Tea or Books?

World War Two fiction and the difference between fantasy and fantastic fiction – welcome to episode 77! In the first half of this episode, I dive back into the topic of my DPhil and we talk about fantastic and fantasy

Miss Hargreaves! Finally! But also illustrations and a novel by Rachel Malik. In the first half of this episode, we discuss whether or not we want illustrations in our books – taking a little venture to graphic novels on the

Tove Jansson, Ted Hughes, and fictional morality – welcome to episode 75!   We’re back after a bit of a break – and we’re doing poetry for the first time ever. In the first half of the episode, we discuss

Young Adult fiction – are we fans? And Richard Yates vs John Williams.   In the first half of this episode, we venture into potentially controversial territory as we discuss young adult (YA) fiction, and whether or not we think

How many chances will we give an author? And Margery Sharp!   In the first half of the episode, we ask whether we’re one-strike-you’re-out people or if we’re willing to give an author several chances – and which authors we’ve

Where do we like to read? And books inspired by Virginia Woolf. It’s a very ‘us’ episode.   In the first half of this episode, we’re adopting a question suggested by Teddy – reading at home vs reading elsewhere –

Lots of perspectives or a single narrative, and two 19th-century childhood memoirs – here we go! In the first half of this episode, we discuss multi-narrative novels and whether or not we prefer them to single narrative novels. In the

Simon visited Rachel – so naturally took a look around the shelves. Come for the tour! In a change from scheduled programming, we do a slightly different episode. I was staying with Rachel in her beautiful flat while I was

Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Rosemary Sutcliff, and the scope of the books we love. Happy February!   In the first half of this episode, we discuss small world vs wide world in novels – do we like small communities or novels

The books we hate (and should we tell you?) and Elizabeth Gaskell vs Jane Austen.     In the first half of this episode, we talk about the books we’ve hated – prepare for things to get contentious! – and

Edward Carey and books as gifts – happy new year; we’re back!   We had a bit of a longer break over Christmas, but we’re back and raring to go with a post-Christmas discussion about whether or not we like

  Elizabeth Bowen, Elizabeth Taylor, and venturing into the worldly…   In the first half of this episode, we look at… domestic books vs worldly books? Or something like that? We never quite worked out what we meant, but we

  We are finally back! Apologies for the lengthy break – all is explained in this episode. We’re not back as soon as intended, because we recorded an episode a few days ago that… didn’t record. The podcasters’ nightmare! Nothing

Paul Gallico and two World Wars – quite a mix!   In the first half of this episode, we look at the books of the World Wars – whether written at the time or later – and decide which we

Women opening bookshops, and how we feel about the physical book.   In the first half of this episode, we look at first edition vs worst edition – in a fairly sprawling discussion about whether we care about first editions,

Two novels by A.A. Milne and we get deep about Amazon.   In the first half, we talk buying books in bookshops vs buying books online – taking our cue from a suggestion by Karen – and then we wander

John Fowles, Tracy Chevalier, and eating in books – Lyme and limes, if you will!   Sorry for a bit of a delay (because I had to read two quite long books) – and advance apologies for the delay before

This episode is all about married and unmarried people – in general, and two ‘spinsters’ in particular. Buckle up!   (Apologies if the podcast in your app overlaps the intro music with the intro chat… this one doesn’t, but I

Shirley Jackson and holiday reading – welcome to episode 59!   In the first half of this episode, we look at holiday reading – chiefly whether we prefer easy or difficult books when we go off on holiday, but we

Rebecca West, Rosamond Lehmann, and book groups – welcome to episode 58!   I can hardly believe that we’ve not done an episode on book groups before – but here we are! In the first half, Rachel and I talk

Murder mysteries and binge-reading – enjoy episode 57!   In this episode, we compare an uncharacteristically modern novel – The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, published in 2018 – with Agatha Christie’s classic Poirot novel The Murder of Roger

We’ve finally done the reviewers vs recommendations episode! Also: E Nesbit and Dorothy Whipple.   Every now and then, the critics vs bloggers debate rears its head. In the first half of the episode, we take a slightly different look

Dorothy Whipple, Winifred Peck, and authors who hop genres – welcome to episode 55!   In the first half of this episode, Rachel and I discuss a topic suggested by my friend Paul (thanks Paul!) – versatility vs dependability. Well,

A children’s books special today, featuring Frances Hodgson Burnett and Philippa Pearce. Not in person, you understand.   In the first half of the episode, we discuss whether it’s better to read children’s books as children or as adults (especially

It’s the battle of the Penelopes – and which books we’re most likely to read first (top or bottom of the pile?)   Rachel is back (hurray!) – many thanks to Karen for taking her seat last time. And in