American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time).If it sounds nerdy, well – that’s because it is.
Book podcasts free how to#
It might be an author, a fellow librarian, a bookseller, a publisher, or any other kind of literary profession together they answer readers’ book-related queries and dilemmas, including essential gems such as how to talk to people who don’t like reading, how to avoid friends who provide poorly thought-out book recommendations and how to avoid reading-induced headaches. Dear Book NerdĪ bi-weekly show where the host, librarian Rita Meade, is joined by a guest from the books world. Greg gives a rundown of the bestseller charts while he and Pamela try their hardest not to sound sniffy about the latest erotic thriller that sits on top. After that, it’s my favourite segment: Gregory Cowles with bestseller news. The reviewer, sometimes the author, of the magazine’s cover story discusses the book with Pamela, before Alexandra Alter arrives with some usually gloomy news from the publishing world. Hosted by editor Pamela Paul, this show has been going for years and its never-changing format is a real winner. Inside the New York Times Review of Books His recent interview with Claudia Rankine was exceptional. He gives his guests room to speak, uninterrupted, often zoning in on the personal experience of writing. There is a seriousness to Naimon that makes his interviews intense and often more enlightening as a result. Conducting a monthly in-depth author interview, often stretching beyond the hour mark, David Naimon attracts a wide range of literary, usually American authors, from underground icon Rikki Ducornet to bestseller Ursula Le Guin. Occasionally, the excellent Guardian book club pops up with John Mullan discussing a modern classic with its author, and just recently we’ve had the cream of British film actors reading John le Carré. Whether it’s a recording of a Guardian live event or a panel discussion, there’s much to feast on. Weird to see this one here? Maybe, but I’m only an occasional contributor to this publication, and the Guardian podcast is a reliably tasty smorgasbord – you never quite know what you’re going to get, and you’re very rarely disappointed. Frostrup can be an amusingly robust interviewer, particularly when it’s a long-form interview – as witnessed a couple of weeks ago when the preppy Jonathan Safran Foer got told to “stop splitting hairs” and was reminded he was now 40 and divorced, more than once. Hosted by Mariella Frostrup, the format usually includes a topic for discussion with bestselling authors, interviews and news. Quintessentially Radio 4, Open Book has an austere but classy feel to it. If you’ve read the book, it’s easy to get equally caught up, which can be weird when you’re on a train shouting: “That’s the point of the whole book – idiot!” Otherwise there is the much calmer BBC World Book Club to recommend, but, with the author always in attendance, it’s never as much fun. What marks Slate’s bookclub out from the others is the eagerness of its contributors to argue with one another in entertaining ways. Slate’s Audio Book ClubĮach month a regular, rotating trio from Slate’s staff discuss a book in the traditional back-and-forth of a book club format.
Book podcasts free free#
From an evening with James Ellroy or Ali Smith to conversations between Gregor Hens and Will Self on the psychopathology of nicotine addiction, talks are lively, the Bloomsbury audience always eager to pose a sneaky question or two, and if you can lay your hands on some free wine and nibbles, even better. Appearing regularly, the quality of guests is consistent. There is a vicarious pleasure in listening to live recordings of book events, and the London Review Bookshop hosts some of the best.
Book podcasts free archive#
Dipping into the enormous Bookworm archive is a rare pleasure and unlike any other author interview you will hear. An episode of Bookworm is like a free lesson in literary hermeneutics: Silverblatt avoids questions, floating ideas and theories instead, to the pleasure of his guests. Dubbed “ America’s greatest reader” by Norman Mailer, Silverblatt has been expounding and astounding guests and listeners, each week for 20 years. I’m quietly obsessed with Michael Silverblatt, the host of Bookworm.