Tea or Books? – Stuck in a Book

Joan Barfoot, Constance Beresford-Howe, narrators – welcome to episode 155!

In the first half, we use a suggestion from listener Rebecca: do we prefer narrators as main characters in a novel or as side characters?

The books and authors we mention in this episode:

The Return of the Bookseller Diarist by Shaun Bythell

Virginia Woolf! Publishers! Welcome to episode 154.

In the first half, we compare independent publishers and the big-name publishers – and in the second half, we pit two Virginia Woolf novels against each other: Jacob’s Room and The Waves.

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given.

And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments!

The books and authors we cover in this episode are:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Liars, Lisa Ridzen, and Debbi Voisey – welcome to episdoe 153!

In the first half, we talk about our expectations of truth in the non-fiction we read, inspired by the hoo-ha over The Salt Path. In the second half, we compare When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen with Only About Love by Debbi Voisey.

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given.

And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments!

The books and authors we mention in this episode are:

Deborah by Esther Kreitman

Elizabeth Strout, Willa Cather, and women’s lives – welcome to episode 152!

In the first half, Rachel and Simon discuss whether we prefer reading novels about women’s professional lives or their home lives. In the second half, we compare two novels about educators – Willa Cather’s The Professor’s House and Elizabeth Strout’s The Things We Never Say.

(Apologies for an earlier version of this episode that went out with only the first half. Hopefully this one works!)

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given.

And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments!

The books and authors we mention in this episode are:

Ordinary Wonder Tales by Emily Urquhart

Thanks again for all your questions for our special Q&A episode of Tea or Books?

It took longer than planned, but here is part 2…

Do get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com with suggestions and questions for future episodes!

Thank you so much for all your questions for episode 150 of ‘Tea or Books?’!

Because we had so many questions, we’re doing it over two episodes – so today’s is the first half. Watch out for part 2, next month.

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. More to come soon.

And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments – we still need questions for the middle sections of future episodes, of course!

Muriel Spark and campus novels – welcome to episode 149!

In the first half of this episode, we answer Lisa’s question: do we like campus novels? In the second half, we compare two novels by Muriel Spark. Not necessarily the Muriel Spark novels I thought we would be reading… turns out, Rachel read The Comforters instead of The Bachelors, so we compare that with Symposium instead!

If you’d like to come and see Rachel’s play, full details are here. I’ll be there on the Saturday!

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given

And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments!

The books and authors we mention in this episode are:

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Ann Patchett, Tessa Hadley, and finding the right time to read a book – welcome to episode 149!

In the first half, we answer the question: is there a right time for each particular book? In the second half, we compare Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House and Tessa Hadley’s The Party.

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given

And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments!

The books and authors we mentioned in this episode are:

Honourable Estates by Vera Brittain

Douglas Bruton, Carolyn Trant, and quality vs quantity – welcome to episode 147 or Tea or Books?!

In the first half, we discuss quality vs quantity in our reading goals (inspired by this Guardian article). In the second half, we debate two books we picked from each others ‘Best reads of 2025’ lists – Blue Postcards by Douglas Bruton and Voyaging Out: British Women Artists From Suffrage to the Sixties by Carolyn Trant.

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. Sorry that I’m behind with posting those, but more are on their way…

And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments!

The books and authors we mention in this episode are:

The Spring House by Cynthia Asquith

Our favourite reads of the year! Welcome to episode 146.

We turn the whole episode over to our run-down of our ten favourite books from a year in reading. As has become a tradition, we will then choose one book from each other’s list to read for the next episode.

You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given.

Rachel’s top 10 books are:

10. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Simon’s top 10 books are:

10. Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a Novel by Mark Hussey

The other books and authors we mention in this episode:

On the Calculation of Volume vol.1 by Solvej Balle