recommendations in this show, plus advice on everything from how to keep a successful book journal to what to do when you’re not enjoying your book club book. Listen in and learn how to make the very most of your precious reading time, and even find out how to carve out more of it.

portrait of Little Library Cookbook author Kate Young for Book Club Review podcast episode

90. The Little Library Cookbooks

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Or listen in your podcast app here. A cook book with the magic ingredient of reading recommendations • A Little Library Year by Kate Young Now you may be someone who prefers to spend your time reading rather than cooking, but what if there was a cookbook that enabled you to do both? It was […]

Listen in as we talk all things cooking and reading thanks to The Little Library cookbooks, which brilliantly combine the two. Author Kate Young tells us what to cook in an Apocalypse, her childhood reading favourites, and her current reading recommendations plus a perfect pick for book club.

man posting a letter into ER postbox to illustrate The Postal Book Club

86. The Postal Book Club

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Or listen via your podcast app here. Before the internet you may remember people used to send letters to friends in the post. Well, book blogger and podcaster Simon Thomas came up with the wonderfully romantic idea of posting a book (with attached notepad for comments) from friend to friend around the world, eventually receiving […]

A book sent from friend to friend with attached notebook for comments, eventually returning to the original sender. A slow form of book club that makes for a charming antidote to our digital era. Listen in to hear more.

photo of Kate Macdonald

82. Handheld Press publishers

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Or listen via your podcast app here. 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 […]

Many readers may have dreamed of it, but what's it really like running your own publishing house? Kate Macdonald tells us about Handheld Press, and her mission to seek out forgotten fiction and authors who need to be rediscovered.

76. Emily’s Walking Book Club

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A breath of fresh air in the form of Emily’s Walking Book Club. Join us as we wander the green spaces of London’s Hampstead Heath, coming up with book recommendations along the way.

A breath of fresh air in the form of Emily's Walking Book Club. Join us as we wander the green spaces of London's Hampstead Heath, coming up with book recommendations along the way.

70. The BritLit Podcast

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Lockdown kept us indoors, but in some ways it opened our horizons. With a little help from technology we crossed 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. From Claire’s novel Unscripted to her favourite recent reads, […]

Claire Handscombe tells us about her mission to bring the best British books to America, plus what makes for the perfect beach read.

67. London Archives Book Club

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The London Metropolitan Archives collects, preserves, celebrates and shares the stories of London and Londoners. They also have a book group, open to all, that meets monthly to explore a range of London writing, fiction or non-fiction, for all periods in London history. Not only do participants get to discuss the book, they also get […]

Where history and literature combine, the London Metropolitan Archives book club tackles everything from Ben Judah's controversial This Is London to the surprisingly racy 18th-century journal of James Boswell. Archivists Charlie and Claire tell us more.

64. Crib Notes

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The early days of motherhood might not seem an obvious moment to expand your reading horizons, but for Elizabeth Morris the combination of night-time wake-ups and heightened emotional sensitivity led her to a new appreciation of the printed word. After the birth of her son she decided to build on her career in the book […]

When all you have are stolen moments, you want to be sure you're spending them with the right book. Enter Elizabeth Morris, creator of brilliant books newsletter Crib Notes. Listen in to hear her recommendations for new and busy mothers – and meet guest star baby Rose.

56. Bee’s Bookshare

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We discover 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 […]

In Margate, by the sea, Bee runs a book club with a difference, everyone reads a different book, brings it along to discuss, and then takes a new book home at the end.

53. The Family Book Club

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If you’d like to start a book club but are wondering who to invite, how about staying close to home? Annie and Dave tell us about their successful family book club, which has kept their family engaging with books and debating their merits for seven years now. They share their tips for making it work […]

Looking to take your next family get-together to another level? Just add books. Annie and Dave tell us how to do it – and how to stay civil when the debate heats up.

51. Barnabees Secondhand Bookshop

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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 how her shop is in a small way a protest against the data-gathering online giants, why in her shop the books they find you, and why books benefit […]

In the best bookshops, you don’t find the books, they find you. Or so insists Tyona, proud owner of what she wryly calls 'the second best secondhand bookshop in Westleton, Suffolk'.

49. The Second Shelf Bookshop

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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. Proprietor A. N. Devers told us how she went from rare-book dealing to shopkeeping. We also hear about the bookshelves that regularly make […]

Tucked away in a quiet Soho courtyard, this jewel box of a bookshop is doing something radical: selling rare books by women and women only. Founder A.N. Devers tells us how the small act of collecting is transformative for the canon.

47. The Margate Bookshop

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Ever dreamed of owning a bookstore? How about one a stone’s throw from the beach? When Francesca Wilkins realised the British seaside town of Margate didn’t have a bookshop selling new titles, she realised it was the perfect place to realise her lifelong ambition and launch her own. Listen in for the behind-the-scenes story and the […]

Ever dreamed of owning a bookstore? How about one a stone’s throw from the beach? Francesca Wilkins tells us how she made the ultimate dream a reality.

42. Books on the Go Podcast

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For a ton of great recommendations – most of which were new to us – we turned to Anna Baillie-Karas from Australian podcast Books on the Go. Listen in to hear about some books that might be new to you, or ones that you might have overlooked when they came out. And finally a book […]

We caught up with Anna Baillie-Karas, host of one of our favourite podcasts, Books on the Go, on a flying visit to London. Listen in for a ton of great book recommendations.

39. Book of the Year Club

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Too often in the reading world we chase the latest new release. So, it was a great pleasure to interview Simon Thomas who specialises in seeking out books from the past. We discuss his unusual take on a book club where he and like-minded book bloggers read and review books from a particular year in […]

Up for a spot of time travel? Then join Simon Thomas and his band of book bloggers as they transport themselves back in time by each reading a book – any book – published from a specific year.

36. The Mostly Harmless Book Club

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From Game of Thrones to Watership Down, via Haruki Marukami, Margaret Atwood, Frank Herbert and everything in-between, Mostly Harmless are a thriving book club devoted to sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comics. We interviewed founders Derek and Barbara about the hits and misses over the years. They shared a great set of expert recommendations for die-hard […]

From Game of Thrones to Watership Down, we talk to Derek and Barbara who run Mostly Harmless, a flourishing book club devoted to sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comics. They give us recommendations for everyone from die-hard enthusiasts to genre first-timers.

34. Simon Schama

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A special interview with Simon Schama, historian, academic, documentary maker, journalist, cultural polymath and keen fiction reader. Listen in to find out what sends him to sleep happy, how his reading informs his writing, his favourite bookstores, his views on the pleasure of imperfect books, and best of all a ton of book suggestions. Plus […]

Historian, academic, documentary maker, journalist, cultural polymath, Simon Schama is also a keen reader of fiction. Listen in to find out what sends him to sleep happy, his views on the pleasure of imperfect books, and best of all a ton of book recommendations.

33.5 The Horror Book Club

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What’s it like to be in a book club that only reads frightening books? And what is fear anyway? It turns out it means different things to different people. Join us for a fascinating interview with Andy Russell, who runs London’s Horror Book Club, and find out why there may be much more to the […]

What's it like to be in a book club that only reads frightening books? And what is fear anyway? It turns out it means different things to different people. Join us for a fascinating interview with Andy Russell, who runs London's Horror Book Club, and find out why there may be much more to the horror genre than you think.

31. London Literary Salon

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Whether for book club or your TBR shelf, 2019 may be the year for a challenge. But what is it about classics such as Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, or Homer’s Iliad, James Joyce’s Ulysses or Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain that makes them seem more daunting than pleasurable? Fear not, we have just the […]

Whether for book club or your TBR shelf, 2019 may be the year for a challenge. But what is it about classics such as Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, or Homer’s Iliad, James Joyce's Ulysses or Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain that makes them seem more daunting than pleasurable? Listen in to find out how Toby guides her group through books that many struggle to finish alone.

28. The Paperbacks Book Club

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From hockey team to all-male book club with 50+ members, Jim West tells us how founding The Paperbacks revealed ‘the great undiscovered demographic’: men who read. Book recommendations Madness, Betrayal and the Lash: The Epic Voyage of Captain George Vancouver by Stephen R. Bown The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie by […]

From hockey team to all-male book club with over fifty members, Jim West tells us how founding The Paperbacks revealed 'the great undiscovered demographic': men who read.

25. Lesbian Book Club

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What do you do when your small start-up book club is so popular that you quickly become overwhelmed with new members? For Eléonore Pratoussy of the Lesbian Book Club in East London, it signalled a need for more lesbian book groups. Happily she has a plan to expand. Eléonore and fellow bookclubbers Caroline and Carina […]

What do you do when your small start-up book club is so popular that you quickly become overwhelmed with new members? For Eléonore Pratoussy of the Lesbian Book Club in East London, it signalled a need for more lesbian book groups. Listen in to hear the secrets of her success and a ton of great book recommendations.</strong.

15. The Jilly Cooper Book Club

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  Jilly Cooper novels fall into that category that high-minded readers might dismiss as frivolous and yet the books were bestsellers in their day, and continue to be much loved by those in-the-know. Romance, horses, outsized characters and lots of romping sex, all written with verve and tongue-in-cheek humour not to mention a rich sprinkling […]

Queen of the Bonkbuster? Or the Jane Austen of our time? Journalist Kat Brown tells us why the two don't have to be mutually exclusive.