It's a Charlie Thing

The Booker Prize Longlist for 2026 has been announced. The Charlies read the first line from each title to determine which is best.Books Mentioned:The Shadow of the ObjectSwitzyHelen of NowhereThe End of EverythingThe DisappearersBlack BagThe RenovationMay We Feed the KingThe Palm HouseThe Things We Never SayJohn of JohnAll Them DogsThe Vivisectors

In which we recommend books for Women in Translation month and Charlie is missing an ostrich.Books Mentioned:What You Are Looking For is in this Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison WattsDeath at Sunset Grove by Mina Lindgren, translated by Lola RogersSimple Passions by Annie Ernaux, translated by Tanya LeslieElena Knows by Claudia Piniero, translated by Frances RiddleWhen the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen, translated by Alice MenziesDrive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-JonesBoulder by Eva Baltazar, translated by Julia SanchezInkheart by Cornelia Funke, translated by Anthea BellThe Eighth Life by Nino Haratschwili, translated by Ruth Martin and Charlotte CollinsRoman Mornings by Matson TaylorIt’s Not What You Think by Clare MackintoshMuckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen

It's 1981 vs 1992 in this week's episode as Charlie and Charlie chat about the book releases from their respective birth years. Charlie H rants about a book he didn't enjoy and Charlie B is exploring the Wainwright Prize.Books Mentioned:What We Can Know by Ian McEwanEmotionally Weird by Kate AtkinsonRoman Mornings by Matson TaylorAn Inconvenience of Penguins by Jamie LaffertyLove is a Toad by Lucy LapwingThe Return of the King by JRR TolkienWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond CarverGeorge's Marvellous Medicine by Roald DahlGoodnight Mister Tom by Michelle MagorianTar Baby by Toni MorrisonMidnight's Children by Salman RushdieAgatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by MC BeatonThe Shadow Rising by Robert JordanAll the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthyThe Secret History by Donna TarttThe Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline WilsonGoosebumps by RL StineAll that Remains by Patricia Cornwell

In which the Charlies share their REPORTs.Books Mentioned:The Wren, the Wren by Anne EnrightWe Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill BrownEmotionally Weird by Kate AtkinsonEverything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves

In which we share our favourite books of the year, halfway through. Will they still be on this list by the end of December.Books Mentioned:The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl BainbridgeAn Unlikely Visitor by Joanna CannonThe Correspondent by Virginia EvansLeonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan HessionMarking Time by Elizabeth Jane Howard11.22.63 by Stephen KingDeath and the Conjuror by Tom MeadWhite Spaces by Elvin James MensahAgent Zo by Clare MulleyThunder on the Right by Mary StewartThings We Never Say by Elizabeth StroutThe Lord of the Rings by JRR TolkienThe Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler

In which we complete the Mid-Year Book Freakout TagBooks Mentioned:The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl BainbridgeMarking Time by Elizabeth Jane HowardThe Bed and Breakfast Star by Jacqueline WilsonThe Things We Never Say by Elizabeth StroutAn Unlikely Visitor by Joanna CannonThe Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi IshiguroLeonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan HessionThe Two Towers by JRR TolkienThe Other Valley by Scott Alexander HowardWhite Spaces by Elvin James Mensah

In which we chat about all the books we've been reading recently.Books Mentioned:Isaac and the Egg by Bobby PalmerThe Things We Never Say by Elizabeth StroutThe Driver’s Seat by Muriel SparkStrange Houses by UketsuGraveyard Shift by ML RioPotato by Rebecca EarleWhite Spaces by Elvin James MensahThe Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey EugenidesThe Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge

In which we talk about our recent trip to London.

We react to more AITA posts.