{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/696f561e91e0adb30b7f3b47/6a1bfa79ad55909da65899f0?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Behind the Books: Laura Hackett on Literary Criticism","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/696f561e91e0adb30b7f3b47/1783714518980-b5fe0cd2-86fc-4289-9829-61e28e52fb2c.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>What does a literary critic actually do? How are books chosen for review? And do reviews still matter in the age of Goodreads, BookTok and social media?</p><p>In this special&nbsp;Behind The Books&nbsp;episode of&nbsp;Tom's Book Club, Tom speaks to&nbsp;Laura Hackett, Deputy Literary Editor and Fiction Editor at&nbsp;The Times&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Sunday Times, about life as one of Britain's leading literary critics. Laura discusses the reviewing process, how she approaches a new novel, writing positive and negative reviews, dealing with authors' reactions, and the changing role of criticism in 2026.</p><p><br></p><p>Behind The Books&nbsp;is our monthly bonus series exploring the wider literary world through conversations with the people who shape it, from booksellers and critics to editors, translators and illustrators.</p>","author_name":"Thomas Watters"}