So, my brother Colin and I decided to start a podcast together. Mostly because the name ‘peas in a podcast’ was too funny to pass on, since we’re twins. It’s mostly just us chatting and being silly and squabbling, and it’s definitely not as targeted to Stuck in a Book readers as ‘Tea or Books?’ is. But the vagaries of podcast hosting mean I need to put it somewhere to get it accepted by iTunes… so, if you fancy something a bit different, then you might well enjoy this! We’re probably going to do an episode about once a month, but there are a handful ready to go…
We are finally back! Apologies for the lengthy break – all is explained in this episode. We’re not back as soon as intended, because we recorded an episode a few days ago that… didn’t record. The podcasters’ nightmare! Nothing daunted, here we are.
In the first half, we look at cars in books and bicycles in books, as I have long threatened to do. Rachel gave in, and it turned into a fun discussion. In the second half, we look at two books that are very different but both a lot about politics – Jessica Mitford’s memoir/autobiography Hons and Rebels and Marghanita Laski’s novel Tory Heaven.
You can find us on iTunes, and now on Spotify too! (Have a search for us there.) You can also support the podcast on Patreon, and there are various rewards available there.
Little by Edward Carey Alva and Irva by Edward Carey Observatory Mansions by Edward Carey Larchfield by Polly Clark This Little Art by Kate Briggs Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O’Farrell The Vanishing Act of EsmeLennox by Maggie O’Farrell The Love-Child by Edith Olivier To The North by Elizabeth Bowen The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald London Belongs to Me by Norman Collins Toad of Toad Hall by Kenneth Grahame Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee Ann Veronica by H.G. Wells Mapp and Lucia series by E.F. Benson The Amorous Bicycle by Mary Essex Tea Is So Intoxicating by Mary Essex
A.A. Milne
Elizabeth Taylor
Miss Read Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford Tory Heaven by Marghanita Laski Love on the Supertax by Marghanita Laski The Village by Marghanita Laski London War Notes by Mollie Panter-Downes The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters ed. by Charlotte Mosley Miss Ranskill Comes Home by Barbara Euphan Todd The American Way of Death by Jessica Mitford A Fine Old Conflict by Jessica Mitford The Devastating Boys by Elizabeth Taylor The Demon Lover by Elizabeth Bowen
In the first half of this episode, we look at the books of the World Wars – whether written at the time or later – and decide which we are more drawn to. Thanks to Faith for the suggestion!
In the second half, we compare two novels by Paul Gallico – Coronation and Love of Seven Dolls. I deleted the bit where we talked about books we’d do next time – we’d talked about The Demon Lover by Elizabeth Bowen vs The Devastating Boys by Elizabeth Taylor, but we might have to postpone that. Watch this space!
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
The Millstone by Margaret Drabble The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks Sleepwalking Land by Mia Couto Normal People by Sally Rooney Vanity Fair by W.M. Thackeray Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man by Siegfried Sassoon Memoirs of an Infantry Officer by Siegfried Sassoon Sherston’s Progress by Siegfried Sassoon
Wilfred Owen Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks Regeneration by Pat Barker A Curious Friendship by Anna Thomasson Siegfried’s Journey by Siegfried Sassoon The Weald of Youth by Siegfried Sassoon All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves Undertones of War by Edmund Blunden Diary Without Dates by Enid Bagnold …Not SoQuiet by Helen Zenna Smith William – An Englishman by Cicely Hamilton London War Notes by Mollie Panter-Downes Doreen by Barbara Noble To Bed With Grand Music by Marghanita Laski Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski The Provincial Lady in Wartime by E.M. Delafield Put Out More Flags by Evelyn Waugh Henrietta’s War by Joyce Dennys One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes On the Other Side by Mathilde Wolff-Monckeberg The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark A House in the Country by Jocelyn Playfair Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico Coronation by Paul Gallico The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico Flowers For Mrs Harris by Paul Gallico Jennie by Paul Gallico The Fur Person by May Sarton The Foolish Immortals by Paul Gallico Too Many Ghosts by Paul Gallico The Snowflake by Paul Gallico The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico
Women opening bookshops, and how we feel about the physical book.
In the first half of this episode, we look at first edition vs worst edition – in a fairly sprawling discussion about whether we care about first editions, how the physical condition and appearance of the book affects us, and all that sort of thing. In the second half, we look at two novels about women starting selling books – from opposite ends of the 20th century. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley was published in the 1910s and The Education of Harriet Hatfield was published in the 1980s – but which would we prefer?
You can support the podcast at Patreon and you can visit the iTunes page. Do let us know if you have any suggestions for books or topics for future episodes – we always love to hear from you!
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
Two Lives by Janet Malcolm The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein Blood on the Dining Room Floor by Gertrude Stein
Virginia Woolf HowardsEnd by E.M. Forster Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam A Florence Diary by Diana Athill Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom Old Books, Rare Friends by Leona Rostenberg and Madeleine Stern
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling The Other Day by Dorothy Whipple Pride andPrejudice by Jane Austen
Muriel Spark The American Way of Death by Jessica Mitford
E.V. Lucas
Rose Macaulay
Willa Cather The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald According to Mark by Penelope Lively Possession by A.S. Byatt
Henry Thoreau The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley The Magnificent Spinster by May Sarton As We Were by May Sarton Joanna and Ulysses by May Sarton A Woman of My Age by Nina Bawden The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
Sylvia Townsend Warner Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns Safety Pins by Christopher Morley Coronation by Paul Gallico Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico
Two novels by A.A. Milne and we get deep about Amazon.
In the first half, we talk buying books in bookshops vs buying books online – taking our cue from a suggestion by Karen – and then we wander into a discussion about Amazon that isn’t especially conclusive. In the second half, we compare two books by my favourite (probably) author – Mr Pim Passes By and Four Days’ Wonder. You can see a filming of the play Mr Pim Passes Byon YouTube.
You can see our iTunes page, and you can support the podcast at Patreon. Or you can just listen via the sound file above or through any podcast app. The blog I mention is Indie Lit Fic.
The books and authors we mention – including a mass of Hardy! – are:
Heat Wave by Penelope Lively A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Tess of the D’Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy In a SummerSeason by Elizabeth Taylor Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L. Sayers Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner Hackenfeller’s Ape by Brigid Brophy
Edith Olivier The Dover Road by A.A. Milne Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
R.C. Sherriff The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne Patricia Brent, Spinster by Herbert Jenkins
Chloe Marr by A.A. Milne Two People by A.A. Milne The Table Near The Band by A.A. Milne The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald The Education of Harriet Hatfield by May Sarton Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley
John Fowles, Tracy Chevalier, and eating in books – Lyme and limes, if you will!
Sorry for a bit of a delay (because I had to read two quite long books) – and advance apologies for the delay before our next episode, as Rachel moves house and completes her dissertation. Thanks for bearing with us! In this episode, we use a recommendation from my friend Rachel (a different one) and ask about characters and food. In the second half, we compare John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman with Tracy Chevalier’s Remarkable Creatures. Do let us know your thoughts on either!
You can support the podcast and get various rewards at Patreon, or visit our iTunes page. Rate and review if you can work out how and would like to!
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
The Brontes by Juliet Barker Letters by Virginia Woolf The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell Famous Five series by Enid Blyton Malory Towers series by Enid Blyton Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome The Debt to Pleasure by John Lanchester Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris Chocolat by Joanne Harris The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Edith Wharton Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen ProvincialLady series by E.M. Delafield To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Matilda by Roald Dahl The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier Golden Hill by Francis Spufford The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton Patricia Brent, Spinster by Herbert Jenkins Speaking of Love by Angela Young Concert Pitch by Theodora Benson Mr Pim Passes By by A.A. Milne Four Days’ Wonder by A.A. Milne Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Animal Farm by George Orwell
This episode is all about married and unmarried people – in general, and two ‘spinsters’ in particular. Buckle up!
(Apologies if the podcast in your app overlaps the intro music with the intro chat… this one doesn’t, but I don’t know how it’ll appear elsewhere!)
In the first half, we look at books with married or unmarried characters. Yes, I’m aware that that is all books. We do narrow down a little! And in the second half we narrow down to two particular unmarried women – in Winifred Watson’s Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day and Herbert Jenkins’ Patricia Brent, Spinster. Very many thanks to Karen for suggesting the topic. It is perhaps our most controversial one ever!
The episode with me on my brother’s podcast, C to Z of Movies, is now live! Listen to us discuss films beginning with S – either on Soundcloud or via your podcast app of choice. Other links – you can support the podcast on Patreon, or visit our iTunes page, or rate and review through various apps.
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather The Professor’s House by Willa Cather Turtle Diary by Russell Hoban Mansfield and Me called Sarah Laing
Brecht Evens Peter Pan andWendy by J.M. Barrie Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton Dear Mrs Bird by A.J. Pearce Greenery Street by Denis Mackail Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield Hostages to Fortune by Elizabeth Cambridge They Knew Mr Knight by Dorothy Whipple Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Mr Bridge by Evan S. Connell MrsBridge by Evan S. Connell Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner Mr Pim Passes By / Mr Pim by A.A. Milne Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner The Love Child by Edith Olivier The Rector’s Daughter by F.M. Mayor Alas, Poor Lady by Rachel Ferguson Consequences by E.M. Delafield Thanks Heaven Fasting by E.M. Delafield Life and Death of Harriett Frean by May Sinclair The Odd Women by George Gissing Emma by Jane Austen I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann Frost in May by Antonia White The Way Things Are – E.M. Delafield Fell Top by Winifred Watson
Mary Webb Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons The Return of Albert by Herbert Jenkins Bindle by Herbert Jenkins Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles
Shirley Jackson and holiday reading – welcome to episode 59!
In the first half of this episode, we look at holiday reading – chiefly whether we prefer easy or difficult books when we go off on holiday, but we also look at other potential reading options. In the second half, we look at two novels by the wonderful Shirley Jackson – We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House.
The episode of Colin’s podcast isn’t live yet, but you can see The C to Z of Movies on Soundcloud.
You can support the podcast on Patreon – with various rewards, including books and letters and whatnot.
And you can download Tea or Books? through any podcast app, or see our iTunes page. Ratings and reviews always welcome!
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Beverley Nichols
E.F. Benson ByAuction by Denis Mackail Greenery Street by Denis Mackail Ian and Felicity by Denis Mackail The Majestic Mystery by Denis Mackail ChelburyAbbey by Denis Mackail Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton Finnegans Wake by James Joyce
Philip Larkin
Elizabeth Taylor
Dorothy Whipple
Virginia Woolf Buttercups and Daisies by Compton Mackenzie IllyrianSpring by Ann Bridge A Favourite of the Gods by Sybille Bedford The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
Stephen Leacock
Italo Calvino The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Tom Hanks We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson The Sundial by Shirley Jackson
Daphne du Maurier The Woman in Black by Susan Hill The Turn of the Screw by Henry James Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson Provincial Lady series by E.M. Delafield The Bird’s Nest by Shirley Jackson The Road Through the Wall by Shirley Jackson Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson Patricia Brent, Spinster by Herbert Jenkins
Murder mysteries and binge-reading – enjoy episode 57!
In this episode, we compare an uncharacteristically modern novel – The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, published in 2018 – with Agatha Christie’s classic Poirot novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. In the first half, we debate whether we binge-read authors or spread them out to save them.
Feel sorry for Rachel this week – she’s rather croaky with a cold, but she powers on admirably! I’ve edited out most of her coughing, poor thing, but apologies for any that have snuck in.
You can check out our Patreon account – where you can support the podcast at various different reward levels, including having a book sent each month. We also have our iTunes page, and you can read Rachel’s reviews of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
Kamchatka by Marcelo Figueras The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar Charlotte Bronte: A Life by Claire Harman Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Villette by Charlotte Bronte
Iris Murdoch
A.A. Milne
E.M. Delafield
Richmal Crompton
Ivy Compton-Burnett
Charles Dickens
P.G. Wodehouse
Jane Austen
Miss Read
Enid Blyton Point Horror The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks Albert the Dragon by Rosemary Weir Further Adventures of Albert the Dragon by Rosemary Weir
Barbara Pym
Dorothy Whipple
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Bowen Sanditon by Jane Austen The Watsons by Jane Austen Lady Susan by Jane Austen Night and Day by Virginia Woolf
Beverley Nichols
Anne Tyler
Rose Macaulay The Loved One by Edith Olivier The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West Cousin Rosamund by Rebecca West
We’ve finally done the reviewers vs recommendations episode! Also: E Nesbit and Dorothy Whipple.
Every now and then, the critics vs bloggers debate rears its head. In the first half of the episode, we take a slightly different look at that – newspaper reviews vs friend’s recommendations – but we also talk about blogs along the way, unsurprisingly. In the second half, we pit two novels about women finding jobs against each other – E Nesbit’s The Lark (1922) and Dorothy Whipple’s High Wages (1930).
You can support the podcast (and get some rewards) at our Patreon page – including the first bloopers reel! And our iTunes page is here. As always, let us know if you have any suggestions for topics etc. And rate/review if you can work out how to!
If you’re after the complete E Nesbit ebook, it’s available here or through wherever you buy ebooks.
The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar The Akeing Heart by Peter Haring Judd Sylvia Townsend Warner by Claire Harman
Marilynne Robinson
Oliver Sacks Touching the Rock by John Hull
Dan Brown
Hilary Mantel A Life of One’s Own by Claire Tomalin Apple of My Eye by Helene Hanff The Lark by E. Nesbit High Wages by Dorothy Whipple The Incredible Honeymoon by E Nesbit Greenbanks by Dorothy Whipple They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple A Pin to See the Peepshow by F Tennyson Jesse The Enchanted Castle by E Nesbit They Knew Mr Knight by Dorothy Whipple
Penelope Lively Lifting the Veil by Ismat Chughtai Birds of America by Mary McCarthy Meatless Days by Sara Suleri
Kamila Shamsie The Group by Mary McCarthy
Cover designs by Martha Rich! The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
