The Book Club Review

• Book Club: Universality and Sparks of Bright Matter • Episode #179

  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!

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• Shelf-reflective: Books about Books, with Joseph Dance • #178

  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

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• Bookish in Seattle • Episode #177

  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      

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• Friendship and Fiction in New York • Episode #176

  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 patreon.com/thebookclubreview Website thebookclubreview.co.uk Instagram @bookclubreviewpodcast      

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• Explicitly Literary: sex writing in books • Episode #175

  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  

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