Book Off!

Have you heard the one about the priest, the vicar and the podcast host?  Comedian and writer Ardal O'Hanlon goes head to head with popstar vicar and author Rev. Richard Coles in a war of the words. They discuss their new novels, their writing, getting the tone right, the perks of wearing a dog collar and #taskmaster. They also give us some brilliant book recommendations as well... In the Boo...

Two brilliant songwriters, Jarvis Cocker and Baxter Dury, go head to head in a war of the words. They talk about how their books came into being, holding on to things from childhood, their writing processes and recommend us some books they have read and enjoyed recently. In the Book Off, they pit Haruki Murakami's "Hard Boiled Wonderland And The End Of The World" against "A Swim In A Pond In The R...

Bestselling thriller writers Ruth Ware and Gillian McAllister go head to hear in a war of the words. They discuss their latest novels and writing, as well as sharing some fabulous book recommendations. In the Book Off, they pit Oyinkan Braithwaite's "My Sister The Serial Killer" against "Impossible" by Sarah Lotz, but which one will win...??? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Authors Tara M Stringfellow and Dolen Perkins-Valdez go head to head in a war of the words. They discuss Memphis, writing in anger, music on the back porch, making readers think, the importance of women's stories, poetry and lyrical prose. In the Book Off, they pit Octavia Butler's "Kindred" against "Oh, You Thought This Was A Date?" by C Russell Price. But which one will win??? Hosted on Acast. S...

Actress, singer and author Carrie Hope Fletcher goes head to head in a War Of The Words, with bestselling novelist Joanna Cannon. They discuss their new books, the joy of fantasy novels, writing whilst doing other jobs, the importance of character led fiction and also recommend us some books they have read and enjoyed recently. In the Book Off, they pitch Daphne du Maurier's classic "Rebecca" agai...

Debut novelist Kasim Ali goes head to head with author and teacher Okechukwu Nzelu in a war of the words... They discuss their publishing journeys, how they approach rejection, "messy" romcoms, queerness and the joy in "simple writing". They also recommend us some books they have read and loved recently - and give us some tips for getting books back from friends you've loaned them to! In the Book...

Authors Harriet Tyce and Amy Mcculloch go head to head in a war of the words! They talk about mountaineering, foxes, the Marathon des Sables, Edinburgh, long baths and give us some brilliant reading recommendations. In the Book Off, they pit Andrew Kurkov's "Death And The Penguin" against Lizzie Pook's "Moonlight And The Pearlers Daughter" - but which one will win??? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

Bestselling authors Sarah Pinborough and Sarah Vaughan go head to head in a War Of The Words. They discuss their Netflix adaptations, writing for TV, lack of sleep in lockdown, the genius of Marian Keyes and...their new novels. We also get some great book (and TV) recommendations - and in the Book Off, they pit Hilary Mantel's "Bring Up The Bodies" against "A Tidy Ending" by Joanna Cannon, but whi...

Authors Ruth Ozeki and Cathy Rentzenbrink join Joe Haddow for a war of the words and to discuss their new novels. Ruth explains how she came to stare at her face in a mirror for 3 hours and then write a book about it, whilst Cathy talks about the joys of sea swimming and how anyone can write a book if they want to. They also talk about the joy of libraries, their writing processes and recommend so...

Booker Prize winning author Damon Galgut goes head to head with author and translator Adrian Nathan West in a war of the words. Damon discusses his Booker winning novel, The Promise, and how he reached a point in his career where he didn't care what anyone else thought. Nate talks about the relationship between author and translator, and how he navigated writing a fictional memoir. In the Book Off...

Bestselling authors Marian Keyes and Nina Stibbe go head to head in a war of the words in a bumper episode of Book Off. They shower admiration on to each other and their new books, "Again, Rachel" and "One Day I Shall Astonish The World" which they discuss with Joe Haddow. They also talk about their writing, inspirations, friendship, sex in older age, taking the waters in Bath, writing a sitcom an...

Authors Charlotte Mendelson and Liz Hyder go head to head in a war of the words. It's been 9 years since Charlotte published a novel - and on this episode she tells us all about her new book - "The Exhibitionist" - and how she feels now it's finally being published. The novel is an exploration of art, sacrifice, toxic family politics, queer desire and personal freedom. And Liz tells us about her f...

International bestselling novelists David Baldacci and Linwood Barclay go head to head in a war of the words. They discuss writing themselves into corners, how they scare themselves to write better books and tell us about their brand new novels, "Take My Breath Away" and "Dream Town". They also talk about their shared loved of the author Ross MacDonald, and the Lew Archer novels. In the Book Off,...

Debut novelists, Jo Browning Wroe and Miranda Cowley Heller go head to head in a war of the words... They discuss their books, "A Terrible Kindness" and "The Paper Palace" - as well as their writing journeys and inspirations. Miranda also discusses her former career at HBO - where she worked on shows such as The Sopranos and The Wire, whilst Jo explains how she came to the idea for her novel and h...

Bestselling author, Monica Ali, goes head to head with debut author Hafsa Zayyan in a War Of The Words.  It's been 10 years since Monica Ali published her last novel - and in this episode she talks about losing confidence in her writing and how she decided to explore screenwriting.  After winning the inaugural #Merky Books New Writer's Prize, she published her debut novel "We Are All Bir...

Booker winning novelist and poet, Ben Okri, goes head to head with poet, writer and artist Tice Cin in a war of the words. In this episode, the two authors discuss their work, their influences, the joy of nature, the power of poetry and how silence can be a healer. They also recommend us some brilliant things to read. In the Book Off, Miguel de Cervantes epic "Don Quixote" goes up against "Fovea/A...

Poets John Gerard Fagan and Monika Radojevic go head to head in a war of the words. In this episode, they talk to Joe Haddow about the power of poetry, their writing inspirations, Japanese culture and writing, the Brexit fallout and putting yourself on the page. They also give us some brilliant book recommendations and do great battle in the Book Off, which sees "The Crab Cannery Ship" by Takiji K...

Award-winning journalist, TV presenter and author Robert Peston, goes head to head with Barrister and Author, Imran Mahmood in a War of the Words. They discuss their new novels and fascination with memory. Robert explains why he can't stand D:Ream and Imran gives us an insight into his character creation. Both authors also tell us what they have been reading and enjoying recently - and recommend s...

International bestselling authors, Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes are good friends, but have never met in person! Here they go head to head in a war of the words, from different sides of the world. They discuss their new books, the turmoil of writing in lockdown, escapism, open spaces, horses, being political through commercial fiction and how writers help other writers. Jodi and Jojo also recommend...

Screenwriter Georgia Pritchett goes head to head with actor and writer Casey Wilson, in a war of the words. Georgia talks about her work on the hit TV shows "Succession" and "Veep" - and how in the UK, she is still the only female writer in the room. Casey tells us all about her new show "The Shrink Next Door", obsession with the Real Housewives - and how that obsession has turned into a hit podca...

Writers Lucy Vine and Nicole Kennedy go head to head in a war of the words, with two very different novels. They talk about their latest books, their relationship with social media, motherhood, the highs and lows of being a teenage girl, writing in lockdown and recommend us some new books. In the Book Off, John Wyndham's "The Day Of The Triffids" gets pitted against "The Idea Of You" by Robinne Le...

Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Powers goes head to head with bestselling novelist Sebastian Faulks, in a war of the words. These two great writers discuss their work and inspirations, why humans are so fragile, writing in the wilderness, the future of the planet, and give us a few book recommendations along the way too. In the Book Off, they pitch Marcel Proust's "In Search Of Lost Time" against "S...

Author and professor Mukoma Wa Ngugi joins screenwriter and author Charles Yu for a War Of The Words. They discuss their writing, new novels, changing the way people are represented in Hollywood (and across the world) and recommend some books. In the Book Off, Charles Petzold's "Code" goes up against "Lose Your Mother" by Saidiya Hartman - but which one will win???? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Singer, Songwriter and novelist Kathryn Williams goes head to head with writer and friend, Rosa Rankin-Gee, in a war of the words. As well as discussing their novels "The Ormering Tide" and "Dreamland" - they talk about songwriting, water, the positives of lockdown, zombies, castles, writing and what they have enjoyed reading recently. In the Book Off, Dodie Smith's "I Capture The Castle" is pitte...

In this fascinating bumper episode, cultural critic Olivia Laing and author Howard Cunnell talk about their latest books, how they write, their inspirations, what art means to them, the importance of water, Wilhelm Reich and masculinity among many other things... As well as rich and in-depth conversation, Olivia and Howard go head to head in a war of the words, pitching Hadrien VII's "Quest For Co...