Bestselling authors Percival Everett and Andrew O'Hagan go head to head in a War of the Words, and discuss their brilliant new novels. Percival's latest novel 'James' is a re-imagining of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn', but set in 1861, whilst Andrew's latest work is a contemporary tale of class, money, greed and doing the right thing. They discuss how characters form for them, why writing is torture and share some of the books they have been reading and enjoying recently. THE BOOK OFF 'The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson VS 'The Life And Opinions Of Trist ..read more

Superstar authors Kiley Reid and Caroline O'Donoghue go head to head in a war of the words. They chat to Joe Haddow about their latest novels ('Come And Get It' and 'The Rachel Incident'), society's obsession with money, 'the campus novel' and why writing less is sometimes more. We go look back at the financial crash of 2008 and what it meant for a certain generation of artists and compare it to now, and what the next generation of writers and creatives are facing. Kiley and Caroline also recommend us some books they have been reading and enjoying recently, and of course there's the Book Of ..read more

Book Off is back! Welcome to Series 12. And to kick us off, we welcome Jennie Godfrey and Susan Fletcher to the studio to talk about their books and writing, and get some recommendations too. Jennie's debut novel, The List Of Suspicious Things, has been published to great acclaim whilst Susan's new novel, The Night In Question, is hotly anticipated - and coming out in just a few weeks. We discuss Yorkshire, adventure, writing older characters, friendships in fiction and a lot lot more. It also turns out, Susan and Jennie (and Joe) are huuuuge Marian Keyes fans, so there's a little bit of fa ..read more

It's a children's book special this week! Former Children's Laureate, Cressida Cowell, goes head to head with broadcaster and author Dermot O'Leary. They chat about their latest novels, their passion for getting books into children's hands, a love of history - and - world building! THE BOOK OFF 'The Power Of The Dog' by Don Winslow VS 'The Joy Luck Club' by Amy Tan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Authors Heidi Amsinck and Marisa Haetzman go head to head in a war of the words, just before their appearance at Bloody Scotland. Heidi discusses her latest Jensen thriller, 'The Girl in The Photo' and her love for Denmark. Marisa tells us about collaborating with her husband, Chris Brookmyre (writing as Ambrose Parry) and their new book, 'Voices Of The Dead' They also tell us what they have been reading and enjoying recently. THE BOOK OFF Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan VS The Elements Of Style by William Strunk Jr and EB White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Journalist, radio presenter and author Stig Abell goes head to head with international bestselling author and screenwriter, Jo Spain in a war of the words. They discuss the politics of blurbing books, where they get their inspirations from, hard-boiled crime and when and where they write. They also recommend us some brilliant books, which they have enjoyed recently. THE BOOK OFF 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen VS 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen (Yes! The same book pitched against itself. A BOOK OFF FIRST!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

New York Times Bestselling author, Jason Mott, joins Journalist and author Christine Smallwood for Book Off! They talk about their new novels, dinosaurs, Werner Herzog, what they have enjoyed reading lately and how it never gets easier to write a novel. Jason's novel - "Hell Of A Book" - is an incredibly funny and honest novel which goes to the heart of racism and police violence in America. And Christine's novel - "The Life Of The Mind" - is a witty, intelligent novel about a woman on the edge. For the Book Off, they pit the graphic novel "Monsters" by Barry Windsor-Smith up against "The ..read more

Former journalist turned best-selling crime author Peter May goes head to head with thriller writer Peter Swanson in a war of the words. They talk about letting ideas for books go when they're not strong enough, working through the pandemic, priceless art and how nice it is to not be consumed by Donald Trump news any more... In the Book Off they pit JP Donleavy’s ‘The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B’ against Ira Levin's 'A Kiss Before Dying' - but which one will win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Debut authors Louise Nealon and Julie Ma go head to head in a war of the words! They discuss their new books, the thrill of being published for the first time, writing for your younger self and Chinese food! In the Book Off they put Dermot Healy's "A Goat's Song" against "The Snow And The Works On The Northern Line" by Ruth Thomas, but which one will win!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jane Smiley, goes head to head with writer, broadcaster and poet, Pam Ayres, in a war of the words. They discuss their writing, the importance of wildlife, going on cruises, fables and humour. In the Book Off they put James Rebanks "English Pastoral: An Inheritance" against "The Year Of Lear" by James Shapiro. But which one will win??? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more