Book Off!

Debut novelists Tobi Coventry and India-Rose Bower join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. They chat about their new novels ("He's The Devil" and "We Call Them Witches") as well as their love for the horror genre, their inspirations - and why queer horror is in a renaissance right now. Tobi and India also give us some brilliant book recommendations too. (whilst this episode celebrates the horror genre - you don't have to be a 'horror fan' to enjoy it!)THE BOOK OFF 'The Perks Of Being A Wallflower' by Stephen Chboskey VS 'Last To Leave The Room' by Caitlin StarlingAnd here's more info on our guests novels: 'He's The Devil' by Tobi Coventry Simon has always been a good boy. He’s invariably employee of the month at the seasonal small plates restaurant where he works, he neurotically tidies his home, he keeps on top of repairs on behalf of his twenty-something, permanently-abroad landlord and tries to do right by everyone. But when his best and only friend, Josh, moves out of their shared flat, Simon is lonelier than ever – until in moves a new flatmate, the strange (and strangely sexy) Massimo.But Massimo’s brought something with him. Odd sounds emerge from Massimo’s room, smells of earth and meat drift through the corridor and Simon’s nights fill with disturbing and tantalising dreams. Massimo is awakening something in Simon, something wild and exciting and horrifying that could be the end of him – or maybe a new beginning. But whatever’s in Massimo, whatever’s in the flat, isn’t finished. It wants more.'We Call Them Witches' by India-Rose Bower Sara and her family must keep moving. Every few months, they’re discovered, and they have to pack up and get out quick.For the twins it’s all they’ve ever known, for Danny, Noah and Ma, it’s a reminder of all they’ve lost.For Sara, it’s just another day. In yet another abandoned house, one they surround with Pagan wards – the only thing that protects them – Sara and her family think they might be safe, for a while at least.And then they find a strange girl in the garden. Parsley can’t remember where she came from or how she got here. The family sees only a threat, but Sara sees hope.But outside they are waiting. The eldritch creatures. The ones they call Witches.The ones who already stole everything.And now, just days after the Parsley arrives, they steal something even more valuable: Noah. It's time to stop running. It's time to leave the safety of the wards, and try to find Noah in the witches' lair. It's just that no-one has ever done that and come out alive...

Authors Curtis Sittenfeld and Erin White join Joe Haddow for a war of the words... Curtis and Erin are best mates - which makes for a very competitive Book Off! Erin talks about her debut novel 'Like Family' which has themes of desire in middle age, queer domestic love and life, navigating the world as a teenager - and much more. Curtis discusses her latest short story collection 'Show Don't Tell' which is a witty and tender collection of tales, featuring a cast of characters that feel like old friends. They also give some writing tips and recommend us some brilliant books too! THE BOOK OFF 'Colored Television' by Danzy SennaVS 'Unless' by Carol Shields Here's a little more on our guests' books! 'Like Family' by Erin White What if everything you wanted is no longer enough?Meeting for an autumnal swim in an idyllic pond, Caroline's friend Ruth tells her about a family secret that has recently been exposed. Caroline was looking forward to a celebration they'd been planning together with her sister-in-law, Tobi, but suddenly everything seems complicated.Tensions that have long been buried are bubbling to the surface. These three couples, who have so much to enjoy in their lives - growing children, affectionate marriages, work they love - must confront the truths they've never shared. More than that, they will have to reconcile the lives they've built with the ones they desire: the old dreams both fulfilled and denied, and the new ones that appeared right when they thought they had all they'd ever hoped for.'Show Don't Tell' by Curtis SittenfeldIn this compulsive collection of twelve witty stories, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels, as she conjures up characters so real that they seem like old friends.In ‘The Patron Saints of Middle Age,’ a woman visits two friends she hasn’t seen since her divorce. In ‘A for Alone,’ a married artist embarks on a project intended to disprove the so-called Mike Pence Rule, which suggests that women and men can’t spend time alone together without lusting after each other. And in ‘Lost but Not Forgotten,’ Sittenfeld gives readers of her novel Prep a new window into the world of her beloved character Lee Fiora, decades later, when Lee attends an awkward school reunion.Witty, confronting and full of tenderness, Sittenfeld peels back layer after layer of our inner lives, keeping us riveted to the page with her utterly distinctive voice.

Alexandra Potter and Madeleine Gray join Joe Haddow for a war of the words!They chat about their new novels, conmen, queer love, writing women without making them victims - and give us some great book recommendations too. THE BOOK OFF 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte VS 'How To Be Both' by Ali Smith

LIbby Page and Ellie Levenson join Joe Haddow for a natter about their new novels - and - go head to head in a War Of The Words!Libby's new novel - 'This Book Made Me Think Of You' - is a heartwarming, uplifting story about grief and love (and a love letter to books, reading and bookshops!)Ellie's new novel - 'Room 706' - is a tense page-turner about a woman trapped in a hotel room with her loverBoth authors share their inspirations for their new books, give us some good book recommendations - and of course - take part in The Book Off!THE BOOK OFF'Conversations On Love' by Natasha LunnVS'The Wild Robot' by Peter BrownAnd here's a little more on our featured authors' books:This Book Made Me Think Of You - Libby Page When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly, because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly, because Joe died five months ago…The gift is simple – twelve carefully chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.And so begins a reading-inspired journey that takes Tilly around the world; from bustling sidewalks in New York and the tree-lined avenues of Paris to the tranquil Tuscan countryside and the white sands of Bali. With the help of the bookshop owner, Alfie, Tilly starts to discover who she is now, after Joe.But can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again? Room 706 - Ellie Levenson Kate stretches her legs and turns on the TV while James washes away the traces of their morning. She watches in horror at the unfolding news: the hotel they are staying in has been taken under siege.She should be making her way home, working on appearing normal, getting ready to re-enter family life with her loving husband Vic and their two adored children. Instead, she is trapped somewhere she shouldn't be, with a man she definitely doesn't love.How will she begin to tell Vic what she is doing here? If her body is found, will it give up the secret of what she's been up to? She's been so careful hiding the evidence of her affair: write nothing down, leave no trace. Will he begin to understand why?For now, Kate can only hide, take a deep breath, and reflect on the series of choices she's made that have brought her to this moment.What will her marriage and her life look like, if she makes it out?

Bestselling authors Peter James and Sophie Hannah join Joe Haddow for a right royal Book Off! They discuss Poirot, Christie, Greene and many other writers they love - and give us some great book recommendations too. Peter and Sophie also chat about their new novels. Queen Camilla is a huge fan of Peter James' Roy Grace books - so much so that she is the star of the latest novel 'The Hawk Is Dead'. And Sophie's latest 'No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done' is based on something that happened in real-life, which led her to ask "what would I do in that situation?" (the answer is in the book) THE BOOK OFF'Brighton Rock' by Graham GreeneVS 'The Rose And The Yew Tree' by Mary Westmacott (aka Agatha Christie)

Charlatans lead singer, Tim Burgess, and music photographer, Tom Sheehan, join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. Tim and Tom have worked together on and off for over 30 years - and during that time, Tom has captured some of the most iconic images of Tim's band. They chat about their new collaboration 'How High: A Portrait Of The Charlatans' as well as some of their favourite music biographies, artists they've worked with - and the new Charlatans album too.THE BOOK OFF'Amusing Ourselves To Death' by Neil PostmanVS'Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky' by Patrick HamiltonHere's a little more info on their gorgeous photography book 'How High' This is the inside story of The Charlatans, told through the lens of legendary photographer Tom Sheehan and the words of the band's frontman Tim Burgess.More than 250 of Sheehan's photographs - blending iconic shots with those seen here for the first time - are accompanied by moving and insightful text from Burgess, sharing his memories of a band at the very height of their powers.Covering a decade of the band's story, the book captures recording sessions, live performances, cover shoots, tours and intimate moments snatched backstage and around the world.Beautifully presented in a cloth-bound hardback, this book is a stunning visual history of The Charlatans, one of the defining bands of a generation.