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 find out more about this book podcast, and to take part in our book giveaways, you can follow us on @oh...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 7Ep. 4
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 Jilly Cooper (Rivals) pitted against Glen Duncan (The Last Werewolf) but which book will win??? Hosted...
Feb 17, 2021•49 min•Season 7Ep. 3
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 Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 10, 2021•42 min•Season 7Ep. 2
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 Michael Marshall Smith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 03, 2021•37 min•Season 7Ep. 1
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" by Belinda Bauer, but which one will win???? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...
Nov 18, 2020•42 min•Season 6Ep. 11
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.
Nov 11, 2020•45 min•Season 6Ep. 10
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??? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 04, 2020•40 min•Season 6Ep. 9
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 Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 28, 2020•53 min•Season 6Ep. 8
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 will win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 20, 2020•49 min•Season 6Ep. 7
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 - putting Muriel Spark's "The Driver's Seat" up against Stephen King's "Misery" - but which book will wi...
Oct 07, 2020•47 min•Season 6Ep. 6
In this episode of Book Off! Joe Haddow is joined by Oyinkan Braithwaite (My Sister The Serial Killer) and Chris Whitaker (We Begin At The End) to talk about the books they love, their writing and what genre means to them. The two writers also get a little bit nervous before going head to head in the Book Off, putting The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin up against The Last Child by John Hart - but who will win!? Listen to find out... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
Sep 30, 2020•43 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Novelist and screenwriter David Mitchell (author not comedian) goes head to head with writer Jasper Fforde in a War Of The Words. David and Jasper discuss their latest books (Utopia Avenue and The Constant Rabbit) with host Joe Haddow, as well as talking about their writing and what they have been reading recently. The Book Off sees Max Porter’s “Grief Is The Thing With Feathers” go up against "How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manuel of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot" by John...
Sep 23, 2020•46 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Poet and writer Jackie Kay goes head to head with debut novelist Douglas Stuart in this episode of Book Off! They discuss the importance of understanding our history, how Glasgow fuels and inspires their work and how most writers are a little bit mad. Douglas discusses his Booker Prize shortlisted novel, Shuggie Bain, and Jackie talks about her new play, The Lamplighter as well as recommending some books they have recently read. In the book off, they pit Quentin Crisp (The Naked Civil Servant) a...
Sep 15, 2020•47 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Joe Haddow is joined by two fabulous authors, who go head to head in a War Of The Words. In this episode, international-bestselling author John Connolly talks about his latest Charlie Parker novel and academic and author Sarah Moss tells us how her latest novella was inspired by a pretty rubbish holiday. Both authors discuss how they create sense of place in their books, tell us what they've been reading lately and pit Dorothy Wordsworth's "The Grasmere Journals" up against Irmgard Kuen's "Child...
Sep 08, 2020•49 min•Season 6Ep. 2
For the first episode of Series 6, Joe Haddow is joined by TV presenter and writer Richard Osman and international bestselling author and screenwriter, Anthony Horowitz. They discuss their love of crime fiction, how the "Britishness" of their books is a big selling point overseas and just how much food needs to be consumed in order to be able to write a novel. As well as discussing Moonflower Murders and The Thursday Murder Club, Richard and Anthony go head to head in the Book Off, pitching Mich...
Sep 01, 2020•38 min•Season 6Ep. 1
In the final episode of Series, bestselling crime authors Jeff Deaver and Scott Turow go head to head in a war of the words, pitting Graham Greene against Harper Lee in the Book Off! They discuss their latest novels what it takes to be a writer, how they're coping in lockdown and their brief acting careers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 13, 2020•48 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Fantasy author Joe Abercrombie goes head to head with playwright and author Barney Norris, in another classic Book Off! Recorded in 2019 - but published during the 2020 lockdown, the two authors discuss their latest books, their love for Robin Hobb and the fact that not everyone wants to be shocked in books. Host Joe Haddow referees the Book Off which sees George RR Martin go up against Georges Perec in a war of the words. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 06, 2020•37 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Bestselling YA and adult author, Holly Bourne, goes head to head with the fashion editor of The Times, and debut author Harriet Walker in the latest Book Off! The two writers discuss online dating and what it means for human interaction in 2020, as well as their writing processes and latest novels, "Pretending" and The New Girl". They talk about the need for humour around trauma and the pressures on authors in lockdown. Plus, they each pitch a book they love and think we should all read in the B...
Apr 29, 2020•46 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Joe Haddow talks to novelists Naoise Dolan and Paul Mendez about their debut books Exciting Times and Rainbow Milk. They discuss their writing journeys, the diversity of publishing in 2020 and why it might be a good idea to read slower books in lockdown. In the Book Off, Banana Yoshimoto's "Asleep" goes up against Brit Bennet's "The Vanishing Half" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 15, 2020•43 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Bestselling author Maggie O'Farrell (The Hand That First Held Mine, Instructions For A Heatwave) goes head to head with New York Times bestseller Tayri Jones (An American Marriage) in the Book Off! They put "Old Filth" by Jane Gardam up against "The Street" by Ann Petry, but which one would you take home?? The authors also talk to Joe Haddow about their love of Shakespeare, the lengths they go to to research their novels and what new projects are on the horizon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
Apr 08, 2020•48 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Bestselling crime writers Louise Candlish and Mark Edwards talk about their latest books as well as living with bad neighbours and how certain characters can inspire a whole novel. They go head to head in the Book Off, putting Tom Wolfe's " Am Charlotte Simmons" up against Brett Easton Ellis' "American Psycho" - but who will win!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 11, 2020•44 min•Season 5Ep. 5
In this episode of Book Off, host Joe Haddow is joined by authors and screenwriters Sadie Jones and Liz Moore to talk about their latest novels (The Snakes and Long Bright River) and their writing styles and techniques. The writers also go head to head in the Book Off, putting KM Peyton up against Shirley Jackson. Who would you choose? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 04, 2020•38 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Bestselling author and screenwriter, Stephen Chbosky (The Perks Of Being A Wallflower) goes head to head with author and ceramicist Elizabeth Macneal (The Doll Factory) in the Book Off! They discuss their writing and books with host Joe Haddow, as well as putting the novels "Perfume" and "Wonder" up against each other. But who will win... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 25, 2020•35 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Authors Abi Dare and Jeanine Cummins talk about their latest novels "The Girl With The Louding Voice" and "American Dirt" and the excitement of finally sharing them with the world. They go head to head in the Book Off, pitting "Valentine" by Elizabeth Wetmore against Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and talk to Joe Haddow about the reasons behind their stories and what made them want to write them. *recorded at the end of 2019 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...
Feb 12, 2020•35 min•Season 5Ep. 2
New Yorker writer and Baille Gifford Prize shortlistee, Casey Cep, goes head to head with short story writer, author and Guardian columnist Chris Power. They talk to host Joe Haddow about the great Harper Lee, the importance of short stories and if it's ever possible to win the caption competition in The New Yorker magazine. And in the Book Off, Alvaro Enrigue's "Sudden Death" is put up against Marilynne Robinson's debut novel, "Housekeeping" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...
Feb 05, 2020•50 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Comedian and author Katy Brand goes head to head in the Book Off with author and screenwriter Candice Carty-Williams. They talk to host Joe Haddow about Dirty Dancing, playing the trumpet and taking characters from the page to the screen. There are also many laughs along the way... Sue Townsend's "The Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13/3" is put against "Angus Thongs And Full-Frontal Snogging" by Louise Rennison in the Book Off, but who will win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
Oct 30, 2019•46 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Singer, Songwriter and author Brett Anderson goes head to head in the Book Off with award winning poet and author Lemn Sissay. The Suede front man talks about his new memoir and how the music press of the 1990s effected him, as well as reflecting on how writing has helped knowing himself better. And the official poet of the 2012 Olympics discusses his new memoir, telling the story of growing up in foster care and not finding out his real name until he was 17. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Oct 16, 2019•43 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Bestselling author and Costa Book Awards judge Adele Parks goes head to head with journalist, author and former editor Lucy Foley in the Book Off! They talk about their writing techniques, their latest books "Lies Lies Lies" and "The Hunting Party" and put Zoe Heller's "Notes On A Scandal" up against "The Lady Vanishes" by Ethel Lina White! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 09, 2019•39 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Bestselling author Lisa Jewell (Ralph's Party) goes head to head with Downton Abbey actor Catherine Steadman in the Book Off. They talk to host Joe Haddow about sharing their work with their partners, the bReece Witherspoon and why a house can be such a scary character ina book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 02, 2019•39 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Authors Daisy Johnson (Fen, Everything Under) and Kiran Milwood Hargrave (The Girl Of Ink and Stars, The Deathless Girls) join Joe Haddow for the first Book Off! of Series four. They talk about being on the other side of a book prize (as judges) their love well-written sex and just how much they trust each others' advice. In the first Book Off of Series 4, we see Jeanette Winterson's "Frankisstein" be put up against Leanora Carrington's "The Hearing Trumpet" - but who will take the crown? They a...
Sep 25, 2019•44 min•Season 4Ep. 1
