Losing motivation to get that first novel done? This is the episode for you. Hajar talks to the brilliant Lorraine Brown, debut author of The Paris Connection, all about her journey to authordom! We talked about her previous jobs, the struggle artists with day jobs have to call themselves professionals, and why cities are so great to write about. We also can't help but bring up Emily in Paris and the disappointing Sex and the City reboot! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

We're back!! Hajar finally read a book! We chat about Women's Prize-winning Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, and enjoy ourselves as we read the countless 'Emperor's New Clothes!!!' one-star reviews. Read the novel? Tweet us what you think... @dabblersbooks Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Hajar and Curtis talk marriage and divorce and how their opinions of Toby Fleishman changed over the course of reading Taffy Brodesser-Akner's debut, 'Fleishman is in Trouble'. Obviously there's swearing and the usual laughing at one-star reviews, but it's worth pointing out that one of the reviews turned out to be hideous and anti-semitic. We've kept it in because well, we wanted to keep in our shock and despair at it, but if you don't want to hear that sort of stuff, do skip the 31st to the 35th minute. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com ..read more

Curtis set Hajar the challenge of reading one of his favourite books. With all her pre-conceptions of Bukowski and her encounters with his fans, will Hajar be pleasantly surprised? Expect swearing straight away, adult themes and discussion about sexual violence. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Chatting about Sally Rooney's award-winning fiction, Normal People, Curtis and Hajar talk university years, sexuality, toxic masculinity, and trying to feel human when you're barely an adult. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

In this episode, Curtis got Hajar reading one of his favourite books of all time: Fahrenheit 451. Expect sighing, swearing, and Hajar realising she probably needs to read it all over again in a better mood. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Hajar and Curtis chat about The Testaments, Margaret Atwood's long-awaited sequel to her 1985 dystopian smash, The Handmaid's Tale. Should it have won the Booker? Does it work on its own? Does Hajar remember all three protagonists' names? Expect f-words, Amazon reviewers disappointed that the 'wrong religion' is 'maligned', and Curtis getting his head bitten off for suggesting Atwood is a 'lovely old lady'. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Hajar and Curtis discuss 'The Last of Her Kind', a novel by American writer Sigrid Nunez. First published in 2006 in the USA, the book has only just this year been released in the UK by Virago. Expect university nostalgia, head-scratching over the central characters, Rolling Stones trivia, nods to F Scott Fitzgerald, and general awe at Nunez's literary skill. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Curtis and Hajar were blown away by this shocking dystopia by Agustina Bazterrica, translated from Spanish by Sarah Moses. If everyone else was eating human meat, would you? The book is gruesome but important, and of course expect the usual swearwords and spoilers from your podcast hosts... but this week, unfortunately (fortunately for the author) there are NO AMAZON ONE-STAR REVIEWS! Read the book and join the Dabblers' Book Club. Warning: do not, under any circumstances, read it while eating. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy fo ..read more

Hajar and Curtis learn more about (how little they know about) the natural world, as they discuss the story of Kya Clark, locally known as the 'Marsh Girl' who raises herself from the age of six in the North Carolina marshland, and finds herself caught up in a murder investigation. Do not listen to this podcast if you plan on reading the book, but haven't yet done so, as there are MAJOR SPOILERS. Expect the usual swearing, one-star Amazon reviews and a few childhood memories. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-dabblers-book-club.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-o ..read more