Book Off!

Booker Prize winner, Alan Hollinghurst, and Booker Prize shortlistee, Rachel Kushner, join Joe Haddow for a Book Off!

Alan talks about his new novel 'Our Evenings' and the writing processes to create the tempo he wanted. The book follows the life of the actor Dave Win, from 1962 to 2020.

Rachel discusses her new novel 'Creation Lake' (her second novel to be shortlisted for the Booker) and the authors that have influenced this book and it's noir-ish elements.

THE BOOK OFF

'Painting Time' by Maylis de Kerangal

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'A Voyage Around The Queen' by Craig Brown

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On this episode of Book Off, Joe welcomes Elif Shafak and Evie Wyld to the studio.

These two fabulous writers talk about their latest novels ("There Are Rivers In The Sky" and "The Echoes") as well as giving us some brilliant reading recommendations.

Evie lived in a haunted house, so we explore that and her fascination with ghosts - which are a central theme in her new book. She also discusses the importance of humour to lighten situations, whether that be in life or between the pages of a book.

Elif and Joe share their love of water. She talks about the power of water and how a single drop is the thread that runs through her new novel - and indeed through centuries and centuries.

They also chat about the importance of aural storytelling, of keeping traditions alive and ensuring that people's stories are heard all over the world.

THE BOOK OFF

'Poetry Unbound' by Padraig O'Tuama

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'Giving Up The Ghost' by Hilary Mantel

We hope you enjoy the chat, and if you feel so inclined, do please leave us a rating and/or a review to let us know!

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TV and Radio presenter, and former record company executive, Nicki Chapman goes head to head in a war of the words with producer, musician and label owner, Simon Raymonde.

On this episode of Book Off we delve into two music memoirs, covering two very sides of the music industry and history, but that both have a lot in common.

Simon was one third of the band Cocteau Twins between 1983 and 1997, and owns and runs the Bella Union label. As well as having his own successful music career as a musician and a producer, he has signed and worked with artists such as Fleet Foxes, Dirty Three, Midlake, Mercury Rev, John Grant, BC Camplight, Laura Viers and Flaming Lips.

In this very honest and open conversation, he talks about the tumour on his brain which has effected his hearing, the influence of his father (Ivor Raymonde) on his career without knowing it, the break up of Cocteau Twins and how his label is still going strong more than 25 years later.

Nicki worked at MCA and RCA records in the 90s in the promotions department, before going out on her own. Over her career, she has worked with many artists including Phil Collins, David Bowie, Kylie, M People, Annie Lennonx, Prince, Take That, Amy Winehouse, Billie Piper, Spice Girls and Liza Minelli.

Nicki's book is swimming in 90s nostalgia (music, fashion, tabloids). She too shares her own personal account of having a brain tumour, which inspired her to want to write the book, as well as lots of stories from her time in the music industry.

They also give us some brilliant book recommendations!

The Book Off

'Sculpting In Time' by Andrei Tarkovsky

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'Shardlake' by C.J. Samson

We hope you enjoy this episode - and the latest series!

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Susie Dent and Louise Minchin join Joe Haddow this week for a war of the words.

Both guests have had incredible careers in TV (Susie recently celebrated 30 years of being on Countdown and Louise spent 20 years on BBC Breakfast's red sofa) and both have written non-fiction before, but have now turned their hand to novels.

Susie say's her book, Guilty By Definition, is more of a linguistic mystery than a murder mystery, whilst Louise's book, Isolation Island, is a page-turning thriller.

They discuss their love of Agatha Christie, why they both gravitated towards the crime genre and how hard they found the shift from writing non-fiction to fiction.

As well as giving us some brilliant book recommendations, they also discuss their love of...cemeteries. YEP!

THE BOOK OFF

'Red Love' by Maxim Leo

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'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier

We hope you enjoy this episode - and the whole of the new series! Please like, comment and follow so you never miss an episode (and so we can help spread the word!)

More on our guests:

Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated 30 years as co-presenter and resident word expert on ‘Countdown’ - and regularly appears on the show’s comedy sister ‘8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown’. She is the author of several non-fiction books, and her debut novel is ‘Guilty By Definition’

Louise Minchin spent twenty-years on BBC Breakfast’s red sofa, as well as being the main news anchor on the BBC News Channel. Over her career, she has appeared in a number of reality shows, including I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Time Crashers and Celebrity Masterchef – as well as presenting on BBC Radio 5 Live too. She is the author of two books of non-fiction, and her debut novel is ‘Isolation Island’

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Book Off is back! And for the first episode of Series 13, we welcome bestselling authors Mark Haddon and Clare Chambers to the pod.

They chat to Joe Haddow about their new books and what they have been reading and enjoying recently.

'Dogs and Monsters' is Mark's latest collection of short stories, where he weaves together Ancient Greek fables with more dystopian narratives. In each of the eight stories, Mark explores what it means to be human.

Clare's new novel is 'Shy Creatures' - set in South London in 1964, it follows an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital who decides to unravel the story of an immensely talented mute patient.

We get some fabulous book recommendations from each of author, as well as an insight into the ups and downs of publishing and how a little luck can go a long long way!

Mark talks openly about his long Covid and how it has given him brain fog, which not only effects his writing but also his reading. He is now a big gan of short books and short chapters.

THIS WEEK' BOOK OFF

'The Employees: A Workplace Novel Of The 22nd Century' by Olga Ravn

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'Lonesome Dove' by Larry McMurty

We hope you enjoy this episode - and the whole of the new series! Please like, comment and follow so you never miss an episode (and so we can help spread the word!)

More on our guests:

Mark Haddon's bestselling novel, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, was published in 2003 and won seventeen literary prizes. In 2012, a stage adaptation by the National Theatre, went on to win seven Olivier Awards and a Tony! His other literary work includes poetry and short stories, and his most recent novel – ‘The Porpoise’ – was published in 2019. 

Clare Chambers the author of nine novels – the first of which was published in 1992. In 2022, her novel ‘Small Pleasures’ became a word-of-mouth hit on publication, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize For Fiction - and won ‘Pageturner of the Year’ at the British Book Awards.

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Journalists and authors Sophie Elmhirst and Susan Smillie go head to head in a war of the words.

In this nautical themed episode, they discuss their new books (Maurice & Marylin and The Half Bird), the joy (and dangers) of the sea, sailing and leaving work behind and exploring the world. They also share with us some brilliant book recommendations.

Warning - this episode might make you want to quit your job!

THE BOOK OFF

'The Bounty' by Caroline Alexander

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'Offshore' by Penelope Fitzgerald

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Bestselling authors Freya North and Matt Cain go head to head in a War of the Words!

They chat to Joe Haddow about their new novels ('The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne' and 'One Love') which are possibly each author's most personal book to date.

Both writers share a love of Manchester, a city they both lived in and that means a lot to them - it also features in both of these novels, as does friendship and the importance of these relationships.

As well as discussing their own work, Matt and Freya give us some brilliant book recommendations too. Unbelievably, Marian Keyes gets ANOTHER mention on the pod. Does an episode of Book Off go by where she doesn't?

THE BOOK OFF

'Lottery' by Patricia Wood

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'The Song Of Achilles' by Madeline Miller

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What do you get when you put three children's authors on a podcast? (well, it turns out you get a lovely conversation!)

Join Justin Somper and Cat Doyle as they discuss their new pirate books for kids and go head to head in a War of the Words.

They also share some great book recommendations with us and tell us about their writing processes.

THE BOOK OFF

'Impossible Creatures' by Katherine Rundell

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'Cloud Street' by Tim Winton

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Poet and author, Andrew McMillan, goes head to head with author and screenwriter Nathan Newman in a War of the Words!

They chat to Joe Haddow about their new novels ('Pity' and 'How To Leave The House'), chosen family, working class towns, comedy from tragedy and, Margaret Thatcher (yes, really).

Nathan and Andrew also recommend some authors and books they have been reading and enjoying recently.

THE BOOK OFF

'A Visit From The Goon Squad' by Jennifer Egan

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'The Man Who Fell In Love With The Moon' by Tom Spanbauer

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Bestselling authors Percival Everett and Andrew O'Hagan go head to head in a War of the Words, and discuss their brilliant new novels.

Percival's latest novel 'James' is a re-imagining of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn', but set in 1861, whilst Andrew's latest work is a contemporary tale of class, money, greed and doing the right thing.

They discuss how characters form for them, why writing is torture and share some of the books they have been reading and enjoying recently.

THE BOOK OFF

'The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson

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'The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy' by Laurence Sterne

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