• Ep 1: Emma Donoghue and Bill Bryson
    Jan 26 2023

    Emma Donoghue takes Graham inside her smash hit book (and film), Room, and legendary travel writer Bill Bryson divulges why he’s back at the audiobook mic. Alex Clark has titles to get us through hard times, our clubbers debate each other’s reading choices and we discover what’s hot and happening in the book charts. Come and join the Club.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Emma Donoghue's Room does include references to abuse that some listeners might find upsetting.

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    48 mins
  • Ep 2: David Baldacci and Konnie Huq
    Feb 2 2023

    Our book this week is best-seller David Baldacci’s Memory Man. The clubbers decide if they’ll never forget it or whether it’s just a blank - and former Blue Peter presenter and now children’s author, Konnie Huq, tells us about bringing her Fearless Fairytales to life. Alex Clark has books inspired by big tech to press your buttons, and we spot more titles to watch in the charts.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: David Baldacci’s Memory Man does include references to violent crime, including a school shooting, which some listeners might find upsetting.

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    46 mins
  • Ep 3: Leila Mottley and Al Murray
    Feb 9 2023

    Youngest ever Booker prize nominee, Leila Mottley, wrote most of Nightcrawling, when she was just 17! Graham finds out how she did it and we discover if our clubbers love it as much as the judges (and Oprah) did. Plus, comedian Al Murray’s passion for World War II history has resulted in a book to Command our attention and Sara Collins is in prize-winning mood with another set of ‘first-class’ recommendations.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Nightcrawling by Leila Motley contains references to violence that some people might find upsetting. It also talks about sex work, which might not be a suitable topic for younger listeners.

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    48 mins
  • Ep 4: Julia Armfield and Richard Armitage & Nicola Walker
    Feb 16 2023

    Julia Armfield’s mixture of marine horror, love, loss and scaly skin, Our Wives Under the Sea, is our book this week. She tells Graham about the challenges of writing about six months in a submarine and our clubbers decide if they’re on the crest of a wave or plumbing the depths. Plus, Spooks partners Nicola Walker and Richard Armitage team up again to bring his own audiobook, Geneva, to life and we have loads of recommendations – from chart toppers to Sara Collins on books that really take you places.

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    46 mins
  • Ep 5: Michael Rosen (on Émile Zola) and Jay Shetty
    Feb 23 2023

    We venture into nineteenth century France with Émile Zola’s story of passion, poverty and industrial action, Germinal. Author, broadcaster, former Children’s Laureate and Zola expert, Michael Rosen helps us look inside this incredible world. Podcaster, internet sensation and life coach, Jay Shetty (Think Like a Monk) guides us through his new 8 Rules of Love. Alex Clark selects the créme de la créme of French novels and we’ve got a whole load of chart toppers, reviews and recommendations.

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    48 mins
  • Ep 6: Saima Mir and Susannah Constantine
    Mar 2 2023

    Saima Mir’s The Khan has been hailed as the UK’s answer to The Godfather. Our clubbers decide if it’s an offer they can’t refuse, while Saima herself tells Graham about bringing to life a complex female crime boss and the close-knit community around her. Sara Collins has recommendations from other British Pakistani writers and style guru Susannah Constantine lifts the lid on the saucy secrets of a life where she was Ready for Absolutely Nothing.

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    49 mins
  • Ep 7: Tobias Wolff and Craig David
    Mar 9 2023

    Tobias Wolff talks about his story of one boy’s quest to fit in, Old School. The Clubbers decide if it’s an A* or a must try harder while pop star, Craig David asks What’s Your Vibe? in his new book about the lessons he’s learned from his career. Alex Clark dictates her recommended reading when it comes to novels about schooldays and we get the latest on some other high flyers.

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    46 mins
  • Ep 8: Orhan Pamuk and Mel C
    Mar 16 2023

    Nobel Prize-winner, Orhan Pamuk, guides Graham through his extraordinary story of love, murder, art and 16th Century Turkey in My Name is Red. The clubbers discuss whether it really is their colour. Sara Collins recommends three more titles of epic proportions and Sporty Spice herself, Mel C, reveals Who I Am in her new autobiography.

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    47 mins