Bookies' Favourite

Aaron Rice, Colin Rice, Lucy, Hannah McGlade
  • 5.0 (1)
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Bookies’ Favourite book club podcast reads literary shortlists and award winning novels. Broadcast journalist Aaron Rice & writer Colin Rice, who has a publishing background, are joined by bookworms Lucy & Hannah. Regularly joined by book club members, authors, publishers, judges, audiobook narrators, book cover designers and bookfluencers. Series 1: International Booker Prize 2025 Shortlist Series 2: Booker Prize 2025 Shortlist Series 3: Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 selected books from the Longlist & Shortlist Series 4: International Booker Prize 2026

  1. She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel | Review | International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist

    15H AGO

    She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel | Review | International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist

    The book club dives into their second read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from the Bulgarian by Izidora Angel, published by Peirene Press. This novel was previously awarded the Bulgarian Elias Canetti Prize in 2019 and the English version won the Gulf Coast Translation Prize 2023. It was awarded the PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant in 2023 and won the PEN Club Français Prize for Translation 2025. The book was also nominated for the Prisma Literary Award. 📘Judging the Book by it’s cover The crew discuss the Hannah's ebook cover. If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy our discussion on another Peirene novel, On the Greenwich Line by Shady lewis, translated from the Arabic by Katharine Halls. ⏭️Next Up The third book in the shortlist that the book club is diving into is Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from the Mandarin Chinese by Lin King, published by And Other Stories. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email bookiesfavouritebookclub@gmail.com Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

    51 min
  2. On Earth as it is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan | Review | International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist

    APR 10

    On Earth as it is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan | Review | International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist

    The book club dives into their first read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. On Earth as it is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated from the Portuguese by Padma Viswanathan, published by Charco Press. This book was also longlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize US & Canada 2026. The original Brazilian Portuguese novel, titled Assim na Terra como embaixo da Terra, won Prêmio São Paulo de Literatura. Part of a shared universe, serving as a sequel to the award winning Of Cattle and Men, this is the third book in the series to be translated into English. 🍰Read it & Eat it Check out the club’s socials to see journalist & home baker Aaron’s baked cake from this book. He rustled up a Bolo de Fubá, which is a cornmeal cake often eaten with coffee early in the day. If you’d like to see Aaron bake some of his recipes inspired by the books get in touch. 📘Judging the Book by it’s cover The crew discuss the meaning behind the typical minimalist Charco-style cover design by Pablo Font. 📛The Name Game On discussing the alternative As Above, So Below publishing expert & writer Colin throws another suggested title for the book into the ring. 📚Shelf-Help Lucy lends her bookworm expertise in offering up some books similar to this one if you enjoyed the themes, characters, location or plot. From John Steinbeck to Hemingway. Colin also suggest connections to the likes I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. Due to the books’ cinematic writing we find similarities to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest & Breaking Bad, as well as some classic Western films. If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy our many discussions on the novel Eden’s Shore by Oisin Fagan. ⏭️Next Up The second book in the shortlist that the book club is diving into is She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from the Bulgarian by Izidora Angel, published by Peirene Press. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email bookiesfavouritebookclub@gmail.com Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

    1h 2m
  3. International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist Reaction

    APR 1

    International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist Reaction

    Lucy & Aaron star their thoughts n what did & didn't make it to the shortlist. We'll be reading one book a week until the winner is announced. Our current reading schedule: On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated from the Portuguese by Padma Viswanathan, published by Charco Press She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from the Bulgarian by Izidora Angel, published by Peirene Press Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from Mandarin Chinese by Lin King, published by And Other Stories The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated from the French by Jordan Stump, published by MacLehose Press The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from the German by Ruth Martin, published by Scribe UK The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated from the German by Ross Benjamin, published by riverrun Bookies' Favourite: @bookiesfavouritebookclub Email the Book Club" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Email: bookiesfavouritebookclub@gmail.com Aaron: @AaronRiceMedia Lucy: @bookz2026 Colin: @c_f_writes Hannah: @certifiedbookyapperhannah

    18 min
  4. International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist Predictions

    MAR 30

    International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist Predictions

    Lucy & Aaron discuss this year's International Booker Prize long-list and share their picks for the shortlist. After tomorrow's announcement we'll be sharing our reactions to the books that have made it onto the shortlist and we'll be setting out our reading schedule for the next 6 weeks before the winner is announced. The book club has covered this award in 2025, the Booker Prize 2025 & the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026. Bookies' Favourite: @bookiesfavouritebookclub Contact Bookies Favourite Book Club" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Email: bookiesfavouritebookclub@gmail.com Aaron Rice : @AaronRiceMedia Lucy: @Bookz2026 Colin: c_f_writes Hannah: certifiedbookyapperhannah

    48 min

  5. MAR 25

    Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 | Director Neil Griffiths & Judge Susanna Crossman

    Ahead of the winner announcement Aaron & Lucy spoke with the director of the award and one of this year's judges. The insight helps us understand the prize and what is considered when deciding between the books. We'll be jumping into another shortlist next week; the International Booker Prize 2026. Before then we've got our interviews with the team who brought you Eden's Shore. Check out our previous episodes on some of the shortlisted & longlisted books from this year's Queen Mary Prize, our chapter-by-chapter read along of Eden's Shore & last year's International Booker Prize shortlist.

    52 min

  6. MAR 24

    Ghost Driver by Nell Osborne, published by Moist Books | Review | Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026

    In this episode, Aaron & Lucy discuss Ghost Driver by Nell Osborne, published by Moist Books. This is the final book we’re covering from the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 shortlist before the winner is announced — and we break down its themes, style, and where it sits among this year’s contenders. 🏆 The Winner Is Next 📅 The winner is announced tomorrow (Wednesday)🎧 We’ll be back with a reaction episode as soon as the result drops We’ll also be releasing a special episode featuring: Neil Griffiths — Director of the PrizeSusanna Crossman — one of this year’s judges 🌊 Eden’s Shore Specials Incoming We’ve got a packed week of episodes coming your way: An episode with Tom Alexander, Anna Bu Kliewer, and Sofia HericsonA second interview episode with Oisín Ó Fágáin himself📚 Eden’s Shore is also featured on the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 list. 🌍 What’s Next Next week, we jump into the International Booker Prize:📅 Shortlist announced Tuesday🎧 We’ll kick things off with a longlist reaction & shortlist prediction episode 📚 Stay tuned — it’s a huge week on the podcast as we wrap one prize and dive straight into another!

    57 min

  7. MAR 16

    Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group by Rebecca Gransden, published by Tangerine Press | Review | Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 Shortlist

    In this episode, Colin, Lucy & Aaron discuss Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group by Rebecca Gransden, published by Tangerine Press. This is the first book we’re covering from the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 shortlist, and we unpack the novel’s structure, atmosphere, themes, and how it stands out within this year’s field. 📖 What’s Coming Next We’ll be continuing our shortlist coverage with two more books before the winner is announced: Spit by David Brennan — published by époque press Ghost Driver by Nell Osborne — published by Moist Books 📚 Read along with us as we work through the shortlist and discuss what might take home the prize. Email the Book Club" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Email bookiesfavouritebookclub@gmail.com Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Colin @c_f_writes Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah

    49 min

  8. MAR 2

    On the Greenwich Line by Shady Lewis, Translated by Katharine Halls, Published by Peirene Press | Review | Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 Longlist

    All four of us are back together for this episode as we discuss On the Greenwich Line by Shady Lewis, translated by Katharine Halls, and published by Peirene Press. This is our third longlist pick from the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026, and we talk through its structure, themes, translation, and how it’s stacking up against the other contenders we’ve read so far. 📖 What’s Next Next read: Spit by David Brennan (époque press) After that: Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group by Rebecca Gransden (Tangerine Press) 📅 The Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 shortlist is announced this Wednesday (4th). Once revealed, we’ll be selecting our sixth and final read from the shortlist to complete our series — all before the winner is announced. 📚 Read along with us, share your thoughts, and join the book club as the prize race heats up.

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

About

Bookies’ Favourite book club podcast reads literary shortlists and award winning novels. Broadcast journalist Aaron Rice & writer Colin Rice, who has a publishing background, are joined by bookworms Lucy & Hannah. Regularly joined by book club members, authors, publishers, judges, audiobook narrators, book cover designers and bookfluencers. Series 1: International Booker Prize 2025 Shortlist Series 2: Booker Prize 2025 Shortlist Series 3: Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2026 selected books from the Longlist & Shortlist Series 4: International Booker Prize 2026

Information

  • Creator
    Aaron Rice, Colin Rice, Lucy, Hannah McGlade
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Aaron Rice, Colin Rice, Lucy, Hannah McGlade
  • Show Website
    Bookies' Favourite

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