Podcast review: Book Off! Paula Hawkins and John Boyne

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This was the first episode ever of this podcast, which I am slowly catching up with.

Shorter than the second episode, which I reviewed here, it followed the same format and the two guests - Paula Hawkins and John Boyne - warmed up by discussing their book habits and their current reads.

It's always interesting to find out what the stars are reading! In this case, I was reminded that...

1) I have yet to start reading Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series
2) I love spooky stories (but I can only read them during the daytime!)

Host Joe Haddow asked both authors about their latest novels: Paula Hawkins's Into the Water and John Boyne's The Heart's Invisible Furies. I haven't read any of their previous works - although I have seen the film adaptations of her The Girl on the Train and his The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - and I am now diligently adding titles to my wish list!

It was then time for their pitches! Paula Hawkins made a case for The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, a great example of speculative fiction. John Boyne spoke instead of The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley and described it as a moving, nostalgic and destructive classic.

I won't tell you which book won but I can tell you that my personal preference was The Go-Between - partly because I've already read The Handmaid's Tale and partly because I have a thing for books that are 'beautiful but painful'. And guess what? I bought it a few days ago and I look forward to reading it!

Don't let me keep you any further: head over here and listen to this great Book Off!


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