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Roddy Doyle joins Tom’s Book Club to talk about A Ghostly Little Book, a new collection of contemporary ghost stories from five acclaimed writers. Ghost stories have fascinated writers for centuries, from Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens to Shirley Jackson and Toni Morrison. In A Ghostly Little Book, Roddy Doyle is joined by Olga Ravn, Eliza Clark, Tom Crewe and Helen Oyeyemi, each offering a different take on what a ghost story can be — from strange and unsettling to funny, moving and genuinely frightening. In this conversation, Roddy Doyle discusses where his story came from, what makes a great ghost story and the difference between writing a short story and a novel. We recorded the conversation the day after the 2026 Booker Prize shortlist was announced, giving us the chance to look back at Roddy's experience as Chair of the Booker Prize judges in 2025. He talks about the experience of reading so many novels as a judge, how it changed the way he reads, and what it was like returning to the Booker Prize more than 30 years after winning it himself. Roddy Doyle won the Booker Prize in 1993 for Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha and is the author of thirteen novels, as well as books for children, plays and screenplays. If you're interested in Roddy Doyle, A Ghostly Little Book, ghost stories, Irish literature, the Booker Prize, contemporary fiction, short stories, writing and the creative process, this episode offers an in-depth conversation with one of Ireland's most celebrated writers. A Ghostly Little Book is out now. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hernan Diaz joins Tom’s Book Club to talk about Ply, his new novel set centuries in the future. Diaz is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust, which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In Ply, an orphan grows up to become a “pincher”, someone who steals electricity from the grid to sell on the black market. When she finds herself being followed, she is drawn into a mystery involving a groundbreaking experiment that could change the fabric of reality. In this conversation, Diaz discusses the origins of Ply, creating its distinctive future world and why he doesn't consider it simply a dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel. He talks about technology, what it means to be human, as well as the research behind the novel, including his time at CERN and its influence on the book's physics. Diaz also discusses the importance of music to his writing, his decision to write longhand with a fountain pen, and what winning the Pulitzer Prize for Trust changed about his life and work. If you’re interested in Hernan Diaz, Ply, Trust, science fiction, literary fiction, technology, writing and the future, this episode offers an in-depth conversation with one of contemporary literature’s most acclaimed authors. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Boyne joins Tom’s Book Club to talk about his new novel, The Weight of Angels, an imaginative reworking of the life of Oscar Wilde that asks what might have happened if Wilde had made a different decision at a crucial moment in his life. In February 1895, the Marquess of Queensberry left his infamous calling card at the Albemarle Club, accusing Wilde of being a “posing Somdomite”. Wilde chose to sue for libel, setting in motion the events that would lead to his arrest, imprisonment, public disgrace and eventual death in Paris. But what if he had simply ignored the card? In The Weight of Angels, John Boyne imagines an alternative life for Oscar Wilde — one in which he avoids the court case and lives on into the twentieth century, encountering figures including Winston Churchill, Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw, Emmeline Pankhurst and Rudyard Kipling. In this conversation, John Boyne discusses the challenge of recreating Oscar Wilde’s distinctive voice, writing historical fiction, and how he decided which real people and events to bring into Wilde’s imagined life. He talks about Wilde’s wit, fatherhood, and the complicated relationship between writers and the literary world. Boyne also reflects on his own writing career and what he has learned about writing after decades as a novelist. John Boyne is the author of 16 novels, including The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Heart’s Invisible Furies, the Elements Quartet and The Weight of Angels. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louise Kennedy joins Tom’s Book Club to talk about her new novel, Stations, a powerful story of friendship, love, family and the long shadows cast by the choices we make when we are young. Set between Ireland in the 1980s and London, Stations follows Róisín McCaffrey, a teenage girl who becomes fascinated by Red, a sharp, intelligent and troubled boy who quickly becomes her closest friend. When Red leaves Ireland for London, Róisín eventually follows him, finding herself drawn into a complicated relationship that will continue to shape both their lives for decades. In this conversation, Louise Kennedy discusses where Stations came from, the return of Róisín - who first appeared in her short story Belladonna - and the challenge of writing characters whose lives unfold over many years. She talks about adolescence, the importance of London to the novel, and how memories from her own life found their way into the story. Louise also reflects on family relationships, writing across different periods of a character’s life, and her journey from a nearly 30-year career as a chef to becoming an award-winning novelist. Louise Kennedy is the author of Trespasses, which won the British Book Award for Debut Fiction, and was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her short-story collection, The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac, won the John McGahern Prize. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabel Allende joins Tom’s Book Club to talk about Storytelling: A Masterclass in Crafting Stories, her guide to the art and craft of writing after more than 50 years as a writer. One of the world’s most widely read and celebrated authors, Allende is best known for The House of the Spirits, her acclaimed debut novel, as well as books including City of the Beasts, Paula and A Long Petal of the Sea. Her work has sold more than 77 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 40 languages. In Storytelling, Allende draws on decades of experience as a writer to explore where stories come from, how characters develop, finding your voice, overcoming fear and what makes a story emotionally powerful. In this conversation, she discusses the lessons she has learned throughout her writing career and what she has discovered about storytelling after more than two dozen novels. If you’re interested in Isabel Allende, creative writing, writing advice, novel writing, storytelling, literary fiction, character development or the writing process, this episode offers an unusually personal insight into the craft from one of contemporary literature’s most accomplished authors. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek Owusu joins Tom’s Book Club to discuss his powerful new novel, The Recovery House — a moving and darkly funny story about mental health, creativity, faith, friendship and finding a way back to yourself. Jamal is a gifted young writer who wakes in a recovery house after a devastating mental breakdown. Surrounded by other patients dealing with their own struggles, he begins to find unexpected friendship, humour and connection. As music, literature and spirituality become ways of making sense of his experiences, the boundaries between illness, inspiration, God and madness begin to blur. Derek discusses how much, or how little, of his own experiences made it into the book, as well as the role of humour, the importance of music - including The Cranberries’ Zombie - his relationship with faith, discovering reading in his twenties, and how he unexpectedly became a writer. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily St. John Mandel joins Tom’s Book Club to discuss her new novel, Exit Party, a gripping and unsettling novel about parallel worlds, political division, surveillance, freedom, art and the possibility of a different future. Set in 2031, Exit Party takes us to an America at war with itself, where the Republic of California has declared independence and a seemingly ordinary party in Los Angeles becomes increasingly strange. Ari, recently released from prison, finds herself caught between different versions of reality, before the novel opens up into a second America where many of society’s greatest problems have been solved - but at the cost of constant surveillance and conformity. Emily talks about where the novel began and the challenge of creating two radically different versions of America. We discuss the book’s exploration of militias, civil conflict and the ways people become accustomed to extraordinary circumstances. We also talk about Ari, a character Emily first introduced in The Singer’s Gun, the novel’s shifting perspectives and experimental structure; and how form, doubling and parallel worlds allow Emily to explore different versions of reality. Emily also discusses the role of art and creativity in Exit Party, the connections between this novel and her wider body of work, and the recurring characters and ideas that link her novels together. Tom’s Book Club is an independent books podcast featuring conversations with contemporary authors about their books, writing and creative process. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meg Mason joins Tom’s Book Club to talk about her new novel, Sophie, Standing There a funny, candid and bittersweet story about loneliness, friendship, obsession and the unexpected ways we find connection. Meg is the author of the international bestseller Sorrow and Bliss, and in this conversation she discusses the creation of Sophie Pattison, a kind and deeply lonely woman whose life begins to change when she rediscovers the work of an author she hasn't read in years. We talk about loneliness and Meg’s own experiences of it, the emotional power of books and podcasts, and the parasocial relationships we can develop with writers we’ve never met. We also explore the world of book festivals and literary events, including the real authors who appear in the novel, Meg’s experiences of the publishing and literary world, and the inspiration behind some of the book’s funniest moments. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Atkinson joins Tom’s Book Club to discuss Our Noble Selves, her new historical novel set in post-war Britain against the backdrop of the 1951 Festival of Britain. It’s the summer of 1951, and Britain is trying to put the darkness of the Second World War behind it. Former foreign correspondent and war reporter Harry Flynn joins the eccentric team preparing the Festival of Britain, while attempting to rebuild his life after the war. But when a woman he's been seeing goes missing, Flynn finds himself under suspicion and drawn into an investigation involving a cast of unforgettable characters. In this conversation, Kate Atkinson talks about the real history behind Our Noble Selves, including the extraordinary and often eccentric details of the Festival of Britain. She discusses her writing process and how she creates characters, including one inspired by television cook Fanny Craddock. We also explore Kate’s approach to humour and why even a novel dealing with the aftermath of war can be funny. Kate Atkinson is one of Britain’s most acclaimed novelists. Her debut novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year prize. Her bestselling historical novels include Life After Life, A God in Ruins, Transcription and Shrines of Gaiety. She is also the author of the Jackson Brodie crime novels, including Case Histories and Death at the Sign of the Rook. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Ryan joins Tom’s Book Club to discuss Buckeye, his acclaimed debut novel about love, war, grief, family and the secrets that can shape generations. Set in the small town of Bonhomie, Ohio, Buckeye begins in May 1945, as the Second World War comes to an end. A chance encounter between Margaret Salt and hardware-store owner Cal Jenkins sets in motion a story that unfolds across generations, bringing together two couples - Cal and Becky, and Margaret and Felix - whose lives become intertwined in unexpected and sometimes devastating ways. In this conversation, Patrick Ryan talks about the inspiration behind Buckeye and the role his own family history played in the novel. We discuss the different ways people experience and process war, the lasting effects of trauma, and the complicated relationship between grief and forgiveness. Patrick also talks about his writing process, getting advice from Ann Patchett and why editing is far more fun than writing. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avni Doshi joins Tom’s Book Club to discuss The First House, her dark and hypnotic second novel about marriage, motherhood, divorce, power and transformation. The novel begins with a woman being told by her husband that he wants a divorce. Convinced that they have had an almost perfect marriage, she is left to pick through the ruins of their shared life while caring for their two young daughters. As the summer unfolds, memories of her marriage begin to shift, warning signs emerge, and the boundaries between reality, mythology, astrology and the natural world start to blur. In this conversation, Avni Doshi talks about the inspiration behind The First House, creating an unnamed and flawed narrator, and exploring the power dynamics within marriage and family. We discuss patriarchy, motherhood, midlife, astrology, mythology and more. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of Tom’s Book Club: Behind The Books, Tom talks to Patrice Lawrence, the newly appointed Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2026–2028, about children’s books, reading, representation and the power of stories to make young people feel seen and heard. Patrice Lawrence is the award-winning author of Orangeboy, Needle, Is That Your Mama?, Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush and Our Story Starts in Africa. A decade after the publication of Orangeboy, she takes on one of the most important roles in British children’s literature. In this conversation, Patrice discusses what it means to become Children’s Laureate, her plans for the role, and the importance of children seeing themselves reflected in books.  Patrice also reflects on her own childhood reading, the books that shaped her, the realities of writing for children today, and why she still feels guilty about an encounter with a Doctor Who companion. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debut author Katie Huttlestone joins Tom's Book Club to discuss A Healthy Appetite, a darkly funny and unsettling novel about cancer, recovery, desire and what we might sacrifice to survive. Hannah has spent a decade living with cancer. Now in her thirties, with her future seemingly disappearing before her, she's given the chance to take part in a clinical trial that could save her life. But when the treatment begins to work, Hannah's appetite returns, first for meat, despite being a committed vegetarian, and then for much more. In this episode, Katie Huttlestone talks about writing "recovery horror", drawing on her own experience of cancer, and exploring what happens after survival. We discuss Hannah's changing relationship with her body, sex and desire and the complicated reality of relying on the NHS while recognising its flaws. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Booker Prize-winning author Samantha Harvey joins Tom's Book Club to discuss her acclaimed novel Orbital, a luminous story set aboard the International Space Station that explores time, humanity and our fragile place in the universe. Recorded in 2024, the morning after Samantha Harvey's Booker Prize win, this episode revisits a conversation about the inspiration behind Orbital, writing about space, finding wonder in the everyday, and how one of the year's most celebrated novels came together. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead joins Tom's Book Club to discuss Cool Machine, the gripping final instalment in his acclaimed Harlem Trilogy. In this episode, Colson Whitehead talks about bringing the Harlem Trilogy to a close, creating one of his most memorable characters in Ray Carney, researching New York's criminal underworld, writing about ageing, art and restitution, and whether he'd ever return to these characters. He also reflects on becoming the only living novelist to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice, and the influence Star Wars has had on his writing. 📚 Buy books discussed on the podcast through the Tom’s Book Club Bookshop.org page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/TomsBookClub Tom’s Book Club may earn a small commission from purchases made through our Bookshop.org link, at no extra cost to you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.