Reading for Attention

Well, well, well, if it isn't us us us and if we aren't reading Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. As a special Hallowe'en treat, we finally managed (a month ago) to record an ep especially for you you you. Join us as we dive into the wonderfully weird world of video games and, more importantly, their creators. Zevin has really pulled it out ze bag for this one. Also, Paul has the meat sweats from 8 courses of Greek food, and Sarah barely mentions the weather, so it's business as usual in the Reading for Attention studio (our flats), and isn't that just music to your gorgeous little lugs? Anyway, love you. We'll be back soon with our correct opinions on Eliza Clark's hotly anticipated SOPHMORE novel, Penance. Spooky songs and haunted hugs

Guess what - we've finally bothered to record a pod! Aren't we just SO great? We're back with bang, talking about Monica Heisey's Really Good, Actually, and washing it down with a Chardonnay which is usually minging but every once in a while you find one that's really good, actually. Aside from that, we catch up with international travel maven, Sarah Jane Hopkins who has just returned from Mehico where she had a sexy run-in with the cartel. Fabulous. Paul then reads aloud from his mam's food diary which will one day win a Pulitzer prize. To be honest, we're not sure how it hasn't already.It's good to be back, babies. MWAH x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First things first! Paul, I'm sorry I haven't recorded a new intro yet. It's on the TDL babes. Second things second! We're both really sorry about the sound qual of this one. It's poor. It's only cos we get too excited and start deepthroating our microphones, which we're sure you'll understand, and would do too if you were one half of an internationally famous, publicly, privately, and critically acclaimed podcast. OK. This week we have read Madeline Miller's ancient (soz, 'new releases' now means anything from the last quarter-century obvy) retelling of an ancient myth, The Song of Achilles. If you haven't read this one, get ya tissues ready. It's a real t-jerker, and a total sole flasher. We wash it down with stories of gorgeous, gorgeous Benidorm and fond memories of small circles of bread with faux-prawns pasted atop. Oh, and a bloody mary. We've missed you! Have you missed us? Of course you have. But fear not, once all the excitement around the biggest date in the Gregorian/Lunar/Julian/Mayan/etc. etc. calendar has dissipated in a big puff of multicoloured glitter (Eurovish, duh), we'll be BACK with a brand new ep where we say really intelligent things about Monica Heisey's Really Good, Actually. Until then, though, big snugs and snogs xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well folx, hold on to your tits because this one is chaos. This week we're chatting about Yara Rodrigues Fowler's Stubborn Archivist, a form-bending piece of autofiction perfy for all you millennial minxes. Sarah didn't like it but Paul did so Sarah likes it now, and we're both certain that you'll love it. Then we talk about tits, kidneys (lack of), Succession (no spoilers though, we aren't dickheads) and, most excitingly, Sarah's foray back into Death Valley/meeting men on Hinge. It might be hot, but it's incredibly dry. We'll be back soonish from Benidorm and the pub, with our take on Madeleine Miller's Song of Achilles. You'd be a bimbo to miss it!Love you more than Paul hates culture!!!!!!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're baaaack! Hiya hunnies, welcome home. The first ep of season 4 is all about Emily Henry's bestselling stunner of a book Book Lovers. It has all the ingredients for a gorgeous flirty summer read - a sexy, high-achieving, powerful woman, a sexy, high-achieving, powerful man (in a suit), and... well, does the rest even matter? Get it READ! Then we talk about what seems like litchurally everything that ever happened on planet earth. We cover icks, Paul's work pal Tyler, horror films, Tyler, Guantanamo bay, Tyler, Gran Canaria, Tyler, passive aggressive work emails and, that's right, Tyler. We hope you enjoy, we really do. But mostly we just hope you've missed us as much as we've missed you. Love you! Sloppy snogs! Tickly titty tweaks! Mwah! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well hunnies, it's the season/series/season three finale and we have truly saved the best till last. We're treating your lugs to our musings on Keira Andrews' Kidnapped By The Pirate, a swashbuckling tale of romance, shagging and umbilical cords. Since Christmas is but a distant memory, we've ditched the mulled wine for whatever drink we could find in our cupboards + rum. You can also hear us natter about our New Year's Resolutions - which are aplenty - and our intense emotional response to the best television show of all time (bar none): THE TRAITORS.We love and adore you and we'll see you soon for series four xxxxxxxxP.S. We're the 25th most popular comedy podcast in Senegal so we're basically made it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello gorgies! Today, we're talking about why Jennette McCurdy is glad her mom (mam) died. This is a harrowing story of years-long maternal abuse but our Jen tells it with wit and charm. Saz didn't think she was a fan but by the end of the ep she sort of changes her mind? It's a goodun if you ask me (Paul) so have yourself a merry little read. I'd recommend an accompanying cosmopolitan. And if you don't have Cointreau, do a Sarah and pop in one segment of an easy peeler.We go on to talk about how strongly we felt emotions as kids (and adults). Sarah had to take a day off school after the tragic (but quite funny) demise of Flower the meerkat, and Paul missed a family trip because Mary Pierce tore her ACL and he cried so much it made him sick. I don't know why I'm talking about myself in the third person.See you next week for a SHEKSHY pirate who kidnaps a young man and has his booty. Adore you xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why hello Jane! We're back and better(ish) than ever! We've read the 2022 BOOKER PRIZE WINNER this week, Shehan Karunatilaka's The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. And, wow, do we have a lot of thoughts on it. Espesh Saz. We wash* it down with a 7&7 OC style baybay. Delish. Then we chat our usual swivel, and my god aren't you happy to hear it? We cover ear infections, BLACKPINK, Aftersun, Aftersun, Charlotte, work Christmas parties, Serena William - THE YOOZJH. LOVE YOU, YOU NAUGHTY LITTLE ELVES. (Petition for elf bar to do a Christmas range? Sorry, that's genius. They're litchurally already halfway there with the name alone.) We promise to be here next week. In the meantime, pay us a compliment on insta @readingforattention. We're feeling needy.*Sarah took a method approach and, like Ryan Attwood, doesn't have a 7&7. Him because he was under 21, her because she's her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hiya huns! Apols not apols for the late upload, we're busy live laugh loving (TM) our way through Autumn and we think you should be too (but, let us accompany you on your hunventures). This week we read/glanced at Hunsnet's sensash The Hundamental Guide to Life and, let us tell you, if you are a hun-in-training or fully-fledged Hun royalty, you're going to want to wrap your eyes around this crucial/necessary/important piece of literature. The second we've finished this glass of prosex we're going to start a petition.gov.uk to get it added to the canon. We chat some absolute swivel, but that's what you've come to expect by now isn't it, you gorgeous little sows, including reminiscing about our night on the Toon for Paulie's 21st and Sarah's gorgeous hallowe'en soiree where the theme was Catching Covid-19. Catchye next week, where we're back to bizniz as extremely well-regarded critics (of everything). Mwah mwah mwah xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ATTENTION ALL ATTENTION SEEKERS - WE HAVE A GUEST. This week we are reading The Enhancers, the debut novel by Anne K Yoder. But we're not just chatting about it, we're interviewing the author herself! Tune in to hear all about Anne's other life as a pharmacist and how it influenced this dystopian tale set in the fictional near-future town of Lumena Hills. We had a gorgeous chinwag over a Chlorophreeze G&T (Anne's recommendation).After we've come back down to Earth, we talk about Kim K (again, we know) and her disastrous attempt to explain away her tone-deaf Variety Magazine comments. To be fair though, I reckon you should all get off your f**** asses and work.LOVE YOU ALL xxxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back from our one week hiatus and Sarah is now fully recovered from her hangover. This week we're reading Raven Smith's Men and having two pints of lager and a packet of crisps like the blokes we are. Stunning. There's also a highly exclusive, incredibly elusive tale from Sarah's weekend involving an Academy and Grammy award-winning actress, but if you want to find out more, you'll have to email in hehe. We also have an exciting announcement about next week's ep. CHOON IN to find out what it is. Mwah mwah xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonjour hunnés. This week we're reading Piranesi by Susannah Clarke. Piranesi, the poor lad, is stuck in an endless labyrinth of rooms and statues with no knowledge of the outside world. To be fair, he seems pretty content about it, until he starts uncovering the truth. To drink, we've got a mystical creation, and Paul is smug about his.We counterbalance the (vaguely) academic chat with our absolute bread and butter – The Kardashians and Molly Mae. If you haven't heard, Molly Mae is with child, which is the most entertaining and confusing news of the year.We hope you enjoy (and we know you will because we're class) xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, speshes, we're chattin' Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley. Leila is the youngest EVER nominee for the Booker Prize aka a massive show off. Nightcrawling is challenging, heart wrenching and bloody brilliant. Afterwards, to lighten the mood, Sarah and Paul recommend some good horror films then go on to discuss the funniest film moments of all time - objectively.See ya next week chickies xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're discussing Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados. And it's happy hour, so we're drinking an espresso martini with a prosecco chaser. Isa and Gala flit around New York without a care in the world, except the next time they're going to get their hands on a French martini. This book is light-hearted, hilarious and gives Paul extreme anxiety.Next, it's into the good stuff - Selling the OC and a full rundown of the Harry Styles/Olivia Wilde/Florence Pugh dramz. You don't want to miss this one hunnies. Kisses xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, friends and enemies, we've read Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. Emira babysits for a posh white woman who thinks she's woke AF. She has a white boyfriend who thinks he's woke AF. But the woker they reckon they are, the more problematic it all feels. All Emira wants is to make a bit of money and spend some time with Briar, her favourite (strangely advanced) little baby child. We discuss this one with SUCH a fun drink - Skittles voddy of course! After, we weigh up the pros and cons of interviewing authors on the pod (because we're in extremely high demand) and then think about what we'd say to our younger selves. Big snuggles xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's series 3 baby! We. Are. Back. And we're funnier, cleverer and FITTER than ever before. Join us for another rip-roaring hour of prestige podcast chat. To kick off the series, we're reading Gay Bar by Jeremy Atherton Lin, which interrogates the institution of (you guessed it) the gay bar. This book is sexy, it's naughty, it's educational, and for Paul and Sarah it's oh so nostalgic. We wash the filthy anecdotes down with a stunning voddy coke.Paul then delivers a heartfelt speech to Serena Williams who is ‘evolving away' from professional tennis after the US Open. Sob. We also catch up about our summer jollyhollydays – Paul went island hopping around the Canaries and Sarah visited lots of important museums in Beefa.We're so glad to be pouring back into your external auditory meatuses (I googled a fancy word for ear canal). Love yaz xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attention Seekers, we have come to the end of series 2. I hope you've all booked in weekly therapy sessions over the summer to cope with the planet-sized chasm we are going to leave in your lives. In this eppy, we talk tit licking, holiday reading, and our top 3 books of the series. Why not test your Paul/Sarah fandom by guessing along?! We are going to miss you hunnies but fear not - we'll be back in late August and in the meantime, you can always dm us on Instagram @readingforattention or email us at readingforattention@gmail.com. Love you forever. Thanks for listening xxxxPS. Sorry this is late, but I am so so hungover so I'm mostly sorry for myself ok xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi Girlies,Well, the season finale is upon us!* And what better way to end a fabulous sophomore spree than recounting the delicious nuggets of filtered but otherwise completely unedited wisdom bestowed upon us by the Queen of Instagram - Molly-Mae Hague. That's right followers friends, we've read (and LOVED) the Love Island break-out star's memoir. Jam-packed with 23 whole years of... stuff... this truly is a gorgeous and hilarious read. Read it too if you want to learn about Instagram, Ellie Bellie, pooing while your boyfriend's in the bath, Instagram, hard work, and the wonder that is Instagram.Then we talk about alcohol. Obvs.Instasnoggies xxx*Not technically, as we'll be doing and end of SZN roundup in next week's ep, but it just felt more dramatic this way, y'know? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hiya gorgeous baby cakeys!This week we've had a good old read of the mega CATCHY Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Polish literary sensash Olga Tokarczuk. Don't let the title put you off because despite all the murders and the bleak pontifications on animals not being as important as humanz, and the stuff about stars, this is actually a really funny and rather cosy read. Think The Thursday Murder Club but set in Poland and better.We chat about some other stuff, but frankly darlings, that was a while ago now (11AM on Thursday) and I can't remember a single word of it. But you know what that means don't you? It was utter shite and thus utter MAGIC.Tune in next week for Pulitzer/Man Booker/Nobel Literature AND Peace Prize-winning Molly-Mae Hague's debut, Becoming Molly-Mae. What a fabulous name for a memoir?! I bet she was the First Lady ever to think of that!)Love you loads, sleep well, think of us often, and whatever you do, DON'T MENTION SERENA'S WIMBLEDON KNOCK OUT. Soggy-crotch smooches xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So apparently everyone is talking about No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. Except us. Well, now we bloody well are. This is the story of a woman who lives her life inside the portal. In other words, she's in a perpetual world of YouTube holes, Tiktok swiping and Instagram doomscrolling. I can't relate, myself. We wash this one down with a DELICIOUS, fan-recommended gin basil smash - *chef's kiss*.Other things we go on about: Hay fever (for probably too long so sorry about that), Serena Williams, the origin of the word ‘meme' and just loads more fabulous stuff, y'know?Big smackaroos xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Reading for Attention, we journey north to Sri Lanka for A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam. Krishan receives a phone call to let him know his grandmother's carer has been found dead at the bottom of a well. Krishan travels from New Delhi to attend the funeral, contemplating life along the way. Sarah set us the impossible task of a crafting Sri Lankan cocktail this week and, shockingly, we both failed although Sarah failed more than Paul (as usual).Afterwards, it's Love Isand, the Rebel Wilson drama and yet another STUNNING email - this time with both a book AND a drink recommendation.Love yaz bbys xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morning Attention Seekers. This week's ep is Jennifer Egan's The Candy House. Sazza's been waiting 11 years for this Goon Squad follow up and BY GEORGE is she excited about it. Paul on the other hand... not so much.We're washing this one down with a nostalgia-tastic Dip Dab-tini (with slight modifications because it was much harder to get our hands on a Dip Dab than we imagined). Also in this eppy: Sazza in Lisboa, Platty Joobs and a whoooole lotta fish.Sherbet kisses xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah is in Lisbon which means we haven't had a chance to record this week. But fear not! We're treating you to an extra speshy bonus eppy where we talk about our fave childhood books and how they helped us become the absolute stunners we are today.We're not going to reveal what they are because we want you to listen (duh). In this eppy, we say the word 'vivid' a lot. Every memory is vivid AF.No excuse not to listen this ep hunnies. No excuse not to listen to every ep to be fair #onlylosersdontlistenPortuguese snogs xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Destransition, Baby is this week's book and it was recommended by one thousand (three) fans. Meet Reese, Ames and Katrina, a trans woman, a trans woman who has detransitioned, and a cis woman, respectively. Katrina finds herself pregnant by Ames even though Ames thought he was sterile due to hormone treatment. Reese is desperate to be a mother. Can they all be parents to the same baby? Fresh, sharp and witty, this is an absolute stunner of a novel. After that, we talk 1998 DreamWorks film, Antz, yellow crazy ants, and Sarah's ant infestation. It's a very ants-heavy episode tbqhwy. Enjoy us in your ears babygurls xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's eppylicious is all about two things: The Audacity (Katherine Ryan's hilarious memoir) and Eurovision (the single most important event in the global calendar). We marvel over Katherine Ryan's effortless wit, charm and unapologeticness (Sarah says 'unapologetically' approx. 95 times) while drinking a beautiful glass of Porta (which Paul mispronounces as Porto).Then it's onto Eurovision. Now, we don't want to be dramatic but Eurovision is better than sex, food, holidays and Jesus put together. It's more unifying than the Paris Peace Treaties and more fabulous than that time Naomi Cambell wore a couture gown to do community service. We love Eurovision.Enjoy loads chicas xxx  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's epster, we discuss Margaret Atwood's latest short story, My Evil Mother. Y'know why? Because it's dead short. But y'know what? It was dead good. Afterwards, we talk about our dream meals. Not like we've stolen the format from another famous poddy or anything. LOL. Adore you all x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's eppy brings you our Nobel prize-worthy thoughts on Douglas Stuart's second novel, Young Mungo. Set in the East end of Glasgae - Scottish for Glasgow for those who aren't in the know - this beautiful/heartbreaking/stunning/tearjerking novel is all about what it means to be stuck within the confines of a repressive existence. We implore you to read this book and if you don't it means you've not led a full life so there. And trust us, the only bevvie to slosh it down ya neck with is an inordinately strong voddy with Irn Bru.After Mungo, it's briefly back to Selling Sunset (turns out Sarah was right about witnessing Chrishell and Jason's demise) before we both decide to call our mums/mams like the zany wacky podcasters you know and love.Naked cuddles x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's ep of Reading For Attention, we are thouroughly bewildered by Richard Powers' latest offering - a Booker-shortlisted novel about fatherly love, science and a knock-off Greta Thunberg. There's a chance we're also bewildered from drinking bootleg Long Island Iced Tea containing five shots of random spirits we found in our cupboards.After our intellectual discussion about climate change and neurofeedback, we move onto the far more important issue of Selling Sunset. Sarah hasn't started season 5 yet so Paul gives a crucial update on our favourite fit estate agents. Sarah also tells us about an embarrassing club incident involving a bright light and her bum.We hope you enjoy this ep as much as Christine Quinn enjoys being an absolute twat x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's eppy, we're talking about Raven Leiliani's millenial debut, Luster. We follow Edie (who knew?), a black woman in her early twenties who gets involved in a love triangle with a fortysomething white man in an open-ish marriage. Bizarre. We wash the story down with a Love and Lust cocktail, and Paul substitutes the watermelon for pomegranate juice in solidarity with Sarah and her attention-seeking allergies. Sarah of course deviates from the recipe as usual, leaving Paul with a hole in his pocket (to the tune of FOUR POUNDS AND TWENTY PENCE). But it's ok because the sun is shining and Michael is making Wednesday night margz. We then talk about Paul accidentally flicking a spider onto a commuting business man, the cultural validity of practical jokes, and the perplexing species of 'the heterosexual man'. We hope you very much enjoy, and that you express that joy financially. (By giving us money, if that wasn't clear.)Big French snoggies x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's eppy, it's Bernardine Evaristo's Manifesto On Never Bloody Well Giving Up. After winning the Booker Prize in 2019 for her triumphant novel, Girl Woman Other, our Bernadine became an overnight success. But Manifesto stories the 40 plus years of slogging it took to make that happen. Get ready for her work ethic to make you feel like a lazy shite. We pair Manifesto with a gorgeous (and politically correct) skinny bitch cos ya can't go wrong with a skinny bitch.You'll then get to hear us bang on about the Edinburgh weekend that FINALLY HAPPENED and you'll love it because we talk about all our friends who you've never met and don't care about. Hope you're all having a mortal bank holiday weekend, babies.Smoochez x     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi hunnies. It's Sarah and Paul. How have you been coping without us? We presume life hasn't been nearly the same since our sensual tones left your hairy ear canals. But you're in luck because Reading for Attention is BACK.In the sensational launch eppy of series two (which is nothing short of a masterpiece and that's a fact fact fact) we start off with a big ol' catch up. Paul updates us on his Yank honeymoon, Sarah fills us in on Scottish life and we both try to make sense of Kanye West.THEN we move onto fan-recommended Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez. It's themes include but are not limited to: race, London, Windrush, drugs, Jehovah's Witnesses, queerness, 90s R'n'B, family estrangement and lots and lots of SEX. Stunnin'.Strap in bitchez cos we're about to get even more internationally famous.Lots of snugs and humps xxxxxxP.S. We're both extremely coughy and sneezy in this ep so apologies for that.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well hunnies, this is it. Big fat hankies at the ready because series one of Reading for Attention has come to an end. We encourage you to take a couple of days off work to deal with the trauma. The final eppy is all about Sarah and Paul's top 3 books of the series, tales from Sazzy's birthday and Paul's upcoming trip to the US of A, the main goal of which is to stalk as many Real Housewives as poss. Thank you for being our fans - we love and fantasise about you daily. Join us for series 2 on April 8th, and make sure you've read Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez. Our Paul read half of it on the plane to Vegas Baby and can confirm it's fabulous. All the biggest kissy cheeks and nippy tweaks xxxxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's ep, Old Dickie Osmo is back with The Man Who Died Twice, sequel to The Thursday Murder Club. The same gang of gerries are back to investigating murders but this time, the stakes are high AF. We're talking diamonds worth 20 mill, mafia drug lords and bodies piling up like nobody's bloody business. Sarah and Paul chat about Dickie's growth as a writer (and his massive flipper feet) over a good old Tommy Coll.Also discussed: Sarah's birthday (it's today if you're a true fan and listening on the release date), the etymology of the phrase ‘out of the blue', Paul's self-imposed pre-USA lockdown, and Katie Price's striking new look.Share with your friends and also give us money.Adore you all individually xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Reading for Attention, Sarah and Paul yammer on about Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by the undisputed millennial GOAT, Michaela Coel. Adapted from her 2018 MacTaggart Lecture, Coel champions ‘misfits' everywhere, shedding light on racism in the TV industry. She weaves in tales of growing up in East London, and her journey to becoming an absolute living legend. P & S force down a disgustingly curdly cola coffee concoction as they marvel at Michaela's magic.But before all that, and way more importantly, the internationally famous podcasters read aloud a gushing email from an adoring fan whose life has infinitely improved since being able to pour Paul and Sarah's sweet sweet musings into her ears every week. God that was a long sentence.This fan also gave them fifteen quid so Paul and Sarah are OFFICIALLY professional podcasters now.   Sloppy tongue smooches xxx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 16 of Reading for Attention, Paul and Sarah burst with nostalgia reading Jason June's YA debut, Jay's Gay Agenda. Jay lives in a boring, straight town somewhere in America. He's never met a gay person and has certainly never seen a peen (other than his own, obv). But when his family relocates to Seattle, Jay becomes the horny teenager he's always dreamed of being. Sex-positive and fraught with beautiful adolescent self-involvement, this YA romp is right up S & P's street.After wrapping up the Jay's Gay Agenda convo, the international podcast stars quiz each other on their celebrity crushes, nine-year-old Sarah's Orlando Bloom talisman, and the night Paul snogged so many boys his face turned green. Bring back serial snogging.Lurrrrv yaz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 15 of Reading for Attention, Pazzy n Sazzy jump into Zaina Arafat's debut novel, You Exist Too Much. The unnamed Palestinian-American narrator can't escape the liminal spaces of her complex existence, and is desperate to find a home that makes sense of her sexuality and heritage at the same time.S&P neck a cardamon (cardamom?) cosmopolitan as they yap on about this one. New York meets the Middle East.They then talk about Big Suzie G's long-awaited report, sexy robots (shoutout to Klara!) and next week's book, Jay's Gay Agenda – the first YA novel of the podcast.Happy LGBTQ+ History month you absolute huns x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Reading for Attention, Sarah and Paul dive into The Thursday Murder Club, the record-breaking debut novel by Richard Osman aka Paul's close personal friend. Meet Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Roy, residents of the luxurious Cooper's Chase retirement village in Kent. The core four get together every Thursday (duh) to solve cold cases using expertise from their former careers. Things get mega exciting when someone is murdered on their doorstep and the gang are keen to stay one step ahead of the police.Paul reveals how he became besties with Big Dickie O, then reminisces about cocktail parties he used to run in an East London care home where Sarah was a frequent attendee (as a party guest, not a resident). Sarah then tells an embarrassing story about a recent flat inspection, and Paul has a go at stealing the attention with a shameful tale of his own.Huge snogs x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode thirteen of Reading for Attention, Saz and Paz take on Amia Srinivasan's collection of essays, The Right to Sex: Feminism in the 21st Century, which cover a range of topics including porn, not sleeping with students, incel culture and how sex must be deemed an inherently political act. Don't worry though - they balance all that superficial stuff out with a heavy dose of Love Island chat and a delicious Earl Grey martini.Next, it's onto the important stuff - season two of Cheer, and disappointment in their parents for not forcing them to pursue a career in tumbling and/or basket tossing when they were bairns. Imagine the abs they'd have now for crying out loud. This pod poses all of the important questions: Does anyone actually have the right to sex? And if Sarah and Paul were both on Navarro's Cheer team, who would be top girl and get all the attention?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 12 of Reading for Attention, Saz and Paz (new nicknames they're trying out) are glugging Big Tom Bloody Marys after a wine-drenched weekend together in Kent. They can't help but wallow in the (slightly later than usual) onset of the January blues but it's ok because they then get to wax lyrical over Eliza Clark's twisted, pitch-black comedy, Boy Parts. It's set in the toon so Paul can't get enough. Irina is a sociopathic, abusive, privileged knobhead who treats everyone around her like shit. So why the hell are Sarah and Paul desperate for her attention? After gushing over the book to an uncomfortable degree, they briefly talk about all of the joyous news that emerged in the media this week; Novax Djokovid, Bozza J and his perfectly legal lockdown soirées - what more could you want in the pit of Jan when you've got no money and your New Year's resolutions are down the netty?Huge love hunnis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of 2022, Paul and Sarah discuss their first ever fan-recommended book, Absorbed by Kylie Whitehead. This genre-bending tale is darkly comic, mega millennial and all-round weird AF. The protagonist literally absorbs her boyfriend so he can't leave her - very Paul and Saz vibes. Other topics the huns ramble on about in this ep: Lindsay Lohan, catastrophic New Year's resolution fails and putting toddlers in the oven for attention. Y'know, the yoozh (short for usual).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's super speshy New Year's Eve eppy, Paul and Sarah haven't even read a book (and they are buzzing about it). Instead, they talk about their favourite 2021 moments, from Ukrainian bangers to Kim Kardashian serving Met Gala dementor chic. But most importantly, they reminisce about the moments that earned them their biggest dollop of that gorgeous gorgeous attention. See you in the New Year huns! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Christmas Special episode of Reading for Attention is here! This week, Paul and Sarah snuggle up with a toasty mug of mulled wine and a hunky lumberjack-cum-Santa (pun absolutely intended). Keira Andrews leaves readers tingly in the nether regions and definitely on the naughty list with her tale of Hunter and Nick, an unlikely pair who find themselves snowed in and together on Nick's Christmas Tree farm. Now everyone knows the fastest way to warm up is to strip off, and Nick and Hunter waste no time in doing just that.The pair then discuss their festive traditions, and come up with a plan for how Saz should spend her first Christmas alone now she's been struck down by the Omicron. Anything for attention, eh? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 8 of Reading for Attention, Paul and Sarah make their first foray into the world of non-fiction, chatting about Shon Faye's The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice. While most people spent their lockdowns making shit banana bread and crying, Shon Faye penned a Sunday Times bestseller which explores transgender liberation in the UK. The Transgender Issue is as urgent as it is accessible and Paul and Sazza bloody love it, getting so deep in convo they forget to drink their Filthy Dirty Martinis (for about five minutes).Later, Sarah and Paul revel in the glory of their first fan mail before sharing their enormously advanced political views, like which politician they'd allow to clasp their buttock if they absolutely had to choose. Finally they get (too) excited about next week's naughty Christmas spesh. Enjoy huns! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 7 of Reading for Attention, Paul and Sarah discuss Damon Galgut's The Promise, winner of the 2021 Man Booker Prize. The novel follows the Swarts family through four decades, beginning in 1986, and maps the trickle-down effects of societal and cultural changes in South Africa. Galgut packs a helluva lot into this family saga including death, racism, dark humour and an unexpected line about a fart. Get ready for Sarah to gush over this one - hooray, she finally likes one of the books!Later, Paul and Sarah play Mr and Mrs (who do they think they are, Vernon Kay and Tess Daly?) whilst glugging the world's most alcoholic glass of milk. They debate who's the best looking, who drinks the most and, the toughest question of all, who's the funniest? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 6 of Reading for Attention, Paul and Sarah discuss Zakiya Dalila Harris's hotly anticipated debut novel, The Other Black Girl. Nella is the only black employee at the esteemed publishing house, Wagner Books. A young and ambitious assistant editor, she endures daily racist microaggressions from her white colleagues. When Hazel - another black woman - joins the company, Nella is thrilled. Hazel might just been the ally and confidante Nella needs to move up the ranks and move stuffy Wagner Books into the 21st century.Then things take a chilling turn. Widely marketed as Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada, Paul and Sarah decide to glug down a few Spicy 50s – a cocktail that lulls you in with sweet overtones, then delivers a powerful kick. And a spicy rim. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Reading for Attention, Paul and Sarah ramble on about Matt Haig's 2020 smash hit, The Midnight Library, which captured the world's collective heart, selling 2 million copies in less than a year. Join Nora Seed in The Midnight Library, a magical realm betwixt life and death where it is possible to undo all the regrets you want. This would be helpful for Paul and Sarah who have bloody loads of regrets. (Well, Paul does.)Now, what drink pairs beautifully with a book about regret? That's easy: Death in the Afternoon, a potent blend of champagne (prosecco, obv) and 70% absinthe. Ernest Hemingway invented it, so it's got to be classy and delicious, right? When Sarah and Paul are suitably mortal, listen to them recall embarrassing stories from their respective youths, kept secret for decades. Until now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Reading for Attention, Paul and Sarah dive into the mobster-ruled world of Harlem in the late 1950s. Colson Whitehead's eighth novel, Harlem Shuffle, is a story divided into three parts, woven together through deliciously detailed settings, complex characters, and sociopolitical issues that still bear true almost seventy years later. Despite the heavy themes, Paul and Sarah decided to wash this one down with The Harlem, a delightfully fruity cocktail of gin, pineapple juice and maraschino liqueur. Well, that's what it's supposed to be...The pair then go on to discuss all the things they did as children to get a taste of that sweet, sweet attention. The the exhaustive list comprises saxophone playing, skull breaking and winning BBC's Pointless. Y'know, the usual. Follow Reading For Attention on Instagram: @readingforattention Email your book/drink recommendations to readingforattention@gmail.com and tell us all of your attention-seeking stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3 of Reading for Attention is here!Paul and Sarah chat about Bryan Washington's debut novel, Memorial, which earned him critical acclaim AND the Stonewall Book Award 2021. Talk about attention-seeking. Memorial is partly set in Japan so the drink this week is a mega-classy Lychee Sake Martini. Delicious. (And dangerous, because there's no mixer.) When the book chat and cocktails run dry, Paul looks forward to his upcoming 30th birthday and all the attention it will bring him.Follow Reading For Attention on Instagram: @readingforattention Email your book/drink recommendations to readingforattention@gmail.com and tell us all of your attention-seeking stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2 of Reading for Attention is here! This week Paul and Sarah discuss Kazuo Ishiguro's newest novel Klara and the Sun. The eighth novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author is a dystopian sci-fi set in a sometimes horrifying close future but with a sunny outlook. So sunny, in fact, that Paul and Sarah decide to wash it down with a tequila sunrise and some questionable imaginings of the main character's physical appearance. If you're sentient - enjoy! Follow Reading For Attention on Instagram: @readingforattention Email your book/drink recommendations to readingforattention@gmail.com and tell us all of your attention-seeking stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first episode of Reading for Attention is here! This week Paul and Sarah discuss Sally Rooney's latest release Beautiful World Where Are You. Widely considered as one of the first writers to really capture the 'millenial voice', Rooney skyrocketed to the top of national and international bestseller lists with her second novel Normal People. Released in September Beautiful World demonstrates once more Rooney's clean and cool style that her fans have come to know and love. Listen in as Paul and Sarah try and drown their jealousy in a mug of spiked tea.Follow Reading For Attention on Instagram: @readingforattention Email your book/drink recommendations to readingforattention@gmail.com and tell us all of your attention-seeking stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.