For a long time, according to our podcast stats, this was our most-popular episode, downloaded more than any other. Just what is it about This Is London by Ben Judah that makes people so curious?
Judah’s book is a spare and unflinching investigation into what life in London can be like for the migrants who make up over 40% of the city’s population. Judah wants his readers to sit up and take notice, and Laura’s book club did, but found themselves frustrated and impressed in equal measure – a good formula for debate. Listen in, and see what you think.
Also in this episode we tease out the best new book-club reads with Claire Griffiths, who runs the book club at brilliant North-London neighbourhood bookshop Ink@84.
And still more recommendations we visited one of London’s most magical bookish spots, Word on the Water, the floating bookshop moored on the Regent’s Canal at King’s Cross. Listen in for our chat with one of the bookshop’s three founders, Jon Privett.
Listen via the media player above or your own podcast app with this Podfollow link
Book recommendations for This is London episode
- Second-Hand Time by Svetlana Alexievich
- Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
- The Power by Naomi Alderman
- The Return by Hisham Matar
- Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
- Swimming With Sharks by Joris Luyendijk
- A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks
- NW by Zadie Smith
- The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver
- The Last London by Ian Sinclair
Notes on This is London episode
Explore the delights of Ink@84 bookshop.
Find out more about Word on the Water.
If you can’t get to an indie bookshop in person, you can still support them by buying your books online from bookshop.org.
