It’s our very first episode! We’re Hannah and Nikki and we love books, but we have very different tastes. We’re here to share our recent reads and dig deep into big bookish topics.

Book Talk

This week we discuss Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, both interms of the novel itself and the more recent film adaptation.

We discuss:

• The way the adaptation differs to the book and how it impacts the experience of reading the book, does it enhance or influence our view?
• What we think of the casting and the changes the film made to the story
• Why was Agnes painted in the particular way Maggie O’Farrell writes her
• Who is the main character?
• What Hamnet is really about, if not aShakespeare biography?
• Do the themes have any modern day relevance?
• How does motherhood impact your experience of the book?
• How authentic is it in terms of historical fact?

Current Reads

Hannah is Reading

Room 706 – Ellie Levenson
Having just finished this, Hannah reflects on how the novel explores the realities of being a working mother and wife: the invisible mental load, the complexity of identity and the truth that we’re rarely just “good” or “bad,” but capable of both. She shares her thoughts on the ending (don’t worry - no spoilers).

Nikki is Reading

House of Beckham – Tom Bower
Bower breaks down the lives of the Beckhams’ – from late 1990s Girl Power to 21st century knighthoods.

Nikki talks about how the recent family feud sparked her interest. She discusses her morbid fascination in families who live their lives so publicly and air their dirty laundry so readily.

This Episode Explores

• We explore a work of historical fiction and how that sits inhistorical fact
• How a movie affects our experience of a novel and vice versa
• What do we get from reading biographies
• Our fascination with celebrity gossip
• Families who live their lives in the public eye and howtheir values differ from Joe Bloggs
• Open endings to novels and the need for happy endings

Next Joint Read

(To be discussed in Episode 3)

A Walk in the Park – Jill Mansell

Join us - we'd love to hear your thoughts on the book!

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