The Penguin Podcast
Penguin Books UK
What should I read next? Ask Penguin is the podcast where your quirkiest, trickiest, and most urgent book questions get answered. Hosted by Rhianna Dhillon, we bring bestselling authors and Penguin insiders to explore some of your favourite books and discover new ones that you are yet to read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What should I read next? Ask Penguin is the podcast where your quirkiest, trickiest, and most urgent book questions get answered. Hosted by Rhianna Dhillon, we bring bestselling authors and Penguin insiders to explore some of your favourite books and discover new ones that you are yet to read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is death metal the secret to writing a bestseller? with Elif Shafak
Episode
What can Little Women teach modern boys about sisterhood? How does food become a language of love and grief? How does writing in a third language shape your creative rhythm? And why can finishing a masterpiece feel like a tragedy? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling, award-winning novelist Elif Shafak to talk about her latest novel, In One Brief Moment All Eternity, a vivid reimagining of Gustave Flaubert’s life, told through the women who knew him, including his most famous creation, Emma Bovary. Together they explore the stories and people history often forgets, why the world needs fiction more than ever, and what drew Shafak to Flaubert’s world. Plus, we answer your listening questions and, as ever, send you away with plenty of brilliant books to add to your reading pile Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here About the guest Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller. She has published 21 books, 13 of which are novels and her books have been translated into almost 60 languages.The Island of Missing Trees was a finalist for the Costa Award, British Book Awards, RSL Ondaatje Prize and Women’s Prize for Fiction For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do you begin breaking down a 600-page American epic to bring it to the screen? How did Florence Pugh capture the essence of the central character Cathy? How did John Steinbeck’s secret writing journals help the screenwriters? And what should you read next if you loved reading - or watching - East of Eden? We kick off our next series of Ask Penguin with a special episode dedicated to Netflix’s lavish new period drama, East of Eden, adapted from John Steinbeck’s epic American family saga. Rhianna Dhillon is joined by co-showrunner, writer and executive producer Zoe Kazan, and co-showrunner and executive producer Jeb Stuart, to discuss their vision for bringing the book to life on screen. East of Eden is now available on Netflix Audiobook is extracted from: Here Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here About the guests Zoe Kazan is an American actress and writer. She has acted in films such as The Savages, Revolutionary Road, and It's Complicated. She also starred in the HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge, for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Jeb Stuart is an American screenwriter, film director, and producer, known for writing blockbuster action films such as Die Hard (1988) and The Fugitive (1993), and creating the Netflix television series Vikings: Valhalla. For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can you read a cookbook cover-to-cover like a thriller? Does your reading level predict a longer life? Why is a punk chef’s memoir the ultimate weapon for reluctant readers? And how do we inspire children to read if we don’t have the time to read to them? In this special episode of Ask Penguin, Rhianna sits down with children’s author and illustrator, Nadia Shireen, and Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust. Together, they discuss the National Year of Reading’s Go All In campaign and why reading for pleasure has the power to change lives and help tackle social inequality. Plus, we answer your questions about the reluctant readers in your life, helping you find the perfect book to spark a lifelong love of reading. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here About the guests Nadia Shireen is a writer and illustrator. She enjoyed making homemade magazines and comics as a child. She studied law at university and then worked in magazine journalism; it was during this time that she started to draw again. After a lifetime of doodling in the sidelines, Nadia decided to pay some attention to drawing and in 2007 was accepted onto an MA course in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Her debut book Good Little Wolf received a mention in the Bologna Ragazzi Opera Prima Award and won the UKLA Book Award. Nadia has been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Jonathan Douglas CBE is CEO of the National Literacy Trust, a trustee of the Philosophy Foundation and of World Book Day. He is passionate about promoting access to literature and addressing inequality through literacy. He has lobbied and campaigned extensively and led the formation of the Literacy All Party Parliamentary Group. He is a chartered librarian and was Head of Policy Development at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and previously worked at CILIP and in Westminster Libraries. For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why do baby puffins prefer to be alone? Why don’t Cuckoo birds raise their own children? Has the decline of birds taken away the music of our landscapes? And what is the simplest way back if we feel disconnected from nature? In this episode of Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by visionary creative duo, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris to discuss their latest collaboration, The Books of Birds, a beautifully illustrated and poetic look at some of natures most unique and fascinating birds. Plus plenty of book recommendations from books that explore the British landscapes and our favourite anthropomorphised animals as main characters. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here About the book The Book of Birds is a compendium of forty-nine bird species, from Avocet to Yellowhammer, all of which are presently declining or endangered in Britain. Inspired by the classic bird-books with which the authors grew up, this is a field guide with a difference. It asks not ‘What is that bird?’, but ‘Who is that bird?’ It shows its readers how to identify birds, but also how to identify with them. About the authors Robert Macfarlane is a Sunday Times- and New York Times-bestselling authors, whose books include Is a River Alive?, Underland, Landmarks, The Old Ways, The Wild Places and Mountains of the Mind, as well as a book-length prose-poem, Ness. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages, won prizes around the world, and been widely adapted for film, music, theatre, radio and dance. He has also written operas, plays, albums, choral works, and films including River and Mountain, both narrated by Willem Dafoe. Jackie Morris has written or illustrated over seventy books, including the beloved children’s classics Tell Me a Dragon and East of the Sun, West of the Moon and a volume of modern folklore for readers of all ages, Wild Folk, co-created with Tamsin Abbott, as well as introducing and illustrating Barbara Newhall Follett’s gem of wild literature, The House Without Windows. She is the internationally bestselling and award-winning co-creator of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells, two books which have captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers of all ages. In 2018 she won the Kate Greenaway Medal and the British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year for The Lost Words. For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Has modern forensics taken away the power of the murder mystery genre? How does a career in corporate finance prepare you to write about a killer? Is narrative voice more important than plot? And is there really such a thing as a reliable narrator? In this episode of Ask Penguin, Rihanna Dillon sits down with bestselling author and crime fiction favourite Abir Mukherjee to discuss his new Mumbai-set satire The Pinnacle, alongside brilliant book recommendations from Abir and the Penguin team. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here About the book George Abercrombie, a washed-up American heart-throb, hates India, even from the rarified heights of his apartment on the 68th floor of the Pinnacle, Mumbai’s grandest luxury skyscraper. When George wakes from a drunken stupor to find his wife Sweety murdered in their bedroom, he knows he will be the prime suspect. Welcome to the Pinnacle. A place where murder meets luxury and the world’s most privileged depend on the most desperate. About the author Abir Mukherjee is the bestselling author of the award-winning Wyndham & Banerjee series of crime novels set in 1920s India and the British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year 2025 Hunted. His books have been translated into sixteen languages and won various awards including the CWA Dagger for best Historical Novel, the Prix du Polar Européen, and the Wilbur Smith Award for Adventure Writing. For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are the best books get you out of a reading slump? How did Snakes on a Plane inspire a literary sensation? What did James Joyce and Pakistani rap teach one of our debut novelists? And does a writer need to be completely delusional to finish writing a novel? This week on Ask Penguin we sit down with three breakout debut authors, Angela Tomaski, Sufiyaan Salam, and Madeline Cash, to discuss the messy, hilarious reality of writing a first novel. And as always, we answer all your bookish questions and provide some much-needed reading recommendations. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here About the books Wimmy Road Boyz is a blistering story of masculinity, violence and love set over the course of a single, surreal night, told in energetic and cinematic prose. The Infamous Gilberts is a novel buoyed by love, buffeted by loss, and tangled together in an unputdownable story where the lines between eccentricity and madness, cruelty and love become hilariously heartbreakingly blurred. Lost Lambs is a novel of quick-witted observation and surprising tenderness, conspiracies, loss and humour, a family saga for the twenty-first century, all held together with crazy glue. About the authors Sufiyaan Salam is a writer and former animator from Blackburn. He’s working on several TV & feature projects, and co-wrote the short film MAGID / ZAFAR, premiering in 2025. Wimmy Road Boyz, winner of the #Merky Books New Writers’ prize, is his first novel. Angela Tomaski was born in Oxford and raised in Somerset with her four brothers and sisters. She has had a variety of different jobs, including as a waitress, cleaner, English teacher and activity coordinator in a care home. She has a daughter and two grandsons, and now lives in rural Dorset. Madeline Cash is the founder of Forever Magazine and the author of the story collection Earth Angel. Her fiction has appeared in Granta, The Baffler, The Sewanee Review, The Drift, and Bomb, among other publications. Lost Lambs is her debut novel. For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How does artist Kae Tempest inspire Dawn French? Do editors always know best? What is the impact of grief on those we love most? And what really happened when Dawn French came face to face with a hippo while filming Harry Potter? In this episode of Ask Penguin, Rhianna Dhillon sits down with bestselling author and comedy legend Dawn French to discuss her moving new novel Enough, alongside brilliant book recommendations from Dawn and the Penguin team. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here About the book Enough, follows Etta, 68, happy, healthy and satisfied with the life she has lived. One morning she gathers her family together and drops a bombshell that they all have one day to come to terms with - this will be Etta’s final day alive. About the author Dawn French has been making people laugh for 30 years. As a writer, comedian and actor, she has appeared in some of this country's most long-running and celebrated shows, including French and Saunders, The Vicar of Dibley, Jam and Jerusalem, and more recently, Can You Keep A Secret? Her first three novels, A Tiny Bit Marvellous, Oh Dear Silvia and According to YES, are all Sunday Times bestsellers. For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What’s the difference between flash fiction and the short story? Why are we drawn to literature’s most flawed characters? And what would be the ideal fictional world for adulterers? Hosted by Rhianna Dhillon, on this episode of Ask Penguin, we’re answering your questions with our best book recommendations and talking to Booker Prize-longlisted novelist Sophie Mackintosh about her new novel Permanence. The book follows Clara and Francis – a couple in love, but in secret. When they wake in a strange city, they can finally be together. But as they move between this world and their ordinary lives, cracks begin to show, and they are forced to ask - how long can their love survive? Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here Sophie Mackintosh is the author of four novels, including The Water Cure and Cursed Bread. She has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Women's Prize, has won a Betty Trask Award, and has been selected as one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists. She has been published in Granta, The White Review and TANK magazine among others. For more information about the National Year of Reading, click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How did Marian Keyes inspire Bryony Gordon’s writing? How do you write about family without falling into stereotypes? Which books capture the messy reality of life? And what is your favourite habit to fit reading into your life? The Ask Penguin team returns with a shelf-load of must-read book recommendations - and this week, we're joined by bestselling author, journalist, and podcaster Bryony Gordon to discuss her debut novel, People Pleaser. The novel follows Olivia Greenwood, a self-confessed people pleaser who, after one chaotic night out, decides it’s time to start living life on her own terms. Bryony Gordon is a columnist, author, and host of the podcast The Life of Bryony. She is the author of several bestselling books, including Mad Girl and You Got This, both Sunday Times No.1 bestsellers and British Book Award nominees, and is a passionate advocate for mental health, founding Mental Health Mates, a global peer support network. People Pleaser is her first novel. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here For more information about the National Year of Reading click here https://goallin.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Wuthering Heights the perfect novel or the perfect work of art? Why do we fall in love with villains? Is all love doomed? And if Emerald Fennell could adapt another book to film, what would she choose? In this special episode of Ask Penguin, we speak to the director of Wuthering Heights' latest adaptation, Emerald Fennell, about her relationship to Emily Brontë's novel, how she went about interpreting such a complex classic, and what she wants audiences to take away from her vision. Also joining us in the studio are authors Henry Eliott and Harriet Evans, as we deep-dive into the book, the film, and the life of the Brontës. Discover more about this episode and all the books by clicking here Watch Emerald Fennell's interview on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this special bonus episode, and to mark Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, we step inside her home in Alton to uncover the life she lived there and the objects she treasured most. From first editions to her own annotated books which formed her personal library, we explore how her surroundings and daily routines shaped her writing - and how walking through her rooms brings her world vividly to life. Discover all our episode transcripts and book recommendations at Penguin.co.uk Love everything Jane Austen? Visit all our features and beautiful editions of all her works by clicking: Jane Austen Follow in our footsteps and find out more aout her home and plan your visit by clicking: Jane Austen's House Ask Penguin will be back in the New Year. Until then, Happy Reading! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What were our favourite books of the year and what are we most excited to read in 2026? Join the team behind the Ask Penguin podcast to look back at standout titles, memorable podcast moments, and the reading intentions we’re taking into the New Year. Explore all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here Ask Penguin will be back in 2026. Find us on Insatgram @PenguinUKBooks and follow our Broadcast channel for exclusive content, giveaways and your chance to put your questions to your favourite authors! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Which novels are truly unputdownable and what should you read on a dark winter's night? We’re joined by best-selling author, Paula Hawkins, who discusses art, love and remote islands in her latest thriller, The Blue Hour. She also helps us tackle your listener questions with a stack of gripping recommendations to guide you to your next great read. Explore all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here Paula Hawkins worked as a journalist for fifteen years before writing her first novel. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, she moved to London in 1989. Her first thriller The Girl on the Train became a global phenomenon, selling over 23 million copies. Published in over fifty languages, it was a No.1 bestseller around the world and a box-office-hit film starring Emily Blunt. Paula's subsequent thrillers have all been instant Sunday Times bestsellers. In 2021 A Slow Fire Burning was nominated for Thriller of the Year at the British Book Awards, and in 2025 The Blue Hour was voted the Good Housekeeping Good Books winner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are the best new books in Korean fiction? What is the process of translating a book into English? And how do you evoke a sense of place you haven't visited? This week we sat down with award-winning and internationally best-selling author, Karl Ove Knausgaard to discuss his latest novel, The School of Night. The School of Night is a Faustian-inspired meditation on art and creativity, the 4th novel in The Morning Star series, and the first in the sequence that can be read as a standalone novel. Discover all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here Karl Ove Knausgaard's My Struggle cycle has been heralded as a masterpiece all over the world. From A Death in the Family to The End, the novels move through childhood into adulthood and, together, form an enthralling portrait of human life. Knausgaard has been awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature, the Brage Prize and the Jerusalem Prize. His work, which also includes the Seasons Quartet and the Morning Star sequence (The Morning Star, The Wolves of Eternity, The Third Realm and The School of Night) is published in thirty-six languages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Which multi-generational novels inspired White Teeth? Where does Zadie Smith turn for her next great read? And our Penguin team is back to solve your reading dilemmas - whether you're after fascinating memoirs, this year's pick of prize-winning books, or stories perfect for Autumn. Discover all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here Zadie Smtih is one of the most distinctive, exciting and widely loved writers of her generation: she’s the twice shortlisted, once winner of the Women's Prize, also shortlisted for the Booker and has been twice named among Granta’s Best Young British Novelists. Her debut, White Teeth, blazed onto the best-seller lists, and established her as a defining generational voice. Her follow-up work includes the critically and commercially acclaimed NW, On Beauty, and Swing Time. Zadie Smith’s latest work is Dead and Alive: the keenly awaited new collection of essays, in which she brings her unique skills and observations to bear across a dazzling range of subjects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What was the inspiration behind Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights series? How does he want readers to feel on Lyra’s final adventure in The Rose Field? Has his demon changed now that he has got to the end of this writing journey, and how do you say goodbye to characters you love? In this special edition of Ask Penguin, host Rhianna Dhillon visits Philip Pullman at his Oxford home, surrounded by books (and barking cockapoos), to mark thirty years since the world met Lyra Belacqua in Northern Lights. The two reflects on a lifetime of storytelling and returning to Lyra’s world one final time in the conclusion of The Book of Dust series, The Rose Field. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here: here To put a question to future podcast guests, and for exclusive content and book giveaways, join our Broadcast channel on Instagram: @PenguinUKBooks Philip Pullman is one of the most highly respected children's authors writing today. Winner of many prestigious awards, including the Carnegie of Carnegies and the Whitbread Award, Pullman’s epic fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials has been acclaimed as a modern classic. It has sold 17.5 million copies worldwide and been translated into 40 languages. In 2005 he was awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. He lives in Oxford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why do we still love Jane Austen’s novels 250 years later? What makes her stories continue to inspire readers and creators today? And if Jane were alive now, which book would you recommend she read? In this special episode, recorded at Jane Austen’s family home in Alton, host Rhianna Dhillon is joined by Miss Austen author and president of the Jane Austen Society, Gill Hornby, alongside author and creator of the West End show Austentatious Andrew Hunter Murray, to explore Austen’s legacy and provide some regency-inspired book recommendations. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here: Jane Austen Episode Visit Jane Austen’s home: janeaustens.house To put a question to future podcast guests, and for exclusive content and book giveaways, join our Broadcast channel on Instagram: @PenguinUKBooks Gill Hornby is a writer and journalist. Her novels Miss Austen and Godmersham Park were Sunday Times bestsellers, and Miss Austen was adapted into a four-part BBC drama starring Keely Hawes as Cassandra Austen. She is also the President of the Jane Austen Society. Andrew Hunter Murray is a writer, broadcaster and comedian. His first novel, The Last Day, was a Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller, and one of the top 10 fiction debuts of 2020; his second, The Sanctuary, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month; and his third, A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering, was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic literature. in 2011, Murray was a founding member of the West End comedy show Austentatious. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I'm looking for a novel that reads like poetry - where should I start? Can you recommend a queer love story with a happy conclusion? What are the best books that explore small-town life? We put your book dilemmas to bestselling author Ocean Vuong and Penguin Editor and award-winning poet Sarah Howe. Joining Rhianna this week is Ocean Vuong, whose latest book The Emperor of Gladness has been dubbed the first 'millennial Great American Novel' – but what does that really mean, and which classic American novels have inspired him? The author and poet also reflects on the themes and inspirations behind the book, from small-town Connecticut to intergenerational friendships. Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here To ask a question and for exclusive content and giveaways join our Broadcast channel on Instagram: @PenguinUKBooks Ocean Vuong is an award-winning poet, essayist and novelist. He is the winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize for his poetry collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds, and his debut novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous was a literary sensation, going on to sell more than a million copies. Amongst many other accolades, he was a recipient of the MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ in 2019 and The Whiting Award in 2016. The Emperor of Gladness, Vuong’s latest novel, explores themes of chosen family and the ways in which our lives can be changed by the most unexpected people. Sarah Howe is Poetry Editor for Chatto & Windus an imprint of Penguin as well as an award-winning author. Sarah’s first collection, Loop of Jade won the T. S. Eliot Prize in 2015, and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year award the same year. Her follow-up collection, Foretokens, continues to explore ideas and complications of belonging, identity and inheritance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Outrageous, iconic and unforgettable - these are some of the books Penguin have been publishing over its 90-year history. As part of a special content series called 'The books that shaped us' on Penguin.co.uk, we invited readers from the world of publishing, comedy, and music to explore must-read titles across the decades. The Internet's resident librarian Jack Edwards and Penguin editor Simon Prosser discuss their curated reading lists, and explore the impact of the books that shocked society and became pop culture phenomena in this special episode, recorded live at Waterstones Picadilly Find all the books mentioned in this episode and more by clicking this link: The Penguin Podcast Waterstones Special Follow our dedicated Broadcast channel on Instagram for exclusive content and giveaways: @PenguinUKBooks Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What would you recommend an inspiring writer to read? What is the best gateway book to get into reading? Who are the new and upcoming Scottish novelists working today to watch out for? Recorded live at Latitude Festival, Irvine Welsh sits down with host Rhianna Dhillon to delve into his new novel Men in Love, the eagerly awaited sequel to Trainspotting, which explores the vibrant landscape of youth culture through the decades and the nuances of defining a generation through the arts. Plus, award-winning author and Penguin colleague Derek Owusu joins the panel, providing personalised book recommendations to audience members. We also speak to readers at the festival and ask them: what is the book that defined your youth? Find all the books mentioned in this episode and more at by clicking this link: The Penguin Podcast: Latitude special Follow our dedicated Broadcast channel on Instagram for exclusive content and giveaways: @PenguinUKBooks Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Irvine Welsh was born and raised in Edinburgh. His first novel, Trainspotting, has sold over one million copies in the UK and was adapted into an era-defining film. He has written fourteen further novels, including the number one Sunday Times bestseller Dead Men’s Trousers, four books of shorter fiction and numerous plays and screenplays. Irvine Welsh currently lives between London, Edinburgh and Miami. Derek Owusu is a writer, poet and podcaster from north London. He discovered his passion for literature at the age of twenty-three while studying exercise science at university. Unable to afford a change of degree, Derek began reading voraciously and sneaking into English Literature lectures at the University of Manchester. Derek first book That Reminds Me, won the Desmond Elliott Prize 2020 and his new novel Recovery House will be published in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the paperback revolution to the obscenity trial that made Lady Chatterley’s Lover famous, we explore how Penguin turned the UK into a nation of readers as we celebrate our 90th birthday. Host Rhianna Dhillon speaks to Kate Mosse, international bestselling author, activist and Founder Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, and Zainab Juma, Penguin’s Head of Brand, about Penguin’s origin story, mission, and cultural influence over the past 90 years. Explore the full list of books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: 90th Birthday special: How Penguin turned the UK into a nation of readers Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why are murder mysteries so obsessed with grand houses and wealthy families? Does a summer read really need to be light? What can a writer learn from imitating their literary heroes? And when should an adaptation leave the book behind? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz to discuss Marble Hall Murders, the third instalment in his Susan Ryeland mystery series. Together they explore Anthony’s lifelong obsession with writing, why he’s still thrilled when a new idea arrives, and how he knows when a story simply has to be written. Plus, Penguin publicists Alison Barrow and Olivia Mead answer your questions and recommend the books to keep you reading all summer long Explore the full list of books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: Season 2, Episode 6: Summer Reads Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when a generation is never given the space to grieve? Why can walking make difficult conversations easier? What can the stories of the past teach us about living differently today? And is slowing down sometimes the secret to understanding a story? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by writer, critic and curator Charlie Porter to discuss Nova Scotia House, his deeply emotional first novel about queer love, community, memory and the legacy of the AIDS crisis. Together they explore Charlie’s distinctive approach to language, why walking and breathing became fundamental to the novel, and how he created a version of London that feels familiar without ever naming it. Plus, we answer your questions and explore some of the queer literature that deserves a place on every reading list. Explore the full list of books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: Season 2, Episode 5: Queer Literature Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Charlie's Nova Scotia House playlist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is disagreement the secret ingredient of a great book-club discussion? Can a smell transport us more powerfully than a memory? How can a fictional world feel more real than reality? And in what ways can writing actually help us heal? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by award-winning poet and writer Yrsa Daley-Ward to talk about The Catch, her thrilling debut novel about estranged twin sisters, a mother presumed dead and a mysterious woman who threatens to upend everything they thought they knew. Plus, we’re joined by Penguin colleagues Cameron Watson and Louise Jones to help us find the books guaranteed to get your book club talking. Explore the full list of books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: Season 2, Episode 4: Book Club Books Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Yrsa's Substack: the utter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Which childhood books might have shaped the stories you tell? Is ten years too long to spend writing your first book? Should your friends be worried that something they say might end up in your novel? And is planning really the secret to avoiding writers block? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by three of 2025’s most exciting debut authors: Catherine Airey (Confessions), Fiza Saeed McLynn (The Midnight Carousel), and William Rayfet Hunter (Sunstruck) Together they explore the real emotions that find its way into fiction, how writers transform their experiences into stories, and why even the darkest subjects can sit alongside love, beauty and magic. Explore the full list of the books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: Season 2, Episode 3: Debut Books Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Heathcliff digging up Cathy the ultimate romantic gesture? Why do the best romances need a little heartbreak? Why are younger readers so unapologetic about the books they adore? And has Hollywood fallen behind when it comes to romance? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling author and BookTok favourite Emily Henry to talk about Great Big Beautiful Life, her new novel about two rival writers competing to tell the story of a mysterious heiress. Together they explore the ingredients of a great love story, why humour belongs alongside heartbreak, and what Emily really means when she promises her readers a happily ever after. Explore the full list of the books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: Season 2, Episode 2: Love and Romance And you can download the audiobook here: Great Big Beautiful Life Audiobook Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What can Monty Python teach children about adventure? How do you write for children without forgetting the grown-ups reading along? And should we stop worrying about what children “ought” to be reading? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling children’s authors Greg James and Chris Smith to talk about The Kid Who Fell Through Time, their epic new adventure through some of history’s most exciting eras. Together they explore the fine line between historical accuracy and having fun, why the best children’s books should spark imaginations rather than feel like homework, and their mission to get kids reading. Plus, Penguin’s Lucy Anderson joins us to talk about the importance of reading for pleasure and help answer your questions about finding the perfect books for younger readers. Explore the full list of the books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: Season 2, Episode 1: Children's Books Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk Follow our dedicated Broadcast channel on Instagram for exclusive content and giveaways: @PenguinUKBooks Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Penguin Podcast is back for another series of Ask Penguin. In each episode, we will take you inside Penguin Books to meet some of the incredible authors we publish, as well as the people who work here, to get answers to all of your book-related questions. The new series launches on Thursday 10th April with a children’s books special and across the series we’ll be covering themes such as Romance, Book Club Books and must-reads for your summer holidays, with episodes featuring your favourite authors. If you’re looking for a book recommendation, follow us on Instagram @penguinukbooks or send us your questions for a chance to be featured by emailing: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Don't forget to follow the show, so you never miss an episode! Find out more: https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In our final bonus episode from The Penguin Podcast, bestselling author Jodi Picoult shares her theory on the true author behind Shakespeare's plays that inspired her new novel, By Any Other Name. Explore the full list of the books discussed in this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting Bonus Episode 5 Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this bonus episode we speak with Alison Barrow, Publicity Director at Penguin Books, to explore the fascinating world of book publicity. Alison shares insights into her role, offering a glimpse into her daily life as she works with authors and connects their books with readers. Explore the full list of the books discussed in this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 4 Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this bonus episode from The Penguin Podcast, Episode 11 - Winter Reads, Jeanette Winterson shares her fascinating perspective on our relationship with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the evolution of human consciousness. Explore the full list of the books discussed on this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 3 Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ever wondered what the role of an Editor at Penguin Books involves? In our second bonus episode, Rhianna speaks with Publishing Director, Simon Prosser about what a typical day of an editor is like and when they ever get time to read! Simon is the editor of many award-winning authors such as Bernardine Evaristo, Zadie Smith, and Micheal Magee. Explore the full list of the books discussed in this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 2 Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In a special bonus episode taken from Episode 3: The Classics with Henry Eliot and Gill Hornby we share author and editor Henry Eliot's tips on tackling some of Classics' biggest tomes. Explore the full list of the books discussed on this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 1 Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What makes dark academia so enticing? Which book turned slow cooking into a life-changing obsession? What are the new books are already causing a stir inside Penguin HQ? And what happens when a TV presenter tries their hand at a novel? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna heads around Penguin HQ to ask our book obsessed colleagues about the books that made the biggest impression on them in 2024. From bold nonfiction and immersive fantasy to much-loved characters returning in adulthood, we celebrate the books that gave us something new to think about this year. Books discussed on this episode and the transcript by visiting: Episode 12: Best books of the year. Thank you for listening to Ask Penguin. We would love to hear your feedback and if you have any questions for us. To get in contact with the team, send us a message via the email address below. We return in the Spring with a new series. Until then, Happy Reading! Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why do people of all cultures have ghost stories? Can love truly survive death? Will artificial intelligence be the new ghosts of ghost stories? And what makes A Christmas Carol the perfect read for Christmas? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by critically acclaimed and bestselling writer Jeanette Winterson to talk about Nightside of the River, her genre-bending collection of ghost stories inspired by the supernatural, the unexplained and her own eerie encounters. Together they explore everything from Chinese ghost traditions to the spirits Jeanette believes share her woodland home. Explore the full list of the books discussed on this episode and the transcript by visiting: Episode 11: Winter Reads Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can a film turn history into mythology? What can a novel tell us about war that a history book can’t? How did a convicted murderer write one of the great wartime novels? And were the Romans really as civilised as we’ve been taught? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by authors and podcasters Al Murray and James Holland to talk about Arnhem: Black Tuesday and Cassino ’44, two books that look beyond the grand narratives of the Second World War to the people caught up in them. Together they explore the overlooked voices, personal accounts and unexpected characters that give history its humanity. Plus, Terry Deary joins us to talk about his latest book, A History of Britain in Ten Enemies, forgotten heroes, questionable national myths and why he has such a strong dislike for the Romans. For the full list of books plus transcript visit: Episode 6: History Special Books and authors mentioned in this episode: Arnhem Black Tuesday by Al Murray Casino ’44 by James Holland A History of Britain in Ten Enemies by Terry Deary The Cauldron by Zeno Scoop by Evelyn Waugh Mary Queen of Scots by Alison Weir The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley Swords of Honour by Evelyn Waugh Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do you get published if you don’t know anyone in publishing? What makes an editor fall in love with a manuscript? Should authors listen to every piece of feedback they receive? And how much do writers really need to promote their own books? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna brings together bestselling author Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things, editor Kaiya Shang and publicist Charlotte Bush to answer some of your biggest questions about getting a book published. Together they reveal what really happens behind the scenes, from finding an agent and pitching a manuscript to editing, publicity and building a community of readers. Plus, Meredith Adams joins us to explain how Penguin is opening up the publishing process to writers from all backgrounds. For more information on how to get published visit: Getting Published For the complete list of books mentioned in this episode and the transcript visit: Episode 9 - How to get published Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who actually decides what counts as good manners? Why are speakerphone calls the latest frontier of bad etiquette? Can humour make us better behaved? And should you ever sniff someone else’s books? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by etiquette expert and author William Hanson to talk about his latest book, Just Good Manners, and why etiquette might be far less stuffy and more fun than we imagine. Plus, our Penguin experts unwrap their best book recommendations to solve your festive gifting dilemmas. For the complete list of books mentioned in this episode and the transcript visit: Episode 8: Christmas gifting Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if one of literature’s greatest mysteries has been hiding in plain sight? Why do we know Shakespeare’s name but not Amelia Bassano’s? Can historical fiction give forgotten women their voices back? And what happens when you challenge 400 years of literary history? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling author Jodi Picoult to talk about By Any Other Name, her novel inspired by the theory that Elizabethan poet Amelia Bassano may have had a hand in writing some of Shakespeare’s plays. Together they explore the tantalising clues Jodi uncovered in Amelia’s life, the freedom historical fiction offers when history isn’t satisfying enough, and what happens when we question the stories we’ve inherited. For the full list of books and the transcript visit: Episode 7: Historical Fiction Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How did one glimpse of the Vatican inspire an international bestseller? How faithful should a film stay to the novel that inspired it? And how long does it really take to get a novel onto the big screen? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling novelist Robert Harris to talk books, films and the journey between the two as his Vatican thriller Conclave arrives on the big screen. Together they explore the luck, patience and collaboration involved in turning a novel into a film, why Robert believes filmmakers need the freedom to create something new, and what it feels like to see an actor bring your words to life years after you wrote them. Plus, we answer your questions and find your next great read. For the full list of books and the transcript visit: Episode 6: Books to Screen Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can a country house whodunnit still surprise us? What can Agatha Christie teach a us about crime? Does every great detective need a partner? And what is it exactly that makes a murder mystery “cosy”? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling, award-winning novelist Kate Atkinson to talk about Death at the Sign of the Rook, her playful reinvention of the classic Golden Age murder mystery. Together they explore the stop-start rhythms of the writing process, why some stories need to wait for their moment, and the frustration involved in putting an intricate novel together. Plus, Kate is joined by her Penguin publicist and Alison Barrow to answer your questions with a reading list packed with crimes, mysteries and psychological thrills. For the full list of books and transcript visit: Episode 5: Crime and Mysteries Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why do we love books that frighten us? What makes a hotel the perfect setting for a ghost story? Why can the safest places sometimes feel the most terrifying? And which books should you pick up if you're looking for a fright? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by Booker Prize-shortlisted author Daisy Johnson to talk about The Hotel, her haunting collection of interconnected stories set inside a mysterious hotel in the Norfolk Fens. Together they explore the strange pleasure of being scared, why haunted buildings have such a hold on our imaginations, and how Daisy turns suspense into a literary magic trick. Plus, Penguin’s resident horror fanatic Sarah McKenna helps us build the ultimate Halloween reading list For the full list of books plus transcript visit: Episode 4: Scary reads Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can a hundred-year-old novel still feel completely modern? Does The Count of Monte Cristo explain our obsession with superheroes? Who actually decides when a book becomes a classic? And why did Jane Austen’s own family have no idea she’d written Pride and Prejudice? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by author, editor and podcaster Henry Eliot to rethink everything we mean when we call a book a classic. Together they explore forgotten masterpieces, the problem with the traditional literary canon and the books that retain an “irrepressible freshness” across generations. Plus, bestselling novelist Gill Hornby reveals how Cassandra Austen became the keeper of her sister’s legacy, and why Miss Austen is ultimately a story about the many different forms a happy ending can take. For the full list of recommended reads visit: Episode 3: Classics Send us a question: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Follow Henry's substack by clicking here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where did the human story really begin? Why do some histories get remembered while others disappear? What can a centuries-old story passed down by word of mouth teach us today? And which novels are so good you’d be tempted to read them twice in one day? This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by award-winning broadcaster and author Zeinab Badawi to discuss her ambitious book, An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Civilization to Independence. Together they explore the people, kingdoms and stories that have shaped the continent, why Zeinab wanted Africans to take centre stage in the telling of their own history, and how looking further into the past can challenge our assumptions about Africa today. Plus, author Derek Owusu shares the Black writers and books he thinks everyone should be reading. Explore all the books mentioned in the episode here: Episode 2: Black History Month Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it take to read 150 books in six months? Why do we love characters who make terrible decisions? What does an editor actually do to make a great writer even better? And which Booker winner prompted one of the biggest cheers in the prize’s history? In the first episode of our new series Ask Penguin, join our new host, Rhianna Dhillon as we delve into the world of literary prizes with this year's Booker Prize judge and award-winning author, Sara Collins. We also answer your Ask Penguin questions with plenty of book recommendations to inspire your next read. Visit our website for more information about The Penguin Podcast: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast For more information about this episode including a full list of books discussed visit: Episode 1: Prize-winners Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Penguin Podcast is returning with a brand-new series called Ask Penguin. In each episode, we will take you inside Penguin Books to meet some of the incredible authors we publish as well as the people who work here, to get answers to all of your book-related questions. Need help finding your next page-turning read? Are you curious to know what a day in the life of an editor is like? Or perhaps why a small, aquatic, flightless bird became the iconic emblem that adorns Penguin books worldwide? The new series launches on Thursday 3rd October, where we'll be discussing prize-winning novels with award-winning author, and this year's Booker Prize judge, Sara Collins, and provide you with plenty of book recommendations with Publishing Director Simon Prosser. Send us your questions for a chance to be featured by emailing: penguinpodcast@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Don't forget to follow the show, so you never miss an episode! Find out more: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the Penguin Podcast we're recapping the year with a selection of the brilliant guests we've welcomed onto the show. We hear from Jane Fallon, Chris van Tulleken, Julian Barnes, David Mitchell and more. We thank you for tuning in, and we'll see you in 2024. Happy holidays. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to leave us a review – it really helps! To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by national treasure and bestselling author, Sebastian Faulks. Together they they discuss the tweet that helped inspire his latest book, The Seventh Son, his thoughts on imposter Syndrome and humility, the influence of George Orwell on his political outlook, and a magical riverbank he discovered in France. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to leave us a review – it really helps! To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by Booker Longlisted author, C Pam Zhang. Together they discuss Zhang's latest novel, The Land of Milk and Honey, as well as the effects of extreme wealth on the human psyche, the place of pleasure and joy in human existence, the many expectations still placed upon women, and the literary benefits of being a marginalised writer. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to leave us a review – it really helps! To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the Penguin Podcast, Nihal Arthanayake is joined by one of our time's most important moral philosophers and animal rights activists, Peter Singer. In this episode, they discuss Singer's experience of animal rights in the 70s compared to now, what inspired him to begin campaigning for the rights of animals, the importance of suffering in determining rights, and his views on the rise of veganism. Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and don't forget to leave us a review – it really helps! To find out more about the #PenguinPodcast, visit www.penguin.co.uk/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.