It’s been a busy week! Nikki celebrated her birthday in true nerdy, history-loving style with a trip to see dinosaurs followed by a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe. A pretty brilliant combination, if you ask us. She’s also managed to pick up a very respectable haul of birthday gifts along the way. Lucky thing.
Meanwhile, Hannah has been swept up in birthday celebrations of a slightly different kind while also deep in preparations for the Eisteddfod. If you’re wondering what an Eisteddfod is, don’t worry – we cover that in the episode!
Book Talk
In this week’s episode we dive into the world of buddy reading, exploring both the joys and the occasional downsides of sharing a book with someone else.
We chat about:
- The differences between buddy reading and reading solo
- What it’s like reading alongside others in a book group, and how discussion can completely change your perspective on a story
- Why having strong opinions about a book – and sharing them – can sometimes feel a little vulnerable
- Whether there’s such a thing as the perfect buddy read book
- The satisfaction of correctly predicting a plot twist before your reading partner does
- How a reading buddy can bring fresh insights into themes, characters and plot
- Why buddy reading can enhance and deepen the overall reading experience
- The pure joy of watching a carefully planted mystery unfold and finally click into place
Books we reference in our discussion about buddy reading:
- Homecoming – Kate Morton
- Murder at the White Hart – Chris Chibnall
- Room 706 – Ellie Levenson
- The Warm Hands of Ghosts – Katherine Arden
Current Reads
Hannah is Reading
The Swell – Kat Gordon
Hannah is completely absorbed in this one and admits she can barely put it down. She draws comparisons with the style and atmosphere of Kate Morton’s novels and thinks it would make an excellent buddy read thanks to the layers of mystery and intrigue running through the story. Expect plenty to ponder, including: bodies discovered in the ice, themes of sisterhood and unconditional love and threads of Icelandic myth and legend.
TBR
Seed to Dust – Marc Hamer
This mindful, seasonal piece of non-fiction follows a year in the life of a garden. Hannah will be reading it with her book group and is hoping it offers something a little deeper and more reflective than the now familiar “nature heals everything” narrative.
Nikki is Reading
The Familiar – Leigh Bardugo
Nikki has just finished this historical fantasy and shares her thoughts on its setting in Spain during the Inquisition. She reflects on the rich historical backdrop as well as the carefully constructed magical system within the novel.
We also touch on how important it is for fantasy stories to stick to the rules of their own magic systems so the narrative feels satisfying and believable rather than falling apart by the end.
TBR
She Speaks: What Shakespeare’s Women Might Have Said – Harriet Walter
This imaginative book offers a fresh take on Shakespeare’s female characters. Harriet Walter creates thirty new speeches written in Shakespearean-style verse and prose, exploring what these women might have been thinking in the moments between the lines of the original plays; sometimes playful, sometimes deeply thoughtful.
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days – Jessie Silver
A cosy fantasy featuring a halfling and a goblin forced into close proximity, where cultural misunderstandings and reluctant companionship slowly turn into something more. Nikki is very excited to pick this one up.
Next Read
Next up on our joint reading list:
The Lamb – Lucy Rose
Read along with us!