Books are pretty much the best thing ever, right? Whether it’s a cosy winter’s night or a warm summery day, there’s not a lot better in life that sitting down with a good read and getting totally lost in your imagination.
But there are only so many books to read, and besides, with the best will in the world, we book worms can’t spend all day every day with our heads in a paperback. So what else can we book-lovers do to get our fix? Cue, literary podcasts.
There are so many excellent books-based podcasts available to download, featuring discussion groups, reviews and author interviews. Here, we choose eight of the best.
A weekly look at the world of books, poetry and great writing presented by Claire Armitstead, Richard Lea, and Sian Cain. With in-depth interviews with leading authors and investigations looking at writing trends, this is the perfect book worm’s companion.
Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s question, “With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?”, the TLS brings listeners a wide-ranging weekly podcast on books and ideas, discussing everything from empathy to liberalism.
Literary Friction is a lively monthly conversation about books and ideas, hosted by friends Carrie and Octavia. Each month the pair interview an author about their book and build the show around a related theme. There’s also book recommendations and a little music, too.
Mariella Frostrup hosts this podcast, which looks at new fiction and non-fiction books, talks to authors and publishers and unearths lost classics.
A monthly reading and conversation with the New Yorker fiction editor Deborah Treisman. Recent guests include Salman Rushdie and Lorrie Moore.
Friends and self-proclaimed book nerd Julia, Tod and Rider read and discuss books, essays and stories in this podcast, which features everything from poetry and plays to children’s books.
A monthly book club featuring discussion about classics and interviews with prize-winning authors. Recent guests include Sebastian Barry, Sophie Hannah and Jane Gardam.
Recordings of the author and reader discussions the happen twice-weekly and the London Review Bookshop. Expect lively debates and a mix of guests including Mary Beard, Ali Smith and Ruby Tandoh.
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