The Book Club Review

97
Books #125

Discussion, debate, even a little dispute – expect it all on The Book Club Review. Every month hosts Kate and Laura bring you a new episode. That could be Book Club where we chat about the book read most recently by one of our book clubs. It could be Bookshelf, an episode dedicated to the books we’re reading outside of book club – the ones we get to pick and choose. Or it could be an interview with a book club, bookshop or book lover. Whatever the topic, every episode features lively and frank reviews and recommendations.

Recent Episodes
  • Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon • #172
    Mar 8, 2025 – 47:59
  • How to Read Yourself Happy, with Daisy Buchanan • Episode #171
    Feb 15, 2025 – 49:58
  • Book Club: The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk • #170
    Feb 9, 2025 – 49:30
  • Meditations for Mortals, with Oliver Burkeman • Episode #169
    Jan 25, 2025 – 47:51
  • Page-Turning Plans: Looking ahead to 2025 • Episode #168
    Jan 10, 2025 – 46:23
  • Unputdownable: the best books we loved in 2024 • Episode #167
    Dec 29, 2024 – 01:19:36
  • The Booker Prize 2024 • Episode #166
    Nov 9, 2024 – 01:22:57
  • Summer Reading Report 2024: Hits, misses and anticipations
    Sep 7, 2024 – 01:05:34
  • Notebook Nirvana: Stationery and the Joys of Notetaking, with David Frostick
    Aug 25, 2024 – 43:57
  • Unpacking the best: The NYT's best books of the 21st century • #163
    Jul 30, 2024 – 54:06
  • Summer Bookshelf • Episode #162
    Jun 21, 2024 – 49:43
  • Books that Make us Laugh • Episode 161
    Jun 6, 2024 – 57:30
  • Talking Non-Fiction, with Tom Rowley of Backstory • Episode #160
    May 5, 2024 – 46:49
  • Browsing the So Many Damn Books bookshelf, with Christopher Hermelin • #159
    Apr 29, 2024 – 47:58
  • Book club: The New Life by Tom Crewe • Episode #158
    Apr 10, 2024 – 41:22
  • Mild Vertigo and Japan lit • Episode 157
    Mar 13, 2024 – 56:15
  • Early Spring Bookshelf • Episode #156
    Feb 6, 2024 – 39:24
  • Future Reads 2024, with Chrissy Ryan • Episode #155
    Jan 23, 2024 – 40:05
  • Best Books of 2023 • Episode #154
    Dec 29, 2023 – 01:07:35
  • The Booker Prize 2023 • Episode 153
    Dec 11, 2023 – 01:11:59
  • Lonesome Dove, and other reads • Episode #152
    Oct 29, 2023 – 54:00
  • So Late in the Day and other reads • Episode #151
    Oct 14, 2023 – 47:48
  • Fiction and Philosophy, with Jonny Thomson • Episode #150
    Sep 9, 2023 – 45:22
  • Late-Summer Reading, with Bookbar • Episode #149
    Aug 21, 2023 – 53:00
  • The Years by Annie Ernaux, Super-Infinite by Katherine Rundell, and a whole lot more • Episode #148
    Aug 9, 2023 – 51:20
  • Bookshopaholics • Books on the Hill • #147
    Aug 1, 2023 – 26:29
  • Fiction Prescriptions with Ella Berthoud • #146
    Jul 8, 2023 – 41:25
  • The Women's Prize 2023 • Episode #145
    Jun 11, 2023 – 01:25:26
  • Bookshelf: Summer vibes • Episode #144
    Jun 8, 2023 – 49:24
  • So Many Damn Books • Episode #143
    May 31, 2023 – 43:23
  • Book Club: Victory City • #142
    May 21, 2023 – 42:31
  • Bookshelf: Easter reads • Episode #141
    Apr 15, 2023 – 41:06
  • Free and The Snow Ball • Book Club, episode #140
    Apr 5, 2023 – 41:45
  • Bookshopaholics: The Paperhound, Vancouver
    Mar 19, 2023 – 35:33
  • Bookshelf: Spring Reads • Episode #138
    Mar 7, 2023 – 48:38
  • Future reads 2023 • Episode #137
    Feb 20, 2023 – 33:03
  • Bookshelf: Winter Reads • Episode #136
    Jan 29, 2023 – 43:34
  • The Thursday Murder Club • Episode #135
    Jan 17, 2023 – 01:00:12
  • Best Books of 2022 • Episode #134
    Dec 27, 2022 – 01:09:38
  • The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, My Phantoms and Eight Months on Ghazzah Street – what did our book clubs make of them?
    Dec 11, 2022 – 52:40
  • Fitzcarraldo Editions, with Jacques Testard • #132
    Nov 27, 2022 – 54:31
  • A Heart That Works, with Rob Delaney
    Nov 12, 2022 – 45:52
  • Bookshelf: Autumn reads
    Nov 6, 2022 – 36:41
  • The Booker Prize 2022
    Oct 16, 2022 – 01:27:13
  • Book Club: The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi
    Oct 2, 2022 – 45:32
  • Bookshelf: the Autumn book report
    Sep 18, 2022 – 53:26
  • Young Bloomsbury, with Nino Strachey • #126
    Aug 7, 2022 – 40:12
  • The Women's Prize 2022 • #125
    Jul 29, 2022 – 56:20
  • The Inseparables, with Anna Baillie-Karas • 124
    Jul 15, 2022 – 33:46
  • Mrs Dalloway, with Charles Pignal • #123
    Jul 4, 2022 – 45:08
Recent Reviews
  • kmvandergrift
    One of the best!
    The Book Club Review podcast is one of my favorite book podcasts. . . .ever. The books and content presented are several notches above the usual commercial “literature” found on other popular book podcasts.
  • MaisieDen
    Thoughtful podcast
    I really enjoy Kate’s thoughtful, articulate reviews - as well as Phil’s.
  • Serious Book Nerd
    Great Reviews
    Love the discussions! Always something interesting talked about and lots of food for thought.
  • Wynn1711
    Love, love, love
    This show has changed how I read. It has opened my eyes to so many books that I would have never picked up or noticed!
  • Generic Reader
    Kate has earned her stripes
    Looking for a cozy, intellectual, quietly whimsical and wonderfully creative podcast about books and a bookish lifestyle? Well her you go! It’s also lovely to listen to a sophisticated and friendly accent by the show host(s) which is most frequently Kate these days (although Laura is always sunny even when she is eschewing a book due to intensity that dabbles in darkness and/or pain). The pod features a wide range of mostly fiction, some poetry, the rare appearance of a graphic novel, pointed nonfiction and sub-genres move around but most notably is the literary fiction is tasteful and expansive. Bookstore owners, fellow readers, authors and other industry adjacent peoples appear on the podcast and Kate is a skillful and inspired interviewer. Listeners learn as she does and Kate is not shy to learn and offer that dynamic and rich experience to her listeners. Her recent Booker prize episode is chef’s kiss! She reminds me of early Julia Child—Kate is THAT interesting and raises the bar for podcasts making them be educational by way of intellectual participation (no mansplaining). USA listeners she reads and cites relevant articles derived from all the great States publications so give Kate some love and listen in. I would love to see her expand her show to feature fellow podcast people further and Bookstagram—the community would love her should she connect furthermore. Networking people re-read this! Admittedly, I have been influenced a little by Kate’s selections. I wish I was in Europe to meet at book club but the podcast offers one to Patrons via Patreon so if you get a holiday bonus and desire community and time enables a good linkup then join! I look forward to seeing what Kate rolls out for 2024. She’s a professional both on and off the podcast so listeners keep busy between episodes or go back to old ones there’s always something to discover. Enjoy!
  • From the Tucson desert
    My favorite book review podcast
    This is the perfect mix of new “must read” books found in the American press and authors of whom I am not so aware from outside of the US. The discussions make books that I would not normally consider sound interesting and I’ve found some new gems through this podcast. I love the ease and camaraderie between Kate and Laura, they sound like the women in my own book club (though with British accents!).
  • Glo Loves Books
    Fantastic Book podcast
    I could listen to the Book Club Review Podcast every day. I love it so much! Kate and Laura are lively and engage their listeners so well that the time flies by too quickly. I love the variety of titles including many discussion-worthy translations.
  • Pocket10s
    Interesting and intelligent
    I enjoyed the episode on The Memory Police. Helped me see the novel from a few different perspectives.
  • Christina1832
    Nope
    Oyinkan Braithwaite is not a poor writer, you just don’t get it.
  • Fatmom
    So glad I found this podcast!
    I have benefitted tremendously from Kate and Laura’s fun book discussions — discovered a handful of authors this year, all thanks to them! So grateful they take the time to share their thoughts in this monthly podcast — I now have a running list of must-read-books, not to mention lots of books to recommend to my own book club friends.
  • Sadie315
    Love em’
    Love these smart women and their differing perspectives. Love Kate’s passion and Laura’s choices. Such a lovely way to spend an hour or so. Thank you both!!
  • knittingreader
    Hooray!
    So glad I found this podcast. I’m a committed reader but sadly don’t have a book club. Now I feel like I do. I’ve gotten lots of great recommendations here.
  • zlb90
    Gem!
    What a gem! My favourite book podcast by far. Honest, engaging. And thank you for the show notes. So important so I can actually look up the books later!
  • CA reading
    Friends through the virus
    Early on in the virus I needed some book suggestions as I isolated with my elder parents. I tried numerous book review pod casts an they were either too chatty or too dry. The Book Club Review is a perfect friendly show with lively discussions by two women who seriously enjoy books. I listen to all their shows as well as archives. Have gotten many good recommendation and been entertained by the discussions. Thank you!
  • Hipsterbarb
    Great
    I just found this podcast & I can truly say it’s my very favorite. It’s so interesting to hear what different book clubs think.
  • JustEmilyC
    Well done
    A well done, well-produced podcast with a variety of topics. I look forward to each and every episode.
  • rampant reader
    Lincoln In the Bardo
    Just listened to your book club review of Lincoln in the Bardo. I agree with Kate. Also love your website. Thanks for all the work you put into it.
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