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. S7. Debut Spotlight- 6. Rosie Storey (Dating Apps, Messy Characters & Loss)

    10H AGO

    S7. Debut Spotlight- 6. Rosie Storey (Dating Apps, Messy Characters & Loss)

    For the latest episode in our Debut Spotlight series, Hannah was joined by author Rosie Storey to discuss her debut novel Dandelion is Dead (spoiler free!). In this episode they discuss loss, the sister dynamic, continuing to write in the face of rejection 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 Rosie via Instagram You can buy Dandelion is Dead here (UK) & here (US) Books & other mentions in this episode:  Heart the Lover by Lily King Writers & Lovers by Lily King Black Bag by Luke Kennard Motherfaker by Anna Brook-Mitchell No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories by Miranda July All Fours by Miranda July "Roy Spivey" by Miranda July https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-writers-voice/david-sedaris-reads-roy-spivey-by-miranda-july The Book of Other People- Edited by Zadie 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!

    44 min
  2. Books to Screen: Shy by Max Porter/ Steve (Netflix) with Katherine Brabon

    5D AGO

    Books to Screen: Shy by Max Porter/ Steve (Netflix) with Katherine Brabon

    For the latest instalment in our Books to Screen series, Hannah was joined by Australian author Katherine Brabon to discuss Shy by Max Porter and it's Netflix film adaptation Steve. In this episode they discuss perspective and the use of it in storytelling, Cillian Murphy & Jay Lycurgo's performances, Porter's experimental style plus lots 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 Katherine via Instagram or via katherinebrabon.com You can buy her novel Body Friend here (UK) You can buy her latest novel Cure here (UK) or here (AUS) Books & other mentions in this episode:  Shy by Max Porter Steve (2025) Burning (2018) Barn Burning by Haruki Murakami Romeo & Juliet (1996) My Brilliant Friend (2018) My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante The New Boy (2023) The Secret History by Donna Tartt Our Secret History Episode Hot Milk by Deborah Levy Hot Milk (2025) The Quiet Girl (2022) Foster by Claire Keegan Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan Small Things Like These (2024) Ripley (2024) The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith Love & Virtue by Diana Reid Sense and Sensibility (2026) The Odyssey (2026) Frankenstein (2025) Mary Shelley (2017) Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux Simple Passion (2020) The Death of Francis Bacon by Max Porter All of This Unreal Time (2021) All of This Unreal Time by Max Porter My Husband by Maud Ventura Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    59 min
  3. April Book Club with Beth O'Leary: Community, Fave Romance Writers & Name Twins

    APR 22

    April Book Club with Beth O'Leary: Community, Fave Romance Writers & Name Twins

    For our April Book Club episode Hannah was joined by multi-million copy bestselling author Beth O'Leary to discuss her latest novel The Name Game. In this episode, Hannah and Beth discuss the importance of community, exploring addiction & anxiety in this novel, Beth's favourite romance authors plus lots 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 Beth via Instagram & TikTok.  You can buy The Name Game here (UK) & here (US) Books & other mentions in this episode:  In Love with Love by Ella Risbridger The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary The Flatshare (2022) Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan Lia Louis Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune Taffy Brodesser-Akner One & Only by Maurene Goo Swept Away by Beth O'Leary The Switch by Beth O'Leary Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    44 min
  4. Books to Screen: Project Hail Mary with Susie Green (In My Good Books)

    APR 17

    Books to Screen: Project Hail Mary with Susie Green (In My Good Books)

    For our latest instalment in our Books to Screen series, Hannah was joined by host of In My Good Books podcast, Susie Green to discuss one of the hottest films of 2026 and what can now be considered one of the most successful Books to Screen adaptations- Project Hail Mary. In this episode they discuss how the book and film compare, the parts of the book they missed in the adaptation, the scenes they loved in the film, the casting choices, beloved Rocky plus much more.  You can follow Susie via Instagram: susiesbookreviews, Instagram: inmygoodbookspod You can listen to In My Good Books via Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or via your preferred platform!) Books & other mentions in this episode:  Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Project Hail Mary (2026) Misery (1990) The Lamb by Lucy Rose The Witches (1990) Twilight (2008) The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Rivals S2 Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray Presumed Innocent (2024) True Detective (2014) All The Colours of The Dark by Chris Whitaker We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker The Handmaid's Tale (2017) The Martian by Andy Weir The Martian (2015) Artemis by Andy Weir Anatomy of a Fall (2023) Bait (2026) Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    1h 2m
  5. Siân Hughes, author of 'No Such Thing As Monday' on Shame, Memory & Gender Inequality

    APR 15

    Siân Hughes, author of 'No Such Thing As Monday' on Shame, Memory & Gender Inequality

    For today's episode Hannah was joined by Booker Prize long-listed author of Pearl, Siân Hughes to discuss her latest novel No Such Thing As Monday. In this episode they discuss memory and how trauma affects it, the writing exercise that led to the protagonist of this novel, representing someone living in poverty, book recommendations and 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 Siân via her books! Buy Pearl here. Buy No Such Thing As Monday here.  Books & other mentions:  The Missing by Siân Hughes Books On The Walls Bookshop My Antonia by Willa Cather Boy with a Black Rooster by Stefanie vor Schulte Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    43 min
  6. Lizzy Stewart, Author & Illustrator of 'The Wreck' on Becoming a Graphic Novelist, Exploring Class & The Joy of Photos

    APR 8

    Lizzy Stewart, Author & Illustrator of 'The Wreck' on Becoming a Graphic Novelist, Exploring Class & The Joy of Photos

    For today's episode Hannah was joined by Author & Illustrator Lizzy Stewart to discuss her latest novel The Wreck. They also discuss her journey to becoming a graphic novelist, writing characters in their 40s, why she's drawn to exploring Class in her work, book recommendations and 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 Lizzy via  Instagram & Substack. You can buy The Wreck here. You can buy Alison here. You can buy Walking Distance here.  Books & other mentions in this episode:  Heartstopper by Alice Oseman Alison by Lizzy Stewart Practice by Rosalind Brown Sally Rooney Meg Mason The Years by Annie Ernaux This is the Place to Be by Lara Pawson Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    52 min
  7. March Book Club with Ela Lee: Censorship, Han (한) and South Korea's Deregulated Adoption Industry

    APR 1

    March Book Club with Ela Lee: Censorship, Han (한) and South Korea's Deregulated Adoption Industry

    For our March Book Club episode Hannah spoke to Ela Lee about her second novel Minbak. In this episode they discuss the parts of South Korean history Ela wanted to explore for this novel, the research process, how 150,000 words were deleted prior to writing this book, mothers and daughters and so much more. For further reading and sources, head to the Afterword of Minbak where Ela has kindly provided the books and sources she used to write this novel.  You can buy Minbak here.  You can buy Jaded here.  You can follow Ela via Instagram or Substack.  You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. Books & other mentions in this episode:  The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo Human Acts by Han Kang Painkiller (Netflix) Dopesick (BBC Iplayer) Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    43 min
  8. S7. Debut Spotlight-5. Bar Fridman-Tell (Blodeuwedd, Body Horror & Epigraphs)

    MAR 25

    S7. Debut Spotlight-5. Bar Fridman-Tell (Blodeuwedd, Body Horror & Epigraphs)

    For the next instalment in our Debut Spotlight series, Hannah was joined by author Bar Fridman-Tell to discuss her debut novel Honeysuckle. In this episode they discuss autonomy, ecological body horror, the welsh myth that inspired this story, lots of book recommendations and 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 Bar via Instagram & www.barfridmantell.com Books & other mentions in this episode: The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman Sinners (2025) Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield Sylvia Plath- Poetry The Brides by Charlotte Cross The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula Homebound by Portia Elan Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers Deathbringer by Sonia Tagliareni Let us know your thoughts by emailing us apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

    41 min
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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
    196
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hannah MacDonald
  • Show Website
    A Pair of Bookends

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