A Pair of Bookends

Hannah MacDonald
  • 1.0 (1)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

A weekly bookish podcast hosted by Hannah MacDonald. Join us for monthly Book Club episodes - read the book at your own pace and then listen to us deep dive with the author! Our Debut Spotlight series is to put the freshest authors and their work firmly on your radar and in our new series we bring you a monthly culture round up of all the recommendations we've collected over the previous month of consuming. Follow us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram and @apairofbookends on Twitter and TIk Tok.

  1. 15h ago

    Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of 'About To Fall Apart' on Fictionalising Family Secrets, Emiliano Sala & Writing Rhythm

    For today's episode, Hannah was joined by author Ashley Hickson-Lovence to discuss his latest novel About To Fall Apart, which is out now and you can buy here.  In this episode they discuss the story that inspired this novel and what it was like navigating those difficult conversations with family when writing their history. They also chat about influences like Max Porter, Caleb Femi, Irish folk music and Gemma Dunleavy, creating a story within a story, Emiliano Sala plus much more.  If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  You can follow Ashley via Instagram & ashleyhicksonlovence.com Books & other mentions in this episode:  Jhalak Prize Why I Am Not A Bus Driver by Ashley Hickson-Lovence into the wreck by Susannah Dickey Big Man by Dean Atta Six Weeks by Matt Goodfellow Shy by Max Porter Ashley reading 'About To Fall Apart' Inua Ellams Poor by Caleb Femi The 392 by Ashley Hickson-Lovence Your Show by Ashley Hickson-Lovence Gemma Dunleavy 'Up De Flats' Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan Small Things Like These (2024) Christy (2025) Dead Ends by Ashley Hickson-Lovence Getdown Services- Dog Dribble Marty Supreme (2025) I, Jack Wright (2025) Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of 'About To Fall Apart' on Fictionalising Family Secrets, Emiliano Sala & Writing Rhythm

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Summer Reading Recs From Your Favourite Authors

    For this year's Summer reading episode, 20 different authors have very kindly sent in recordings offering up the books they think you should be reading this summer and beyond, think of this episode as voicenotes from your bookish pals!  If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  Authors featured in order of appearance: Rebecca Perry, author of May We Feed The King Shahed Ezaydi, author of The Othered Woman: How White Feminism Harms Muslim Women Hannah Beer, author of I Make My Own Fun Bobby Palmer, author of Main Characters Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb Marcia Hutchinson, author of The Mercy Step Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of Almost Life Seth Insua, author of Human, Animal Emma Hinds, author of Witchlore Emily Slapper, author of It Might Never Happen Nussaibah Younis, author of Fundamentally Madeleine Gray, author of Chosen Family Ashley Thorpe, author of Spirit Warriors Stephanie Yeboah, author of Doing It For The Plot Celia Silvani, author of Just Between Mothers Keiran Goddard, author of I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning Stacey Yu, author of Kitten Alice Slater, author of Let The Bad Times Roll Jodie Chapman, author of California Gold Eliza Clark, author of She's Always Hungry Books recommended: Florenzer by Phil Melanson The Project by Annie Lord The Wedding People by Alison Espach Less by Andrew Sean Greer Life Cycle of a Moth by Rowe Irvin Act Normal by Pete Kalu Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer The Summer Book by Tove Jansson Tender by Lauren Du Plessis Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan Mother Mary Comes To Me by Arundhati Roy Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido Smallie by Eden McKenzie-Goddard I Want You To Be Happy by Jem Calder The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson Question 7 by Richard Flanagan Claudine in Paris by Colette Hello, Limerence by Momo Yamaguchi Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje Permanence by Sophie Mackintosh Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

  3. Aug 7

    S8 Debut Spotlight- 3. Rebecca Bainbridge (Pitching Advice, School Gates Politics & Liane Moriarty)

    For the latest instalment in our Debut Spotlight series, Rebecca Bainbridge joined us to discuss her debut novel The Pool Party which you can buy here.  In this episode Hannah & Rebecca discuss how Rebecca's Mum got her into reading, the influences behind Rebecca's novel from Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies to Christos Tsiolkas's The Slap, they also get into school gates politics, how Dads are frequently praised for basic parenting and how trauma affects her characters. Rebecca also gives great advice for pitching and events for debut authors plus much more.  If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  You can follow Rebecca via Instagram & Facebook Books & other mentions in this episode: Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer Less by Andrew Sean Greer Books + Bits - Substack Patricia Cornwell Maeve Binchy Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas  Motherland (BBC) None of This is True by Lisa Jewell Lucy Foley Female, Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by M.K. Oliver Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    S8 Debut Spotlight- 3. Rebecca Bainbridge (Pitching Advice, School Gates Politics & Liane Moriarty)

  4. Aug 5

    Louise Beech/Swanson, author of 'Wonderful' on Marilyn Monroe, Fame & Shame

    For today's episode Hannah was joined by returning guest of the podcast Louise Beech- who also writes as Louise Swanson- to discuss her latest novel Wonderful, a reimagining of a world in which Marilyn Monroe didn't die at 36 and instead went on to live a long and fulfilling life.  In this episode Hannah and Louise discuss where Louise's love for Marilyn began, some of her favourite books and documentaries that reflect the person she truly was, how fame and celebrity culture can disproportionately harm women, why Northern and Class representation matter to her and much more.  If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  You can follow Louise via louisebeech.co.uk & Instagram You can buy Wonderful here. Books & other mentions in this episode: How To Be Brave by Louise Beech Eighteen Seconds by Louise Beech The Lion Tamer Who Lost by Louise Beech End of Story by Louise Swanson Lights Out by Louise Swanson Marilyn And Her Books by Gail Crowther https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/festival/theakston-old-peculier-crime-writing-festival/ Notes on an Obsession by C.L Taylor In My Good Books- Podcast My Sister Marilyn by Bernice Baker Miracle Love, Marilyn (2012) Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    Louise Beech/Swanson, author of 'Wonderful' on Marilyn Monroe, Fame & Shame

  5. Jul 31

    Chloë Ashby, author of 'Family Friends' on Messy Families, Power Dynamics & Tracey Emin

    For today's episode Hannah was joined by returning guest of the pod Chloë Ashby to discuss her latest novel Family Friends which you can buy here. In this episode they discuss writing about messy families and relationships, lust and desire & money and class- all the good stuff! Chloë also spoke about her feelings on the Tracey Emin exhibition, how much she loved Hamnet and told us what the cultural family tree for her book would be. If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  You can follow Chloë via Instagram & via chloeashby.com Her previous novels include: Wet Paint and Second Self Books & other mentions in this episode: The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken A Long Game: How To Write Fiction Fleabag Atonement by Ian McEwan The Accidental by Ali Smith A Bigger Splash (2015) https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/tracey-emin Venus, Vanishing by Rebecca Birrell Land by Maggie O'Farrell Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Hamnet (2025) Poor Things (2023) Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    Chloë Ashby, author of 'Family Friends' on Messy Families, Power Dynamics & Tracey Emin

  6. Jul 29

    July Book Club with Claire Daverley: Weddings, 'Guiding Light' Books & The Bear

    For our July Book Club, we invited you to join us in reading People in Love, the much-anticipated second novel from Claire Daverley. In this episode, Hannah & Claire discuss the books that have been 'guiding lights' for Claire whilst working on this project, how useful running & wild swimming are for her as a writer, long-term relationships, weddings, tragedy, The Bear, dinner party scenes, AI & a very exciting food game... If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  You can buy People in Love here. You can follow Claire via Instagram & Substack Books & other mentions in this episode: Talking at Night by Claire Daverley Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason Cold New Climate by Isobel Wohl Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Normal People by Sally Rooney Saltwater by Jessica Andrews Expectation by Anna Hope Gilmore Guys Podcast The Bear The Bear- "Fishes" Script Fleabag Season 2 Episode 1 Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    July Book Club with Claire Daverley: Weddings, 'Guiding Light' Books & The Bear

  7. Jul 24

    S8 Debut Spotlight- 2. Amman Brar (Post Office Scandal, Life in Punjab, Writing Stage vs Page)

    For today's instalment in our Debut Spotlight series, Hannah was joined by Amman Brar to discuss his debut novel 'Mr Sidhu's Post Office' which you can buy here.  In this episode they discuss the Horizon Scandal, how Amman's father influenced the character of Mr Sidhu, life in Punjab, writing for theatre vs writing novels plus much more! If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  You can follow Amman via Instagram. Books & other mentions in this episode:  This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin Mr Bates vs The Post Office The Great Post Office Scandal by Nick Wallis Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    S8 Debut Spotlight- 2. Amman Brar (Post Office Scandal, Life in Punjab, Writing Stage vs Page)

  8. Jul 22

    S8 Debut Spotlight- 1. Jessica Elisabeth (Empowering Women, Green Flag Men & Off Campus)

    Kicking off Season 8 in our Debut Spotlight series is Jessica Elisabeth, author of Bloodline of the Coven. In this episode Jessica talks about wanting to be 'that girl in the bathroom hyping everyone up', balancing writing with work and motherhood and learning the importance of community. There may also be mentions of Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, Off Campus and witches, you've been warned... If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok.  You can follow Jessia via Instagram & you can order a copy of Bloodline of the Coven here.  Books & other mentions in this episode:  Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Off Campus The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    S8 Debut Spotlight- 1. Jessica Elisabeth (Empowering Women, Green Flag Men & Off Campus)
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About

A weekly bookish podcast hosted by Hannah MacDonald. Join us for monthly Book Club episodes - read the book at your own pace and then listen to us deep dive with the author! Our Debut Spotlight series is to put the freshest authors and their work firmly on your radar and in our new series we bring you a monthly culture round up of all the recommendations we've collected over the previous month of consuming. Follow us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram and @apairofbookends on Twitter and TIk Tok.

Information

  • Creator
    Hannah MacDonald
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    218
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hannah MacDonald
  • Show Website
    A Pair of Bookends

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