The Booker Prize Podcast

International Booker Prize 2024 Winner Special

Fri, 24 May 2024 08:58:00 -0000

Earlier this week, author Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann were announced as the winners of the International Booker Prize 2024, for the novel, Kairos. Jenny and Michael join Jo and James to talk about whether their win has truly sunk in yet and what might be next, and administrator of the International Booker Prize, Fiammetta Rocco also joins to give some insight into how the prize works. It's our last episode of this season of The Booker Prize Podcast so make sure you don't miss this one – but all our previous episodes will continue to be available so you can listen whenever you want.

Find out more about Kairos: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/kairos

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The International Booker Prize 2024 Shortlist (Part 2)

Thu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0000

With under a week until the International Booker Prize 2024 ceremony, we're back with the second part of our deep dive into this year's six shortlist books. Listen in to hear what Jo and James think of the remaining three books on the list, common themes that run across the shortlisted reads and which book they want to see win the award.

In this episode Jo and James discuss:

Brief biographies of each author, and short summaries of each book
Their thoughts on the three books books discussed in this episode
The common themes running through these books
Which book they think might win

Reading list:

Mater 2-10 by Hwang Sok-yong, translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/mater-2-10
Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior, translated by Johnny Lorenz: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/crooked-plow
Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/not-a-river

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The International Booker Prize 2024 Shortlist (Part 1)

Thu, 02 May 2024 11:51:00 -0000

We're three weeks away from the International Booker Prize 2024 award ceremony, so we thought it was high time to take a deep dive into this year's six shortlist books. In the first of two parts, we're exploring three of the books on this week's podcast episode. Listen in to hear what Jo and James make of them, common themes that run across the shortlisted reads and how the International Booker can expand one's world through literature.

In this episode Jo and James discuss:

Their initial thoughts on the 2024 shortlist as a whole
The common themes running through these books
Brief biographies of each author, and short summaries of each book
Their thoughts on the three books books discussed in this episode

Reading list:

The Details by Ia Genberg, translated by Kira Josefsson: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-details
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmann: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/kairos
What I'd Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma, translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/what-id-rather-not-think-about

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Washington Black by Esi Edugyan: April's Monthly Spotlight

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Esi Edugyan’s thrilling novel follows the astonishing adventures of its titular character, Washington Black, whose escape from the brutal cane plantations of Barbados was only the beginning. Shortlisted for the 2018 Booker Prize and set to be released as a glitzy television adaptation starring Sterling K Brown and co-produced by Edugyan later this year, what better excuse to dive into the novel?

In this episode Jo and James:

Introduce our April Monthly Spotlight pick
Share a brief biography of Esi Edugyan and her work to date
Summarise the novel
Discuss the plot and their thoughts
Suggest the kind of reader who will love the book

Reading list:

The Second Life of Samuel Tyne by Esi Edugyan
Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/half-blood-blues
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/washington-black
Daughters of Africa, edited by Margaret Busby
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-amber-spyglass
Any Human Heart by William Boyd: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/any-human-heart
This Other Eden by Paul Harding: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/this-other-eden

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Empire of the Sun or Hotel du Lac: The Booker vs the Bookies

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0000

In 1984, many assumed that J.G. Ballard's Empire of the Sun had the Booker Prize in the bag. But actually, it was Anita Brookner's Hotel du Lac that clinched the prize in the end. This week, we're exploring the bookies' favourite vs the Booker winner to ask which book should have won: Brookner's short, quiet novel set in a genteel Swiss hotel or Ballard's long and action-packed autobiographical epic set in wartime Shanghai.

In this episode Jo and James:

Discuss the Booker Prize 1984 shortlist
Share a brief biography of Anita Brookner
Summarise the plot of Anita Brookner's Hotel du Lac
Explore the characters in Brookner's novel
Share a brief biography of J.G. Ballard
Summarise the plot of Empire of the Sun
Who should read these books
Discuss their thoughts on both novels and which they think should have won the Booker Prize 1984

Reading list:

Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/empire-of-the-sun
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/hotel-du-lac
Small World by David Lodge: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/small-world
Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/flauberts-parrot
In Custody by Anita Desai: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/in-custody
According to Mark by Penelope Lively: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/according-to-mark

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/the-booker-prize-podcast-episode-37-empire-of-the-sun-or-hotel-du-lac

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Announcing the International Booker Prize 2024 longlist

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0000

It's a big week in the literary calendar (if we do say so, ourselves), as we've just announced this year's International Booker Prize longlist. To mark the occasion, James is joined by Fiammetta Rocco, the administrator of the International Booker Prize, and Eleanor Wachtel, chair of the 2024 judging panel. Listen in as they discuss the prize, this year's longlisted books and why translated fiction matters.

Conversation topics in this episode:

Fiammetta shares how the International Booker Prize began, and how it works in tandem with the Booker Prize
The importance of translators
The surging popularity of translated fiction, especially amongst younger readers
What it's like to be a judge for the International Booker Prize
Common themes in contemporary literature across the world
The 2024 longlist

Reading list:

Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/not-a-river
Simpatía by Rodrigo Blanco Calderón, translated by Noel Hernández González and Daniel Hahn: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/simpatia
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmann: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/kairos
The Details by Ia Genberg, translated by Kira Josefsson: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-details
White Nights by Urszula Honek, translated by Kate Webster: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/white-nights
Mater 2-10 by Hwang Sok-yong, translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/mater-2-10
A Dictator Calls by Ismail Kadare, translated by John Hodgson: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/a-dictator-calls
The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov, translated by Boris Dralyuk: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-silver-bone
What I'd Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma, translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/what-id-rather-not-think-about
Lost on Me by Veronica Raimo, translated by Leah Janeczko: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/lost-on-me
The House on Via Gemito by Domenico Starnone, translated by Oonagh Stransky: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-house-on-via-gemito
Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior, translated by Johnny Lorenz: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/crooked-plow
Undiscovered by Gabriela Wiener, translated by Julia Sanches: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/undiscovered

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The Booker at the Oscars: The Remains of the Day

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

It’s the third and final installment in our mini-series where we revisit Booker Prize novels whose cinematic adaptations were nominated at the Academy Awards. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, which won the 1989 Booker Prize. Ishiguro’s moving portrait of the perfect English butler was adapted four years later by James Ivory, in a film which received eight nominations at the Oscars. Tune in to hear Jo and James discuss the novel – which also happens to be our March Monthly Spotlight – and its silver screen counterpart.

In this episode Jo and James:

Share a brief biography of Kazuo Ishiguro
Summarise the plot of the book, and share their thoughts on it
Explore the character of Stevens and the idea of dignity which he based his life on
Discuss the narrative devices Ishiguro uses throughout the novel
Delve into James Ivory’s adaptation, and the differences between book and film

Reading list:

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-remains-of-the-day
An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/an-artist-of-the-floating-world

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The Booker at the Oscars: The English Patient

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Welcome back to the second of our Booker at the Oscars mini-series where we explore Booker Prize novels whose silver screen adaptations went on to experience Academy Award success. This time we're revisiting The English Patient, the joint Booker Prize 1992 winner by Michael Ondaatje (the other winner was Barry Unsworth's Sacred Hunger) and its silver screen counterpart, directed by Anthony Minghella.

In this episode Jo and James:

Share a brief biography of Michael Ondaatje
Summarise the plot of the book, and discuss their thoughts on it
Explore the four main characters we meet in the novel
Delve into Anthony Minghella's film adaptation and the differences between book and film

Reading list:

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-english-patient
Sacred Hunger by Barry Unsworth: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/sacred-hunger
Black Dogs by Ian McEwan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/black-dogs
Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-butcher-boy
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/warlight
Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
The Histories by Herodotus
In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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What makes a classic novel? Plus six Booker Prize classics

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

When does a book transcend from contemporary literature to a classic? Does someone have to confirm its classic status? And can all Booker Prize novels be considered classics just by being part of the Booker canon? This, and more, is what Jo and James are trying to get to the heart of in this week's episode. Listen in as they discuss what makes a classic novel and chat about which Booker books should be known as classics.

In this episode Jo and James:

Consider what makes a classic
Each pick three novels from the Booker Library that are – or should be – considered classics
Discuss the plots of their chosen novels and why they are deserving of classic status

Reading list:

Something to Answer For by P.H. Newby: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/something-to-answer-for
A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/a-month-in-the-country
How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/how-late-it-was-how-late
St. Urbain's Horseman by Mordecai Richler: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/st-urbains-horseman
Atonement by Ian McEwan: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/atonement
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-remains-of-the-day
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-handmaids-tale
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/shuggie-bain
Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/schindlers-ark
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-english-patient
Autobiography by Morrisey
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/midnights-children
The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-siege-of-krishnapur
The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-conservationist
Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/oscar-and-lucinda
The Ghost Road by Pat Barker: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-ghost-road
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/disgrace
Staying On by Paul Scott: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/staying-on
The Famished Road by Ben Okri: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-famished-road
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/cloud-atlas
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-line-of-beauty
Autumn by Ali Smith: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/autumn
Crudo by Olivia Laing
No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/no-one-is-talking-about-this
Waterland by Graham Swift: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/waterland
G. by John Berger: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/g

Read Alex Clark's piece, “Which novels in the Booker Prize archives should be considered classics?”: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/which-booker-prize-novels-should-be-considered-classics

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/the-booker-prize-podcast-episode-33-what-makes-a-classic-novel

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The Booker at the Oscars: Schindler's Ark vs Schindler's List

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

It's Oscars season so we're off to the movies. Welcome to the first in a new mini-series where we explore Booker Prize novels whose silver screen adaptations went on to experience Oscar glory. We're starting with Schindler's Ark, the Booker Prize 1982 winner, which also happens to be the first Booker-winning novel to become a film that won a Best Picture Oscar. Listen in as we dive into the book and its film counterpart.

In this episode Jo and James:

Share a brief biography of Thomas Keneally
Revisit the origin story of Schindler's Ark
Consider whether “non-fiction novels” are really novels
Summarise the plot of the book, and discuss their thoughts on it
Explore the character of Oskar Schindler
Delve into Steven Spielberg's adaptation, Schindler's List, and the differences between book and film

Reading list:

Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Erasure by Percival Everett
The Trees by Percival Everett
The Place at Whitton by Thomas Keneally
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Keneally
Gossip from the Forest by Thomas Keneally
Confederates by Thomas Keneally
An Ice-Cream War by William Boyd
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

Take a look at all of the TV and film adaptations of Booker Prize novels here.

And to watch the full interview with Thomas Keneally, head to our YouTube channel here.

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Why Sally Rooney's Normal People is more than just a love story

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Sally Rooney is one of the best-loved writers of her generation and her second novel, Normal People, has been overwhelmingly popular across the world – first in book form and then its TV adaptation. Nominated for the Booker Prize 2018, Normal People follows Marianne and Connell as they come of age and figure out their place in the world. It's a love story that has touched readers everywhere but it's also a novel that has something to say about class and politics, in particular. So tune in to this episode to hear Jo and James discuss our February Monthly Spotlight pick.

In this episode Jo and James:

Consider how the book became so popular
Whether the haters have a leg to stand on
Share a brief biography of Sally Rooney
Summarise the plot of Normal People
Discuss the themes explored in the novel

Reading list:

Normal People by Sally Rooney
Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Why you should read Shuggie Bain (If you haven't already)

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0000

A happy Burns Night to one and all. In honour of this day of celebration for ol' Rabbie Burns, and by extension all Scottish literature, we're taking a dive into one of the most popular Booker Prize winners: Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. The novel, Stuart's debut, presents a blistering and heartbreaking exploration of the unsinkable love that only children can have for their damaged parents.

In this episode Jo and James:

Share a brief biography of Douglas Stuart
Summarise the plot of Shuggie Bain
Discuss their thoughts on the novel
Delve into the characters, particularly Shuggie and his mother, Agnes
Consider the idea of the divided self in Scottish literature

Reading list:

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
Loitering With Intent by Muriel Spark
His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Three short Booker books you can read in a weekend

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0000

It's winter in the northern hemisphere right now and we are simply filled with the urge to hibernate. If you're feeling the same vibe and want to stay in with a good book, allow us to recommend three short books that could keep you company through a weekend. Listen in this week to hear Jo and James discuss some of the most bijou of novels from the Booker Prize and International Booker Prize archive.

Reading list:

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Possession by A.S. Byatt: January's Monthly Spotlight

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0000

A.S. Byatt's Possession is a blockbuster of a novel, loved by both critics and readers. If you haven't already read it, you've probably heard of it. (And if you haven't heard of it, well, we're here to fill you in.) Possession won the 1990 Booker Prize and it's a romp of a novel that's part detective thriller and part romance. It also happens to be the subject of our first Monthly Spotlight of 2024 – formerly known as Book of the Month – so tune in as we delve into the book and the life of its author.

In this episode Jo and James:

Share a brief biography of A.S. Byatt
Explore Byatt's literary rivalry with her writer sister, Margaret Drabble
Summarise the plot of Possession
Hear a clip of Byatt reading from the book at the 1990 Booker Prize ceremony
Discuss their thoughts on the novel

Reading list:

Possession by A.S. Byatt: https://thebookerprizes.com/archive/books/possession
An Awfully Big Adventure by Beryl Bainbridge: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/an-awfully-big-adventure
The Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-gate-of-angels
Lies of Silence by Brian Moore: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/lies-of-silence
Amongst Women by John McGahern: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/amongst-women
Solomon Gursky Was Here by Mordecai Richler: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/solomon-gursky-was-here
The Virgin in the Garden by A.S. Byatt
The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye by A.S. Byatt
The Biographer's Tale
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-childrens-book

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/the-booker-prize-podcast-episode-28-possession-by-as-byatt

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Books to look out for in 2024

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0000

WARNING: this episode contains some adult language.

We’re back after our festive hiatus – and how better to start the year than with a rundown of some of the most-anticipated reads of 2024. This week, Jo and James are joined by journalist and TLS podcast host Alex Clark, so listen in as they discuss the books, by Booker Prize authors and beyond, that we should all keep an eye out for this year.

2024 reading list:

Long Island by Colm Tóibín
The Women Behind the Door by Roddy Doyle
James by Percival Everett
Choice by Neel Mukherjee
What Will Survive of Us by Howard Jacobson
Parade by Rachel Cusk
The Spoiled Heart by Sunjeev Sahota
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
The Underground Sea by John Berger
The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain by Kazuo Ishiguro
Knife by Salman Rushdie
My Heavenly Favourite by Lucas Rijneveld, translated by Michele Hutchison
The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma
Parasol Against the Axe by Helen Oyeyemi
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
Mr Geography by Tim Parks
Fourteen Days: A Collaborative Novel
Day by Michael Cunningham
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
Godwin by Joseph O'Neill
Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan

Other books mentioned:

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
The Woman Who Walked into Doors by Roddy Doyle
Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle
The Committments by Roddy Doyle
The Snapper by Roddy Doyle
The Van by Roddy Doyle
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
Two Pints by Roddy Doyle
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
The Trees by Percival Everett
Erasure by Percival Everett
Suder by Percival Everett
The Lives of Others by Neel Mukherjee
Who's Sorry Now? by Howard Jacobson
Kalooki Nights by Howard Jacobson
J by Howard Jacobson
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
Live a Little by Howard Jacobson
Mother's Boy by Howard Jacobson
The Dog's Last Walk: (and Other Pieces) by Howard Jacobson
The Outline trilogy by Rachel Cusk
Into the Fold by Rachel Cusk
Second Place by Rachel Cusk
Self-Portrait by Celia Paul
The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota
China Room by Sunjeev Sahota
City of Bohane by Kevin Barry
Beatlebone by Kevin Barry
Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld, translated by Michele Hutchison
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Virginia Woolf's Nose by Hermione Lee
Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

You can listen to Alex's podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-tls-podcast/id868068396

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An interview with Time Shelter's Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In our last episode of the year (time flies!), we catch up with International Booker Prize 2023 winners Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel. The winning novel, Time Shelter, follows an enigmatic therapist who runs a ‘clinic for the past’ that offers a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s sufferers. It was the first book from Bulgaria to win the International Booker – and, in fact, to be shortlisted – and its win has been received with much excitement in Gospodinov's home country and beyond. This week, we catch up with author and translator to find out how the award has changed their lives and what they've been up to since their win.

In this episode Jo and James speak to Georgi and Angela about:

The book, its plot and its themes
What the night of their International Booker Prize win was like
How their lives have changed since winning the prize
What it means for translators to receive recognition alongside the writers they work with
The importance of music in their work
The unique working relationship between writers and translators
Why Bulgarian literature deserves more recognition and which books to look out for

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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December Book of the Month: Any Human Heart by William Boyd

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0000

Sara Cox, host of BBC Two's TV book club, Between the Covers, joins Jo and James to discuss our December Book of the Month: Any Human Heart by William Boyd. Told through the journals of Logan Mountstuart, it's an engrossing – and often funny – novel that takes in many of the defining events of the 20th century and the people who shaped them. The Booker Prize 2002-longlisted book was recently discussed on Between the Covers, so tune in to our podcast as Sara, James and Jo talk about William Boyd's beloved novel, as well as Sara's own reading habits and inspirations.

In this episode Jo, James and Sara talk about:

The idea behind television book club Between the Covers
The variety of books guests have been bringing to this series of Between the Covers
The novels that got Sara into reading at a young age
Sara's favourite Booker Prize books
How Sara balances reading and her own writing – and whether what she's reading influences her work
What the book clubbers on Between the Covers thought of Any Human Heart
A brief summary of Any Human Heart and a discussion about its plot
Who they'd recommend the book to

Reading List:

Any Human Heart by William Boyd: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/any-human-heart
Life of Pi by Yann Martel: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/life-of-pi
The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Pessimism is for Lightweights by Salena Godden
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume
Catherine Cookson novels
Jilly Cooper novels
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/paddy-clarke-ha-ha-ha
John Boyne novels
Margaret O'Farrell novels
Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/redhead-by-the-side-of-the-road
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/a-spool-of-blue-thread

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Behind the scenes at the Booker Prize 2023 ceremony

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

Step behind the velvet rope and let Jo and James take you on a VIP tour of the Booker Prize 2023 award ceremony. Listen in as they speak to some of this year's shortlisted authors and judges, as well as other guests at the ceremony and hear, first-hand, how the shortlisted authors felt in the run up to the announcement, how the judges enjoyed being part of the jury and what it feels like to be a guest at one of the most exciting events in the booklover's calendar.

In this episode Jo and James speak to:

Paul Lynch, 2023 Booker Prize winner
Paul Murray, 2023 Booker Prize shortlistee
Robert Webb, 2023 Booker Prize judge
Adjoa Andoh, 2023 Booker Prize judge
Graeme Macrae Burnet, 2016 Booker Prize longlistee
Frederick Studemann, literary editor of the Financial Times

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Bonus Episode: Live Reaction to the Booker Prize 2023 Winner

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:56:00 -0000

Hot off the press, we're bringing you The Booker Prize Podcast's reaction to the Booker Prize 2023 winner. Recorded at the Booker Prize award ceremony on 26 November, Jo and James share their thoughts on the winning book and hear directly from winner Paul Lynch and Esi Edugyan, chair of judges and previous Booker Prize nominee. That's not all for this week though, as we'll be back with a special episode in our usual Thursday slot.

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Shehan Karunatilaka's Booker Prize Year

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

We're only three days away from finding out who will take home the Booker Prize 2023 so who better to speak to than last year's winner? Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka won the prize for his searing satire The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida in 2022, and the 13 months since his win has been a whirlwind of activity. This week, Shehan joins us on the podcast to tell us all about the past year and what the 2023 winner can expect on the night of the award ceremony and beyond.

In this episode Jo and James speak to Shehan about:

What it's like to be at the Booker Prize award ceremony – and how it felt to be announced as the 2022 winner
The strangeness of winning the Booker Prize amidst economic crisis and civil unrest in Sri Lanka
The impossibility of making an acceptance speech in one minute
Why he paints his fingernails black
How he spent his prize money
The whirlwind that has been the 13 months since he won the Booker Prize
His daily writing and reading routine

Books and authors mentioned:

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
Agatha Christie
Salman Rushdie
Raymond Chandler
John le Carré
Armistead Maupin

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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November Book of the Month: The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

Iris Murdoch was a prolific writer, completing 26 novels and several philosophy books in her lifetime. She still holds the record for most Booker Prize shortlistings (a joint record with Margaret Atwood) and the Booker Prize trophy has recently been renamed the 'Iris' in her honour. This month, we've picked The Black Prince, which was shortlisted for the Booker in 1973, as our Book of the Month. It's a part-thriller, part-love story that follows Bradley Pearson – an elderly writer with a ‘block’. Adding and contributing to his torment are a host of predatory friends and relations: his melancholic sister, his ex-wife and her delinquent brother, and a younger, deplorably successful writer, Arnold Baffin.

In this episode Jo and James share:

Their thoughts on Iris Murdoch's novels
Why Murdoch was an exceptionally funny writer, as well as a gifted one
A brief biography of Murdoch
A summary of The Black Prince
What they thought about The Black Prince
Who should read The Black Prince

Reading list:

The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-black-prince
The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch: https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/the-sea-the-sea
Under the Net by Iris Murdoch
A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch
The Bloater by Rosemary Tonks

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The Booker Prize 2023 Shortlisted Authors Live at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

This week we're bringing you a special episode recorded live at Cheltenham Literature Festival in October. Tune in as James is joined by all six Booker Prize 2023 shortlisted authors and we get to hear all about their books, the varied inspirations behind them and why and how they write.

Reading list:

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein
Chetna Maroo's Western Lane
Paul Lynch's Prophet Song
Paul Murray's The Bee Sting

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Exploring the Booker Prize 2023 Shortlist + Winner Predictions (Part 2)

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

As we hurtle towards the Booker Prize 2023 announcement later this month, we're continuing our deep dive into this year's shortlist. This week, in the second of two parts, Jo and James take a closer look at the remaining three books. Listen in to hear what they make of them and which book they think will take home the prize this year.

In this episode Jo and James discuss:

Chetna Maroo's Western Lane
Paul Lynch's Prophet Song
Paul Murray's The Bee Sting
Their winner predictions for this year's Booker Prize

Reading list:

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Exploring the Booker Prize 2023 Shortlist (Part 1)

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

We're a month away from finding out which title will take home the 2023 Booker Prize so what better time to take a deep dive into this year's final six? This week, in the first of two parts, we're exploring half of the books. Listen in to hear what Jo and James make of them, whether virtuousness is a desirable quality in these novels and what the shortlist says about the state of fiction today.

In this episode Jo and James discuss:

Their overview of the 2023 shortlist, and what it says about the state of fiction today
How these books would behave if they were guests in your house
The common themes that run through these novels
Jonathan Escoffery's If I Survive You
Paul Harding's This Other Eden
Sarah Bernstein's Study for Obedience

Reading list:

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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A Halloween Special: Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Spooky season is upon us. While the Booker Prizes' archive might not be filled to the rafters with tales of horror, Bora Chung's Cursed Bunny is certainly ghostly and horrifying – a perfect read for this time of year. Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2022, Cursed Bunny, translated from Korean to English by Anton Hur, presents a collection of fantastically surreal stories that address the very real horrors of capitalism and the patriarchy.

In this episode Jo and James talk about:

Their own Halloween traditions
Bora Chung and her background in writing
The unexpected way the book found its way to western readers
The stories in this collection, and which are their favourites
Their theories on themes throughout the book and what the author is trying to say
Whether these tales of terror are going to keep them up at night

Reading list:

Further viewing:

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, directed by Park Chan-wook
Old Boy, directed by Park Chan-wook
Lady Vengeance, directed by Park Chan-wook
Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho
Memories of Murder, directed by Bong Joon-ho

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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An Interview with 2017 Booker Prize Winner George Saunders

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

George Saunders is best known as a writer of short stories. In fact, he's often considered to one of the greatest living short story writers in the world. In 2017, however, he took home the Booker Prize for his first (and so far only) novel – the startlingly original Lincoln in the Bardo. The book follows Willie Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, as he succumbs to illness and ends up in the bardo, a limbo-like state between the living and the dead. This week, George Saunders joins James and Jo to tell us all about how winning the Booker Prize changed his life, his writing, and what makes a great writer.

In this episode Jo and James speak to George about:

What it was like to win the Booker Prize, and how winning affected his work
Why George decided to turn his hand to penning a novel – and whether he'll ever write another
The differences between novel writing and short story writing
How to write about historical figures without being trite
His popular Substack, Story Club with George Saunders, which explores the art of writing (and analysing writing)
Liberation Day, his latest collection of short stories
Why channelling one's charm is an important aspect of great writing

Reading list:

Our October Book of the Month: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Yoko Ogawa's The Memory Police, translated by Stephen Snyder, is a haunting and provocative fable about the power of memory and the trauma of loss, which was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2020. On an unnamed island, things are disappearing and most of the island's residents are forgetting all about them. It starts small with hats and ribbons but it soon escalates. When a novelist discovers that her editor – who, for some reason, doesn't forget – is in danger from the draconian Memory Police, she concocts a plan to save him. Join us as we explore our latest Book of the Month.

In this episode Jo and James:

Share a brief author biography
Summarise the novel's plot
Consider whether the book is about totalitarian regimes or fascist politics, as many of the book's reviewers suggested, or whether it's about something altogether more mysterious
Discuss how translations may affect our reading of the book, in quite significant ways
Wonder whether forgetting is really that bad
Suggest who should read the book

Reading list:

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi

The Sea or Arthur & George: The Booker vs the Bookies

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:47:00 -0000

Last week we crowned the best Booker shortlist ever and this week, we're going even deeper into that list. In 2005, the odds were on Julian Barnes to win the Booker Prize with Arthur & George but the judges chose The Sea by John Banville. Arthur & George traces the intersecting lives of an obscure solicitor and the world-famous creator of Sherlock Holmes, while The Sea follows a man attempting to escape a recent loss while confronting a past trauma. So, we're taking a closer look at both books and asking: who was right – the Booker judges or the bookies?

In this episode Jo and James:

Give plot summaries of Arthur & George and The Sea
Share a short biography of Julian Barnes and John Banville
Discuss the merits of each novel
Consider whether the bookies' favourite should have won the Booker Prize in 2005

Reading list:

Further resources:

How do you place a winning bet on the Booker Prize? via The Atlantic

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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A Booker Prize 2023 Shortlist Reaction + The Best Shortlist Ever

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Following the Booker Prize 2023 shortlist announcement, Jo and James share a hot off the press reaction to this year's six finalists before heading onto the topic at hand: which year saw the best ever Booker Prize shortlist? To help Jo and James along the way, they're joined by Bob Jackson – a man who has read every single book ever shortlisted for the award. That's over 300 books, spanning from the Booker's inception in 1969 up to the present day. So, listen in and find out which shortlist gets crowned as the best one ever.

In this episode Jo and James:

Ask Bob to reveal his favourite (and least favourite) books from the Booker archive
Hear how Bob approached his quest to reading every Booker-shortlisted book
Discuss their contenders for which year's shortlist is best
Argue it out until just one shortlist is crowned the winner

Reading list:

Join the Booker Prize Book Club to connect with readers from across the world about all things Booker Prize 2023 and beyond.

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Our September Book of the Month: His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

His Bloody Project tells the story of a fictional 19th-century triple murder in a remote crofting community, through the memoir of the accused and documents such as court transcripts, medical reports, police statements and newspaper articles. The book was shortlisted for the 2016 Booker Prize – and while Paul Beatty's The Sellout took home the award that year, His Bloody Project remained the bestseller of the bunch until the winner was announced. This week, its author Graeme Macrae Burnet joins us in the studio to tell us about the inspirations behind His Bloody Project, what it was like to be nominated for the prize again with Case Study in 2022 and what we can expect from him next.

In this episode Jo and James speak to Graeme about:

The plot of His Bloody Project and the real-life inspiration behind it
How the Booker Prize transformed his writing career
The power of ambiguity and allowing readers to make up their own minds
Why thinking about readers' reactions while writing can undermine the authenticity of a story
Why he doesn't plan his novels, so the process of writing remains somewhat of a mystery
His lifelong fascination with the idea of madness and how views of mental health have changed over the centuries
What we can expect from him next

Reading list:

His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
All That Man Is by David Szalay
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
I, Pierre Riviére, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister, and My Brother edited by Michel Foucault
Madness and Civilization by Michel Foucault
Case Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Back to School with Ian McEwan's Atonement

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

🚨 An advance warning that this episode features spoilers for Atonement.

September is here, which means it's the start of another academic year. So get out your brand new stationery and settle down as we head back to school... no polyester uniforms or exams though, don't worry. This week, we're taking a look at Booker-nominated books that feature on school syllabuses in the UK and, particularly, we're diving into Ian McEwan's Atonement. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2001, the novel explores how a young girl’s imagination runs riot with far-reaching and devastating consequences.

In this episode Jo and James discuss:

Their favourite Booker-nominated books that feature on school syllabuses
A brief history of Ian McEwan's writing career
The plot of Atonement
The characters and themes of the novel
How Joe Wright's film adaptation of Atonement compares to the books
The Booker Clinic: books to help quell homesickness

Reading list:

Atonement by Ian McEwan
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding
A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Saturday by Ian McEwan
Spies by Michael Frayn
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
Waterland by Graham Swift
Love and Summer by William Trevor
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
Oxygen by Andrew Miller
number9dream by David Mitchell
Hotel World by Ali Smith
Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller
The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert
Black Dogs by Ian McEwan
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

Further Resources:

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Why you should read The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In 1970, when the Booker Prize was still in its infancy (its second year running, in fact), the prize was awarded to Bernice Rubens. Rubens was the first woman to win the award and is still the only Welsh person to ever win the prize. 2023 marks the centenary of Rubens' birth so, this week, we're taking a closer look at The Elected Member – a piercing novel that explores what happens to a respectable, close-knit Jewish family when their prodigious son becomes a middle-aged drug addict.

In this episode Jo and James:

Ponder the weight of being the eldest child
Share a brief biography of Bernice Rubens
Give a slightly spoiler-y summary of The Elected Member
Discuss whether parental expectation can turn from encouragement to abuse
Consider how love can be damaging
Wonder why Bernice Rubens has fallen off the radar
Decide who should read The Elected Member

Reading list:

The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens
Bruno's Dream by Iris Murdoch
Mrs Eckdorf in O'Neill's Hotel by William Trevor
Eva Trout by Elizabeth Bowen
The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles
When I Grow Up by Bernice Rubens
The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis
In Transit by Brigid Brophy
The Fire-Dwellers by Margaret Laurence
The Hungry Grass by Richard Power
Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The Sellout: The first American novel to win the Booker Prize

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In 2014, the Booker Prize broadened its submission rules to allow books from any nationality, as long as they were written in English and published in the UK. This change in eligibility led to worries around whether American novels would dominate the award's nominations, but it wasn't until 2016 when Paul Beatty scooped the prize with The Sellout that the prize went to an author from the States. The Sellout is a biting satire on race relations told through its protagonist, who is on trial for trying to reinstate slavery and segregation – and this week on the podcast, we're revisiting the story.

In this episode Jo and James:

Consider what the inclusion of American authors and novels has meant for the Booker Prize
Share a brief biography of Paul Beatty
Give a slightly spoiler-y summary of The Sellout
Discuss whether the novel is an on-point laugh-a-minute satire or a relentlessly nihilistic trudge
Try to get to the bottom of what Paul Beatty is trying to say through this novel
Chat about whether the question of who something is for can really be answered authentically
Suggest who should read The Sellout

Reading list:

The White Boy Shuffle
Tuff
Hokum: An Anthology of African-American Humor
Slumberland
The Sellout

Further resources:

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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An Interview with 2015 Booker Prize Winner Marlon James

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Cast your minds back to the heady days of 2015... It's early autumn and Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life is hotly-tipped to scoop the Booker Prize but the judges award that year's prize to A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James – an epic novel inspired by the true story of an attempted assassination attempt on Bob Marley. This week, Marlon James joins Jo and James on the podcast to tell us how winning the Booker Prize changed his life, his writing, and what he's working on next.

In this episode Jo and James speak to Marlon about:

Why Marlon didn't think he was going to win the Booker Prize
How he spent his prize money
The reception A Brief History of Seven Killings received in Marlon's home country, Jamaica, versus further afield
Get Millie Black, the new original HBO / Channel 4 crime drama he's working on
TikTok and why reading is not the same as identifying as a reader
How he loves writing but hates coming up with ideas for new work
The new novel he's writing

Reading list:

Further resources:

Marlon and Jake Read Dead People

A 10th anniversary edition of A Brief History of Seven Killings will be published, with a new introduction, in June 2024.

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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Our August Book of the Month: Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 07:47:00 -0000

Muriel Spark was a prolific poet and novelist who was nominated for the Booker Prize three times over the course of her writing career. In 1981, Spark's Loitering with Intent was shortlisted for the prize alongside that year's eventual winner Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. The novel is a wonderfully gossipy and entertaining literary joyride which sees a would-be novelist takes inspiration from her life only to find the tables are mysteriously turned – and it's our August Book of the Month.

In this episode Jo and James:

Continue getting to know each other by chatting about the life event James would start his memoir with and Jo's favourite albums of all time
Share a brief biography of Muriel Spark
Give a slightly spoiler-y account of what happens in Loitering with Intent
Discuss how much of Muriel Spark's writing may be influenced or based on her own life
Consider why Muriel Spark is not as widely read now as she once was
Who should read Loitering with Intent

Reading list:

Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark
The Public Image by Muriel Spark
The Ballad of Peckham Rye by Muriel Spark
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The Booker Prize 2023: Longlist Reaction

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

This week, we're joined by Frederick Studemann, literary editor of the FT, to bring you a Booker Prize longlist reaction hot off the press. Listen in as Fred, James and Jo share their opinions of this year's longlist as a whole, and give you a flavour of each of the 13 books that make up this year's Booker Dozen: it's speed dating meets the Booker Prize.

Books discussed in this episode:

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

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The Strange Case of Vernon God Little

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

What exactly is “a Booker book”? Some might jump to a specific kind of high-minded, serious fiction, while others argue for a broader definition inclusive of more mainstream titles. Over the years, the pendulum has swung between the two and in 2003, DBC Pierre's debut, Vernon God Little, was awarded the prize. In this episode, we take a closer look at the novel and why it was an unexpected winner.

In this episode, Jo and James talk about:

Their childhood reading inspirations
A brief – and slightly spoiler-y – summary of Vernon God Little
The reaction to its 2003 Man Booker Prize win
The author behind the novel, DBC Pierre
Whether Vernon God Little stands up to reading 20 years after its release
Books to read after reading Vernon God Little

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

Matilda by Roald Dahl
Rudyard Kipling
Charles Dickens
Vladimir Nabokov
Virginia Woolf
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy by Philip Pullman
The Moomins books by Tove Jansson
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
Schopenhauer's Telescope by Gerard Donovan
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Us by David Nicholls
The Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St. Aubyn
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
Philip Larkin

A full transcript of the episode is available at our website.

If you've got a problem you'd like some literary help with, email us at contactus@bookerprizefoundation.org using the subject line “The Booker Clinic”.

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Summer Special: The Booker Prizes Does Love Island

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

The sun is shining, the sea is glistening and we're heading off to Booker Island – our very own version of Love Island. This week we're pairing up fictional characters from novels in the Booker archive, so tune in to find out who's coupled up, who's getting mugged off and who's getting dumped in our quest to find the ultimate literary romantic couple.

Books discussed in this episode:

Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller
The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Us by David Nicholls
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
G by John Berger
Mother's Milk by Edward St Aubyn
Normal People by Sally Rooney

A full transcript of the episode is available on our website.

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Why The Amber Spyglass is the only children’s book nominated for The Booker Prize

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Philip Pullman’s The Amber Spyglass is the third and concluding volume of the epic His Dark Materials trilogy – and might just be the only children’s book ever nominated for The Booker Prize. The story follows the journey of Lyra – a young girl destined to bring about unfathomable change in her world and beyond. It was longlisted for The Booker Prize in 2001, alongside Ian McEwan’s Atonement, David Mitchell’s number9dream and that year’s winner, Peter Carey’s True History of the Kelly Gang.

In this episode, Jo and James talk about:

The animal forms their daemons would take
A brief – and slightly spoiler-y – summary of what happens in The Amber Spyglass, as well as the previous books in the trilogy
Whether The Amber Spyglass is really a children's book
The literature that has inspired His Dark Materials
Whether more children's books should be in contention for The Booker Prize
The Booker Clinic: Books to rediscover the joys of reading

Books discussed in this episode:

Paradise Lost by John Milton
Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer
Swann's Way by Marcel Proust
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The books of Agatha Christie
The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The books of Raymond Chandler
Four Bare Legs in a Bed by Helen Simpson
The Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St. Aubyn

A full transcript of the episode is available on our website here.

If you've got a problem you'd like some literary help with, email us at contactus@bookerprizefoundation.org using the subject line “The Booker Clinic”.

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Introducing July's Book of the Month: The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 05:01:00 -0000

Warning: this episode contains references to suicide.

The Vegetarian, an International Booker Prize winner and the first of Han Kang's books to be translated into English, explores shame, desire and our faltering attempts to understand each other. In 2016, the International Booker Prize moved from a bi-annual award recognising an author's body of work to a prize that celebrated an individual book translated into English, giving its author and translator equal billing – The Vegetarian was the first novel to win the revamped prize, and this month we're revisiting the story to explore it more deeply.

In this episode Jo and James chat about:

Jo and James' best and worst ever meals, spurred on by the omnipresence of food throughout The Vegetarian
A slightly spoiler-y account of what happens in the novel and whether it's about Korean society and the pressures faced by women living under the patriarchy... even though the author has stressed that this isn’t the case
Whether Yeong-hye, the book's protagonist, is “mad” or not
The nuances of translating fiction, including the controversy that riled people up to such an extent that it was dubbed “Han Kang-gate”
Who should read The Vegetarian
The Booker Clinic: a segment where we recommend books in response to listeners' dilemmas. This week: books to ease your guilt if you're conducting an illicit affair

Books discussed in this episode:

The Vegetarian by Han Kang
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Maples Stories by John Updike
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Further resources:

A full transcript of the conversation is available on our website here.

If you've got a problem you'd like some literary help with, email us at contactus@bookerprizefoundation.org using the subject line “The Booker Clinic”.

Follow The Booker Prize Podcast so you never miss an episode. Visit https://thebookerprizes.com/podcast to find out more, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok @thebookerprizes.

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The Best Booker Books of All Time (Maybe)

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In our first episode, our hosts – author and critic Jo Hamya and broadcaster and critic James Walton – get to know each other by discussing their favourite books from the Booker Library – the name we give to all the books that have been nominated for (or won!) the International Booker Prize and Booker Prize over the last 50-odd years.

This episode contains significant plot details.

In this episode Jo and James talk about:

Why No One is Talking About This, a novel that captures our deep entanglement with the internet through its blend of laugh-out-loud humour and beautifully-observed prose, could have won the 2021 Booker Prize.
Why Patrick McCabe's The Butcher Boy’ a 1992 Booker shortlistee that follows a young man's descent into madness in small-town Ireland, isn't a virtuous read but it is one that will blow your socks off.

Books discussed in this episode:

Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood
No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe

Launching 6 July: The Booker Prize Podcast

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Only one week to go until the release of The Booker Prize Podcast. We'll be revisiting past longlisted, shortlisted and winning Booker novels to see if they've stood the test of time. Sometimes our hosts will love them and sometimes, well, they might not... Stay tuned until 6 July.

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Introducing The Booker Prize Podcast

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Launching on 6th July, this is a weekly podcast featuring lively conversations and fascinating insights from The Booker Prizes. Join us as we revisit winning novels from years past, speak to authors and experts from the literary world and peer behind the curtain of this year's prizes.

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