Welcome to the fourth series of The Graham Norton Book Club where we’re all about the stories – reading them, listening to them, talking about them. We’ve got some of the biggest names in books including Oscar-nominated Room and The Wonder author Emma Donoghue, Oprah-picked, youngest ever Booker-nominated, Leila Mottley, best-selling thriller writer, David Baldacci, Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, national treasure Alan Bennett and more.Plus, we’ll hear from the famous voices behind some of the hottest audio books around – like Bill Bryson, Konnie Huq, Nicola Walker, Richard Armitage and Think Like a Monk author, Jay Shetty. And, of course, each time our passionate band of book clubbers will share their opinions and their scores out of ten for our book of the week and we’ll give you a sneak peek into what’s rising in the best seller lists.If you like books, you’ll love this. Come and join the Club.Graham and the Club talk about books for adult readers, which means that, sometimes, some of the themes discussed may not be suitable for younger ears.
Ep 10: Alan Bennett and Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamolodchikova
Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader – his irresistible story of the Queen falling in love with books - is our season finale title. We hear what happens when Graham sits down with the man himself, and the Clubbers decide if it’s one for extended loan or should go on the returns pile. Her late majesty is not the only queen in the house as drag stars, Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova, bring us their Guide to Professional Womanhood. Plus, Sara Collins picks her top three books about books, and we have a look at the latest Amazon and Audible chart movers and shakers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
3/30/2023 • 50 minutes, 42 seconds
Ep 9: Gabrielle Zevin and Elizabeth Day
Our book is Gabrielle Zevin’s story of love, friendship, and computer games, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Amazon’s Book of the Year in 2022. Graham talks to Gabrielle and the Clubbers decide if they love it on every level, or if there are too many bugs. Sticking with the relationship theme, we also have author and podcaster Elizabeth Day on her new title, Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict, and Alex Clark on famous literary enemies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
3/23/2023 • 48 minutes, 19 seconds
Ep 8: Orhan Pamuk and Mel C
Nobel Prize winner, Orhan Pamuk, guides Graham through his extraordinary story of love, murder, art, and 16th Century Turkey in My Name Is Red. The clubbers discuss whether it really is their colour. Sara Collins recommends three more titles of epic proportions, and Sporty Spice herself, Mel C, reveals Who I Am in her new autobiography.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
3/16/2023 • 47 minutes, 43 seconds
Ep 7: Tobias Wolff and Craig David
Tobias Wolff talks about his story of one boy’s quest to fit in, Old School. The Clubbers decide if it’s an A* or a must try harder while pop star, Craig David asks What’s Your Vibe? in his new book about the lessons he’s learned from his career. Alex Clark dictates her recommended reading when it comes to novels about schooldays, and we get the latest on some other high flyers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
3/9/2023 • 46 minutes, 27 seconds
Ep 6: Saima Mir and Susannah Constantine
Saima Mir’s The Khan has been hailed as the UK’s answer to The Godfather. Our clubbers decide if it’s an offer they can’t refuse, while Saima herself tells Graham about bringing to life a complex female crime boss and the close-knit community around her. Sara Collins has recommendations from other British Pakistani writers, and style guru Susannah Constantine lifts the lid on the saucy secrets of a life, where she was Ready for Absolutely Nothing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
3/2/2023 • 49 minutes, 44 seconds
Ep 5: Michael Rosen (on Émile Zola) and Jay Shetty
We venture into 19th century France with Émile Zola’s story of passion, poverty, and industrial action, Germinal. Author, broadcaster, former Children’s Laureate, and Zola expert, Michael Rosen, helps us look inside this incredible world. Podcaster, internet sensation, and life coach, Jay Shetty (Think Like a Monk), guides us through his new 8 Rules of Love. Alex Clark selects the créme de la créme of French novels, and we’ve got a whole load of chart toppers, reviews, and recommendations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2/23/2023 • 48 minutes, 56 seconds
Ep 4: Julia Armfield and Richard Armitage & Nicola Walker
Julia Armfield’s mixture of marine horror, love, loss and scaly skin, Our Wives Under the Sea, is our book this week. She tells Graham about the challenges of writing about six months in a submarine and our clubbers decide if they’re on the crest of a wave or plumbing the depths. Plus, Spooks partners Nicola Walker and Richard Armitage team up again to bring his own audiobook, Geneva, to life and we have loads of recommendations – from chart toppers to Sara Collins on books that really take you places.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2/16/2023 • 46 minutes, 46 seconds
Ep 3: Leila Mottley and Al Murray
Youngest ever Booker prize nominee, Leila Mottley, wrote most of Nightcrawling, when she was just 17! Graham finds out how she did it and we discover if our clubbers love it as much as the judges (and Oprah) did. Plus, comedian Al Murray’s passion for World War II history has resulted in a book to Command our attention and Sara Collins is in prize-winning mood with another set of ‘first-class’ recommendations.IMPORTANT NOTE: Nightcrawling by Leila Motley contains references to violence that some people might find upsetting. It also talks about sex work, which might not be a suitable topic for younger listeners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2/9/2023 • 48 minutes, 52 seconds
Ep 2: David Baldacci and Konnie Huq
Our book this week is best-seller David Baldacci’s Memory Man. The clubbers decide if they’ll never forget it or whether it’s just a blank - and former Blue Peter presenter and now children’s author, Konnie Huq, tells us about bringing her Fearless Fairytales to life. Alex Clark has books inspired by big tech to press your buttons, and we spot more titles to watch in the charts.IMPORTANT NOTE: David Baldacci’s Memory Man does include references to violent crime, including a school shooting, which some listeners might find upsetting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2/2/2023 • 46 minutes, 46 seconds
Ep 1: Emma Donoghue and Bill Bryson
Emma Donoghue takes Graham inside her smash hit book (and film), Room, and legendary travel writer Bill Bryson divulges why he’s back at the audiobook mic. Alex Clark has titles to get us through hard times, our clubbers debate each other’s reading choices and we discover what’s hot and happening in the book charts. Come and join the Club.IMPORTANT NOTE: Emma Donoghue's Room does include references to abuse that some listeners might find upsetting.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
