Book Off!

Comedians and authors Helen Lederer and Shazia Mirza go head to head in a war of the words - pitting David Nicholls against Vicktor E Frankel. They also discuss how comedy has changed for women, the differences of writing prose versus stand-up and the Comedy Women In Print Prize. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Screenwriter, author and graphic novelist Gregg Hurwitz takes on bestselling crime writer Robert Goddard in a War Of The Words. In this episode, "Ratking" by Michael Dibdin is pit against "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien and the two authors discuss comics, adapting famous characters and how writing books is just an excuse to go on holiday to exotic places. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Authors Douglas Kennedy and John Lanchester put Homer's Odyssey up against Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, as well as discussing great cinema, how generations have changed emotionally and what our world might look like in 20 years time. Spoiler - it's not good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singer, songwriter and author Tracey Thorn goes head to head with journalist and author Hannah Beckerman in the Book Off! putting Donna Tart's "A Secret History" against "The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox" by Maggie O'Farrell. They discuss motherhood, growing up in Suburbia and whether re-reading books you love is a good idea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author of besting novel "Lullaby" Leila Slimani goes head to head with journalist and debut author Stacey Halls in the brand new series of Book Off! They discuss the state of journalism in the world today, witches, sex addicts and how writing should be shocking and not safe. And put "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being" by Milan Kundera up against Philip Pullman's "The Ruby In The Smoke" Hosted on A...

Actors David Tennant and Christian Brassington go head to head in the Book Off, pitching George Orwell against Batman. They talk to Joe Haddow about festive films, a love of comics, new projects and finding the time to read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bestselling authors Barbara Taylor Bradford (A Woman Of Substance) and Sophie Hannah (Kind Of Cruel) go head to head in the Book Off! Emily Bronte's classic "Wuthering Heights" goes up against "Half Broken Things" by Morag Joss, but who will be crowned the winner? The writers talk to Joe Haddow about Agatha Christie, their routines, what constitutes an archive and the joy of typewriters. Hosted on...

Australian author Tim Winton (Cloud Street) goes head to head with British actress and author Sarah Winman (Tin Man). In this episode of Book Off, Richard Powers' "The Overstory" is put up against "A Prayer For Owen Meany" by John Irving, but who will win? The authors also chat to Joe Haddow about how books come to them, the importance of place and how writing gets harder as you get older. Hosted...

Bestselling authors Sarah Perry (The Essex Serpent) and Patrick Gale (A Place Called Winter) go Head to Head in the Book Off, with two very different novels. Edith Wharton's "The Age Of Innocence" is put up against "We That Are Young" by Preti Taneja, but which one will win? The writers also chat about ghosts, witches, reading bad reviews and their love of short stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

International bestselling author Cecelia Ahern goes head to head in the Book Off with poet and broadcaster Murray Lachlan Young.  In this episode, Audrey Niffenegger's "The Time Travellers Wife" goes up against "The Last Mughal" by William Dalrymple. They also discuss the bending of time, whether different versions of ourselves are living on another Earth, their favourite rap and hip-hop musi...

Comedian and author Adam Kay goes head to head in the Book Off with punk poet John Cooper Clarke. David Sedaris' "Holidays On Ice" goes up against "Dolce Vita Confidential" by Shawn Levy, but who will win? They also discuss the joys of milkmen, Italian cinema and how punk it is to not have a mobile phone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Lib Dem Leader, Paddy Ashdown, takes on international bestselling author Bernard Cornwell in the Book Off! This episode sees John Donne take on William Shakespeare, but who will win??? Hosted by Joe Haddow, the two historians discuss secret spies in the Second World War, the unravelling of English history, how politics of the 1930s are mirroring our society today, and lots of poetry. Hosted...

Bestselling author Matt Haig and Telegraph journalist Bryony Gordon join Joe Haddow for a very interesting Book Off! In possibly the most diverse war of the words this series, Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" is put up against the Alcoholics Anonymous "Big Book" by Bill W. As well as discussing their own books, Matt and Bryony talk about their mental health, facing demons, how running really helps them and t...

Thriller writers Erin Kelly and Sabine Durrant go head to head in the Book Off! Barbara Vine's "No Night Is Too Long" goes up against "Hanover Square" by Patrick Hamilton - but which will have the glory? As well as a fierce competition, the authors talk about taking time off social media and how some subjects are just too horrific to write about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

The bestselling author of Apple Tree Yard, Louise Doherty, joins Joe Haddow for a chat about her writing foundation and goes head to head with author Araminta Hall who discusses her latest novel, Our Kind Of Cruelty. Daphne Du Maurier's "Rebecca" goes up against 'Ghosts Of The Tsunami" by Richard Lloyd Parry in this episode, but which will win? The authors also discuss the portrayal of women in fi...

Bestselling author and co-founder of the Women's Prize For Fiction, Kate Mosse goes head to head with critic, journalist and author SJ Parris in the Book Off! Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" goes up against "The Name Of The Rose" by Umberto Eco in this episode, but which one will Joe take home? They also discuss the importance of literary prizes, their latest novels, how to plan your writing routine...

Bestselling crime writer Mark Billingham goes head to head with music journalist extraordinaire David Hepworth. As well as a hotly contested Book Off between Lyndon B Johnson and The Maltese Falcon (yep, seriously!) Joe Haddow gets geeky with both writers about music. They talk Steely Dan, Elvis Costello and The Beatles and why music genre trends only occur every forty years. Hosted on Acast. See...

Irish writer and Man Booker Prize longlistee Donal Ryan and debut author Imogen Hermes Gower go head to head in the Book Off! John Steinbeck is pitted against Beryl Bainbridge in this episode - but who do you think should win? Imogen discusses the pressures of writing after a huge bidding war and financial deal and Donal explains how he has only really been a full-time author for 3 months of his l...

Jess Kidd (Himself/The Hoarder) and Simon Wroe (Chop Chop/Here Comes Trouble) join Joe Haddow to talk books, writing styles and literary parties. "True Grit" by Charles Portis goes up against "Sal" by Mick Kitson...but which one will Joe take home? They also discuss what it means to be described as "humorous authors", writing on a hangover, hoarding and the art of writing young narrators. Hosted o...

Authors Kit de Waal (My Name Is Leon/The Trick To Time) and Ned Beauman (Boxer, Beetle/Glow) join Joe Haddow for another Book Off! Kazuo Ishiguro's classic "The Remains Of The Day" is put up against "The Conspiracy Against The Human Race; A Contrivance Of Horror" by Thomas Ligotti. As well as going head to head in a literary fight for glory, they discuss growing up around books, previous careers.....

Bestselling author John Niven and writer, broadcaster and comedian Viv Groskop go head to head in a very competitive Book Off! "Heartburn" by Nora Ephron goes up against "Rabbit Is Rich" by John Updike in the war of the words...but which should win? As well as talking about their latest books, John and Viv also discuss school reunions and great Russian novels! Naturally. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

The bestselling authors of We Need To Talk About Kevin and Girl With The Pearl Earring, Lionel Shriver and Tracy Chevalier, bring two contemporary novels to the Book Off! to pitch against each other; 'Beautiful Animals' by Lawrence Osborne and "Preparations For The Next Life" by Atticus Lish. As well as a heated book fight, Lionel and Tracy talk "covering" Shakespeare, cycling and how jazz drummer...

Bestselling authors Paula Hawkins (The Girl On The Train) and John Boyne (The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas) go head to head in the first ever Book Off! LP Hartley's "The Go Between" goes up against "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood - but which will win!? And they also discuss the pressure of a second novel after the success of a debut. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...