The best audiobooks to enjoy this Christmas - books podcast

FromThe Guardian Books podcast

Start listening View podcast show

The best audiobooks to enjoy this Christmas - books podcast

FromThe Guardian Books podcast

ratings:

Length:

35 minutes

Released:

Dec 18, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

From La Belle Sauvage to Lincoln in the Bardo, Claire and Sian review the most creative and compelling listening experiences and debate whether audiobooks are ‘cheating’

Released:

Dec 18, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (99)

The Guardian Books podcast is our weekly look at the world of books, presented by Claire Armitstead, Richard Lea and Sian Cain. In-depth interviews with authors from all over the world, discussions and investigations make this the perfect companion for readers and writers alike

Skip carousel

Summer reading and Ross Raisin on how to be a great writer – books podcast: We discuss holiday reading habits and what we’ll be reading this year, and the novelist Ross Raisin explains why he has published a writing guide by The Guardian Books podcast
45 min listen
Eugenia Cheng and Tim Radford on finding solace in science – books podcast: This week, we turn away from the crowds of catastrophist headlines and dystopian fiction and discover hope in the world of science by The Guardian Books podcast
43 min listen
The art of biography, with Diarmaid MacCulloch and Ken Krimstein – books podcast: New Yorker cartoonist Krimstein discusses his pictorial life of Hannah Arendt and we head to the British Library with MacCulloch to learn about Thomas Cromwell by The Guardian Books podcast
47 min listen
Navigating modern life with Matt Haig and Christina Dalcher on feminist dystopias – books podcast: We explore the unhealthy nature of modern life with Haig in Notes on a Nervous Planet, while Dalcher talks about her thriller Vox by The Guardian Books podcast
41 min listen
Michael Ondaatje and the Booker longlist – books podcast: We look at the runners and riders in this year’s Man Booker longlist, and hear from Golden Booker winner Michael Ondaatje at a Guardian Live event by The Guardian Books podcast
33 min listen
Paul Kildea on Chopin and Amy Sackville on Velázquez – books podcast: Paul Kildea explores how Frédéric Chopin wrote his Preludes and what became of them after his death, while Amy Sackville looks at power and PR through the lens of Diego Velázquez by The Guardian Books podcast
39 min listen
Daisy Johnson and Michael Hughes on Classical adaptation - books: We hear from two novelists who have taken inspiration from Greek myth. And the Guardian’s chief culture, writer Charlotte Higgins, discusses all things classical, plus what’s been going on at Edinburgh book festival by The Guardian Books podcast
50 min listen
Anna Burns's Booker prize win and poet Kate Tempest – books podcast: Milkman delivers the 2018 Man Booker prize, while we listen in as a poet discusses the lyric art with her editor by The Guardian Books podcast
46 min listen
Neil Gaiman on Rudyard Kipling's The Gardener – books podcast: Neil Gaiman introduces Rudyard Kipling’s The Gardener, a melancholy tale from 1925, as part of our seasonal series of short stories selected by leading novelists. Afterwards, the story is read by actor Marion Bailey by The Guardian Books podcast
33 min listen
Myth-making with Sarah Perry and Maria Dahvana Headley – books podcast: We talk to The Essex Serpent author Perry about the spine-tingling Melmoth and take Beowulf into the 21st century with Headley’s The Mere Wife by The Guardian Books podcast
48 min listen
Should we stop working? And the books of 2019 – books podcast: On this week’s show, we take a look ahead at the books coming out this year, and speak to Josh Cohen about why we should all slack off a little at work by The Guardian Books podcast
41 min listen
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Ama Ata Aidoo – books podcast: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie shares why she admires the ‘old-fashioned social realism’ of the Ghanaian writer’s No Sweetness Here, then reads the story, as part of our seasonal series of short stories selected by leading novelists by The Guardian Books podcast
46 min listen
Kate Atkinson on her new novel, Transcription – books podcast: We sit down with the one and only Kate Atkinson, author of modern classics including Life After Life and Behind the Scenes at the Museum, to talk about her latest time-bending novel by The Guardian Books podcast
34 min listen
Karl Ove Knausgaard on the end of My Struggle – books podcast: As the final volume of his autobiographical novel arrives in English, the Norwegian literary sensation discusses how the books have changed his life by The Guardian Books podcast
57 min listen
Penelope Lively on MR James' Oh, Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad – books podcast: You’ll never sleep in a twin bedroom again after hearing this classic Edwardian ghost story, selected by Penelope Lively and read by Simon Callow as part of our seasonal series of short stories selected by leading novelists by The Guardian Books podcast
51 min listen
Feminist fairytales with Jessie Burton and Kiran Millwood Hargrave – books podcast: We travel to a faraway land, where brave writers fight deadly stereotypes and discover inspiring new ways to tell old stories by The Guardian Books podcast
36 min listen
Jericho Brown on poetry, religion and race in the US – books podcast: American poet Jericho Brown talks about his latest collection The New Testament by The Guardian Books podcast
35 min listen
Around the world with Simon Reeve and Neil MacGregor – books podcast: The BBC presenter talks about the travels in his memoir Step By Step, and the celebrated curator reflects on the beliefs explored in Living With the Gods by The Guardian Books podcast
59 min listen
Robin Robertson and Andrew McMillan on sex, war and truth in poetry – books podcast: On this week’s show, Robertson talks about his narrative poem The Long Take and McMillan explores adolescent rites of passage in Playtime by The Guardian Books podcast
49 min listen
Marcus du Sautoy and James Bridle – books podcast: We talk about the troubling future of tech with artist and writer James Bridle, and the idea of infinity with Marcus du Sautoy by The Guardian Books podcast
40 min listen
Refugees, in their own words – books podcast: On this week’s show, we walk with a group who are using Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to tell the stories of the displaced, and speak to a publisher who wrote a novel with refugees in a Beirut camp by The Guardian Books podcast
67 min listen
Political writing from Terrance Hayes to the Anglo-Saxons – books podcast: As the midterm elections loom, we welcome a poet whose verse is carved from this divided moment and search for the deep roots of political writing by The Guardian Books podcast
46 min listen
Crime and passion with Sara Paretsky and André Aciman – books podcast: This week, it’s Claire’s birthday so she’s meeting with two of her favourite authors: crime author Paretsky and Call Me By Your Name writer Aciman by The Guardian Books podcast
44 min listen
Sebastian Barry on James Joyce's Eveline – books podcast: Forty years after he first discovered it, Sebastian Barry explains why he loves James Joyce’s short story Eveline, then reads it for you, as part of our seasonal series of short stories selected by leading novelists by The Guardian Books podcast
19 min listen
Jason Reynolds and JD Salinger's posthumous return – books podcast: Jason Reynolds talks about tackling difficult subjects for children, and we discuss the ‘new’ work on the way from the Catcher in the Rye author by The Guardian Books podcast
36 min listen
Costa biography prize winner Bart van Es and Mathias Énard – books podcast: We head back to 16th-century Constantinople with Énard, explore the troubled legacy of the second world war with Van Es and look ahead to the Costa book of the year by The Guardian Books podcast
44 min listen
Our favourite books of the year, and prose poetry with Claudia Rankine – books podcast: On this week’s show, we reveal the books we loved most in 2018 and discuss the future of prose poetry with poets Rankine, Jeremy Noel-Tod and Emily Berry by The Guardian Books podcast
45 min listen
What is it like being Ravenmaster at the Tower of London? – books podcast: We step back in time for a stroll around the Tower of London with Chris Skaife, who looks after the landmark’s ravens; and we sit down with philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah to discuss identity by The Guardian Books podcast
61 min listen
Why is it so hard for white people to talk about racism? – books podcast: On this week’s show, academic Robin DiAngelo talks about her book White Fragility and Margaret Busby reflects on her new collection of black female writers, New Daughters of Africa by The Guardian Books podcast
46 min listen
Zadie Smith on Giuseppe Pontiggia's Umberto Buti – books podcast: Zadie Smith shares why she loves this almost ‘anti-Italian’ story from Giuseppe Pontiggia, then reads the story, as part of our seasonal series of short stories selected by leading novelists by The Guardian Books podcast
26 min listen

More Episodes from The Guardian Books podcast

Skip carousel

Weekend: episode two of a new podcast: In this episode, Marina Hyde looks at the new additions to Downing Street, Hadley Freeman interviews Hollywood actor Will Arnett, Sirin Kale tries her hand at quiz show Mastermind, and David Robson examines why we’re so stressed about stress by The Guardian Books podcast
50 min listen
Weekend: episode one of a new podcast: In our first episode, Marina Hyde reflects on another less than stellar week for Boris Johnson, Edward Helmore charts the rise of Joe Rogan, Laura Snapes goes deep with singer George Ezra, and Alex Moshakis asks, “Are you a jerk at work?” by The Guardian Books podcast
49 min listen
Comfort Eating with Grace Dent: episode one of a new podcast: Have you ever wondered what famous people actually eat? In our new podcast, Guardian restaurant critic Grace Dent does just that, asking well-known guests to lift the lid on the food they turn to when they’re at home alone – and what comfort foods have seen them through their lives. In the first episode, screenwriter Russell T Davies tells Grace about his childhood in Swansea, the delights of Woolworth’s pork and egg pies, and how his husband’s death informed his latest TV series, It’s a Sin. Future guests will include Nish Kumar, Rafe Spall and Aisling Bea. Episodes willl be released every Tuesday – search for it wherever you get your podcasts by The Guardian Books podcast
40 min listen
'Our climate crisis is a choice': Christiana Figueres on why we can change the future - books podcast: On our final episode, the diplomat who spearheaded the Paris Agreement discusses why we should feel optimisitic about our ability to tackle the climate crisis by The Guardian Books podcast
43 min listen
Why David Attenborough is famous but 'he isn't a celebrity' – books podcast: We speak to Horrible Histories consultant and podcaster Greg Jenner about the history of celebrity and share what listeners are reading by The Guardian Books podcast
37 min listen
From diseases to memes, how do things spread? - books podcast: Mathematician Adam Kucharski talks about how the concept of ‘contagion’ is rooted in our social lives and we share your reading tips for lockdown by The Guardian Books podcast
33 min listen
Hunting down the 42 paintings of Pieter Bruegel - books podcast: On this week’s show we talk to Toby Ferris about his pursuit of the Dutch master and look at how the literary world is dealing with the pandemic by The Guardian Books podcast
37 min listen
Glenn Patterson and what to read while self-isolating – books podcast: On this week’s show we talk to the Northern Irish writer about his new novel and discuss how headlines can impact our appetite for certain books by The Guardian Books podcast
38 min listen
Who was St Paul? With Christos Tsiolkas and Tom Holland – books podcast: On this week’s podcast, we talk to Tsiolkas about his novel on the life of St Paul and the historian Holland explains what we know about the man by The Guardian Books podcast
38 min listen
'What if Gandalf joined The Sweeney?': Ben Aaronovitch on Rivers of London – books podcast: On this week’s show, the bestselling fantasy author talks about how he came to invent a magical branch of the Met, and we discuss Hilary Mantel’s new novel The Mirror & The Light by The Guardian Books podcast
33 min listen
Inside the Brontës' fantasy world, and a Booker controversy – books podcast: On this week’s show, we talk to graphic novelist Isabel Greenberg about her comic Glass Town and the 2020 longlist for the International Booker prize by The Guardian Books podcast
36 min listen
The surprising history of astrology – books podcast: Alexander Boxer talks about his book A Scheme of Heaven and we discuss why Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers tried to remove a juror for her reading history by The Guardian Books podcast
30 min listen
Maaza Mengiste on the Ethiopian women who fought Italy – books podcast: The novelist explains how she discovered her family was woven into history, plus the new wave of Ethiopian literature in English by The Guardian Books podcast
32 min listen
Sophie Hannah on the recipe for a perfect crime novel – books podcast: The crime writer joins us to discuss the mechanics of mystery novels, plus Margaret Atwood at the Hay festival in Cartagena by The Guardian Books podcast
35 min listen
Adam Rutherford on how to tackle racist pseudoscience - books podcast: The geneticist explains why science offers no support for prejudice by The Guardian Books podcast
32 min listen
Jonathan Coe and Sara Collins on their Costa-winning novels – books podcast: We welcome not one but two Costa winners, as the victors in the novel and the debut fiction categories join us in the studio by The Guardian Books podcast
39 min listen
Jeanine Cummins on her explosive new novel, American Dirt: The novelist explains her sudden decision to write her controversial thriller, and we hail TS Eliot prize winner Roger Robinson by The Guardian Books podcast
40 min listen
Samantha Harvey on her year without sleep – books podcast: On this week’s show, the novelist explains how she came to write about her insomnia and we consider why indie bookshops are booming in the UK and Ireland by The Guardian Books podcast
38 min listen
Eoin Colfer on returning to Artemis Fowl – books podcast: This week, the creator of the biggest child villain in literature talks about comedy writing and seeing his creation adapted by Disney by The Guardian Books podcast
32 min listen
Our favourite books of 2019, and the most exciting books of 2020 – books podcast: Priya Basil talks about the dynamics of the dinner table and her book Be My Guest, and we chat about the best books of the year by The Guardian Books podcast
37 min listen
Ben Lerner and Meena Kandasamy on autofiction – books podcast: Ben Lerner and Meena Kandasamy talk about drawing on their most embarrassing and vulnerable moments to write fiction by The Guardian Books podcast
37 min listen
Escaping Westboro Baptist Church: Megan Phelps-Roper's journey – books podcast: A former member recalls growing up in ‘America’s most hated family’ and Claire McGlasson explains why we’re fascinated by cults by The Guardian Books podcast
40 min listen
When imagining our future, what can sci-fi teach us? – books podcast: On this week’s show, we talk to Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, the two authors who published as James SA Corey and the space opera The Expanse by The Guardian Books podcast
39 min listen
Elizabeth Strout on the return of Olive Kitteridge – books podcast: On this week’s show, the Pulitzer prize winning novelist talks about the return of her wonderfully difficult character in Olive, Again by The Guardian Books podcast
27 min listen
How true does travel writing need to be? With Rory MacLean and Luke Harding – books podcast: Rory MacLean and Luke Harding talk about the challenges of writing about Russia, the subjectivity of experience and getting high on ‘Putin’s Pecker’ by The Guardian Books podcast
41 min listen
'The past is amongst us. Taking notes': nature writing with Kathleen Jamie and Laurie Lee – books podcast: On this week’s show, Jamie talks about her new essay collection Surfacing and we hear a rare recording of the Cider with Rosie author by The Guardian Books podcast
30 min listen
'Mexico's drug problem is America's': crime legend Don Winslow – books podcast: On this week’s show, the US novelist talks about Donald Trump’s border policy and the personal toll of researching those left behind by the cartels by The Guardian Books podcast
35 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Beverly Hell's Angels Ep. 28 - Live in Minneapolis at the Cedar Cultural Center by Sexy Unique Podcast
102 min listen
Episode 40 - with Damian Bellino by Andy's Girls: A Real Housewives Podcast
64 min listen
WRITER 440: Meet Kyle Perry, author of 'The Deep'. by So You Want to be a Writer
62 min listen
TEASER: Always Choose the Shitters by Sexy Unique Podcast
3 min listen
Tales to Terrify 449 Kev Harrison: Welcome to Episode 449. This week we travel to Calgary, Alberta for a pint or two at the pub. For fiction, we have one tale about an expedition who discovers that greed is a gateway to even deeper evils. Coming Up Good Evening: Submissions, Reviews, ... by Tales to Terrify
63 min listen
Getting Through It in Palm Springs by Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley & Tanya Rad
73 min listen
Ep229 Kink Crimes: This week, the gals get frisky discussing the world of alternative sexual proclivities. Topics include some suspiciously clean hotel carpet, one very dark double life, and why you might never think of giants the same way again. Open a fresh bottle of ... by Wine & Crime
124 min listen
Escape Pod 696: The Homunculi’s Guide to Resurrecting Your Loved One From Their Electronic Ghosts: Author : Kara Lee Narrator : Katherine Inskip Host : S.B. Divya Audio Producer : Summer Brooks Discuss on Forums Escape Pod 696: The Homunculi’s Guide to Resurrecting Your Loved One From Their Electronic Ghosts is an Escape Pod original. by Escape Pod
26 min listen
Laverne and Shirley Move In by Night After Night
30 min listen
#49: Parker's Back: On this episode of Close Reads, Angelina, Tim, and David continue their conversation on Flannery O'Connor's collection of stories, Everything That Rises Must Converge, with "Parker's Back". Topics include: The differences between... by Close Reads
75 min listen
29: 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People Episode 28: On the latest ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast I’m joined by Elizabeth Davies from Harbour 60 and ED Wine Company. A super fun interview where we share blind wine tasting horror stories, her journey from being a dish washer at ... by Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People
54 min listen
Geek Shock #431 - Amazon-Yutani: This week we leverage the geek and drive up the debt as we talk about The Leprechaun (The Last Dayshire) by Addy Ambler, The injustice of the Toys R Us debacle, Saint Row 4, Warhammer 40k, Axiom Verge, The OTHER Leprechaun, Corporate Pursuit, D&D has a b... by Geek Shock
95 min listen
? FFM Dressing Room Rendezvous Hookup Part 2 by Oh F*ck Yeah with Ruan Willow
50 min listen
We’ve Got Skills • EP402 by Drama Queens
60 min listen
3. Rodeo, a Rager, and a Real Friend by The Royals of Malibu
30 min listen
The Matriarchs of Moozadell Ep. 21 - So Many Cabinets by Sexy Unique Podcast
72 min listen
208: Lock It Down!: It sure has been an eventful year, so here is our episode filled with facts and quizzes surrounding lockdown life. Love a good inventions quiz? Then we invite you to play a round of "War, Plague, or Depression!" Chris misses karaoke and shares its... by Good Job, Brain!
70 min listen
SERWA BOATENG'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT AND MAYHEM by Roseanne A. Brown, read by Soneela Nankani: A monstrous and magical fantasy by Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine
8 min listen
Episode 249 - with Erica Cobb by Andy's Girls: A Real Housewives Podcast
114 min listen
Just As I Thought…Trash (Episode 162) by Para(normal)
24 min listen
Episode 71 - with Alison Leiby by Andy's Girls: A Real Housewives Podcast
66 min listen
Jack the Ripper recs, dog interruptions, and living in a library!: Another quarantine round table of book recommendations by Professional Book Nerds
40 min listen
Caelynn’s Corner: Bachelor Obsessions by SUCKERS with Caelynn Bell, Dean Bell, and Jared Haibon
21 min listen
Episode 31: Teen Killers Club + Reading List #8 by It's A Clue
86 min listen
The Demon of the Belfry by Bay Curious
21 min listen
96- ADVENTURES WITH BIG DAVE by Poor Lil Thing
62 min listen
The Spirits Of Wine Country by Darkness Radio
108 min listen
Ep 344 - Varmints & Marmots - Books by Nonbinary Authors: Brea and Mallory tick off a box on the 2024 Reading Glasses Challlenge - read a book by a nonbinary author! Plus, a test of a multipage bookmark, and advice on recommending older books. by Reading Glasses
47 min listen
Shadow and Bone TV Show: Join us this week as LB, AK, Alli, and Jacklyn discuss the Netflix adaptation of Shadow and Bone. We hard core simp over Ben Barnes, discuss predictions for the season two, and chat about the infamous New Girl kiss scene. Instagram: The.Bibliovert.Podcast YouTube: The Bibliovert Website: Bibliovert.com Books Mentioned: -Isn’t It Bromantic - Lyssa Kay Adams -Bromance Book Club - Lyssa Kay Adams -Beach Read - Emily Henry -People We Meet on Vacation - Emily Henry -The Hating Game - Sally Thorne -The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren -My Favorite Half Night Stand - Christina Lauren -Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating - Christina Lauren -Bridgerton - Julia Quinn -The Kiss Quotient - Helen Hoang -The Bride Test - Helen Hoang -The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V. E. Schwab -The Zodiac Academy - Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti -Rhapsodic - Laura Thalassa -Twilight - Marissa Meyer by The Bibliovert Podcast
63 min listen
Bayou Dragons Podcast Ep. 23 (Deer Camp Chronicles) by Bayou Dragons Podcast
78 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

The best audiobooks to enjoy this Christmas - books podcast

The best audiobooks to enjoy this Christmas - books podcast

Description

Titles in the series (99)

More Episodes from The Guardian Books podcast

Related podcast episodes