The Book Club Review The Book Club Review

In celebration of our 100th episode we turn the spotlight on ourselves a little more than usual to answer listeners' questions. From our favourite childhood reads to the books that shaped us as adults, from books which kept us up all night to books we disagree on (with a shocking mid-show revelation from Laura that threatens to derail the whole discussion), listen in to learn more about us as readers and how we came to make the podcast. 

It’s our 2021 Women’s Prize shortlist episode. We’re joined by guests Elizabeth Morris and Sarah Oliver to discuss every book on the shortlist. But did we love them? Did we loathe them? Most importantly who do we think should win. Listen in to our spoiler-free show and feel inspired to pick up one or all six of these amazing books.

We're huge fans of 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 that interview again. From the thinking that goes into every issue, from treasure hunts to the perfect way to drink your tea, from book recommendations to unusual ideas for book club meet ups, this episode has it all. 

Join us as we discuss The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's a modern classic, 1989 Booker Prize winner and the author is also the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature but none of this led Laura to hold back, calling it 'dull' and incredibly slow reading. But, of course, hers is not the only voice, so listen in to find out what Kate thought, and what Laura's book club thought. We've also got some book recommendations for your next book club read.

We chat with Chrissy Ryan, founder of Bookbar, a new bookshop and bar in North London, a social space where people can discover their next read and meet other readers in a place where conversation is encouraged. We loved hearing about everything from Chrissy's in-house book club featuring authors like Brit Bennett and Curtis Sittenfeld to her shelf-medicate book subscription service – as Chrissy says, like having a literary matchmaker on speed-dial. Listen in for Chrissy's must-reads out now or coming soo

Listen in for Laura’s take on Matt Haig's bestselling The Midnight Library, meanwhile Kate gets swept into literary Paris. Laura takes us to Iceland with an immersive novel that she now wants everyone to drop everything and read, and we catch up with Deborah Levy with the third volume of her living autobiography, Real Estate. Also, we consider what it’s like to live in Iceland for two years with writer Sarah Moss, and remember Boomerang, Michael Lewis’s enjoyable (though also alarming) economic world