Book Off!

Comedian, Actor and Author Katy Wix goes head to head with Comedian and Taskmaster creator Alex Horne, in a war of the words. They discuss their reading habits, Taskmaster, the joy of memoirs and what they have been reading and enjoying recently. Alex reveals something he probably shouldn't about the new Taskmaster book and Katy talks of the highs and lows which came from writing her new non-ficti...

Authors Bella Mackie and Vera Kurian discuss their debut novels, "How To Kill Your Family" and " Never Saw Me Coming", with Joe Haddow. They also discuss horror films, gratuitous killing of women in literature, publishing fatigue and what they have been reading and enjoying recently. In the Book Off, they pit David Mitchell's "Cloud Atlas" up against "The Light Years" by Elizabeth Jane Howard, but...

Bestselling novelists Joanne Harris and Sharon Bolton go head to head in a war of the words, pitching a book they love and think we should all read. They discuss their latest books - The Narrow Door and The Pact - with Joe Haddow, as well as talking about how they approach characters and setting. Sharon and Joanne tell us what they have both been reading and enjoying recently - and, of course, the...

Journalist and broadcaster Jeremy Vine goes head to head with journalist and broadcaster Fern Britton, in a war of the words. They join Joe Haddow to discuss their new novels - "The Diver And The Lover" and "Daughters Of Cornwall" - and to pitch us a book they love and think we should all read. Fern champions Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With The Wind" in the Book Off, whilst Jeremy pitches "The Last...

New York Times Bestselling author, Jason Mott, joins Journalist and author Christine Smallwood for Book Off! They talk about their new novels, dinosaurs, Werner Herzog, what they have enjoyed reading lately and how it never gets easier to write a novel. Jason's novel - "Hell Of A Book" - is an incredibly funny and honest novel which goes to the heart of racism and police violence in America. And C...

Former journalist turned best-selling crime author Peter May goes head to head with thriller writer Peter Swanson in a war of the words. They talk about letting ideas for books go when they're not strong enough, working through the pandemic, priceless art and how nice it is to not be consumed by Donald Trump news any more... In the Book Off they pit JP Donleavy’s ‘The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthaz...

Debut authors Louise Nealon and Julie Ma go head to head in a war of the words! They discuss their new books, the thrill of being published for the first time, writing for your younger self and Chinese food! In the Book Off they put Dermot Healy's "A Goat's Song" against "The Snow And The Works On The Northern Line" by Ruth Thomas, but which one will win!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jane Smiley, goes head to head with writer, broadcaster and poet, Pam Ayres, in a war of the words. They discuss their writing, the importance of wildlife, going on cruises, fables and humour. In the Book Off they put James Rebanks "English Pastoral: An Inheritance" against "The Year Of Lear" by James Shapiro. But which one will win??? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Writer, poet and podcaster Musa Okwonga goes head to head in a war of the words, with Man Booker Prize long-listed author Wyl Menmuir. They discuss the complex father/song relationship, the joy of independent publishers, their homes of Berlin and Cornwall, and how football is just like jazz. In the Book Off they put James Salter's "Light Years" against "The Bone Readers" by Jacob Ross, but which o...

Writer and filmmaker Sheena Patel goes head to head with author Naomi Ishiguro in a war of the words. They talk about poetry in a pandemic, the joy of children's books, being creative with friends and the solitude of writing. In the Book Off they pit Cathy Park Hong's "Minor Feelings: An The Asian Condition" against "The Book Of Hopes" edited by Katherine Rundell, but which one will win??? Hosted...

Author and lecturer Emily M Danforth goes head to head with journalist and writer Inga Vesper. They talk to host Joe Haddow about the intoxication of Los Angeles, how to get inspiration from busses and why more people should read Shirley Jackson. In the Book Off, they put Jackson's "The Haunting Of Hill House" up against "Random Family" by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, but which one will win?? Hosted on...

Screenwriter Lizzie Fry and journalist Anna North go head to head in a war of the words. They discuss their new books, The Coven and Outlawed, as well as writing visually, adapting for the screen and how to reclaim genres for female characters. In the Book Off they pit "The End Of The World Running Club" by Adrian J Walker against Hernan Diaz's "In The Distance" but who will win!? Hosted on Acast....

Bestselling crime writers, Chris Brookmyre and Mick Herron, go head to head in a war of the words. They talk to host Joe Haddow about their latest novels, weaving humour into crime stories, how long walks can help percolate ideas and the how lying on a sofa reading is classed as work (for an author) In the Book Off, they pit Derek Mahon "Selected Poems" against "Swing Hammer Swing" by Jeff Torring...

Debut novelists Emma Stonex and Rebecca Watson join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. They discuss their first novels, The Lamplighters and Little Scratch, as well as the books they have been reading recently and enjoying and how it feels to be publishing in a pandemic. In the Book Off, they put Claire Chambers' "Small Pleasures" up against "Motherhood" by Shelia Heti, but which one will win????...

Legendary broadcaster and writer, Simon Mayo, goes head to head with bestselling author SJ Watson in a war of the words. They talk to Joe Haddow about their writing, hitting the wall, the highs and lows of adapting work for the screen and some of the books and authors they have read and enjoyed recently. In the Book Off, they pit Colson Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad" against Kristin Hersh'...

Booker Prize long listed author Gabriel Krauze goes head to head with bestselling novelist Ryan Gattis in a war of the words. They discuss gang culture, Los Angeles, London, their inspirations and how fiction can be more powerful than non-fiction) In the Book Off, they pit Jennifer Clement's "Widow Basquiat" against "Signs Proceeding The End Of The World" by Yuri Herrera, but who will win!? To fin...

Journalist and author Daisy Buchanan goes head to head with screenwriter and novelist Emma Jane Unsworth in a war of the words. They talk to host Joe Haddow about writing good sex, saying naughty words on Woman's Hour, how much they love Simon Mayo and how one might find a local burglar. They also discuss their new books, "Insatiable" and "Adults" and their writing influences. The Book Off sees Ji...

Debut authors Abigail Dean and Ashley Audrain go head to head in the Book Off and talk about their brilliant first novels, "Girl A" and "The Push" They also talk about their writing journeys and what it's like to be published in a pandemic. The Book Off sees Sarah Water's "The Beautiful Indifference" put up against Kiley Reid's "Such A Fun Age", but who will win the war of the words?? Hosted on Ac...

In the first episode of Series 7, bestselling authors CJ Tudor and Will Dean go head to head in a war of the words, pitting a book that they each love against each other. They discuss their new novels, The Burning Girls and The Last Thing To Burn, as well as their inspirations and what they've been reading recently. The Book Off sees Sarah Water's "Little Stranger" go up against "Spares" by Michae...

Multi-million bestselling author Michael Connelly goes head to head with the Sunday Times Number on bestseller Clare Mackintosh in a war of the words. They discuss their writing, new books, why LA is such a great setting for a crime series, what they've been reading lately and how to give characters redeeming features. In the Book Off they put SA Cosby's novel "Blacktop Wasteland" against "Exit" b...

Authors Carys Bray and Sarah Franklin discuss their writing, friendship, inspirations, new books and what they've been reading recently. They also go head to head in a war of the words pitting "The Great Believers" by Rebecca Makkai against Jenny Erpenbeck's "Visitation" but which one will you want to take home??? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Internationally best selling author Emma Donoghue goes head to head with poet and author Michael Crummey in a war of the words. They talk about their latest novels, living in Canada, how they find inspiration for their stories and what they have enjoyed reading recently. In the Book Off, Hanya Yanagihara's "A Little Life" goes up against Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" - but which will you choose???...

Bestselling historical fiction writers Victoria Hislop and Lissa Evans join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. They talk about getting published in their forties, the joys of travel writing, reading each others work and the books they have enjoyed reading recently. For the Book Off, they put "The Shipping News" by Annie Proulx agains Tolstoy's "War and Peace" - but which one will win?? Hosted on A...

Man Booker winning author DBC Pierre and Booker Prize long listed author Sophie Mackintosh join Joe Haddow to talk about writing nocturnally, big tech, social media, maternal instincts, talking about death and how our hoovers might be feeding data to companies we don't know about. In the Book Off, Henri Charriere's "Papillon" is put up against "All My Puny Sorrows" by Mirian Toewes, but which book...

This episode is a must listen for crime fiction fans, as we're joined by international bestselling author Ian Rankin and lawyer turned thriller writer, Steve Cavanagh. The two authors discuss their latest books, what they've been reading lately and how they've got through lockdown. They also discuss the pros and cons of virtual literary festivals. Ian and Steve go head to head in the Book Off - pu...