Tea Or Books?

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

Detective fiction, crime fiction, and Beverley Nichols – what fun!   Rachel has had to take a quick break from the podcast, but I was delighted to have a special guest in the form of Karen, from Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings,

Literary families, and the reveal on our recommendations for each other – we’re back after a seasonal break. We’ve missed you!   In the first half of our 51st episode, we look at families where more than one generation has

To celebrate episode 50, we are doing a question and answer episode!   I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas – I’m editing this a few days before Christmas, but I’m going to assume that a wonderful time was

Wilkie Collins, A.S. Byatt, and the death of the author (sort of) – episode 49 is quite the mixed bag. nbsp; I found it quite hard to describe the first half of this episode – though hopefully it will become

Emily Eden and the openings of books – we muddle our way through episode 48!   First – do send any questions you have for episode 50 to simonthomasoxford[at]gmail.com. We’re quite excited about finding out what you’ll ask – about

Sybille Bedford and sequels by the original author vs sequels by a different author… we need to come up with snappier titles for these things.   In episode 47, we start with a topic suggested by Karen via email –

Elizabeth Strout is our author this episode – and we also dip a toe in the worlds of Canadian and Irish literature. Spoilers: we know a lot less than we should. Suggestions welcomed, please!   I’m off to Canada shortly,

A heated conversation about literary prizes AND Vita Sackville-West. Roll up, roll up for episode 45!   In the first half of this fortnight’s episode, we try to determine whether or not literary prizes affect our reading – which wanders

After a bit of a hiatus, we’re back with an episode about Marghanita Laski and whether we read one book at a time or many books at once. And because that’s a bit of a mouthful, I’m calling it monogamous

Scientists! Vicars! H.E. Bates! Helen Thomas!   We’re popping in between holidays to record an episode about clergymen and scientists in novels – doubtless missing plenty of them, but thank you for everyone who tweeted in with your suggestions. We’d

Trains! Boats! Anita Brookner! Ann Bridge! This episode has it all. Books set on trains vs books set on boats – Rachel didn’t want us to do it but it happened. And… it was a roaring success? Right? Well, I had

John Galsworthy! Elizabeth Jane Howard! Circadian novels! Find out what that means, and much more, in episode 41.   Guys, it was SUPER hot when we were recording this podcast. It’s rather cooler now that I’m editing, but I rather