The Graham Norton Book Club

Welcome to The Graham Norton Book Club where each week Graham talks to a top author, hears from a famous voice behind a brilliant audiobook and gets the best book recommends from his stellar co-presenters, Alex Clark and Sara Collins.He also weighs up the pros and cons of the book of the week with his passionate band of book clubbers and finds out what's hot and what's hotter in the book charts. If you like books, you'll love this. Come and join the club.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Danish poet, Olga Ravn, reveals the strange beginnings of her satirical workplace novel, The Employees, and the Clubbers disagree on its performance review. Plus, the darling diva of Strictly Come Dancing, Johannes Radebe, tells Graham about finally writing his own story in JoJo: Finally Home. Alex Clark gets experimental, and we take our last jog up the inside track of the charts for this series.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aravind Adiga tells Graham the story behind his Booker prize-winning (and Netflix hit-inspiring) The White Tiger, while The IT Crowd's Katherine Parkinson tells all about voicing Jilly Cooper's latest blockbuster, Tackle! Plus Sara Collins chooses books that stir things up and we check out what's moving and shaking in the charts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kiley Reid tells Graham about writing her Booker long-listed debut novel, Such a Fun Age, and former Conservative Party leadership candidate and The Rest is Politics co-host, Rory Stewart talks us through his Politics on the Edge. The Clubbers express some strong opinions, Alex goes a bit Downton Abbey and we get the inside track on what's tearing up the charts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Graham talks to Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah about his searing take-down of the US carceral system, Chain-Gang All-Stars. Our Clubbers deliver their verdict, Sara Collins does time with prison novels, and none other than Hollywood superstar, Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells us about his seven tools for life in Be Useful. All this plus chart news and other book chat. Come and join our club.Please note, the book this week contains references to violence that some people 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.

UK Women's Prize for Fiction winner, Kamila Shamsie, talks to Graham about her hit title, Best of Friends - and everyone's favourite classicist, Mary Beard, lifts the lid on the more eccentric side of being Emperor of Rome. Alex Clark is all about the slightly naughty doorstoppers, from Lace to The Thorn Birds, and we get a sneak peek into the book charts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our book is Terry Pratchett's tale of mail, Going Postal, and his biographer and assistant, Rob Wilkins, tells Graham about helping this master of fantasy create his magic. Derry Girls and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan talks about her knack for audiobooks and Sara Collins looks at the state of the nation. All this and Clubber debate, chart favourites and the answer to the burning question - what actually is an axelotl?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Graham speaks to Andrea Lawlor about their story of sex, shape-shifting and mix-tapes, Paul Takes the Form of Mortal Girl, while actor Matthew Holness takes the form of spoof horror writer Garth Marenghi for the audiobook of his terrifying Incarcerat. Sara Collins is all about the sport, our Clubbers agree to disagree and we discover what's at the top of the charts.Just to note - 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Graham talks to Booker Prize-winning author George Saunders about Lincoln in the Bardo, his innovative best-seller full of ghostly voices, and our Clubbers decide if it was heavenly or hellish. Plus, national treasure Clare Balding takes us on a tour of her Isle of Dogs, Alex Clark explores the supernatural and we discover what's out of this world on the book charts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best-selling author Juno Dawson casts a spell on Graham with Her Majesty's Royal Coven - a tale of witches, prophecies, supernatural happenings in Hebden Bridge and Spice Girls fandom. Were the clubbers spellbound or cursing? Plus, Blue Lights and Sex Education actress and stand-up, Andi Osho, talks about her Tough Crowd, Sara Collins gets nostalgic, and we get a heads up on the next big thing on the book charts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thriller writer Mick Herron and his Slow Horses – the inspiration for the hit TV show - kick off our new series. Our clubbers decide if it's first past the post or last over the line. Plus, comedian Shaparak Khorsandi tells Graham about her Scatterbrain and Alex Clark lifts the lid on a different kind of literary gang. All that plus what's hot and what's hotter in the book charts. Come and join the Club.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.