The Graham Norton Book Club

Thriller writer Mick Herron and his Slow Horses – the inspiration for the hit TV show - kick off our new series. Our clubbers decide if it’s first past the post or last over the line. Plus, comedian Shaparak Khorsandi tells Graham about her Scatterbrain and Alex Clark lifts the lid on a different kind of literary gang. All that plus what’s hot and what’s hotter in the book charts. Come and join the Club.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader – his irresistible story of the Queen falling in love with books - is our season finale title. We hear what happens when Graham sits down with the man himself, and the Clubbers decide if it’s one for extended loan or should go on the returns pile. Her late majesty is not the only queen in the house as drag stars, Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova, bring us their Guide to Professional Womanhood. Plus, Sara Collins picks her top three books about books, and we have a look at the latest Amazon and Audible chart movers and shakers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our book is Gabrielle Zevin’s story of love, friendship, and computer games, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Amazon’s Book of the Year in 2022. Graham talks to Gabrielle and the Clubbers decide if they love it on every level, or if there are too many bugs. Sticking with the relationship theme, we also have author and podcaster Elizabeth Day on her new title, Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, and Alex Clark on famous literary enemies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We venture into 19th 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.