Join Kate as she takes the Book Club Review on tour to New York, a city filled with incredible bookshops, and book podcasters. Christopher Hermelin of So Many Damn Books and Drew Broussard of The Lit Hub Podcast share cocktails and book recommendations on the theme of friendship. Notes and Booklist Rough Draft Bar & Books  The Friend by Sigrid Nunez Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley Who Will Watch the Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore Marlena by Julie Bunton Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan Stay True by Hua Hsu The Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead It by Stephen King The Wonder State by Sarah Flannery Murphy A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara The Interestings by Meg Wollizer Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon The Animators by Kayla Raye Whittaker Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin A/S/L by Jeanne Thornton Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbary On The Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle  A Man Called Ove, Anxious People and My Friends by Friedrik Backman (sp) My Friends by Hisham Matar Netherland by Joseph O’Neill End of the World House by Adrian Kelt (sp) Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession Ghost Mountain by Rónán Hession Woodworking by Emily St. James Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury All That Glitters by Orlando Whitfield Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent The Details by Ia Genberg Network Effect by Martha Wells The Odd Woman and the City by Vivian Gornick   Support the show on Patreon patreon.com/thebookclubreview Website thebookclubreview.co.uk Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast      

From lightening and dragons in Iron Flame to trembling mountains in A Court of Thorns and Roses, from Sally Rooney’s Connell and Marianne to Ice Planet Barbarians - sex in books has gone mainstream. From serious high-brow literature to warm and cozy rom-coms, what do we want or need from writers when it comes to including sex in their books? To consider the matter Kate is joined by critic Elizabeth Morris (Crib Notes), and author Alex Allison’ (The Art of the Body and Greatest of All Time) We'll be bringing you our recommendations for books we think push all the right buttons,once we’ve figured out what those are.  Patreon Find out how to support the show, get ad-free episodes and extra content at patreon.com/thebookclubreview Keep in touch Find the pod on Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast Browse the archive Find full shownotes and a transcript plus our full episode archive at thebookclubreview.co.uk Booklist Greatest of All Time by Alex Allison Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Mrs Caliban by Rachel Ingals The Literary Review's Bad Sex Awards The Office of Gardens and Ponds by Didier Decoin Pax by John Harvey The River Capture by Mary Costello City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert The Electric Hotel by Dominic Smith The Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante I Love Dick by Chris Kraus All Fours by Miranda July The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary The Vegetarian by Han Kang Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Elmet and Hot Stew by Fiona Mosley Tampa by Alyssa Nutting Isaac by Curtis Garner Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Lullaby by Leïla Slimani The Country of Others and Watch Us Dance by Leïla Slimani The Bear by Marianne Engel The Snow Ball by Brigid Brophy Busy Being Free by Emma Forrest  

From Murderbot to Sense and Sensiblity, what are our favourite adaptations from books that we love? Inspired by the recent Apple adaptation of Martha Wells sci-fi novels The Murderbot Diaries, this episode is a celebration of the world of books to film. From the joy of seeing a book that we love brought to the big screen, to the pitfalls when things don't match up to our expectations, we're considering the hits and misses, and passing on our recommendations. You'll be hearing from pod regulars Laura Potter and Phil Chaffee, plus we meet Philippa Donovan, a literary scout to the film and TV world. Philippa founded her consultancy Smart Quill to bridge the gap between agents, publishers and authors around the world. She’s giving us the inside track on the world of book to film. All that, plus a peek into the future and the upcoming projects we've earmarked as ones to watch. Interview Listen to the full interview with literary scout Philippa Donovan here [TO COME] Patreon Come and listen to the episodes ad-free over on Patreon, plus The Book Club Review Weekend, join our chat threads where you’ll be able to swap book recommendations with Kate and other Book Club Review listeners and if you want to come and talk books with Kate in person at the higher tier you can join the pod's monthly book club.  Head to Patreon.com/thebookclubreview for all the benefits and how to sign up.  Booklist All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Book 1) Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Book 2) Room by Emma Donoghue Normal People by Sally Rooney The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Sparks The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks Exhalations by Ted Chiang (the film Arrival is based on Story of Your Life) Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger Rivals by Jilly Cooper The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman Children of Men by P. D. James Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda Barn Burning by Haruki Murakami Barn Burning by William Falkner Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner Hot Milk by Deborah Levy The Friend by Sigrid Nunez People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn Everything I Know About Love andGood Material by Dolly Alderton Universality by Natasha Brown Theory and Practice by Michelle de Kretser Transcript Head over to the episode page at thebookclubreview.co.uk for a full transcript

At a time in which digital information is increasingly uncertain it feels more essential than ever to engage with books that tell us about the world, diversify our perspectives and propose solutions for change. Yet these 'serious' books aren't always what we feel like reading. In this episode Kate is joined by regular contributor Phil Chaffee to talk about the books so good they powered through them like a good novel, and felt changed afterwards. The books they want to pass on to someone else. The books that make for great book club discussions. One such is Carmageddon: How Cars Make Life Worse and What To Do About It by Daniel Knowles, a persuasive book that advocates for a world in which we rely on cars far less than we do currently. Daniel joines Kate and Phil from Chicago to discuss it. Booklist Humanly Possible by Sarah Bakewall Putin’s People by Catherine Belton Papyrus by Irene Vallejo Invisible Child by Andrea Elliot Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie Stranger in the Shogun’s City by Amy Stanley Carmageddon by Daniel Knowles Notes Serious Readers lamps: visit seriousreaders.com/bcr and use the offer code BCR at checkout for £150 off any HD light and free UK delivery. You also get a 30-day trial period. Support the show Come join us on Patreon for extra episodes, our community chat group, and, at the book club level, come and talk books with Kate in person at the end of every month. We're currently reading Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell If you enjoyed the episode please take a moment to rate and review on your podcast app, which helps the pod's visiblity and helps other listeners find it. Your kindness is hugely appreciated.

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon is a novel that takes us back to ancient Syracuse, where war, art, and humanity collide. This gripping tale follows two down-on-their-luck potters who hatch an audacious plan to produce a performance of the works of Euripedes despite the fact that their actors are prisoners of war and their stage set a death camp in a marble pit. It’s a story of resilience, friendship, and the power of art in the face of destruction, but did it make for a good book club book?  Regular book-club reporter Phil Chaffee dials in from New York to join Kate alongside keen readers and returning pod guests Emily Bohill and Sarah Oliver in London.  And find out Laura's thoughts at the end as we consider what makes Glorious Exploits such a standout debut, whether or not you need to know about Classical history to enjoy it, and why the audio version is such a particular joy. All this plus our recommendations for follow on reads inspired by Glorious Exploits. Booklist The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower The Years by Annie Ernaux Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte  You Dreamed of Empires by Ávaro Enrigue  Metamorphoses by Ovid Piranesi by Susanna Clarke  Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad  The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen Circe by Madeleine Miller Patreon Signing up for membership is a great way to support the show, and in return you'll have access to weeklyish bonus episodes, plus the archive of back episodes to enjoy. At the higher tier you can join the podcast book club, currently reading Hateship, Friendship, Loveship, Courtship, Marriage by Alice Munroe. I'd love to have you join us. Instagram & Threads @bookclubreviewpodcast Web Our full archive of episdoes with shownotes  

Author, podcaster and reader Daisy Buchanan joins Kate to discuss Read Yourself Happy, her latest book that explores ‘shelf-help’ and the healing power of books and reading to inspire, comfort and fortify. You might not think that someone who regularly interviews literary stars like Anne Patchett and Lauren Groff on her podcast 'You're Booked' might also be someone who has struggled throughout her life with anxiety. Find out how books helped Daisy overcome her fears and inspired her to be adventurous in the manner of her favourite literary heroines. We also discuss the practicalities of the reading life, how to manage a mountainous TBR, and insider stories from the Jilly Cooper book club. With Valentine's Day in mind, find out how to 'Read Yourself Romantic' with Daisy's favourite romance novels. Oh, and you'll get about a million other brilliant book recommendations along the way! Notes If you're interested to try a Serious Readers lamp use our special offer code BCR at checkout for £150 off any HD light. Looking for your perfect bookish match? Use our offer code BookClubReview for 10% off a subscription to Book Lovers Dating. Reading list The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary Strange Beach by Oliwaseun Olawiola The Pirahna Club: Power and Influence in Formula 1 by Timothy Collings (my husband's book, by the way, in case you were wondering. He's been dipping in for something he's working on.) Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes Love, Nina by Nina Stibbe Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton Rivals by Jilly Cooper The Come Up by Jonathan Abrams I Want my MYV by Rob Tannenbaum Uncommon People by Miranda Sawyer Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny Us by David Nicholls Good Material by Dolly Alderton Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser Akner Peter Hujar’s Day by Linda Rosenkrantz Deano: Life After Football by Dean Windass By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart Camp by Paul Baker Notes from the Henhouse by Elspeth Barker O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker The Gemma Books by Noel Streatfield Love Junkie by Robert Plunket Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes Expiation by Elizabeth Von Arnim They Were Sisters and Greenbanks by Dorothy Whipple The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford Mhairi McFarlane - various titles, try If I Never Met You

Olga Tokarczuk's haunting 'health resort horror story' may have wow-ed the critics, but how did it fare with Laura's book club? Phil, Sarah and Laura join Kate to discuss it. You'll also find out the books we've been reading lately, and our suggestions for follow-on reads if The Empusium leaves you hankering for more. Books mentioned The Sewing Girl’s Tale by John Wood Sweet Two Step Devil by Jamie Quattro The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary Book Lovers by Emily Henry Strange Beach by Oluwaseum Olayiwola The Fizcarraldo poetry subscription The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk Sanatorium by W. Somerset Maugham The Wind Rises by Hayao Miyazaki The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft The Paper Hound bookshop The Plague and I by Betty Macdonald Backlisted episode #138 The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Schwärmerai NOTES Support the show and get exclusive subscriber benefits On Patreon: weekly-ish minisodes, chat groups, special feature episodes, War & Peace readalong, and at the higher tier join the monthly book club Or via Substack: weekly-ish minsodes and special feature episodes

Step into a world of philosophical musings and practical wisdom with Oliver Burkeman. 'Meditations for Mortals' is his latest book designed as a four-week mental retreat, promising to help readers lead a 'saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life'. Oliver joins Kate to talk about everything from the inspiration he took from Marcus Aurelius to how to invite people over without feeling like you have to spend three hours tidying the house. He also reveals his tips on making life-changes that stick, and the books he turns to when he's not reading for work. Keen to test out the methodology, Kate is then joined by City high-flyer and busy mother-of-three Emily Bohill to discover how Meditations for Mortals works in practice. From managing work-life balance to facing literal rats in the PTA shed, we explore whether the lessons of Meditations are ones that will stay. This episode is for everyone who is keen to turn knowledge into action and embrace life's imperfections. No less important is the fact that Meditations for Mortals is perfect for sparking deep conversations, and there's nothing we love more at The Book Club Review than that. Reading list 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life by James Hollis   Find out more and sign up for The Imperfectionist (a free newsletter) at Oliver Burkeman's website   Subscribe and support the show Want more from the pod? You can subscribe to The Book Club Review via Patreon. Click through for full details and to sign up with a 7-day free trial.   You'll get a weekly-ish minisode, with access to the full archive, and extra bits and bobs like extended episodes or Patreon-only specials, plus access to book recommendations from Kate and fellow pod fans in the chat group. At the higher tier you can join the pod book club and come and talk books with me, Kate, in person. We meet on the last Sunday of the month via Zoom, with a recording posted to listen back to anytime. In February we're reading All The Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley, and in March it's Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munroe. Upcoming books are decided by members vote, so join in and suggest one that you would love to read and discuss.    If you're a Substacker you can also subscribe and support the pod there. (It's slightly cheaper as you don't get the chat or the book club options, but everything else is just the same.)   Timecodes for the time-poor 00:00 Introduction 01:32 An overview of the book, and the degree to which Oliver Burkeman put himself in there 03:55 The relationship between Meditations for Mortals and Four Thousand Weeks 06:24 Imperfectionism 10:45 Practical Applications and personal reflections 13:01 Field-testing the book’s methodology 29:37 Daily-ish and embracing imperfection 34:34 Scruffy hospitality and overcoming procrastination 45:34 Has it changed our lives? 

It's a new year and a new episode. Join Kate and Laura as they consider reading intentions for the year ahead, and try to set some realistic goals. Will 2025 be the year Kate gets into poetry? Will it be the year Laura weans herself off romance novels? And as always, they're thinking of book club reads to come. Meanwhile Phil sets a goal for himself in 2025 that might surprise you. Books mentioned  4,000 Weeks and Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman  Rejection by Tony Tulithamutte Bliss Montage by Ling Ma The George Smiley novels by John le Carre Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway  My Struggle, Karl Ove Knausgard The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan Assembly and Universality by Natasha Brown Also a Poet and Crush by Ada Calhoun Our Country Friends and Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart Intimacies and Audition by Katie Kitamura Robert Caro's Fifth Lyndon Johnson book Polostan by Neal Stephenson Finance for the People by Paca Leon Essays of E. B. White The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna The Husbands by Holly Gramazio  All That Glitters by Orlando Whitfield Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs Intermezzo by Sally Rooney The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk My Friends by Hisham Matar  The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Eight Months on Ghazzah Street by Hilary Mantel The Gifts of Reading, Robert Macfarlane (ed) Untitled Memoir from Nicola Sturgeon Katabasis by R. F. Kuang Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind trilogy) Book Lovers by Emily Henry Living and Death and Intimations by Zadie Smith Notes If you’re looking for inspiration in your reading life over the coming year why not subscribe to The Book Club Review Patreon. In addition to the various special episodes you’ll find on there, you’ll get The Book Club Review Weekend, my weeky-ish bonus episode just for Patrons, featuring Laura’s reading updates and regular chats with friends of the pod. Laura and I have cooked up a new feature, called One Book Wonder, that allows us to talk about those books that slip through the cracks between regular episodes. Listen in for our thoughts on Good Material by Dolly Alderton.  You get all that at the entry level, but at the higher tier you can also join the podcast book club and come and talk books with me in person at the end of every month over zoom, or listen back anytime if you can’t make the live session. In January we’re reading the novel that appeared on many a best-of-the-year list, Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, In February we’re we’re reading All The Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley, a museum guard's quest to find solace and meaning in art, and in March it’s short stories with Hateship, Friendship, Loveship, Courtship, Marriage by Alice Munroe. But will they make for good book club reads? Join me and the book clubbers over on Patreon and find out. Join our bookish community, get brilliant book recommendations and get the warm glow from knowing that you’re supporting me in making the show. Head to Patreon.com/thebookclubreview and sign up today. Otherwise come and find me anytime on Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast or check out our website, thebookclubreview.co.uk. But for now, thanks for listening and happy book clubbing.    

Wrap up your year with the Book Club Review podcast! Celebrate the joy of reading with us as we highlight the standout books we read in 2024, from page-turners to genre reads, to literary fiction and best book club books. We'll finish with our 'if we could only choose one' favourites for our overall book(s) of the year. This episode also features recommendations from our podcast book clubbers, fantastic readers all, who bring their choices into the mix. This is a bonus length episode as there was so much to go through, so take that dog for an extra long walk, get the children prepared for a long swing at the park or just curl up in a cozy spot with notepad in hand to jot down some of these books we think you shouldn't miss. Or, of course, use the handy list below. Books mentioned Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa What You Are Looking For is In The Library by Michiko Ayoyama Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree   Most enjoyable read Loot by Tania James Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly The Wedding People by Alison Espach   Best page-turner The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Going Infinite by Michael Lewis    Best Non-fiction How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair Grief is for People by Sloane Crossley The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing The Burgundians: A Vanished Empire by Bart van Loo Maurice and Marilyn by Sophie Elmhurst The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke   Best Book Club Book Enter Ghost by Isabelle Hamid The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden Cuddy by Benjamin Myers The Fraud by Zadie Smith August Blue by Deborah Levy Mild Vertigo by Mieko Kanai (Polly Barton trans.) Wifedom by Anna Funder Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (The Inspector Gamache series)   Best Genre Novel or Comfort Read How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells The Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka   Overall best book read in 2024 James by Percival Everett Kate: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Laura: Real Estate by Deborah Levy (vol. 3 in her 'living autobiography' series   Join the Book Club Review club Head to Patreon.com/thebookclubreview to explore what's on offer with regular extra episodes packed with reading recommendations and at the higher tier membership of the pod bookclub: upcoming reads for January are Marty by Kaveh Akbar, February: All The Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley and March: Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro.  Serious Readers For seriously good reading lamps with a Book Club Review special discount head to seriousreaders.co.uk/BCR and use the code BCR at checkout for £100 off any HD light. Shipping within the UK is free, and you get a 30-day trial period so you can see for yourself what a difference they make. Stay connected Find Kate on Instagram and Threads @bookclubreviewpodcast, or drop us a comment anytime at the episode page on our website. What were your favourite reads from 2024? We'd love to hear about them.  

Curious about the 2024 Booker Prize? Wondering if the shortlisted novels live up to the hype? In this latest episode Kate and Laura are joined by returning guests Phil, Sarah and Martin to dive deep into this year's shortlist bringing you their usual frank, honest opinions in true book-club style.  This isn’t your typical review show — you get real, unfiltered thoughts from book lovers who tell it like it is. From literary brilliance to unexpected twists, find out which books wowed us, which ones left us wanting more, and whether this year’s Booker picks truly deserve the spotlight. Plus of course our guesses as to which one might win. Notes Check out Martin's brilliant blog Eyes on the Prize for a fantastic look back through Booker Winners past, including his 'worst to best' ranking. Other books mentioned Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware We Solve Murders by Richard Osman The Trees by Percival Everett Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver My Friends by Hisham Matar Subscribe Want more from The Book Club Review? Want to help support it financially? Come and join Kate at Patreon.com/thebookclubreview where for a small monthly fee you'll receive benefits such as a weekly books minisode, occasional special episodes of the podcast made just for Patreons, and at the higher tier you can join our monthly book club for live discussions with Kate over Zoom. If you’re a Substacker you’ll also find extra content from The Book Club Review there – check thebookclubreview.co.uk/bookspodcast/subscribe for more details. For the love of a good lamp:  Visit seriousreaders.com/BCR for our special offer on any HD light – use the code BCR at checkout and if you're in the UK you can also benefit from free shipping. You get a month to try out the lights to decide if they're for you, if not you can return them. We seriously love them, and think you will too.  

Summer Reading Report: hits, misses, and anticipations   We're back from the beach and reflecting on our summer reading in this bonus length bookshelf episode. On Kate's stack summer favourite GRETA AND VALDIN by Rebecca K. Reilly, Olivia Laing's memoir The Garden Against Time, the hotly tipped HEADSHOT by Rita Bullwinkel, TRUST by Hernan Diaz, Miranda July's new novel ALL FOURS and upcoming book club reads THE FRAUD by Zadie Smith and HUMANELY POSSIBLE by Sarah Bakewell. Meanwhile Laura talks about REAL AMERICANS by Rachel Kong, THE LAST UNICORN by Peter S. Beagle, THE LAST MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Stuart Turton, Kiley Reid's latest COME AND GET IT, Reese's Book Club pick SLOW DANCE by Rainbow Rowell and Austeriltz by W. G. Sebald.    We also hear about the best bookish party Laura attended courtsey of the Vancouver Public Library, and the Kate's experience of reading just one book, and one book only, at a time – a strong departure from her usual habits of three on the go at once. But will she stick to it?   Timecodes for the time poor 08:58 Real Americans by Rachel Kong: A Not-to-Read Recommendation 17:39 The Garden Against Time by Olivia Lange: A Deep Dive 25:27 The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle: A Disappointment 30:44 Headshot by Rita Bullwinkle: A Mixed Review 40:02 Stuart Turton's The Last Murder at the End of the World: A Fun Read 44:20 Exploring 'Trust' by Hernan Diaz 49:34 Campus Life and Money in 'Come and Get' It by Kiley Reid 59:57 Miranda July's 'All Fours': A Perimenopausal Journey 01:12:40 A Lighthearted Romance: 'Slow Dance' by Rainbow Rowell 01:15:13 Upcoming Reads and Final Thoughts Patreon Want more from your favourite podcast? Want to support the person who makes it? Come and join Kate at Patreon.com/thebookclubreview where for a small monthly fee you'll receive benefits such as a weekly books dispatch, which you can read or listen to as a pod, occasional special episodes, and at the higher tier you can join our monthly book club for live discussions with Kate over Zoom.  For the love of a good lamp:  Visit seriousreaders.com/BCR for our special offer on any HD light – use the code BCR at checkout and if you're in the UK you can also benefit from free shipping. You get a month to try out the lights to decide if they're for you, if not you can return them. We seriously love them, and think you will too.

In this special episode, originally released for our Patreon subscribers, Kate celebrates the joys of the perfect notebook with fellow enthusiast and stationery shop owner David Frostick (Lift, Southwold). From the importance of flat-lay paper to the perfect pen we've got it all covered just in time for back-to-school season. And then we turn to the art of notetaking. Kate and Laura discuss how they take notes on the books they're discussing on the show, and then we find out how the professionals do it, with friends of the pod, journalist Phil Chaffee and literary critic Emily Rhodes. We also hear from Bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud whose book, The Art of Mindful Reading, is full of great suggestions for how to get the most from your reading.  If this whets your appetite come and join us at Patreon.com/thebookclubreview where for a small monthly fee (or you can sign up for annual membership if you prefer) you'll receive benefits such as Kate's weekly books email, occasional special episodes, and at the higher tier you can join our monthly book club for live discussions with Kate over Zoom. If you love the pod your support is helpng Kate make the shows, which means a lot, so thank you for considering it. Discover David's store LIFT here. For other things referenced in this episode here's an index to products with links. For the love of a good lamp:  Visit seriousreaders.com/BCR for our special offer on any HD light – use the code BCR at checkout and if you're in the UK you can also benefit from free shipping. You get a month to try out the lights to decide if they're for you, if not you can return them. We seriously love them, and think you will too.    

We love a list, and we love an excuse for a conversation about books, and so we couldn't have been more delighted when the New York Times released their list of the best books of the 21st century, so far. From 503 top tens submitted by authors and other literary world folk, and a bit of statistical magic, they boiled it down to their definitive top 100. And we had to hand it to them, it's a damn good list. Still, we might argue with a few of their choices, and of course have some thoughts of our own. And so in this episode you'll get our own Book Club Review top 20 books, some of which were on the NYT's list, most of which were not. They're the books we felt had been overlooked, books we loved and were desparate to talk about, books we want to share with you. And so join me (Kate) and Sarah in London, Phil in New York and Laura in Vancouver as we spend a delightful hour considering the best of the best. I guarantee you'll come away with at least one book for your TBR, and hopefully you'll love it as much as we did. No booklist, as I thought you might like to find out as you listen, but you'll find all the books discussed at the episode page on our website, thebookclubreview.co.uk Also do check out our episode sponsors Serious Readers, who are offering £100 off their brilliant HD reading lamps, use the code BCR at checkout. UK customers get free delivery, elsewhere you can still take advantage of the offer, but there will be a shipping charge.    

Laura’s on a flying visit to London, and so of course we took the opportunity to get together and swap notes on our recent reading. Regular guest Phil Chaffee dialled in from New York to add his picks to the mix. Find out what we thought of summer it-book The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, we consider the auto fictional world of Deborah Levy, Kate reports back on Francis Spufford’s new novel – and podcast book club read – Cahokia Jazz and we round it off with art-world memoir All That Glitters by Orlando Whitfield – unputdownable in Kate’s opinion, find out why. It’s also our first ever sponsored episode. Introducing the Serious Readers lamp company, a business dedicated to creating the world’s best reading lamps. Listen in for Kate’s interview with founder Alex Pratt, and learn more about why your eyes might struggle under standard LED lighting. We know how much as readers you care about your eyes, and we’re delighted to endorse a product that feels like just what they need. Listen in for all the details, and see below for our special offer code. BOOKS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford Real Estate by Deborah Levy All That Glitters by Orlando Whitfield SERIOUS READERS Like the sound of Serious Readers? Visit the Serious Readers website to find out more and browse their range. Don’t forget you can head to seriousreaders.com/BCR and use code BCR for £100 off any HD light, you’ll also get free delivery and you have 30 days to try them out. PATREON Support the show, and get extras in return Head over to our Patreon to find out how to support the pod, and the things you'll get in return, from book recommendations to extra episodes. At the higher tier you can join our monthly book club – if you look at that membership level you'll find a link to the full list of books for 2024. This month we're reading Wifedom by Anna Funder. Or to hear about books between shows come find the pod on Instagram or Threads @bookclubreviewpodcast

Inspired by the folk at the New York Times article ‘22 of the funniest novels since Catch 22’, join me (Kate), Phil and Laura as we consider the books that make us laugh. Listen in as we explore the NYT's suggestions and add in a few of our own. Find out the author we can’t believe they missed, and the book that reliably makes Laura – a tough customer when it comes to funny books – laugh every time.    Books mentioned    The New York Times article ‘22 of the funniest novels since Catch 22’  Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut   The Idiot and Either/Or by Elif Batuman   The Possessed by Elif Batuman   Uncle Napoleon by Iraj Pezeshkzad   Martyr by Kaveh Akbar   Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi   Where d’You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple   The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W.E. Bowman   Three Men and a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome   Scoop by Evelyn Waugh   Vanity Fair by William MakepieceThackarey   The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams   The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald   The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald   Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders   Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel   Notes   Here’s the Patreon link If you’d like to get more involved and support the show, and you’ll get lots of good things in return: Patreon.com/thebookclubreview   Keep up to date between shows, follow The Book Club Review podcast on Instagram   Next book club read: Wifedom by Anna Funder   Do take a quick moment to rate and review us via your podcast app, your support is really appreciated. And hey, if you have bookish friends, tell them about the show, maybe they will like it too.  

Exploring literary worlds beyond fiction: a dive into non-fiction   Join Kate, as she ventures to South London to visit Backstory, a unique indie bookstore founded by former journalist Tom Rowley. Rowley shares his journey from journalism to opening a bookshop, the challenges and joys of running a bookstore, the importance of community engagement, and launching the second issue of the Backstory Magazine.    We then turn our attention to non-fiction, pulling out some favourites, both backlist and new releases. As Tom says, 'I want good stories, I don't care whether they're fact or fiction.'   00:40 A visit to south London's indie bookshop Backstory, and why Kate's name is on the wall   01:53 From journalism to bookshop owner: Tom's lockdown dream comes true   04:25 Embracing the community: the transition from market stall to bookshop   09:26 Launching Backstory Magazine: a new chapter in storytelling   14:54 Exploring non-fiction: feel the fear and read it anyway   17:49 Just what is deep backlist? Tom's first recommendation is My War Gone By, I Miss it So by Anthony Lloyd (September Publishing)   20:18 Kate recommends Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell by John Preston (Penguin)   22:46 Tom's next pick: Maurice and Marilyn: A Whale, A Shipwreck, A Love Story by Sophie Elmhurst (Penguin)   25:52 Kate pulls out The Wager by David Grann (Simon & Schuster) (and we also talk about Devil in the White City by Erik Larson [Penguin])   29:08 Tom recommends The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson (Penguin)   31:15 Great minds think alike: Kate and Tom both recommend The Moth and the Mountain by Ed Caesar (Penguin), author and now DJ!   35:32 An aside from Kate about The Possessed by Elif Batuman (Granta)   37:17 Towards the end of the episode we reach 'peak Tom', with Little Englanders by Alwyn Turner (Profile)   41:17 Book club reads: Red Memory by Tania Branigan (Faber) and Close to Home by Michael Magee (Penguin)   42:25 Tom's book of the summer: The Safe Keep by Yael van der Wouden (Penguin)   44:18 List of books, how to get support the pod and get extras via our Patreon account and details of our upcoming episode in which Phil and Laura join Kate to talk about books that make us laugh   Notes Visit Backstory online at www.backstory.london  

So Many Damn Books podcast creator and host Christoper Hermelin joins Kate to swap book recommendations and discuss the magic of book club, recent book discoveries and bookish pet peeves. EPISODE BOOK LIST The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggers A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers McSweeney’s magazine, including The Panorama issue How I Won A Nobel Prize by Julius Taranto Non-Fiction by Julie Myerson Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Polly Barton, trans.) Mild Vertigo by Mieko Kanai (Polly Barton, trans.) Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton The Extinction of Irena Ray by Jennifer Croft James by Percival Everett, and we also mentioned Erasure and The Trees Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schultz by Luca Debus and Francesco Mateuzzi NOTES Join the club and support us on Patreon Follow The Book Club Review on Instagram and Threads @bookclubreviewpodcast  

Two marriages, two forbidden love affairs, and the passionate search for social and sexual freedom in late 19th-century London. Publishers Penguin call The New Life by Tom Crewe ‘A brilliant and captivating debut, in the tradition of Alan Hollinghurst and Colm Tóibín' but what did our book club make of it? Kate is reporting back, with regular guest Philip Chaffee joining from New York. We'll be catching up on the discussion as well as bringing you our take on recent reads FAKE ACCOUNTS by Lauren Oyler and NORTH WOODS by Daniel Mason, as well as our recommendations for books inspired by Crewe's novel. Booklist Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler The Smiley Novels by John Le Carre North Woods by Daniel Mason Maurice by E. M. Forster Alec by William di Canzio Young Bloomsbury by Nino Strachey Blackouts by Justin Torres Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant The Ladies Lindores by Margaret Oliphant Tom Crewe's booklist on bookshop.org.uk Podcast episode on Young Bloomsbury The audiobook of The New Life is read by Freddie Fox and published by Penguin Audio, available wherever you get your audiobooks Keep up with us between shows. Follow us on Instagram or Threads @bookclubreviewpodcast, browse our website for our full archive, or drop us a line at thebookclubreview@gmail.com Want the deep dive? All the details of our Patreon extras and how to sign up here. Thanks for listening, happy reading, happy book clubbing

What did our podcast book club make of Mild Vertigo, Japanese author Mieko Kanai's 1997 novel, recently translated into English by Polly Barton. A 'modernist masterpiece' written in sentences that go on for pages with hardly any paragraph breaks might not seem like an obvious book club winner; listen in to find out if we were won over. To discuss it Kate is joined by Yuki Tejima, also known as @booknerdtokyo, and Shawn Mooney, aka Shawn the Book Maniac. Listen in for their thoughts on Mild Vertigo, their current reads and our book recommendations for anyone wanting the inside track on great Japanese fiction. Book list A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata (trans. Juliet Winters Carpenter)  Home Reading Service by Fabio Morábito (trans. Curtis Bauer) Woman Running in the Mountains by Yūko Tsushima (trans. Geraldine Harcourt) Also Territory of Light and Child of Fortune by Yoko Tsutshima Grass for my Pillow by Sayiichi Maruya (trans. Dennis Keene) The Little House by Kyoto Nakajima (trans. Ginny Tapley Takamori) There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuo Tsumura (trans. Polly Barton) Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton Porn: An Oral History by Polly Barton Butter by Asako Yuzuki (trans. Polly Barton) Follow us on Instagram and threads @bookclubreviewpodcast Support the show and get Kate's weekly book-recommendations email, access to our book spreadsheets, connect with fellow readers and join our book club: find all the details on our Patreon page. If you enjoyed the episode, please share it, rate and review us on your podcast app, which helps other listeners find us. Find full shownotes and our episode archive at our website thebookclubreview.co.uk