Book Off!

Bestselling authors Percival Everett and Andrew O'Hagan go head to head in a War of the Words, and discuss their brilliant new novels. Percival's latest novel 'James' is a re-imagining of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn', but set in 1861, whilst Andrew's latest work is a contemporary tale of class, money, greed and doing the right thing. They discuss how characters form for them, why writing is torture and share some of the books they have been reading and enjoying recently. THE BOOK OFF 'The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde' by Robert Louis StevensonVS 'The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy' by Laurence Sterne

QI Elf, podcaster and author, Andrew Hunter Murray, goes head to head in a war of the words with comedian and writer Jonny Sweet. They discuss their new novels ('A Beginners Guide To Breaking And Entering' and 'The Kellerby Code'), their writing habits, inspirations and how to hide a socially conscious message in a page-turning thriller. We also get some fab book recommendations from them and natter about one of Hitchcock's slightly lesser known films, 'Rope'. THE BOOK OFF 'Hangover Square' by Patrick Hamilton VS 'The Franchise Affair' by Josephine Tey

Superstar authors Kiley Reid and Caroline O'Donoghue go head to head in a war of the words. They chat to Joe Haddow about their latest novels ('Come And Get It' and 'The Rachel Incident'), society's obsession with money, 'the campus novel' and why writing less is sometimes more. We go look back at the financial crash of 2008 and what it meant for a certain generation of artists and compare it to now, and what the next generation of writers and creatives are facing. Kiley and Caroline also recommend us some books they have been reading and enjoying recently, and of course there's the Book Off! BOOK OFF'Disgrace' by J.M. Coetze VS 'Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke

Book Off is back! Welcome to Series 12. And to kick us off, we welcome Jennie Godfrey and Susan Fletcher to the studio to talk about their books and writing, and get some recommendations too.Jennie's debut novel, The List Of Suspicious Things, has been published to great acclaim whilst Susan's new novel, The Night In Question, is hotly anticipated - and coming out in just a few weeks. We discuss Yorkshire, adventure, writing older characters, friendships in fiction and a lot lot more. It also turns out, Susan and Jennie (and Joe) are huuuuge Marian Keyes fans, so there's a little bit of fan girling...please forgive us. THE BOOK OFF 'Rachel's Holiday' by Marian Keyes VS 'The Poisonwood Bible' by Barbara Kingsolver But who will win?

It's a children's book special this week! Former Children's Laureate, Cressida Cowell, goes head to head with broadcaster and author Dermot O'Leary. They chat about their latest novels, their passion for getting books into children's hands, a love of history - and - world building! THE BOOK OFF 'The Power Of The Dog' by Don Winslow VS 'The Joy Luck Club' by Amy Tan

Authors Heidi Amsinck and Marisa Haetzman go head to head in a war of the words, just before their appearance at Bloody Scotland. Heidi discusses her latest Jensen thriller, 'The Girl in The Photo' and her love for Denmark. Marisa tells us about collaborating with her husband, Chris Brookmyre (writing as Ambrose Parry) and their new book, 'Voices Of The Dead' They also tell us what they have been reading and enjoying recently. THE BOOK OFF Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan VS The Elements Of Style by William Strunk Jr and EB White

Journalist, radio presenter and author Stig Abell goes head to head with international bestselling author and screenwriter, Jo Spain in a war of the words. They discuss the politics of blurbing books, where they get their inspirations from, hard-boiled crime and when and where they write. They also recommend us some brilliant books, which they have enjoyed recently. THE BOOK OFF 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen VS 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen (Yes! The same book pitched against itself. A BOOK OFF FIRST!)

Bestselling novelist, Catriona Ward, goes head to head in a war of the words with Suede co-founder, bassist and author, Mat Osman! They discuss their new novels - "Looking Glass Sound" and "The Ghost Theatre" - as well as recommending us some books they have read recently and loved. These include 'Orlando' by Virginia Wolf and 'Wide Sargasso Sea' by Jean Rhys. The authors also talk about being "shelved" in the right place, the horror genre, Stephen King, Elizabethan London and what one reads on a tour bus. THE BOOK OFF 'The Haunting Of Hill House' by Shirley JacksonVS 'You Only Live Twice' by Ian Fleming

Authors Poorna Bell and Eva Rice go head to head in a War of the Words! They discuss their love of the 90s and why it's such a rich decade to set fiction in. (*warning - Joe and Eva geek out a little on the music of the 90s just fyi!) We also get some brilliant book recommendations AND some very useful writing tips too. THE BOOK OFF 'Kitchen' by Banana Yoshimoto VS 'The Buddha Of Suburbia' by Hanif Kureishi