Category Archives: The Readers

The Readers Book Club #9… Almost, Sort Of

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Schedules across the world can be a nightmare as Gavin and Simon have found with the latest episode of The Readers Book Club as with Catherynne M. Valente being in Australia things haven’t quite worked out, so she isn’t on the show… yet!

However whilst they get this interview sorted, which also allows one of the dynamic duo to finish the book as they are finding it quite hard going, Simon and Gavin thought they would bring you a special show that sees them, well one of them, in mid-read and pondering about the book and how they are getting on with it.

So whilst you might not get the full book club episode as you might have hoped you have ended up with a bonus episode and one that we think gives more of an insight into Simon and Gavin’s reading patterns and lives and is also still filled with book based banter.

They will update you with the full episode as soon as schedules allow. Sorry in the meantime, and expect an announcement on the next show of what the next TWO book club choices are.

S & G

Ep 72; Changes, Granta Best British Young Novelists, Gender of Authors & Reading Horizons

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Firstly Happy World Book Night to you all, we will be back later in the week with a WBN special. Today though we have a jam packed episode for you. First of all Gavin and Simon give you the low down on some changes to the podcast that they hope you won’t be too cross with. Then they have a catch up which includes the Granta Best of British Young Novelists. Then they discuss genders of authors and how much it matters, before sharing their reading horizons with you.

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

Changes () So Gavin and Simon have a small announcement after their being no episode next week, The Readers is going fortnightly for the foreseeable future. However you don’t need to miss them too much as Simon’s show, You Wrote The Book, will be moving to Tuesdays and filling the fortnightly gap. This just means Gavin and Simon have more time to read, work and the likes (each episode takes about 6 hours to prep) and will have more to report back on. Oh and The Readers Book Club will also be remaining on its monthly role on the second Friday of every month. We hope this is ok with all of you?

Catching Up () So what have Gavin and Simon been up to in the last few weeks. Well Simon has been spending time with his Gran and prepping for the Liverpool Literature Festival while Gav has been off gallivanting to London. In the book world there has been the news of Granta’s Best of British Novelists this week; Simon and Gavin have a chat about the list, feeling quite smug as they had two of the authors on their podcasts the week of announcement.

Gender of Authors () As the Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist was announced last week and after hearing Ann and Michael talking about the gender divide, and VIDA Count, on Books on the Nightstand a few weeks ago Simon thought he would bring the subject up again. Why are there more male authors and reviewers? Do we read authors equally showing no bias towards gender? Should we be doing so if we aren’t already? Are women or men better at writing narratives in the opposite gender? What are your thoughts?

Reading Horizons () Gavin and Simon share what they have read, are reading and what they might just read next…

Gavin has finished: Poison by Sarah Pinborough
He is now reading: Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis
Next up is: The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

Simon recently finished: Speaking from the Bones by Alan Bradley
He is currently marvelling at: The Long Falling by Keith Ridgway
He will soon be reading: Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver

Next time on The Readers () Simon and Gavin will be back in two weeks with more book based banter. In the meantime Simon is back on Friday with a World Book Night Special and again next Tuesday on You Wrote The Book with Alan Bradley.

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You can subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here.

 

No Show This Week

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We’re sorry but there is no show this week. Nothing serious we just didn’t find time to record one as we need a little extra time to make sure our interview with Jenni Fagan, one of Granta  Britain’s brightest writers, went live almost on time and that Simon could record with Taiye Selasi, another of Granta’s brightest writers for his You Wrote The Book! Podcast, which is going live on Thursday.

We will though be back on next Tuesday.

The Readers Book Club #8; The Panopticon – Jenni Fagan

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For the eighth Readers Book Club we have a book that gave both Gavin and Simon a real surprise as ‘The Panopticon’, by Jenni Fagan, was not what they were expecting. Join Simon and Gavin as they talk about the book, are joined by Jenni to talk about creating the book and then have a special guest for the spoilers section of the show…

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

logo3_728-x-9011Introducing the Book () In the first section of the show Gavin and Simon introduce you, without any spoilers to this months Book Club choice, ‘The Panopticon’ by Jenni. They give you a hint to the premise as the novel starts out, a little hint or two here and there of the way the book carries a dark brooding atmosphere, interesting characters, the potential shock it could give you, and why you should persevere if you think you might be put off.

An Interview with the Author () This month Simon and Gavin are joined by Jenni Fagan to talk about ‘The Panopticon’. What was the true story that sparked the book off? How difficult was it to make Anais likeable yet so difficult and also make the reader understand her when others didn’t, how reliable is she? Where did the sci-fi element of ‘the experiment’ come from? Was she worried about putting readers of with subject and language, and much more…

Simon, Gavin and Jared’s Thoughts () In this final section, brimming with spoilers (because you said you liked them) Simon and Gavin are joined by Jared or Pornokitsch and The Kitschie Awards to discuss the book further. They discuss all the things that happen from start to finish, including the ending and why Jared had such an emotional reaction to the book.

Next month on The Readers Book Club () We will be back on the 10th of May for the next Readers Book Club choice which is… ‘The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making’ by Catherynne M. Valente. They will also be joined by a previous favourite guest, Simon’s little sister Miriam! If you have any questions for that show let us know asap!

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You can subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here.

Ep 71; The Literary Gauntlet & How Much is a Book Worth?

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This week on The Readers there were meant to be three topics, however as Gavin and Simon have some brilliant guest voxpops during the episode and then go off on a big tangent, so we settled on two subjects. After Gavin threw the gauntlet down last week they discuss books with literary plot and literary books with no plot that are page turning, they also discuss how much a book is worth?

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

Catching Up () This week with so much to talk about, though they drop one of the things they wanted to discuss, Gavin and Simon have a catch up about the week in books. First up some more book prizes (we think we need to buy an Award klaxon to warn you) and then Gavin and Simon discuss the sad news about Iain Banks.

The Literary Gauntlet () Last week Gavin threw down a gauntlet and challenged Simon after they discussed what literature meant to them, Simon had to come up with five literary books with plot and five literary books without plot that read like page turners. Guess what… Simon has managed it. Even better than that he has back up, firstly from one of our lovely listeners in the US, Ruthiella who we are thrilled sent her thoughts. Then Simon’s new best friends, that he has never met, Kate and Rob of Adventures with Words, join in the discussion too. Hoorah! Debate ensues.

How Much is a Book Worth? () Another thing that came up in last week’s show was how much a book is worth and so Gavin and Simon decided to discuss it. First we have worth in terms of money, the 20p e-book may now have vanished (thank goodness) but the 66p and 99p e-books are still very much available, so how much are books and e-books actually worth in terms of money? Gavin doesn’t have an issue spending the same amount of money on a book and an e-book, though the latter are generally cheaper, Simon however wouldn’t spend a lot on an e-book as he sees them as an accessory, but he would spend good money on print books. What about library, second hand books and World Book Night giveaway books? Simon also ponders whether a book that stays with you for years or takes you away completely can actually have a limit on its worth? What do you think?

Next time on The Readers () Simon and Gavin will be back next week with more book based banter on Tuesday. In the interim though Simon is back on Thursday with Joanne Harris on You Wrote The Book! and Gavin and Simon are both back on Friday with The Readers Book Club where Jenni Fagan joins them to discuss her debut novel ‘The Panopticon’.

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You can subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here.

Ep. 70; Book Based Lists and What is ‘Literary’ to You?

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This week could be the last week of the readers ever as Simon and Gavin discuss what the term ‘literary fiction’ means to them, let’s just say one of the pairs hackles starts to rise before the end of the show. Before that though they discuss the pro’s and con’s of keeping book lists. They also discuss the news of GoodReads and Amazon, how could they not?

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

Catching Up () Gavin seems to have a returning cold and Simon is utterly shattered after a week in London, this could be a grumpy show couldn’t it? Simon has a little chat about his blog wobble but also the joys of London  and then they discuss this week’s big news… GoodReads being bought by Amazon… should we all defect or stick with it and see what happens next?

Book Based Lists () Are lists of books a good thing or a bad thing? Do you keep a list of all the books you own or do you just plonk them anywhere? Do you have wish-lists or do you avoid them like the plague and simply buy books that you mull over for a good week or two? Inspired by the GoodReads news and the lists they both keep on that site, Simon and Gavin have a discussion about the pros and cons of book lists and, if any, which bookish lists they both keep.

What is ‘literary fiction’? () So the gloves come off in the final section of the show this week as Gavin and Simon decide it is time to throw the gauntlet down on what they constitute as ‘literary fiction’. From Gav’s description it is just books unencumbered by plot that waffle on about how it took seventy pages to get to the shops, or maybe about someone who has had a divorce and thinks about the lead up to it a lot, or any other life trauma. For Simon he constitutes literary fiction as books with compelling characters, cracking stories and beautiful prose and sense of atmosphere, yet it is the quality of the prose that sets it apart. They have an, erm, debate about this… whose side are you on?

Oh and they want lists of five books which are literary but have a great story line, and also five books unencumbered by plot that are truly gripping for next week’s show so please let them know.

Next time on The Readers () Simon and Gavin will be back next week with more book based banter. Until then… Happy Reading!

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You can subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here.

Ep. 69; Literary Legacies & Justifying Your Books

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It’s a darker episode of The Readers this week as they look at what happens when an author dies and the legacy they leave behind and also if we as readers should be tougher and justify the books we have on our shelves more than we do? Simon and Gavin also have their usual weekly catch up as they try and put their bookish worlds to rights.

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

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Catching Up () It was Simon’s 31st birthday on Sunday and it has made him take, yet another, look at his reading habits and reading resolutions including giving himself some pointers towards the books that he wants to read before he is 40, in fact 40 books by the time he is 40. Gavin and Simon have a chat about that. Simon also announces he is postponing reading ‘Middlemarch’.

Literary Legacies () In the last week there has been the sad news that both authors James Herbert and Chinua Achebe passed away. Simon thought it would be interesting, if a little morbid, to talk about the death of authors and the legacy they leave behind. He also brings up the subject of how when an author dies do we find that we suddenly want to read them again or for the very first time. Also why is it that an author can find themselves more celebrated after death like Beryl Bainbridge was? Simon has now decided that he wants to read ‘The Rats’ and ‘Things Fall Apart’ and who knows he might find two new favourite authors, is that the legacy an author leaves behind?

Justifying Your Books () Gavin brings up the often occurring issue of how you deal with having lots of books and what you should and shouldn’t keep. Should we as readers who hoard books like there is no tomorrow actually be justifying how many books they have on their shelves? Can you have too many? Is it selfish to keep books you don’t really think you will read? How do we sort the good, the bad and the indifferent? Should we ask peoples advice or follow our own judgement? All this is discussed and much more…

Simon’s ‘read’ bookshelves, books have to fight with each other to get on these.

Next time on The Readers () Simon and Gavin will be back next week with more book based banter. Simon will also be back on Thursday with You Wrote The Book! where he will be talking to Patrick Ness. Until then… Happy Reading!

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You can subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here.

Ep. 68; Prize Updates, Reading Diets and Reading Horizons

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It is a bit of a jam packed week this week. Gavin and Simon have lots to catch up on, podcasts and prizes mainly, then they discuss their reading diets and habits followed by what is on their reading horizons (formerly what they have read, are reading and want to read next) so be prepared for lots and lots of book based banter this week – maybe even more than normal.

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

Catching Up () There is lots and lots of bookish bits and bobs to catch up. Firstly there is the fact that Simon’s solo podcast, You Wrote The Book!, is now up and running – Simon also has another bookish podcast recommendation, Adventures with Words. They also have lots of prizes to discuss. Firstly Tan Twan Eng has won the Man Asian Prize, secondly the Folio Prize has been unveiled and also the Women’s Prize for Fiction, formerly the Orange Prize, longlist of twenty books has been announced. Wowsers.

Reading Diets () Simon has been feeling a bit bookishly bilious of late, he has been looking at the books that he has been reading lately and it all seems a little middle class and a little bit white. Simon likes to think that he is quite adventurous, however now he is a little concerned that he isn’t. He shares his ponderings with Gavin, who shares his thoughts on the same things and the books that he sometimes things he can over indulge on. They also look at how they combat it and add a little extra flavour to their reading habits, after all reading shouldn’t be comfortable and safe all the time should it?

Reading Horizons () For the first time in ages and ages and ages Gavin and Simon share what they have read, are reading and what they might just read next.

  

Simon has just finished: The Character of Rain by Amelie Nothomb
He is currently engrossed in : Chocolat by Joanne Harris
He will soon be reading: The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas

An Uncertain Place - Commissaire Adamsberg 6 Equations of Life - Samuil Petrovitch Novels 1 The Drowning of Arthur Braxton

Gavin has just polished off: An Uncertain Place by Fred Vargas
He is now reading: Equations of Life by Simon Morden
Next up is most probably: The Drowning of Arthur Braxton by Caroline Smailes

Next time on The Readers () Simon and Gavin will be back next week with more book based banter. Until then… Happy Reading!

Get the RSS link for the podcast by clicking here.
You can subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here.

Ep.67; Gav is Back, Kindle Conundrums & Commandments, Sequels & Spin Offs

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Hooray and hoorah for Gavin is back this week, though a big, big, thank you to his stand-ins over the last two weeks. As they haven’t for a while, Gavin and Simon start with a catch up before Gavin outs Simons big secret… he has a Kindle and after the conundrum it started he has created some commandments. They also have a chat about spin offs and sequels and if an authors books should be left alone by other authors after they are dead.

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

Gavin is back () After two weeks of missing him on the main show, though you may have heard him on last weeks Readers Book Club with Bethan Roberts, Gavin is now back. So he and Simon have a right old natter about what they have both been up to whilst he has been off, well in Gavin’s case it is more what he has been reading while he has been sick than anything else, bless him.

Kindle Conundrums and Commandments () Well the thing that you never thought would happen has… Simon has a Kindle, though as he is keen to point out he didn’t buy it as it was in fact a gift for Valentines. This has left him a little conflicted, as he discusses, and so her has created a list of ten Kindle Commandments which Gavin and he go through. He also discusses how he hasn’t actually really used it that much yet and when he has it hasn’t been for reading!!

Spin Offs and Sequels () After an author dies should their books be left alone? This week it has been announced that Sebastian Faulks will be writing a new Jeeves and Wooster novel and so Gavin and Simon decided to discuss the tricky subject of spin offs and sequels, and indeed prequels. Some they love and some they don’t, they have a good old chin wag about it though.

Next time on The Readers () Simon and Gavin will be back next week with more book based banter. Stay tuned this week though for the first of Simon’s solo podcasts with the author Maggie O’Farrell which will be available in this feed for its first outing.

The Readers Book Club #7; My Policeman – Bethan Roberts

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For the seventh Readers Book Club the spoilers have got even more spoiling with a new look to the show… there are even separate spoilers with the author now! Which is ideal with a book like ‘My Policeman’ by Bethan Roberts where the ending could allude to so much, but what? Join Simon and Gavin as they talk to Bethan about the books setting, the secrets it hides and how she got into the mind of a closeted gay man in a Brighton of the 50’s that wasn’t so forward thinking.

Don’t forget you can find us on Twitter, Good Reads and Facebook now as well as subscribing to us on iTunes here.

Introducing the Book () In the first section of the show Gavin and Simon introduce you, without any spoilers to this months Book Club ‘My Policeman’ by Bethan Roberts. They give you a hint to the premise as the novel starts out, a little hint or two here and there of the way the book carries a dark brooding atmosphere, interesting characters, the potential to break your heart and also some mysteries – all to make you want to read more.

An Interview with the Author () This month Simon and Gavin are joined Bethan Roberts to talk about ‘My Policeman’. What was the true story that sparked the book off? How difficult was it to make Marion, one of the narrators, so untrustworthy, angry and rather dislikeable on occasion so utterly compelling? Why does she really like to put her characters through their paces and give them such a hard time? And why was the policeman of the title such an enigma.

Simon & Gavin’s Thoughts () In this final section, brimming with spoilers (because you said you liked them) Simon and Gavin discuss the book further including the ending, which they then bring in Bethan’s thoughts on again, and also asking some listener questions and saying unabashedly what they thought of the book overall. We know Simon loved it, but did Gavin?

Next month on The Readers Book Club () We will be back on the 12th of April (to give you more time to read it as this one was delayed) for the next Readers Book Club choice which is… ‘The Panopticon’ by Jenni Fagan. This is a book Gavin and Simon have been meaning to talk to you about for weeks and so decided, why not make it a book group choice – as it is a little sci-fi this could be an interesting month for Simon!

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You can subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes here.