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. 1d ago

    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)

  2. 6d ago

    Angela Flournoy, author of 'The Wilderness' on Female Friendship, New York & Giving Back

    For today's episode Hannah was joined by Angela Flournoy to discuss her latest novel The Wilderness which you can buy here (UK) & here (US). UK listeners you can pre-order The Turner House here.  In this episode Hannah & Angela discuss the intimacies of female friendship, the differences between New York & L.A, the US' Class system, what Angela's DJ requests are + 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 Angela & her work via angelaflournoy.com & Instagram Books & other mentions in this episode: Freedom: Essays by Zinzi Clemmons What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons Upcoming UK events: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-conversation-angela-flournoy-with-sarah-gwonyoma-tickets-1986424874272 https://ma.to/event/angela-flournoy-round-table-books-18-aug-2026 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/angela-flournoy-agnes-lidbeck-love-and-politics Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    Angela Flournoy, author of 'The Wilderness' on Female Friendship, New York & Giving Back

  3. Jul 8

    Rosie Walsh, author of 'The One Day You Were My Husband' on Thailand, Writing Twists & A Great Grief Memoir

    For today's episode Hannah was joined by bestselling author Rosie Walsh to discuss her latest novel The One Day You Were My Husband which you can buy here (UK) & here (US). In this episode Rosie discusses the places she's travelled to for writing including Thailand & Stockholm for this novel, they talk about complex families, a couple of brilliant books about grief & loss, writing big twists, research into the medical world 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 Rosie via Instagram Books & other mentions in this episode: An Ocean and A Day by Hannah Richell This Wasn't Meant To Happen by Ali Harris Grey's Anatomy The Pitt Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild The Things You'll Never Know by Ashley Audrain The Push by Ashley Audrain The Man Who Didn't Call by Rosie Walsh The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    Rosie Walsh, author of 'The One Day You Were My Husband' on Thailand, Writing Twists & A Great Grief Memoir

  4. Jul 1

    June Book Club with Anna Goldreich: Queer Utopia, Baby Loss & The Healing Power of Nature

    For our June Book Club episode Hannah was joined by Anna Goldreich to discuss her debut novel The Leveret which is out now and you can find your copy here,  In this episode they discuss exploring baby loss through the lens of a Queer relationship, the healing power of animals and nature, mental health, what a Queer Utopia would look like to Anna 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 Anna via Instagram. Follow Queer Birders Norfolk. Books & other mentions in this episode: A Pizza Hut, a Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut by Hannah Levene Folklore, Myths & Legends of Britain by Reader's Digest Mary and The Rabbit Dream by Noemi Kiss-Deaki Fen by Daisy Johnson A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride Beloved by Toni Morrison Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann The Book Review - Podcast by New York Times Angel Down by Daniel Kraus Curious Readers - Podcast The Book of Birds: A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss by Jackie Morris & Robert Macfarlane The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane & Jackie Morris Small Hours by Bobby Palmer Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    June Book Club with Anna Goldreich: Queer Utopia, Baby Loss & The Healing Power of Nature

  5. Jun 24

    Kathleen MacMahon, author of 'Other People's Lives' on Lily King, Marriage & Grief

    For today's episode Hannah spoke to Kathleen MacMahon about her latest novel Other People's Lives. In this episode they discuss their love for the work of Lily King, how Irish people 'go at things sideways', generational differences 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 Kathleen via Instagram & you can order Other People's Lives here. Books & other mentions in this episode:  The Left and The Lucky by Willy Vlautin Don't Skip Out On Me by Willy Vlautin Heart The Lover by Lily King Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King Euphoria by Lily King My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Once (2007) Sing Street (2016) Power Ballad (2026) A Star is Born (2018) Also by Kathleen: Nothing But Blue Sky, The Home Scar,This Is How It Ends & The Long, Hot Summer Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    Kathleen MacMahon, author of 'Other People's Lives' on Lily King, Marriage & Grief

  6. Jun 19

    Books to Screen: Margo's Got Money Troubles with Amanda Moulson (Curious Readers)

    For the latest instalment in our Books to Screen series, Hannah was joined by Amanda Moulson, co-host of the wonderful Curious Readers podcast to discuss the brilliant adaptation of Margo's Got Money Troubles. In this episode they discuss the recent prominence of sex work in TV shows, who is getting it wrong and who is getting it right, they also talk messy mother/daughter relationships, motherhood, modern America, Amanda's favourite adaptations & 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 listen to Curious Readers here. Follow Amanda via Instagram Follow Curious Readers via Instagram  Mentions in this episode:  Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Margo's Got Money Troubles (2026) Pride & Prejudice (2005) Emma (1996) Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton Rivals Rivals by Jilly Cooper Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving Simon Birch (1998) Conversations with Friends (2022) Normal People (2020) Euphoria Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (2026) https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/euphoria-margo-webcam-sex-work-tv-newest-career-fixation-1236767353/ Bad Sisters (2022) Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    Books to Screen: Margo's Got Money Troubles with Amanda Moulson (Curious Readers)

  7. Jun 17

    Imogen Crimp, author of 'Give Me Everything You've Got' on Second Novel Syndrome, Dorris Lessing & Gothic Settings

    For this week's episode we have returning guest of the podcast, Imogen Crimp! In this episode Hannah and Imogen discuss second novel syndrome, exploring the world of filmmaking, writing gothic settings, the influence of Dorris Lessing on this story, Japanese fiction and a recent great film.  PSA: There were some technical difficulties in this episode but we have tried to edit those out where possible.  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.  Buy Imogen's books:  A Very Nice Girl & Give Me Everything You've Got Books & other mentions in this episode:  A Quiet Place by Seicho Matsumoto In Gratitude by Jenny Diski Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë The Turn of The Screw by Henry James Romería (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!

    Imogen Crimp, author of 'Give Me Everything You've Got' on Second Novel Syndrome, Dorris Lessing & Gothic Settings

  8. Jun 10

    S7 Debut Spotlight-10. Natalie Adler (The AIDS crisis, Queer Community & Ghosts)

    For the final episode in season 7 of our Debut Spotlight series, Hannah was joined by author & editor Natalie Adler to discuss her debut novel Waiting On A Friend, which you can buy here (US) and here (UK). In this episode they discuss the AIDS crisis, the research that helped Natalie to explore this subject, how relevant it still is and how dangerous medical misinformation can be. They also dive into the beautiful friendships of this book and the importance of Community, especially for Queer people. Aswell as this they talk about the work its taken to get to publication, how she immersed herself in 80s New York and of course, a ton of book recommendations for you.  Apologies for the change in audio quality halfway through (for Hannah), laptop/mic/port issues, very boring but apologies all the same! 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 Natalie via Instagram & natalie-adler.com Books & other mentions in this episode:  New Skin by Sarah Wang Let The Record Show by Sarah Schulman The Undying by Anne Boyer https://lithub.com/why-does-sickness-feel-so-isolating-when-everyone-is-sick/ Russian Doll (2019) Natalie Adler- Waiting On A Friend Research People in Trouble by Sarah Schulman Rat Bohemia by Sarah Schulman Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, 1980–1983 by Tim Lawrence Fear City: New York's Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics by Kim Phillips-Fein Waiting on a Friend: The Playlist YouTube- 5ninthavenueproject Voyagers by Meg Charlton The Red Sacrament by Sara Hinkley Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    S7 Debut Spotlight-10. Natalie Adler (The AIDS crisis, Queer Community & Ghosts)
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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
    211
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hannah MacDonald
  • Show Website
    A Pair of Bookends

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