Curious Readers

On this week’s episode we dive deep into Rejection – not the emotion – the novel in stories by Tony Tulathimutte. We also discuss things we’ve read and want to read in April and revisit the Women’s Prize nominations now that they have been shortlisted.Our deep dive Rejection by Tony TulathimuttePrivate Citizens by Tony TulathimutteRecent readsThe Iliad by Homer and translated by Emily WilsonThe Odyssey by HomerHype Machine: Inside the Cult of Crypto by Joshua OliverI Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline HarpmanGreen Dot by Madeline Gray  Women’s prize shortlist Good Girl by Aria AberAll Fours by Miranda JulyThe Persians by Sanam MahloudjiTell Me Everything by Elizabeth StroutThe Safekeep by Yael Van Der WoudenFundamentally by Nussaibah Younis What we’re looking forward to in April  Twist by Column McCannTilt by Emma PatteeThe Colony by Annika NorlinAudition by Katie KitamuraNotes to John by Joan Didion Also mentioned The Coach and Horses Pub Quiz, WhitstableThe Book Lovers’ Pub QuizThe BookClub Review PodcastAdolescence on NetflixLet the Great World Spin by Column McCannApeirogon by Column McCannIntimacies by Katie KitamuraBlue Nights by Joan Didion

On this week’s episode we catch up on what we’ve been reading, share our thoughts on the Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist, and talk about some of the April releases we’re looking forward to picking up soon. Recent readsCarnality by Lina Wolf, tr. by Frank PerryHurricane Season by Fernanda MelchorThe Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas The Women’s Prize for Fiction LonglistGood Girl by Aria AberThe Ministry of Time by Kaliane BradleySomewhere Else by Jenni DaichesAmma by Saraid de SilvaCrooked Seeds by Karen JenningsAll Fours by Miranda JulyThe Dream Hotel by Laila LalamiThe Persians by Sanam MahloudjiDream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieNesting by Roisín O'DonnellA Little Trickerie by Rosanna PikeBirding by Rose RuaneThe Artist by Lucy SteedsTell Me Everything by Elizabeth StroutThe Safekeep by Yael van der WoudenFundamentally by Nussaibah YounisOur ContendersColored Television by Danzy SennaOrbital by Samantha Harvey There Are Rivers In The Sky by Elif ShafakGliff by Ali Smith  The Echoes by Evie WyldeIt Lasts Forever And Then It’s Over by Anne de MarckenExcited to Read in AprilRoom on the Sea by Andre AcimanGirl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie GilbertOpen, Heaven by Seán HewittAlso mentionedThe Stella PrizeThe Carol Shields Prize for FictionFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes 

Join either side of the Atlantic as we dive into our favourite London/New York novels. It’s an episode full of stiff upper lips, demonic possessions, sociopaths, bedsits, alcoholic dollmakers, sassy parrots, and white asparagus. Plus we talk about our must visit NY-LON bookshops and reading spots, and we look ahead to new releases set in and around the Big Smoke and the Big Apple we can’t wait to read. Recent readsUniversality by Natasha BrownHunchback by Saou Ichikawa (translated by Polly Barton)Stories of Place:///zinc.level.blindfold edited by Niamh McAnallyOur Favourite NY-LON NovelsLong Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-AknerThe Lonely Londoners by Sam SelvonThe Vulnerables by Sigird NunezLook At Me by Anita BrooknerBig Swiss by Jen BeaginThere Are More Things by Yara Rodrigues FowlerNY-LON Books We're Excited to Read in 2025Confessions by Catherine AireyWake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay MacCleod ChapmanLorne by Susan MorrisonCursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson CrouchAn Opinionated Guide to Literary London by John CleggAlso mentionedThe Strand BookstoreBooks Are MagicCodexThe London LibraryHousmans BookshopJohn Sandoe BooksJudd Books Daunt BooksFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes 

This week, we deep dive into Liz Moore’s viral woodland thriller The God of the Woods - and we have opinions. We also talk about the new releases we’re looking forward to reading in March. Recent readsThe Future by Catherine Leroux (translated by Susan Ouriou)Rejection by Tony TulathimutteYou Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue (translated by Natasha Wimmer)March 2025 releasesThe Horse by Willy Vlautin Show Don’t Tell and Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld Universality by Natasha BrownFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes

This week, we have a chat about why reading is an act of resistance and delve into the books we turn to during a crisis–whether climactic, sociological or existential. We also discuss our favourite reads for a complete escape.Recent readsShy Creatures by Clare Chambers The Long View by Elizabeth Jane HowardNuclear War: A Scenario by Annie JacobsenReading for resistanceDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverThe Young Team by Graeme ArmstrongA Personal Matter by Kenzaburō ŌeThe Last White Man by Mohsin HamidFor a crisisNot the End of the World by Hannah RitchieOn Freedom by Maggie Nelson Eating Animals byJonathan Safran FoerSurrender by Joanna PocockOrbital by Samantha HarveyIn the Distance by Hernan DiazEmpireland and Empireworld by Sathnam SangheraThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshanna ZubenoffTo escapeThe Moomins and The Summer Book by Tove JansonYou Are Here by David NichollsStandard Deviation by Katherine HeinyAlso mentioned in this episode:NYRB Classics ChallengeIndigenous Reading CircleThe Galle Literary FestivalFaversham Literary FestivalMargate BookieThe Margate BookshopBrick Lane BookshopBirchbark Books & Native ArtsHarbour Books (@harbourbooks)Follow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes 

This week we learn more about each other and get into the books on our backlist, including our recommendations for non-fiction and fiction reads. We also take a look at the longlist of the Dublin Literary Award and talk about surprises, omissions and favourites that you might want to add to your own TBR.Recent readsNothing Ever Just Disappears: Seven Hidden Histories by Diarmuid Hester Evenings and Weekends by Oisin McKennaFrom the backlist/longlist Hold Still: A Memoir by Sally Mann The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland AllenKing by Jonathan EigWhen the Clock Broke by John GanzThe Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz SafonThe Buried Giant by Kazuo IshiguroMaud Martha by Gwendolyn BrooksDucks by Kate BeatonBoy Parts by Eliza ClarkAudition by Pip AdamTerrace Story by Hilary LeichterStone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’ConnorWild Houses by Colin BarrettFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast for more recommendations in between episodes