Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club

This week's book guest is Golden Age by Wang Xiaobo. In this episode Sara and Cariad discuss revolutions, little monks, ball breaking, girlfriends, poetry, translation and hidden ovaries. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss suicide. Golden Age by Wang Xiaobo is available to buy here . Tickets for Sara's tour show I Am A Strange Gloop...

This week's book guest is Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis. Sara and Cariad are joined by Dr Nussaibah Younis is an expert on the politics, foreign policy and economy of contemporary Iraq. For several years she advised the Iraqi government on proposed programmes to de-radicalise women affiliated with ISIS, she has a PHD in International Affairs and Fundamentally is her debut novel. In this e...

This week's book guest is My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. In this episode Sara and Cariad discuss school, communism, slimy dads, scary dads, writing as freedom and when names are quite similar. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we mention sexual assault. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante is available to buy here . Tickets for Sara'...

This week's book guest is Nuclear Family by Kate Davies. Sara and Cariad are joined by novelist, screenwriter and children’s author Kate Davies. Her novel In at the Deep End won the Polari Prize and she was shortlisted for the Bollinger Wodehouse Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction. In this episode they discuss fiction and truth, brothers, sports analogies, improv and Frankenstein Thank you for...

This week's book guest is Rosewater by Liv Little. Sara and Cariad are joined by writer, journalist and founder of gal-dem - Liv Little. In this episode they discuss strap-ons, friendship, rollerblading, debt, friendship, camming and John Legend. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Rosewater by Liv Little with Liv Little is available to buy here . You can find Liv on Inst...

This week's book guest is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Sara and Cariad are joined by the award winning comedian, actor and writer Jessica Fostekew to discuss platonic friendships, collaboration, book clubs and nuggets! Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss coercive relationships. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,...

This week's book guest is There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. Sara and Cariad are joined by the award winning Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak. Elif has published 21 books and is best known for her novels, which include The Bastard of Istanbul, The Forty Rules of Love, Three Daughters of Eve and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World . Her works have been translated into 57 langua...

This week's book guest is She Speaks!: What Shakespeare's Women Might Have Said by Harriet Walter. In a truly special episode live from Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of the London Literature Festival 2024 Sara and Cariad are joined by the one and only Dame Harriet Walter to talk about her new collection of speeches for thirty of Shakespeare’s women. Harriet is one of Britain's mo...

This week's book guest is Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. Sara and Cariad are aptly joined by 30 somethings 'Single Ladies In Your Area' and award winning comedians Amy Gledhill and Harriet Kemsley. In this episode they discuss dating, ADHD, Harriet's foot in a bowl, red flags, Hugh Grant, Pride and Prejudice and Off Menu. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger w...

This week's book guest is this year's Booker Prize winner - Orbital by Samantha Harvey. In this episode Sara and Cariad discuss prizes, Barnet, authenticity, and Rob Brydon. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Orbital is available to buy here . Cariad’s children's book The Christmas Wish-tastrophe is available to buy now. Sara’s debut novel Weirdo is published by Faber & F...

This week's book guest is Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. Sadly James Joyce and Michael Fassbender were not available to chat so Sara and Cariad are joined by Ireland's premier Bono impersonator, writer and star of This Way Up , Living With Yourself and Get Away - it's Aisling Bea! In this episode they discuss sex scenes, James Joyce, Dublin, Maeve Binchy and life's winners. Thank you for reading with...

This week's book guest is Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors. Sara and Cariad are joined by BAFTA nominee and Hullraisers star, actor Taj Atwal - to discuss Percy the Park Keeper, boxing, childbirth, addiction, posh English people and the Spice Girls. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss grief, death and addiction. Blue Sisters is available...

Welcome to the 2024 Weirdos Book Club round up and Christmas gift guide! In this episode Sara and Cariad discuss the books from this series that have stuck with them, easy Christmas gift wins, honourable book mentions from this year, to read piles, listener suggestions and what they're looking forward to coming out in 2025!   Thank you for reading with us this year. We like reading with you!...

This week's book guest is The Lost Wife by Susanna Moore. Sara and Cariad are joined by journalist and writer Nell Frizzell - author of The Panic Years , Holding the Baby and Cuckoo - to discuss public transport, fear of men, victimhood and swimming in the Thames. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss domestic abuse, war violence and c...

This week's book guest is The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse. Sara and Cariad are joined by the international bestselling author, Founder Director of the Women's Prize for Fiction and CBE Kate Mosse herself. In this episode they discuss motherhood, the Women's Prize, whispering in the landscape, and overnight success. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this ep...

This week's book guest is Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart. Sara and Cariad are joined by the incredible Kadiff Kirwan - star of Slow Horses and This Way Up - to discuss class, fishing, parents, vernacular and David Beckham's sarong. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss violence, sexual assault, neglect and childhood sexual abuse. Young...

This week's book guest is Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Sara and Cariad discuss acting, Sara's beautiful singing voice, being invisible, and their new book based musical - 'The Literary Libretto'. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Tom Lake is available to buy here . Cariad’s new children's book The Christmas Wish-tastrophe is available to buy now. Sara’s debut novel Weirdo is pu...

This week's book guest is The Christmas Wish-tastrophe by Cariad Lloyd. Sara and Cariad are joined by fellow author Dr Susan Cahill with her own children's book The World Between The Rain to discuss magic, fairies, grief, nature, emotions and portals. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! The Christmas Wish-tastrophe is available to buy now. The World Between the Rain is availab...

This week's book guest is Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink. Sara and Cariad are joined by the writer and Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Rentzenbrink. Her books include Everyone is Still Alive,   Write It All Down and The Last Act of Love which was also shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize. In this episode they discuss Jane Austen, affairs, quiet people, Anna Karenina, grief and blue cash...

This week's book guest is The Elsie Drake Letters by Robert Popper. Sara and Cariad are joined by legendary comedy writer, producer and actor Robert Popper who's worked on everything from Look Around You to Friday Night Dinner, Peep Show and Stath Lets Flats. In this episode they discuss bananas, the King, Potsy the hedgehog, stamps and the Pope. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with...

This week's book guest is One's Company by Ashley Hutson. Sara and Cariad discuss Red Dwarf, safe places, connection in novels, self care and Creed from The Office. Trigger warning: This episode contains references to death, suicide and assault. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! One's Company is available to buy here . Tickets for the live show at the Southbank Centre with s...

This week's book guest is Honeybee by Dawn O'Porter. Sara and Cariad are joined by the best-selling author, presenter and co-founder of Choose Love, Dawn O'Porter to discuss a room of one's own, temping, reply all, ambition and periods. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Honeybee is available to buy here . You can find Dawn on Instagram @hotpatooties Tickets for the live show...

This week's book guest is Modern Times by Cathy Sweeney. In a special live recording at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Sara and Cariad are joined by actor, comedian, cartoonist and author Jessie Cave to discuss the Edinburgh Fringe, reviews, puppets, walk-outs, sex dolls and Nancy Dell'Olio. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we di...

This week's book guest is This Motherless Land by Nikki May. Sara and Cariad are joined by the award-winning writer Nikki May herself to discuss beige food, Jane Austen, the mixed race experience, baked beans and Mick Hucknell. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss racism. This Motherless Land is available to buy here or on Apple Books...

This week's book guest is Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott. Sara and Cariad discuss Highballs, Carrie Bradshaw, hot dates, feminism, marriage, divorce and losing it all. Trigger warning: This episode contains references to baby loss, abortion, sexual assault, anti-Semitism and racism. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Ex-Wife is available to buy here or on Apple Books here . Ticket...