The Book Club Review

Join us as we venture to the frozen north in the very enjoyable company of Tété-Michel Kpomassie, who left his home of Togo, West Africa to pursue his dream of living in Greenland. While we may not have been 100% sold on the cuisine, we were fascinated by his experiences and the unique perspective he brings to his observations about the society he encounters there. First published in English in 1981 the book was recently re-issued by Penguin as part of their Modern Classics series. But do we think it should have a place on your bookshelf? Listen in to find out. And because there are few things we love more than a polar book, we've got a stack of other suggestions for your reading pile, from previous pod favourites like A Woman in the Polar Night by Christine Ritter, to a new to us book called This Cold Heaven, by Gretel Erlich. So come, fix yourself a cup of coffee with reindeer fat, and let us tell you more. Books discussed The Northern Lights, The Amber Spyglass and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials trilogy, [Scholastic]) The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller (Hachette) This Cold Heaven by Gretel Erlich (Harper Collins) Prophets of Eternal Fjord by Kim Leine (and The Colony of Good Hope [Pan Macmillan]) Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Høeg (Penguin). A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter. Keep in touch: No matter when you listen to this episode you can always comment via the episode page on our website, thebookclubreview.co.uk (where you'll also find the episode transcript). Comments there go straight to our inboxes so let us know your thoughts and we'll reply. Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook

This episode is all about finding the extraordinary in the everyday, in the little things that may pass us by if we don't pay attention. And so join us as we talk to Miranda Keeling about her book The Year I Stopped to Notice, a joyful, poignant and familiar portrait of everyday life that Neil Gaiman called 'beautiful' and Philip Pullman 'a delight'. Together with Miranda we also recommend six other books that tap into this spirit of observing and capturing moments. Booklist Nobody Told You by Hollie McNish The Outrun by Amy Liptrot (and we also mentioned her latest book, The Instant) No-One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood Flâneuse by Lauren Elkin Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession The Year I Stopped to Notice is published by Icon Books and available to buy now. For more from Miranda you can find at mirandakeeling.com or go to the source and follow her on Twitter @mirandakeeling Enjoyed the episode? Drop us a line anytime and let us know your thoughts at our website thebookclubreview.co.uk. There you'll find a dedicated episode page, full shownotes for all the books we recommended, a transcript and a comments section where we encourage you to let us know your thoughts. We love to hear from listeners. You'll also find our archive of episodes to browse through, from Booker winners to little known gems from the backlist. Drop in on a spirited book club discussion or join us as we catch up on our recent reads. It's all there waiting for you. If you'd like to see what we're up to between episodes follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email thebookclubreview@gmail.com. And if you're not already do subscribe, rate and review wherever you get your podcasts, which help other listeners find us and brings us joy. Do share with your bookish friends, we love to reach new listeners.

Join us as we catch up on our recent reads outside of book club, the books we're picking and choosing for ourselves. Laura enjoys The Sixteen Trees of the Somme by Lars Mytting, declaring it 'unputdownable', and a good antidote to the brilliant but rather more serious novel The Sympathiser by Viet Thanh Nguyen (her Vancouver book club's pick). We're joined by journalist Phil Chaffee who shares his recent holiday reading, The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco and My Fourth Time We Drowned by Sally Hayden. Meanwhile Kate has fallen in love with O'Caledonia by Elspeth Barker and sneaks in This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab, a YA fantasy read that proves perfect for those times when you just want to read about things that aren't real. Book recommendations The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco Matrix by Lauren Groff The Sixteen Trees of the Somme by Lars Mytting Islands of Abandonment by Cal Flynn O'Caledonia by Elspeth Barker A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes My Fourth Time We Drowned by Sally Hayden The Naked Don't Fear the Water by Matthieu Aikins The Sympathiser by Viet Than Nuygen This Savage Song, Our Dark Duet, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Shades of Magic trilogy, all by V. E. Schwab Head over to the episode page on our website for full shownotes and do leave us a comment in the forum, we love to hear from you. If you are the first, don't be shy! Keep up with what we're reading between shows on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or send us an email thebookclubreview@gmail.com.

Author Salman Rushdie called it 'an exceptional novel' while Claire Messud 'didn't want it to end' but what did Laura's book club make of this first book in a new trilogy from French-Moroccan sensation Leïla Slimani? We're joined by regular pod-listener Youssra, who gave us her insight into how the book has been received in her native Morocco. And we've got our usual round of book recommendations to help you find your next great read. Book recommendations Une année chez les français by Foud Laroui The Moor's Account by Leila Lalami This Blinding Absence of Light by Tahar Ben Jelloun All Men Want to Know by Nina Bouraoui Year of the Elephant by Leila Abouzeid Notes Have you read the book? Have an opinion on the show? Head to our episode page for full shownotes and episode transcript, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. They go straight to our inbox so we will respond – let's keep the discussion going. https://www.thebookclubreview.co.uk/portfolio/items/the-country-of-others/ Follow us on Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast On Twitter @bookclubrvwpod Next episode: Join us as we deep dive into the world of Fitzcarraldo with Jacques Testard, publisher of elegant blue and white books that keep winning awards. If you're looking to find books that will challenge you and broaden your horizons, don't miss it.

Our bookshelf shows are the ones where we get to cut loose and follow our own preferences, so listen in as Kate tries to figure out the best way to show up for her life after reading Oliver Burkeman's 4,000 Hours. Meanwhile Laura is drawn into 'A dark world of desire and fantasy' with French prizewinner No Touching by Ketty Rouf, we figure out via an emergency call to an Irish friend how to pronounce Colm Tóibín, but unfortunately this doesn't help Kate in her struggle with his book about Thomas Mann, The Magician. Laura gets on better with Brit Bennett's book The Mothers, which she can't put down. Finally, Kate has a new girl-crush on Canadian author Sheila Heti after reading her book Motherhood. Booklist 4,000 weeks by Oliver Burkeman No Touching by Ketty Rouf The Magician by Colm Toíbín Motherhood by Sheila Heti The Mothers by Brit Bennett Laura also mentioned Savage Tongues by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi, Little by Edward Carey and Secrets of the Sprakkar by Eliza Reid. Get in touch with us and tell us what you're reading or recommend us a book on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email thebookclubreview@gmail.com. Find our full episode archive at thebookclubreview.co.uk and don't forget to like, subscribe, tell a friend, share on social media – it helps us reach new listeners and we really do appreciate it :)

It's Mother's Day here in the UK and as there's nothing Kate loves more than a special episode we've put together a show on the theme of Motherhood. We're joined by Claire Lynch, author of Small: On Motherhoods, her literary memoir of her own unusual journey into motherhood. Elizabeth Morris of Crib Notes book club joins us too – who better to help us pull together our essential reads on the topic. We've got laughter, we might shed a few tears, and brilliant books to cover all eventualities. BOOKLIST Small: on motherhoods, by Claire Lynch Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder Motherhood by Sheila Heti A Life's Work by Rachel Cusk A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann ní Ghríofa M(otherhood) by Praya Agarwal The Best Most Awful Job by Katherine May The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson No-One Talks About this Stuff by Kat Brown NOTES Follow Claire on Twitter @drclairelynch, and find Elizabeth @Elizabethmoya. You can sign up for her monthly newsletter Crib Notes here. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email thebookclubreview@gmail.com. Check out our full episode archive on our website www.thebookclubreview.co.uk. Do subscribe to us to be sure you never miss an episode. And if you like what we do please rate and review the show, it helps other listeners find us. If you want to go one better please spread the word about us on your social media channels. Reaching new listeners makes us so happy, we treasure each and every one, and your support helps us do that.

Book recommendations galore from author Francesca Beauman, who is also publisher and bookshop proprietor of Persephone Books. In her latest book, The Literaray Almanac, Francesca aims to guide readers in choosing books that chime with moments in the year – from hopeful books to read in March to school curriculum classics not-nearly-as-boring-as-you-remember them in September. We also explore the delights of the Persephone publishing list with old favourites and some exciting new titles. So listen in and share in the joy of giving ourselves permission to say when we don't like something, and turn instead to something we will love. Enjoy. Booklist The Pineapple, King of Fruits and Matrimony, Inc., by Francesca Beauman The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi Ulysses by James Joyce The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu As It Was by Helen Thomas A Well Full of Leaves by Elizabeth Myers The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield Normal People by Sally Rooney Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Notes Find out more about Francesca at her website francescabeauman.com, or head on over to persephonebooks.co.uk for a browse. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email us thebookclubreview@gmail.com and let us know what you're reading – we love to hear from you. Subscribe to us to be sure you never miss an episode, and if you like what we do please rate and review the show, it helps other listeners find us and we are eternally grateful.

Join us as we discuss Benjamin Labatut's Booker International shortlisted novel When We Cease to Understand the World, 2020 Baillie Gifford prizewinner One, Two, Three, Four: The Beatles in Time by Craig Brown and 2021 Costa biography prizewinner Fall: A Life of Robert Maxwell by John Preston, The Outlander by Gil Adams, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab and The Sanitorium by Sarah Pearse. Did we love them? Did we loathe them? Listen in to find out. Booklist When We Cease to Understand the World, Benjamín Labatut One, Two, Three, Four: The Beatles in Time by Craig Brown Fall: A Life of Robert Maxwell by John Preston The Outlander by Gil Adams The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab The Sanitorium by Sarah Pearse Notes Get Back film trailer Carpool Karaoke with Sir Paul McCartney Join the bookish conversation with us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email thebookclubreview@gmail.com. Do subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. You can support us by rating and reviewing the show, and most importantly by telling your friends. Please share on social media and help us reach new listeners. Full show notes and our complete episode archive at our website thebookclubreview.co.uk. Sign up for our bi-weekly-ish newsletter. Drop us a line and let us know what you are reading. We always love to hear from you.

We've all felt the lure of the short, sweet read, one of those slim books you can finish in a few hours, maybe over a hot cup of tea. But what about the books that may take weeks, even months, to read? The door stoppers, the heavy weights, the long reads. Think Dickens, Tolstoy, and George Eliot, think Hilary Mantel, David Foster Wallace, and Donna Tartt. We dive into The Magic Mountain, Thomas Mann's 226,000 book set in a sanitorium in the Swiss Alps in which not much happens. What did we think of it? Should you try it? And if not, what long books do we recommend? We're joined by Toby Brothers of the London Literary Salon and pod-regular Phil Chaffee as we discover the pleasures and perils that come with a book that takes weeks, even months, to read. Books mentioned A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy all seven volumes of Proust Ulysses by James Joyce The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Middlemarch by George Eliot The Books of Jacob by Olga Tocarczuk Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellman Pilgrimage by Dorothy Richardson The Alex Ross article Phil mentions is here. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email thebookclubreview@gmail.com. Subscribe to us to be sure you never miss an episode. And if you like what we do please rate and review the show, it helps other listeners find us. If you want to go one better please spread the word about us on your social media channels. Reaching new listeners makes us so happy, we treasure each and every one, and your support helps us do that.

Wondering what books 2022 has in store for you? What will be your next great read? We're joined by industry insiders Chrissy Ryan, of dream bookshop Bookbar, and Elizabeth Morris of the Crib Notes newsletter to talk what's hot and what to look forward to. We've got your #tbr future-proofed. Book list: Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades The Heavens and The Men by Sandra Newman A Little Life and To Paradise by Hanya Yanigahara Violets by Alex Hyde Love, Marriage by Monica Ali House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas Lapvona by Otessa Moshfegh Free Love by Tessa Hadley Salt Slow and Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield Wahala by Nikki May Check out the episode page on our The Book Club Review website for more. If you like this show please take a moment to rate and review, it really helps us reach new listeners. Tell your friends, share on social media, it means so much to us when you do. Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email thebookclubreview@gmail.com.