Arts

The Bibliofilles

The Bibliofilles began, as all great modern love stories do, on Facebook during Lockdown. Sophie asked for a recommendation. Chaya prescribed The Song of Achilles. A DM became a dialogue; a dialogue became @thebibiliofilles; and now, finally, a podcast.

Chaya is a barrister, Sophie a former editor. We read across all genres and trends, from classics and non fiction, to contemporary fiction, romantasy and everything in between.

The Bibliofilles: The Podcast is life through books, where we get to ruminate beyond the reviews and reels, with thematic episodes, academic deep dives, classics, cult favourites and viral sensations.

There will be a book club built for those of us who never quite fit the mould. (with a twist, naturally).

Latest Episodes:

Is Everyone Wrong About Klara and the Sun? Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

Was Klara and the Sun really that bad, or have the critics got it wrong?

Taika Waititi’s film of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun has had one-star reviews and accusations of sentimentality. Some critics say it misunderstands the novel completely. Chaya and Sophie of The Bibliofilles have both seen it. Chaya loved it, and Sophie liked it but prefers the book “a million times over”. They ask whether the reviews are warranted, then go on to the bigger questions the story raises about AI, faith, grief and what makes us human.

📚 We discuss:

•⁠ ⁠Why critics have called the film twee, and whether sentimentality makes a story less intelligent

•⁠ ⁠A quiet, first-person Ishiguro novel on screen: what survives the adaptation and what is lost

•⁠ ⁠How the film changes the family story and the ending, and softens the genetic enhancement storyline

•⁠ ⁠Why “Klara is chat in 20 years”: AI flattery and the artificial friend

•⁠ ⁠Klara, the sun and our search for meaning: Ra, Amaterasu and why people reach for faith in a crisis

•⁠ ⁠What makes a person human, from Descartes to Derek Parfit’s Reasons and Persons and Altered Carbon

•⁠ ⁠Genetic enhancement and the “lifted” children: who gets access, and what risk would you take for your child?

•⁠ ⁠Grief, anticipatory grief and whether bringing someone back would help

•⁠ ⁠Would you want to live forever?

•⁠ ⁠Why Never Let Me Go is the book to read next

•⁠ ⁠Sophie and Chaya’s November book club picks

Have you seen the film? Were the critics right, or was it unfairly panned? Tell us in the comments, and let us know which Ishiguro novel we should tackle next.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share it with a fellow book lover.

#TheBibliofilles #KlaraAndTheSun #KazuoIshiguro #TaikaWaititi #BookTok #BookToScreen #FilmVsBook #BookAdaptation #NeverLetMeGo #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Literature #Books #Reading #BookClub

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They Were Robbed: Scandal in Bookland Oct 26, 2026

Show notes

Who really deserves to win a literary prize, and which of the greatest authors in history have been overlooked? 📚🏆 In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya dive into the biggest scandals, controversies and shocking snubs in the history of literary awards. From Nobel Prize drama to Booker Prize rebellions, they explore why some of the world's most celebrated books have been overlooked, why certain winners spark outrage, and whether literary prizes really reflect the best of literature. The conversation explores some of the most controversial moments in literary history, including Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, the 2018 Nobel Prize cancellation following a major scandal, the Booker Prize judges defying the rules to award the prize jointly to Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo, and the Pulitzer Prize jury's recommendation of Gravity's Rainbow being overruled. Sophie and Chaya also look at the authors who never received the recognition they deserved. From Leo Tolstoy and F. Scott Fitzgerald to James Baldwin, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce and Haruki Murakami, they ask why so many literary giants missed out on major awards. Plus, they discuss Toni Morrison's Beloved, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy, Rohinton Mistry's overlooked novels and the controversy surrounding this year's Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Anne Carson. They also explore the role of literary gatekeepers, the lack of diversity in major literary awards, and whether prizes are about recognising the best books or simply reflecting the tastes of a select group of judges. With the Booker Prize approaching, Sophie and Chaya share their predictions, debate which shortlisted books deserve to win and reveal the novels they believe should have received more recognition. In this episode, we discuss: 🏆 The biggest scandals in the history of literary awards 📚 Bob Dylan and the controversy surrounding his Nobel Prize in Literature ⚖️ The 2019 Booker Prize controversy involving Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo 📖 Why Gravity's Rainbow was denied the Pulitzer Prize 💔 The greatest authors who never won major literary awards ✍️ Why Tolstoy, F. Scott Fitzgerald and James Baldwin were overlooked 📚 Toni Morrison, Beloved and the backlash against literary prize judges 🌍 Diversity, race and the Eurocentric history of the Nobel Prize 👀 The controversy surrounding Anne Carson's Nobel Prize win 📕 Whether literary prizes actually identify the best books 🔮 Sophie and Chaya's predictions for the upcoming Booker Prize 📚 Books Mentioned The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://link.amazon/B092P6RGa Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo 👉 https://link.amazon/B0e7noL66 Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bWy5aas Last Orders by Graham Swift 👉 https://link.amazon/B09fR3UNb As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner 👉 https://link.amazon/B0f7Rvr2K Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://link.amazon/B057icJpH A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 👉 https://link.amazon/B04NP9pYs Beloved by Toni Morrison 👉 https://link.amazon/B0fZQTXjw The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 👉 https://link.amazon/B04QLA3cG War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 👉 https://link.amazon/B010lAdmY Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 👉 https://link.amazon/B08PYjNJv Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin 👉 https://link.amazon/B06uUSjmO Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 👉 https://link.amazon/B0htzqlwH Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel 👉 https://link.amazon/B0dUi2rNN Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson 👉 https://link.amazon/B0cPc0V0T Black Bag by Luke Kennard 👉 https://link.amazon/B06lckHMM The Disappearance by Marlon James 👉 https://link.amazon/B00qau654

The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel

👉 https://link.amazon/B0hJCVtQI If you love books, literary fiction, classic novels, book recommendations, author controversies, the Booker Prize, the Nobel Prize in Literature and discussions about the books that shape our world, subscribe to The Bibliofilles for more bookish debates with Sophie and Chaya. #TheBibliofilles #BookPodcast #BookerPrize #NobelPrize #LiteraryAwards #AnneCarson #MargaretAtwood #ToniMorrison #BookRecommendations #Literature #BookTok #BookTube #Reading

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Pachinko: What Comes Next Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

What does it really take to become a writer and how do you find the courage to keep writing when you know people are going to judge your work?

In this very special episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya sit down with acclaimed author Min Jin Lee, author of Pachinko, Free Food for Millionaires and American Hagwon, for a wide-ranging conversation about books, identity, education, immigration, ambition and the craft of writing.

Min Jin Lee opens up about her unexpected journey from lawyer to novelist, why she never originally thought writing was a “real job”, and how books have shaped her entire life. She also explains why she sees herself first and foremost as a reader and why she believes the relationship between a writer and their reader is something genuinely special.

The conversation dives deep into American Hagwon, a multi-generational family story exploring education, ambition, identity, family expectations and the immigrant experience. Min Jin Lee discusses the research behind the novel, the complexities of the hagwon education system, and why we need to question the systems we assume are simply “normal”.

She also reflects on growing up between Korea and America, the experience of feeling like an outsider in both places, and how immigration and identity have shaped her characters and storytelling.

There’s also a fascinating discussion about parental expectations, the lives we don't live, hidden talents, religion, ambition and the gifts we leave unexplored plus Min Jin Lee reveals what her next novel is about.

And yes, we also talk about Pachinko. 📚

In this episode, we discuss:

Min Jin Lee's journey from lawyer to writer
Why books “saved her life”
The making of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko
American Hagwon and the pressure of education
The immigrant experience and cultural identity
Korean hagwon education and academic pressure
Parenting, ambition and inherited expectations
Religion, community and hierarchy
How Min Jin Lee approaches research and character development
Why she doesn't think of writing as self-expression
Trusting readers rather than worrying about critics
The inspiration behind her next novel, Marshall Plan

📚 Books Mentioned

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 👉 https://link.amazon/B0g85u4Pb

American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee 👉 https://link.amazon/B0dLwhE31

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 👉 https://link.amazon/B08pJTcA2

A House for Mr Biswas by V. S. Naipaul 👉 https://link.amazon/B0fr0lSre

Clay Walls by R. K. Narayan 👉 https://link.amazon/B07N3fO5g

If you love books, literature, reading, book recommendations, author interviews, literary fiction and behind-the-book conversations, subscribe to The Bibliofilles for more.

#TheBibliofilles #MinJinLee #Pachinko #AmericanHagwon #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #Books #BookTok #BookTube #Literature #Reading #BookRecommendations #FreeFoodForMillionaires

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Books That Will Make You ADDICTED To Reading Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

Struggling to get into reading? Think you’re just not a book person? You might simply not have found the right book yet. In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Chaya and Sophie share the books they believe can turn even the most reluctant reader into someone who can’t put a book down.

From gripping true crime and psychological thrillers to epic fantasy, historical fiction, romance and literary classics, they explore the stories that pull you in, keep you turning the pages and stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. Whether you’re stuck in a reading slump, looking for your next obsession or hoping to get back into books after years away, there’s something here for every kind of reader.

They discuss why certain genres hook us, how finding books that match your existing interests can transform your relationship with reading, and why you don’t need to be a lifelong bookworm to fall in love with a great story. Expect controversial opinions, personal favourites and plenty of recommendations to add to your TBR.

👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇

True Crime & Non-Fiction

Penance by Eliza Clark

👉 https://link.amazon/B08I5PvRK

Notes on an Execution

👉 https://link.amazon/B0dkiQTo1

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

👉 https://link.amazon/B0d5YFd2t

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

👉 https://link.amazon/B07YSr5un

Educated by Tara Westover

👉 https://link.amazon/B09bEMGYt

Careless People

👉 https://link.amazon/B0aMFT9xM

Historical Fiction & Epic Stories

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

👉 https://link.amazon/B0aZG5F5R

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

👉 https://link.amazon/B03ri1vAn

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

👉 https://link.amazon/B01SVgibJ

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

👉https://link.amazon/B0ialQhGv

The Women by Kristin Hannah

👉 https://link.amazon/B0ddV9oWb

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

👉 https://link.amazon/B01U9gkYr

Classics & Literary Fiction

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

👉https://link.amazon/B0hNYWmog

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

👉 https://link.amazon/B01Vjqf61

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

👉 https://link.amazon/B08JBGtoz

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky

👉 https://link.amazon/B04ak2jBw

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

👉 https://link.amazon/B0jk0l7GI

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

👉 https://link.amazon/B04xnnJE2

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

👉 https://link.amazon/B0iT51VAf

Thrillers, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

👉https://link.amazon/B0fLaUUlN

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

👉 https://link.amazon/B0iC37Ww4

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

👉 https://link.amazon/B04EqAnXa

The Devils

👉 https://link.amazon/B00da3BES

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

👉 https://link.amazon/B0fSXQpxs

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

👉 https://link.amazon/B0hJAPWcV

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

👉 https://link.amazon/B0gk1RsOJ

Romance, Relationships & Unforgettable Characters

Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

👉 https://link.amazon/B0iTKk7fJ

People in Love by Claire Daverley

👉 https://link.amazon/B02MhvXs8

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

👉 https://link.amazon/B07KCpyg9

Disappoint Me

👉 https://link.amazon/B01GqoXJ0

My Friends

👉 https://link.amazon/B0f4uZOzt

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

👉 https://link.amazon/B02QWIHDo

Ordinary Love

👉https://link.amazon/B0iopAbAs

Mythology & Other Must-Reads:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

👉 https://link.amazon/B059YgqjF

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

👉 https://link.amazon/B09G0mJJm

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

👉 https://link.amazon/B0fuf8seY

Wild Dark Shore

👉 https://link.amazon/B02qnmC8j

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya.

#Bibliofilles #BookRecommendations #BookTok #BookTube #BookLovers #BookClub #BooksToRead #MustReadBooks #ReadingRecommendations #ReadingSlump #BookAddict #BookObsessed #Bookish

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The Truth About East of Eden Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Is Netflix’s East of Eden getting Cathy Ames completely wrong?

Sophie and Chaya discuss John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, the new Netflix series starring Florence Pugh, and the huge controversy surrounding its interpretation of Cathy Ames.

Is Netflix’s East of Eden faithful to the book? Why has Cathy Ames been rewritten as a more sympathetic character? And what does Steinbeck actually say about good, evil, free will and the power of choice?

In this episode of The Bibliofilles, we compare the East of Eden book and Netflix series, exploring the biggest changes to Cathy, the Trask brothers, the Hamilton family and the central themes of Steinbeck’s classic novel.

We also discuss “Timshel”, the biblical story of Cain and Abel, Steinbeck’s letters and the real-life inspirations behind East of Eden.

📚 We discuss:

• East of Eden by John Steinbeck

• The Netflix East of Eden adaptation

• Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames

• Cathy Ames: evil or misunderstood?

• East of Eden book vs TV series

• The meaning of Timshel

• Cain and Abel and the themes of good vs evil

• Free will and the power of choice

• The Trask and Hamilton families

• Steinbeck’s inspiration and personal life

• The biggest differences between the book and Netflix adaptation

If you’re watching East of Eden on Netflix, reading John Steinbeck’s novel, or looking for an East of Eden book vs series comparison, this episode dives into everything you need to know.

What do you think about Netflix’s version of Cathy Ames? Does the adaptation change the meaning of Steinbeck’s original story?

Our brand new East of Eden Falling Further companion, which we do reference in today’s podcast episode can be purchased in two ways…

Paid subscribers on Substack receive all our past & future companions for free, together with bonus podcast content, personal articles and more! As well as East of Eden, we also have The Odyssey & The Secret History guides published, with so many more in the works. To sign up for the cost of a coffee a month click here ⬇️

https://wearethebibliofilles.substack.com/subscribe

You can also purchase the East of Eden falling further companion as a standalone product below ⬇️

https://thebibliofilles.com/companions/

We hope this brings the text to life, as it did for us and thank you for supporting two obsessive writers!

Enjoy the pod!

Love,

Chaya and Sophie

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya.

#TheBibliofilles #BookPodcast #EastOfEden #JohnSteinbeck #EastOfEdenNetflix #FlorencePugh #Netflix #BookTube #BookReview #TheBibliofilles

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Undercover With The Far Right Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

What happens when you go undercover inside the far right and discover how easily dangerous ideas can become normalised?

In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya dive into Harry Shukman’s The Year of the Rat, a gripping work of investigative nonfiction that follows Shukman as he spends more than a year undercover inside far-right groups using a hidden camera and the alias “Chris.”

From secret pub meetings and Holocaust denial to loneliness, online radicalisation and the communities that draw people into extremist movements, Sophie and Chaya explore what Shukman discovered while moving between nine different groups.

The conversation also takes a deeper look at some of the book’s most unsettling themes, including eugenics, IVF, falling birth rates, embryo screening, Silicon Valley funding and the ways dangerous ideas can be presented as completely ordinary.

They discuss the morality of undercover journalism, the psychological tension of gaining the trust of people whose beliefs you fundamentally oppose, and Shukman’s own conflict over whether he was helping the very groups he was investigating.

The episode also explores the book’s criticisms, including arguments that Shukman’s definition of the far right is too broad, before comparing The Year of the Rat with Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and its themes of identity, disguise and living a double life.

📚 Books Mentioned The Year of the Rat by Harry Shukman
👉 https://link.amazon/B0iHxjhnC

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
👉 https://link.amazon/B0ff8BFt1

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
👉 https://link.amazon/B0jd1dgu5

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
👉 https://link.amazon/B009dtWNa

The Odyssey by Homer
👉 https://link.amazon/B009dtWNa

What do you think draws people towards extremist communities? And can dangerous ideas become normal simply because they are presented in a convincing or familiar way?

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations, literary debates, book recommendations and deep dives with Chaya & Sophie.

If you love books, reading, literature, nonfiction, investigative journalism, classic novels, contemporary fiction and literary discussions, make sure you're subscribed to The Bibliofilles.

#TheBibliofilles #BookPodcast #TheYearOfTheRat #HarryShukman #Books #BookTok #BookTube #Literature #Reading #BookRecommendations #Nonfiction #LiteraryPodcast #OscarWilde #DorianGray

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You Won’t Believe These Are Real Books Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Is fiction getting weirder? This week on Bibliofilles, Chaya and Sophie dive into the wonderfully strange world of weird books, exploring some of the most bizarre, surreal and completely unexpected stories they’ve come across. From women falling in love with bears, planes and even a front door, to characters transforming into insects, dogs and other creatures, there are some books where the premise alone makes you stop and think: how did someone even come up with this? Chaya and Sophie unpack what makes these stories so strange, why authors are drawn to the bizarre, and whether there’s something about weird fiction that makes certain books impossible to forget. Expect bizarre plots, unconventional romances, surreal storytelling and plenty of books that are almost impossible to explain to someone who hasn’t read them. What’s the weirdest book you’ve ever read? 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya. #Bibliofilles #BookPodcast #BookRecommendations #WeirdBooks #StrangeBooks #FictionBooks #BookClub #BookTok #BookTube #LiteraryFiction

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You Know the Book. You Don't Know Its Real Name. Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Why are some of the most famous books in history called what they are? And what if they had kept their original titles?

In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya dive into the fascinating world of book titles, literary titles and the stories behind them including famous novels that were almost given completely different names.

From The Secret History originally being considered as The God of Illusions, to Pride and Prejudice almost becoming First Impressions, 1984 being considered as The Last Man in Europe, and To Kill a Mockingbird nearly being called Atticus, we explore how much a title can change the way we see a book.

They also look at the phenomenon of the "title drop", those brilliant moments when you suddenly realise why a book has been given its name and how titles can become bigger than the books themselves.

Plus, we're joined by bestselling author Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss and Sophie, Staring There, to talk about how she creates her book titles, why Sophie, Staring There was originally called Lilac, and how much a title can shape the writing process.

📚 Books Mentioned

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

👉 https://link.amazon/B047aiP9D

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

👉 https://link.amazon/B09p14rnN

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

👉 https://link.amazon/B0iGu7djN

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

👉 https://link.amazon/B0eifZY86

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

👉 https://link.amazon/B00UOOQrx

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

👉 https://link.amazon/B0g0z2BY5

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

👉 https://link.amazon/B0cFQ407B

Dracula by Bram Stoker

👉 https://link.amazon/B00bOgUH9

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

👉 https://link.amazon/B03bkVwbD

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

👉 https://link.amazon/B06WOa116

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

👉 https://link.amazon/B0jgs2dCs

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

👉 https://link.amazon/B07Py3TA1

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

👉 https://link.amazon/B00ha1Vmk

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling

👉 https://link.amazon/B0jaN8TpF

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

👉 https://link.amazon/B090VVmIb

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

👉 https://link.amazon/B0iRJO5dn

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

👉 https://link.amazon/B09A20K1h

Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason

👉 https://link.amazon/B0dJ9P7fW

What’s a book title that you think is absolutely perfect? And what book do you think should have had a completely different name?

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations, literary debates, book recommendations and deep dives with Chaya & Sophie.

If you love books, reading, literature, classic novels, contemporary fiction, book recommendations and literary trivia, make sure you're subscribed to The Bibliofilles.

#TheBibliofilles #BookPodcast #BookTok #BookTube #BookClub #Books #Reading #Literature #BookRecommendations #BookLovers #Bookish #LiteraryPodcast #ClassicBooks #ContemporaryFiction #MegMason

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The Syllabus Exposed: Who’s Really Behind It? Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya are back from their summer holidays with their September Book Club picks — The Year of the Rat by Harry Shukman and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde — before diving into a much bigger question: who actually decides what we read? Inspired by new developments in Texas, where a mandatory school reading list includes more than 200 texts alongside Bible passages, Sophie and Chaya explore the politics of education, literary syllabuses and the power that comes with deciding which books students are exposed to. They look back at their own experiences of studying English, from The Great Gatsby, Frankenstein and War Poetry to The Go-Between, and ask whether students should have more choice over the books they study. The conversation then takes a deeper turn into university funding, foreign donations and the influence money can have on education, research and academic institutions. How much influence should donors have? Where does university funding come from? And can we really separate money, politics and what gets taught? Plus, Sophie and Chaya reveal the books they think should be on everyone's syllabus, including Toni Morrison, The Secret History, Giovanni's Room, Never Let Me Go, 1984 and more. Is there really such a thing as a neutral syllabus? And who gets to decide what the next generation reads? 📚 Books Mentioned The Year of the Rat by Harry Shukman 👉 https://link.amazon/B04jA3HWV The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bUQ9I4G To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 👉 https://link.amazon/B0gNt1tL0 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 👉 https://link.amazon/B0awcdlLf Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bGQuaRH The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare 👉 https://link.amazon/B0cEz42Jj Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 👉 https://link.amazon/B01PWmQRu Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White 👉 https://link.amazon/B0hPvrxRS Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 👉 https://link.amazon/B0dxjifSF The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope 👉 https://link.amazon/B0iNQ493Z Sula by Toni Morrison 👉 https://link.amazon/B025v28K1 Beloved by Toni Morrison 👉 https://link.amazon/B04pm2BVP The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 👉 https://link.amazon/B064Bls4P The Secret History by Donna Tartt 👉 https://link.amazon/B0iBtIh8V Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin 👉 https://link.amazon/B06CMKsOs Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 👉 https://link.amazon/B05B8w9ik Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell 👉 https://link.amazon/B04hFuY1N Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 👉 https://link.amazon/B0c6tqJ31 Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bVI15Aa Mythos by Stephen Fry 👉 https://link.amazon/B0cfHtSmF I, Claudius by Robert Graves 👉 https://link.amazon/B01YLuLg1 Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall 👉 https://link.amazon/B01ofGRPf One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bQKuN04 The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien 👉 https://link.amazon/B01V4NdmR Translations by Brian Friel 👉 https://link.amazon/B013y1XWF The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank 👉 https://link.amazon/B0gxXgiSi Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell 👉 https://link.amazon/B05EuH7Yh 📚 September Book Club Picks: The Year of the Rat — Harry Shukman The Picture of Dorian Gray — Oscar Wilde 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #TheBibliofilles #BookPodcast #BookTok #BookClub #ReadingList #Literature #Books #Education #BookRecommendations

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Luke Kennard: His Big Chance To Do Absolutely Nothing Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

We sat down with Professor Luke Kennard to talk about Black Bag, our July Book Club pick, and honestly we're still thinking about it. 🖤📚 Luke is a poet, novelist and critic. His collection Cane was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize, Notes on the Sonnets won the Forward Prize for Best Collection in 2021, and his debut novel The Transition was a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime pick. He's now a professor of literature and creative writing at the University of Birmingham, and somehow also finds time to review for the London Review of Books, the Telegraph, the Poetry Review and the TLS. Black Bag follows an out of work actor who gets paid to sit inside a black leather bag as part of a psychology experiment, based on a real 1967 study into the "mere exposure effect", the idea that we come to like almost anything just by being repeatedly exposed to it. Luke told us where the idea actually came from, how a footnote in a completely unrelated academic paper turned into an obsession, and why he was determined to make the costume weirder than the original. We talked about writing male vulnerability without writing a manosphere book, why the majority experience of a creative life is frustration rather than success, and what it's like judging his students' work while sending his own out to be judged in exactly the same way. In this episode we chat about: 📖 The real experiment behind Black Bag, and the mere exposure effect 🎭 Writing a passive protagonist who denies his own agency 🧠 Masculinity, emotional dysregulation, and writing men without being didactic about it ✍️ Why failure, not success, is the real story of a creative life 🎓 Teaching creative writing at Birmingham while his own work gets rejected too 🌀 Anne Carson's influence on the shape and rhythm of the book Head over to Substack for the extended cut, we've got a bonus quick fire round with Luke that didn't make the main episode. 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #LukeKennard #BlackBag #BookTok #BookClub #AuthorInterview #ContemporaryFiction #BritishFiction

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