Tea or Books?

Thank you so much for all your questions for episode 150 of ‘Tea or Books?’! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/tea-or-books-150.mp3 Because we had so many questions, we’re doing it over two episodes – so today’s is the first half. Watch out for part 2, next month. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. More to come soon. And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments – we still need questions for the middle sections of future episodes, of course!

Muriel Spark and campus novels – welcome to episode 149! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/tea-or-books-149.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we answer Lisa’s question: do we like campus novels? In the second half, we compare two novels by Muriel Spark. Not necessarily the Muriel Spark novels I thought we would be reading… turns out, Rachel read The Comforters instead of The Bachelors, so we compare that with Symposium instead! If you’d like to come and see Rachel’s play, full details are here. I’ll be there on the Saturday! You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments! The books and authors we mention in this episode are: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell ‘My Last Duchess’ by Robert Browning Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrel

Ann Patchett, Tessa Hadley, and finding the right time to read a book – welcome to episode 149! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/tea-or-books-148.mp3 In the first half, we answer the question: is there a right time for each particular book? In the second half, we compare Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House and Tessa Hadley’s The Party. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments! The books and authors we mentioned in this episode are: Honourable Estates by Vera Brittain Deviants by Santanu Bhattacharya Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence Richmal Crompton E.V. Lucas One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Sweet Valley High by Franci

Douglas Bruton, Carolyn Trant, and quality vs quantity – welcome to episode 147 or Tea or Books?! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/tea-or-books-147.mp3 In the first half, we discuss quality vs quantity in our reading goals (inspired by this Guardian article). In the second half, we debate two books we picked from each others ‘Best reads of 2025’ lists – Blue Postcards by Douglas Bruton and Voyaging Out: British Women Artists From Suffrage to the Sixties by Carolyn Trant. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. Sorry that I’m behind with posting those, but more are on their way… And, of course, do get in touch at [email protected] with any questions or comments! The books and authors we mention in this episode are: The Spring House by Cynthia As

Our favourite reads of the year! Welcome to episode 146. https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tea-or-books-146.mp3 We turn the whole episode over to our run-down of our ten favourite books from a year in reading. As has become a tradition, we will then choose one book from each other’s list to read for the next episode. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. Rachel’s top 10 books are: 10. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt 9. Small Domb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans 8. The Butchering Art by Lindsey Fitzharris 7. Voyaging Out by Carolyn Trant 6. Crooked Cross by Sally Carson 5. Catherine Carter by Pamela Hansford Johnson 4. East of Eden by John Steinbeck 3. Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico 2. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 1. Braided Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Simon’s top 10

Ann Schlee! Lettice Cooper! Authors! Welcome to episode 145 of Tea or Books? https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/tea-or-books-145.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we discuss whether we prefer younger authors or older authors (thank you Lindsey for the suggestion!) In the second half, we compare two recently reprinted novels about unmarried English women in Continental Europe – Rhine Journey by Ann Schlee and Fenny by Lettice Cooper. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Lanterns Across the Snow by Susan Hill The Names by Fl

Sylvia Plath, Janet Malcolm and our thoughts on writing style – welcome to episode 144! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tea-or-books-144.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we discuss whether we prefer writing style to be ornate or simple. In the second half, we compare Sylvia Plath’s most famous poetry collection Ariel with Janet Malcolm’s book about Plath biography, The Silent Woman. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Mrs Miniver by Jan Struther All The Little Live Things by Wallace Stegner Lucy

Agatha Christie, Ethel Lina White, and sad books – welcome to episode 143! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/tea-or-books-143.mp3 In the first half, we use Geraldine’s suggestion – do we avoid books that will upset us? In the second half, we compare They Came To Baghdad by Agatha Christie and Fear Stalks The Village by Ethel Lina White. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. The books and authors we mention in this episode: Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion Training School for Elephants by Sophy Roberts Return to Cheltenham by Helen Ashton King

Celia Dale! Bernice Rubens! Stupidity! Welcome to episode 142 of Tea or Books? https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/tea-or-books-142.mp3 In the first half of the episode, we ask if we can like characters in novels who make stupid decisions. In the second half, we compare Other People by Celia Dale and A Five Year Sentence by Bernice Rubens. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. You can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusive new series ‘5 Books’, where I ask different people about the last book they finished, the book they’re currently reading, the next book they want to read, the last book they bought and the last book they were given. The books and authors we mention: Literary Gardens by Sandra Lawrence (ill. by Lucille Clerc) Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier The Se

Sally Carson, Katherine Dunning, and the weather – welcome to episode 141! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tea-or-books-141.mp3 In the first half, Rachel and I discuss significant weather scenes in novels, and whether knowing about the weather in novels makes a difference to us. In the second half, we compare two very different novels from 1934, both recently republished: Crooked Cross by Sally Carson (reissued by Persephone) and The Spring Begins by Katherine Dunning (reissued by the British Library). Here is the LitHub article about rain in novels: lithub.com/the-best-rain-in-literature You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. Tou can support the podcast at Patreon – where you’ll also get access to the exclusi

It’s time for our favourite 10 books from 10 years of ‘Tea or Books?’! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/tea-or-books-140.mp3 Rachel and I have looked through the books we read for the first ten years of the podcast and have each picked our ten favourites – thank you for everyone who suggested this fun idea. Do get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com if you’d like to suggest anything for further episodes. Find us above, on Spotify, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. Here are our top tens, with the episodes in which they first appear, if you’d like to read more. Don’t read this if you don’t want spoilers! RACHEL’S TOP TEN 10. Catherine Carter by Pamela Hansford Johnson (ep 137) 9. Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton (ep 8) 8. A Winter Away by Elizabeth Fair (ep 36) 7. The Lark by E. Nesbit (ep 56) 6. Father by Elizabeth von Arnim (ep 91) 5. A Compass Error by Sybille Bedford (ep 47) 4. The Heir by Vita Sackville-West (ep 45) 3. A Pin To See The Peepshow by F. Tennyson Jesse (ep 34) 2. Four Gardens by

Shirley Jackson, Elspeth Barker, and your emails – welcome to episode 139 of Tea or Books?! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tea-or-books-139.mp3 Can you believe we’ve been going for ten years? It’s wild to me! In the first half of the episode we compare two gothic-inspired novels – O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker and The Sundial by Shirley Jackson. In the second half, we share lots of lovely, lovely emails from you guys. We asked about the books and episodes that stand out from our first decade – and were so touched by everyone who got in touch. Apologies for the handful of people who messaged after we’d recorded. I’m afraid you aren’t in the episode, but we were grateful for the messages of course. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. Because there a

https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10-year-bonus.mp3 A super quick mini-episode – well, not really an episode – asking for your contributions to the next episode of ‘Tea or Books?’. It will be TEN YEARS since Rachel and I first put an episode out into the ether – I can’t believe it’s been a whole decade, and I’m so thankful to everyone who has listened, commented, emailed, reviewed etc over the time. Will you help us celebrate? In the next episode, I’d love to share your contributions – are there books we’ve suggested that you’ve read and loved? Are there topics you particularly enjoyed? Anything that we can use to celebrate 10 years in style. Do send in your voicenotes or emails to [email protected], or put any highlights into the comment section on this blog post. (Please do, otherwise it’ll be a very quiet first half of the episode!)

Elizabeth Jane Howard, Brian Moore, and authors’ personal lives – welcome to episode 138! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tea-or-books-138.mp3 In the first half of the episode, we do a question that Lindsey suggested: do we care about authors’ personal lives? It takes us to questions both of ethics and of privacy. In the second half, we pit The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian Moore against The Beautiful Visit by Elizabeth Jane Howard. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Recommended! by Nicola Wilson Hugh Walpole J.B. Priestley Sylvia Lynd Clemence Dane Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield Blue Postcards by Dou

Resolved endings, Pamela Hansford Johnson, Vincenzo Latronico – welcome to episode 137 of Tea or Books?! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/tea-or-books-137.mp3 In the first half of the episode, we take a suggestion from Lindsey – do we prefer resolved or unresolved endings? In the second half, Rachel and I see how successful our suggestions for each other were (from the end of last episode) – Rachel asked me to read Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie Hughes, and I asked Rachel to read Catherine Carter by Pamela Hansford Johnson. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: The Spring Begins by Katherine Dunning Some Must Watch by Ethel Lina White aka The Spiral St

Agatha Christie, Gwen Bristow, Bruce Manning and reading morality – welcome to episode 136 of Tea or Books?! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/tea-or-books-136.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we discuss whether or not we take moral instruction from the books we read – does reading make us better people? In the second half, we compare two very similarly plotted books – And Then There Are None by Agatha Christie and The Invisible Host by Gwen Bristow and Bruce Manning. Many thanks to Susan for suggesting this (and sorry for forgetting your name when we recorded!) You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you, even if I’m quite bad at replying quickly. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. FYI Hargreaves gets very noisy in this episode! The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Stasiland by Anna Funder

Isabella Hammad, Norah Lofts, comfort reads – welcome to episode 135! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/tea-or-books-135.mp3   In the first half, we discuss whether or not literary fiction can be comfort reads – thank you for the suggestion, Marcy! In the second half, we compare novels we chose from each other’s Best Books of 2024 – Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad vs Lady Living Alone by Norah Lofts. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. Among the bonus things you’ll find is our talk from the Marlborough Literary Festival! The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Julia by Sandra Newman Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Five Littl

Happy new year! In episode 134, Rachel and I share our favourite books reads in 2024 – counting down from ten to one. And we each pick one of the other’s top 10 to read for our next episode! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tea-or-books-134.mp3 Thanks so much for everyone who listens to the podcast and gets in touch. It means such a lot to us. The books and authors we mention in this episode are below – but if you want to avoid spoilers for our favourite books, then don’t read this list too carefully! Letters to Gwen John by Celia Paul The Years by Annie Ernaux The Wife of Bath: A Biography by Marion Turner The Inn at the Edge of the World by Alice Thomas Ellis George Orwell Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks My Darling Villain by Lynne Reid Banks The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks The Farthest Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad The Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill Weather by Jenny Offill One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Ga

Willa Cather and reading rules – welcome to episode 133 of ‘Tea or Books?’! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tea-or-books-133.mp3 In the first half, we discuss reading rules – when we’re picking up a book, are there certain things that will definitely put us off? In the second half, we compare two novels by Willa Cather: Sapphira and the Slave Girl and A Lost Lady. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. Among the bonus things you’ll find is our talk from the Marlborough Literary Festival! The books and authors we mention in this episode are: The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk Back by Henry Green Living by Henry Green Lov

Edward Carey joins us to discuss his latest novel, Edith Holler. Welcome to episode 132! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/tea-or-books-132-Edward-Carey.mp3 Rachel and I both love Edward Carey’s novels, so it was a real joy to have the opportunity to interview him. We discuss how he first got published, what inspired Edith Holler and what his books might have in common. Among his books, we discuss Observatory Mansions, Alva and Irva, The Swallowed Man, and Little. For Patreon subscribers – as a thank you for your support, you can listen to Rachel interview me about the British Library Women Writers at the Marlborough Literary Festival! (If you’re not a Patreon subscriber and would like to be, follow that link to find out more.) Do get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com with any questions or suggestions, and don’t forget you can listen to (and rate and review!) the podcast on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. <img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-16420" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=230%2C230&ssl=1 230w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?resize=365%2C365&ssl=1 365w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tea-or-Books-2020.jpg?w=1440&ssl

Angela Milne, Theodora Benson, and reading deeply – welcome to episode 131 of Tea or Books?! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/tea-or-books-131.mp3 In the first half of the episode, we discuss a topic suggestion by Heidi – do we read deeply or shallowly? Do we like critical editions? Or do we just ‘switch off’ and enjoy? In the second half, we pit two British Library Women Writers titles against each other – Which Way? by Theodora Benson and One Year’s Time by Angela Milne. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Orbital by Samantha Harvey Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout The Spring House by Cynthia Asquith Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann

Emile Zola, Noel Streatfeild, and romantic books – welcome to Tea or Books? episode 130! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/tea-or-books-130.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we do a topic suggested by Lindsey – do books need a romantic storyline? In the second half, we compare two novels set in department stores – The Ladies’ Paradise by Emile Zola (both of us read the translation by Brian Nelson) and Babbcombe’s by Susan Scarlett aka Noel Streatfeild. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. Please come and see us talking about the British Library Women Writers series at the Marlborough Literary Festival on 29 September! And you can find out more about End Sexism in Schools at their website.</p

Virginia Woolf, Jane Cholmeley, and authors who wrote too much or not enough – welcome to episode 129! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/tea-or-books-129.mp3 In the first half, we use a great topic suggestion by David – do we prefer authors who wrote too many books or those who didn’t write enough? And what do we mean by that? It was really fun trying to decide which authors fell into which category. In the second half, two quite different works of non-fiction: A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf and A Bookshop of One’s Own by Jane Cholmeley. If you’d like to find out more about our appearance at Marlborough Literary Festival – here’s their events info. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. The books and authors we mentio

Polly Barton, Yoko Ogawa, and plays – welcome to episode 128! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/tea-or-books-128.mp3 In the first half of today’s ‘Tea or Books?’ episode, Rachel and I revisit a topic from years ago – plays! Specifically, do we think that plays should be read on the page, as well as seen on the stage. In the second half, we compare two books with a Japanese theme: Polly Barton’s Fifty Sounds, a non-fiction about moving to Japan and learning the language, and Yoko Ogawa’s novel The Housekeeper and the Professor, translated by Stephen Snyder. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: A Body Made of Glass by Caroline Crampton The Dept of Speculation by Jenny Offill Weather by Jenny Offill <em

George Orwell, E.H. Young, guilty pleasures – welcome to episode 127! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tea-or-books-127.mp3 In the first half of the episode, we ask: what is our guiltiest reading pleasure? Has that changed over time? Do we feel guilty about anything connected with reading? In the second half, we compare two similarly titled novels: The Vicar’s Daughter by E.H. Young and A Clergyman’s Daughter by George Orwell. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Love in a Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Wifedom by Anna Funder Burmese Days by George Orwell A Bullet in the Ballet by Caryl Bra

Banned books, Bonnie Garmus and A.J. Pearce – welcome to episode 126! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tea-or-books-126.mp3 In the first half of the episode, we discuss banned books – should books ever be banned? Does a book being banned make us want to read it more? In the second half, we pit two recent novels set in the mid-century: Dear Mrs Bird by A.J. Pearce and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc (please do!) at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Strangers May Kiss by Ursula Parrott Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott Spinsters in Jeopardy by Ngaio Marsh Dear Octopus by Dodie Smith How To Be Multiple by Helena de Bres The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis L

Celeb memoirs, Michael Cunningham, Elizabeth Fair – welcome to episode 125! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/tea-or-books-125.mp3 In the first half, Rachel and I discuss celebrity memoirs – do we read them? What do we count as a celebrity memoir? In the second half, we each chose one of the other’s favourite 2023 reads – Day by Michael Cunningham (one of my favourite reads from last year) and Landscape in Sunlight by Elizabeth Fair. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Convenience Store Woman by Suyaka Murata Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton At the Pines by Mollie Panter-Downes Algernon Charles Swinburne Max Beerbohm Storm Bird by Mollie Panter-Downes Katie Price Peter Kay

Our favourite books from 2023 – or reads, because of course we mostly read ‘backlisted’ titles. Always a fun one to record – this time with the added bonus that we were each going to choose one from the other’s list to read for the next episode. https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tea-or-books-124.mp3 Some of our Patreon patrons also appear in this episode. You can join them, and get early access to episodes and other perks, at our Patreon. Do feel free to get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie The World Between Two Covers by Ann Morgan Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco A Flat Place by Noreen Masud Noble Ambitions by Adrian Tinniswood The Long Weekend by Adrian Tinniswood A Bird in the House by Margaret Laurence A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence The Fire-Dwellers by Margaret Laurence The Diviners by Margaret Laurence The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson <e

Beryl Bainbridge, Celia Dale, critical and charitable reading – welcome to episode 123! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/tea-or-books-123.mp3 In the first half of the episode we use a suggestion from Susannah – do we read charitably or critically? In the second half we compare too rather dark novels – Sheep’s Clothing by Celia Dale and Harriet Said… by Beryl Bainbridge. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. If you’re able to, we’d really appreciate any reviews and ratings you can leave us. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Mary Lawson Stories for Winter and Nights by the Fire by various Elizabeth Taylor Angela Carter Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Temptation by János Székely Family Album by Antonia Ridge Miss Read Grandma Went To Russia by Antonia Ridge The Persi

Mary Lawson joins us to talk about all her novels – welcome to episode 122! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tea-or-books-122-mary-lawson.mp3 I can’t quite believe I’m writing this, but THE Mary Lawson – Canadian author of Crow Lake, The Other Side of the Bridge, Road Ends, and A Town Called Solace – joins us in this episode to talk through her work. We discuss how she approaches writing a novel, some of her creative decisions, and a little hint about her next book. Do let us know any future episode suggestions, or any questions you have, at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com. Get episodes a little early, and some other bonus content, through Patreon. And get the podcast wherever you get podcasts! Your ratings and reviews really help too (except those people who give us one star, I guess). The books and authors we mention in this episode: Temptation by János Székely David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Skylark by Dezső Kosztolány Embers by Sándor Márai Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim Rebecca by Daphne du Mauri

Jane Gardam and messages in books – welcome to episode 121! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/tea-or-books-121.mp3 In the first half of the episode, Rachel and I discuss whether or not we think books should have a message. In the second half we pit two Jane Gardam novels against each other: Old Filth and the same story from another angle, The Man in the Wooden Hat. For those looking for Rachel’s new blog, you can find it and subscribe at Substack. Do get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com with any suggestions for topics, or questions for the middle section. You can support the podcast at Patreon, and we also really appreciate your reviews and ratings. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson A Helping Hand by Celia Dale Sheep’s Clothing by Celia Dale Margaret Laurence Road Ends by Mary Lawson Brian Moore As You Like It by William Shakespeare Love and Salt Water by Ethel Wilson The Love of a Good Woman by Alice Munro <e

D.E. Stevenson, Eva Ibbotson, travel inspo – welcome to episode 120! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/tea-or-books-120.mp3 We have our first returning guest – the wonderful Claire, who blogs at The Captive Reader. In the first half of this episode, we talk about inspiration from travel – do we get it from our fiction reading or non-fiction reading? In the second half, we compare two novels Claire suggested – Eva Ibbotson’s The Morning Gift and D.E. Stevenson’s The English Air, two novels starting just before the Second World War. You can get in touch with suggestions, comments, questions etc at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you. Find us at Spotify, Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. And you can support the podcast at Patreon. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: The World-Ending Fire by Wendell Berry The Princess of Siberia by Christine Sutherland Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber So Big by Edna

Miriam Toews, Olga Tokarczuk and detective fiction – welcome to episode 119! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/tea-or-books-119.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we discuss detective fiction – do we prefer the mystery-solver to be a professional or an amateur? And in the second half we compare two fairly recent novels – Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, and Women Talking by Miriam Toews. Do get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions for the podcast – at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – and you can listen wherever you listen to podcasts! You can support the podcast at Patreon, should you so wish, with various available rewards. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau by Sheena Wilkinson Day by Michael Cunningham No Leading Lady by R.C. Sherriff Journey’s End by R.C. Sherriff Marghanita Laski The Dark Fantastic by Margaret Echard The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion<br

Julie Otsuka, Jamaica Kincard, adults’ and children’s books – welcome to episode 118! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/tea-or-books-118.mp3 In the first half – a topic suggested by Aileen, where we discuss authors who wrote both children’s and adult’s books and whether we read both. In the second half, we compare two novellas about immigrant experiences – Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid and The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. As ever, you can support the podcast at Patreon, get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you! Listen to the podcast wherever you get podcasts (including Spotify) and we’d love it if you could read and review. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Picnic in the Shade by Rosemary Edisford Noble Ambitions by Adrian Tinniswood The Long Weekend by Adrian Tinniswood Letty Landon by Helen Ashton William series by Richmal Crompton Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild Sapling

Ursula Parrott, Winifred Boggs, unnamed characters – welcome to episode 117! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/tea-or-books-117.mp3 We are so delighted to welcome Lucy Scholes as a guest for this episode. She’s is a reprint/old books superstar – you might know her Re-Covered column for the Paris Review, her work as Senior Editor of McNally Editions, or her editing of A Different Sound: Stories of Mid-Century Women Writers. Or any number of other things. What excitement to have her on the episode! In the first half, we discuss unnamed narrators and other characters – are we fans? In the second half we pit Sally on the Rocks by Winifred Boggs against Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott, both recently reprinted novels that are quite ahead of their time. You can listen above or on Spotify or your podcast app of choice. You can support the podcast at Patreon or get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi Death Comes as the End by

John Dickson Carr, Alan Melville, sports – welcome to episode 116! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tea-or-books-116.mp3 In the first half, we talk about sports in books – do we like them? Will we be able to think of any? Thank you to Lindsey for suggesting the topic! In the second half we compare two murder mysteries: It Walks By Night by John Dickson Carr and Quick Curtain by Alan Melville. Get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com – get early access etc through Patreon, and do rate and review wherever you get your podcasts! The books and authors we mention in this episode are: This Census-Taker by China Miéville The City and the City by China Miéville The Portrait by Willem Jan Otten Bricks and Mortar by Helen Ashton Hornet’s Nest by Helen Ashton Dr Serecold by Helen Ashton Yeoman’s Hospital by Helen Ashton People in Cages by Helen Ashton The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley Boxer, Beetle by Ned Beauman How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the F.A. Cup by J.L. Carr A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr A Season in Sinji by J.L. Carr The Silence of Colonel Bramble by Andre Maurois A.A. Milne P.G. Wodehouse Rudyard Kipling Tom Brown’s School Days by Thomas Hughes St Clare’s series by Enid Blyton Malory Towers series by Enid Blyton The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman Double Fault by Lionel Shriver Morse series by Colin Dexter Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm Death on the Cherwell by Mavis Doriel Hay The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain Opening Night by Ngaio Marsh Cinderella Goes To The Morgue by Nancy Spain The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie Death of Anton by Alan Melville Weekend at Thrackley by Alan Melville Sally on the Rocks by Winifred Boggs Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott

Barbara Pym, May Sarton, and bookshops – welcome to episode 115! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/tea-or-books-115.mp3 In the first half of the episode, we take up Sally’s suggestion of topic – and discuss whether or not we like books set in bookshops and libraries. More suggestions for books in this category, please! In the second half, we compare Barbara Pym’s Quartet in Autumn with May Sarton’s Journal of a Solitude and pick our favourite. You can get in touch with suggestions etc at [email protected] – get the episodes a few days early, and other bonuses, at Patreon. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Quick Curtain by Alan Melville Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Bewildering Cares by Winifred Peck House-Bound by Winifred Peck Dorothy Whipple E.M. Delafield The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin South Riding by Winifred Holtby A Girl in Winter by Philip Larkin Greenery Street by Denis Mackail

Sylvia Townsend Warner, Elizabeth Bowen, linear narratives – welcome to episode 114! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/tea-or-books-114.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we use a suggestion from listener Sarah – do we prefer linear or non-linear narratives? In the second half we look at two books from Rachel’s tbr pile that don’t, honestly, have much in common – though we do manage cobble together some thoughts, as per: A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen and the short story collection Winter in the Air by Sylvia Townsend Warner. As usual, we’d love to hear from you at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com with any questions, comments or suggestions – you can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate and review, it would mean a lot, and you can support us at Patreon too. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Bricks and Mortar by Helen Ashton The Captain Comes Home by Helen Ashton Miss Ranskill Comes Home by Barbara Euphan Todd Return to Cheltenham by Helen Ashton B

Elizabeth Gaskell, Winifred Holtby, and more – welcome to episode 113! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/tea-or-books-113.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we look at literary retellings – by which we mean authors using fairy tales or Greek mythology or basically whatever we fancy including in this very loose definition. It feels like a topic we’ve done before, but apparently we haven’t? In the second half, we compare two doorstoppers – South Riding by Winifred Holtby and Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. Do get in touch at [email protected] – you can also support the podcast on Patreon, and listen to it above or wherever you listen to podcasts. The books and authors we discuss in this episode: Mad, Bad And Sad: A History of Women and the Mind Doctors by Lisa Appignanesi The Bird in the Tree by Elizabeth Goudge Circe by Madeline Miller The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood Ulysses by James Joyce Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm

Dorothy Whipple, May Sinclair, and favourite books of 2022 – welcome to episode 112! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tea-or-books-112.mp3 Happy new year! Welcome to the first episode of Tea or Books? for 2023 – recorded on two different days, so hopefully it’s not too awkward. In the first half, we cover our favourite reads from 2022 (so won’t be a HUGE surprise if you read my blog) and in the second half we compare They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple and The Three Sisters by May Sinclair. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts – and you can support the podcast and get early episodes (and other bonus bits) on Patreon. Do get in touch with any questions, suggestions or comments at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com. The books and authors we mention in this episode: Village Diary by Miss Read Storm in the Village by Miss Read In Chancery by John Galsworthy Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner Four Gardens by Margery Sharp Five Windows by D.E. Stevenson

Molly Keane, M.J. Farrell, and characters’ appearances – welcome to episode 111! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/tea-or-books-111.mp3 In the first half, Rachel and I discuss what characters look like – do we care, do we notice if it’s mentioned, etc. In the second half, we look at two novels by Molly Keane – one under her pseudonym of M.J. Farrell – Good Behaviour and Full House. You can get in touch with suggestions at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com, find us on Spotify or your podcast app of choice, and support the podcast (and get the episodes early) at Patreon.   Shakespeare’s Restless World by Neil MacGregor Shakespeare in a Divided America by James Shapiro Contested Will by James Shapiro Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell The Benefactress by Elizabeth von Arnim The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim Introduction to Sally by Elizabeth von Arnim Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens Jane Austen Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowl

Tove Jansson, Celia Dale, jobs in books! Welcome to episode 110 https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/tea-or-books-110.mp3 A bit of a longer break than usual because I lost my voice. But we’re back, asking – in the first half of the episode – whether we care where characters work? Are we drawn to books about workplaces? In the second half, we compare two very good novels – Tove Jansson’s The True Deceiver and Celia Dale’s A Helping Hand. You can get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com, support on Patreon, find us on Spotify, and all those good things. The books and authors we mention in this episode: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson Oleander, Jacaranda by Penelope Lively Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson Managing Expectations by Minnie Driver How We Love by Clementine Ford High Wages by Dorothy Whipple Business As Usual by Jane Oliver and Ann Stafford Babbacombe’s by Susan Scarlett A Pin To See The Peepshow by F. Tennyson Jesse<br /

Penelope Lively, Helen Hull, boarding houses and isolation – welcome to episode 109! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/tea-or-books-109.mp3 In the first half of this episode, Rachel and I compare boarding houses novels and novels where people live alone – up to and including complete isolation. The blog post by Jacqui that I mentioned is on her blog. In the second half, we pit two novels set during heatwaves against each other – Heat Wave by Penelope Lively and Heat Lightning by Helen Hull. It was hot when I read them, even though it definitely isn’t now. Do get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com with suggestions or questions. You can listen above, on Spotify, wherever you get podcasts. And you can support the podcast and get bonus content (and the podcast a couple of days early) through Patreon. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: The Flowering Thorn by Margery Sharp Four Gardens by Margery Sharp <

Bite, E.M. Delafield, Elizabeth Taylor – welcome to episode 108! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/tea-or-books-108.mp3 In the first half of this episode, we discuss a topic suggested by Gina – do we prefer books with bite or without bite? All will be explained in due course… In the second half we pit two books with similar plots against each other: Late and Soon by E.M. Delafield and A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor. Do get in touch – with voice notes, questions, suggestions – to teaorbooks[at]gmail.com. You can find us at Patreon, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, your podcast app of choice. The books and authors mentioned in this episode are: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald The Goshawk by T.H. White T.H. White by Sylvia Townsend Warner The Real and the Romantic by Francis Spalding Osebol by Marit Kapla Rose Macaulay Margery Sharp Miss Read O. Douglas Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple Because of the Lockwoods

Books in books and Stella Gibbons – welcome to episode 107! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/tea-or-books-107.mp3 In the first half, we continue our ‘do we care…’ series with ‘do we care what characters read?’ By which we mean we’re looking at the books that characters read, and what that tells us about them. In the second half, we compare two novels by Stella Gibbons – The Bachelor and Enbury Heath. Do get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com with questions, comments etc. You can find us on Spotify (hopefully!), Apple Podcasts, by playing above, etc. etc. And you can support the podcast at Patreon – or by rating and reviewing where you listen, which is so much appreciated. The books and authors we mention in this episode: The Good Companions by J.B. Priestley An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim A Wreath of Roses by Elizabeth Taylor <e

Margaret Kennedy, Vita Sackville-West, and film adaptations – welcome to episode 106! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/tea-or-books-106.mp3 In the first half of this episode, Rachel and I discuss whether you should read the book before you watch the film. In the second half, we pit two novels about hotels against each other: The Feast by Margaret Kennedy and Grand Canyon by Vita Sackville-West. You can find the episode at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or via the play button above. Get even more content and bonus things at Patreon! We really appreciate it when people rate and review the podcast, and we also love hearing from you at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Suddenly a Knock at the Door by Etgar Keret The Optimist by E.M. Delafield The Balkan Trilogy by Olivia Manning Enbury Heath by Stella Gibbons Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doy

George Orwell and families – welcome to episode 105! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/tea-or-books-105.mp3 Rachel is busy this month, so I put a shout-out on our Patreon page to see if anybody would be willing to step in and take her place. I was delighted that Arwen said yes, and I think you’ll enjoy the chat we had. In the first half, we talk about big vs small families in literature – and in the second half, we compare Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm by George Orwell. Rachel will be back next time, to do the books we previously advertised. You can join the Patreon at the link above – you’ll get episodes early and other bonus bits, and you might even end up on an episode yourself! Do get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com if you’d like to suggest or ask anything. You can find our podcast at Apple podcasts, Spotify, your podcast app of choice, or the audio file above. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: E.F. Benson Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield Philip K Dick Iain M Banks Great Expectations by

Olivia Manning, Cicely Hamilton and dreams – welcome to episode 104 of ‘Tea or Books?’! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/tea-or-books-104.mp3 In the first half of this episode, Rachel and I discuss whether or not we like dreams in books, and how different authors use them. In the second half, we compare two novels about couples on the brink of World Wars – The Great Fortune by Olivia Manning and William – an Englishman by Cicely Hamilton. The podcasts I was a guest on are Lost Ladies of Lit and The Mookse and the Gripes – go and check them out! You can get in touch at teaorbooks[at]gmail.com, find us on Patreon if you’d like to support the podcast, and listen to us through Spotify, Apple podcasts, or your podcast app of choice. The books we mention in this episode are: O, The Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith Lady Audley’s Secret by M.E. Braddon The C

Penelope Lively, Margaret Laurence, thinking and feeling – welcome to episode 103! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/tea-or-books-103-1.mp3 Apologies for the unexpected delay in recording. Blame Rachel! But we are here and raring to go. In the first half, we follow a topic suggested by Mairad (topic ideas to [email protected], please!) – do we prefer books that make us think, or books that make us feel? In the second half, two novels that ended up having more in common than we initially imagined – Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively and The Diviners by Margaret Laurence. And no, despite the lengthy break, ONE of us hadn’t finished reading the books. You can find us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your podcast app of choice. Please rate and review! And you can support us on Patreon. (This is my first episode on a new laptop, which might explain some of the weird clicking that Rachel’s side picked up? I don’t know. Sorry about it!) The books and authors we mention in this episode are: The Corner That Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner The Feast b

D.E. Stevenson, Margery Sharp – and a special guest! https://www.stuckinabook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/tea-or-books-102.mp3 In this episode, we have a special guest in the form of Claire – you’ll know her blog The Captive Reader. We were delighted to have her as a guest, especially as she also came up with our topics. In the first half, we discuss books about grief – and whether or not we are drawn to them. In the second half, we compare two novels with similar premises: Five Windows by D.E. Stevenson and Four Gardens by Margery Sharp. Both, thankfully, have recently been republished by Dean Street Press. Get episodes a couple of days early at Patreon, and listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcast app of choice. Your ratings and reviews make a big difference, and we’d really appreciate them. Get in touch at [email protected] with any suggestions or feedback – we love hearing from you. The books and authors we mention in this episode are: Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey The Good Companions by