
Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize Podcast
Every week, join Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, and her inspirational guests as they celebrate the best books written by women. They'll discuss this year's shortlisted titles, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years. Sit back and enjoy.
Latest episodes

Jun 30, 2020 • 47min
S2 Ep12: #ReadingWomen: Family
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by novelist and journalist, Anna James, musician and poet, Arlo Parks, and novelist and short story writer, Sophie Mackintosh.
The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is family.
The reading list:
We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver, 2005
On Beauty by Zadie Smith, 2006
Home by Marilynne Robinson, 2009
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 16, 2020 • 1h 7min
S2 Ep11: 2020 Shortlist Special
In this special episode of the podcast, Zing Tsjeng welcomes the six incredible authors who have been shortlisted for this year’s Prize: Bernardine Evaristo, Angie Cruz, Natalie Haynes, Jenny Offill, Maggie O’Farrell and Hilary Mantel. They discuss the inspirations behind their novels and tell us what it would mean to win the Women's Prize for Fiction.
The 2020 shortlist is as follows:
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell
Weather by Jenny Offill
The 25th winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction will be announced on Wednesday 9th September.
The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world. This series will take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 5, 2020 • 51min
S2 Ep10: Bookshelfie: Naga Munchetty
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Naga Munchetty, who takes us on a tour of her bookshelves and tells us her five favourite books by women. Naga is a BBC presenter and journalist, she has fronted many programmes including Newsnight, The Victoria Derbyshire Show and of course you’ll be familiar with her presenting BBC Breakfast. Before joining the BBC, she worked for the Evening Standard, The Observer, Bloomberg and Channel 4 News. She’s talented away from the newsroom too - in 2016 she was a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction when Lisa McInerney’s The Glorious Heresies was crowned the winner and in the same year she also danced her way around the Strictly Come Dancing studio.
Naga's book choices are:
Forever by Judy Blume
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
A little Life by Hanya Yanahigara
The Apology by Eve Ensler
She Came to Stay by Simone de Beauvior
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 2020 • 50min
S2 Ep9: #ReadingWomen: Changing Worlds
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Rhiannon Cosslett - a columnist, feature writer and editor for the Guardian and Liv Purvis - author of the Insecure Girl's Handbook.
The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is changing worlds. To look at that subject in more detail, we’re jumping into the winners from 2000 - When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant, the 2004 winner, Small Island by Andrea Levy and The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver which won in 2010.
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 2020 • 48min
S2 Ep8: Bookshelfie: Martha Lane Fox
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Martha Lane Fox, who takes us on a tour of her bookshelves and tells us her five favourite books by women. Martha is a business woman, philanthropist, public servant and was also a Women’s Prize judge in 2009 - when Marilynne Robinson's Home was crowned the winner and is the Chair of Judges for the Prize this year. She co-founded Lastminute.com during the dot.com boom and since stepping down from the company in 2003 has gone on to sit on the boards of Marks & Spencer and Channel 4 and patron a number of charities. Today, she sits on the boards of Twitter, Donmar Warehouse and Chanel, is a trustee of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, a chancellor of The Open University and continues to advocate for human rights, women’s rights and social justice.
Martha's book choices are:
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
How to be both by Ali Smith
Memorial by Alice Oswald
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 5, 2020 • 56min
S2 Ep7: #ReadingWomen: Nationhood
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by actress, comedian and cartoonist Jessie Cave, comedian Jessica Fostekew and actor, musician, and one-half of Rizzle Kicks, Jordan Stephens.
The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is nationhood – a big, meaty issue that’s never felt more relevant in this day and age. The panel dive into the 2018 winner Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie, The Road Home by Rose Tremain - our 2008 winner - and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett which won the prize back in 2002.
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 19, 2020 • 47min
S2 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Fi Glover
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by the broadcaster and author, Fi Glover. Fi is a BBC journalist, presenter and podcaster. She is a veteran host, she launched shows like My Perfect Country on the World Service, The Listening Project on Radio 4 and is also the co-host of the smash hit podcast series, Fortunately with Fi and Jane. She is also the author of the intriguingly named Travels With My Radio: I Am An Oil Tanker.
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 29, 2020 • 46min
S2 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Joanna Trollope
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by the author Joanna Trollope. Joanna has been writing for over 45 years and is well known for her contemporary works of fiction. She studied at Oxford University and worked at the foreign office before becoming a full-time writer. She writes under the pseudonym of Caroline Harvey, has been awarded an OBE and has had her work adapted for TV.
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 11, 2020 • 48min
S2 Ep4: #ReadingWomen: Identity
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by author, journalist and host of the award-nominated podcast Sentimental Garbage - Caroline O'Donoghue, television and radio presenter, Vick Hope and journalist, host of chart topping podcast You’re Booked and author of The Sisterhood – A Love Letter to the Women Who Shaped Me, Daisy Buchanan.
The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is identity. The panel discuss three books that explore the complexities of identity. They are the 2015 winner How to Be Both by Ali Smith, Property by Valerie Martin, the 2003 winner, and Larry's Party by Carol Shields which won the prize back in 1998.
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 26, 2020 • 39min
S2 Ep3: Bookshelfie: Gemma Cairney
In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by radio DJ, presenter and author, Gemma Cairney. Gemma shares with us the story of her life through five brilliant books which have meant something to her.
Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.