Book Club: Universality by Natasha Brown & Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell

Welcome to The Book Club Review! In this episode, Laura joins Kate to dive into two book club picks: Natasha Brown’s much-anticipated second novel, Universality, and the debut Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell.

In this episode:

Kate and Laura catch up on their current reads, including Sky Daddy by Kate Folk and A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett, before diving into a discussion of Universality. How did it compare to Brown’s acclaimed debut Assembly, and did the satirical style, bold narrative choices, and themes of media, class, and culture wars work for our book club.

We then move on to Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell, an historical tale of alchemy set across 18th-century London and Ireland. We're exploring the vivid sense of place and real-life inspirations behind the story, but did the many different characters and story arcs knit together?

We're also meeting Kristina Ambrosia, who offers a creative twist on book club with her “Graffiti Book Club,” where members are encouraged to write, doodle, and annotate in their books before passing them around.

All that plus our current reads and community updates on how to join the Book Club Review Patreon, participate in chat groups, and readalongs.

Books mentioned:

• Universality by Natasha Brown
• Assembly by Natasha Brown
• Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell
• Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
• A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
• Katabasis by R. F. Kuang
• Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal
• The Women by Kristin Hannah
• Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer
• Just Kids by Patti Smith
• All Fours by Miranda July
• Theory and Practice by Michelle de Kretser
• And more!

Links & Extras:

• Special offer for Serious Readers HD Essential Reading Lights: visit seriousreaderscom/bcr and use code BCR at checkout.
• Join the Book Club Review community on Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and monthly book club meetings: patreon.com/thebookclubreview
• Follow on Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast or email [email protected]

If you enjoyed the show, please share it with friends or leave a review – your support helps us reach more book lovers!

Happy reading!

Something a little different this episode as I invite you to head down the rabbit hole with me into the world of books about books. Accompanying us into this particular wonderland is Joseph Dance, host of the Curious Readers podcast. From meta-fictional narratives to booksellers with shadowy agendas, we’re flagging up some of our favourites both for behind-the-scenes insights into the literary world, and for the way they allow us to discover yet more books we might want to read. From Alberto Manguel’s library of 35,000 titles, to Alejandro Zambra’s essay collection On Not Reading, we’re considering a broad spectrum of perspectives that help us reflect on and enrich our reading lives. And so listen in to hear what happens when two book podcasters get together to talk about their favourite topic.

Booklist

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Possession by A.S. Byatt

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald

Packing my Library by Alberto Manguel

The Book Forger by Joseph Hone

Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller by Nadia Wassef

A Bookshop of One’s Own by Jane Cholmeley

In Search of Lost Books by Giorgio van Straten

Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop by Alba Donati

Further reading / listening

Alberto Manguel’s library

And here’s Manguel sharing his favourite bookstores and libraries with Biblio-file podcast host Nigel Beale

Umberto Eco’s library on Youtube

Kate’s Moleskine reading journal

Read this wonderful review of Shelf Life from Australian critic Beejay Silcox, who lived for two years in Cairo and knew the Diwan bookstore well.

Patreon

Head to patreon.com/thebookclubreview for full membership details and how to join

Seattle, forever linked with books and reading thanks to Sleepless in Seattle. Also Maria Semple's Where d'you Go Bernadette, tho' to be clear, Bernadette was not a fan of the rainy city. Londoners, though, umbrella always at hand, feel right at home. A recent family holiday offered a rare chance for an in-person bookish catchup. Listen in for our thoughts on our latest reads including the new novel from Lily King and some purchases from the inimitable Elliot Bay bookshop.

Embracing the holiday spirit we're also getting into our bookish cocktails. Luckily Margaret C. Beeler, author of literary cocktail book Tropetails, is on hand to help us out. She shares one of her favourites, scroll down for the recipe, and if you like the sound of the book and want to get yourself a copy, US listeners, if you use the code TROPECLUBREVIEW at checkout you'll get free shipping.

Don't forget to check out The Book Club Review on Patreon to support Kate in making the show. In return you'll get extra episodes, chat group access with Kate and Laura, starting and at the higher tier you can join the monthly book club. This month we're reading On The Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, in September it's Mouthing, the bestselling Irish debut from Orla Mackey. We meet on the last Sunday of the month over Zoom, with a catch-up episode posted for anyone unable to make the live session.

Books mentioned

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum (Shanna Tan)

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa (Eric Ozawa)

The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada (Cat Anderson)

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Euphoria by Lily King

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Five Ways to Forgiveness by Ursula K. LeGuin

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Audition by Katie Kitamura

The Odd Woman and the City by Vivan Gornick

The Transitive Vampire by Karen Elizabeth Gordon

The Cafe with No Name by Robert Seethaler (Katy Derbyshire)

Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumoto (Jesse Kirkwood)

Margaret's Cocktail

Give me Your Brains

into shaker with ice:   2 oz / 60 ml bourbon 1 oz / 30 ml aquafaba 1 oz / 30 ml fresh lemon juice 1 oz / 30 ml blackcurrant (juice or syrup) shake + pour into a coupe garnish with dehydrated lemon

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

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Website

thebookclubreview.co.uk

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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

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