A New Best Novels of All-Time List, PRH's "Strong Business Performance, and More.
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The podcast opens with a candid discussion about the media's endless cycle of 'best of' lists, focusing on The Guardian's new 100 best novels of all time project, which uses collective voting and reveals one title per day. Hosts Rebecca and Jeff express fascination with the methodology—especially the ability to see who voted for which book—and speculate on the voting patterns, noting that Salman Rushdie and Elif Shafak are among the top voters. They compare the list to The New York Times' version, highlighting how recency (like Elena Ferrante’s *My Brilliant Friend* at #51) contrasts with enduring classics like *Heart of Darkness* (ranked #41 with seven votes). The conversation then pivots to Penguin Random House’s 'strong business performance' in Q1, dissecting the numbers: sales dipped slightly, but revenues rose due to strategic divestitures, with big hits like *Project Hail Mary* and *For the Fans: K-pop Demon Hunters* driving growth. The hosts use this as a springboard to critique corporate overproduction—comparing book editions to deodorant variants—as a form of shelf-space inflation. They then dive into adaptation news: Amazon’s official series order for *Fourth Wing* with Michael B. Jordan as producer, the long-awaited *The Midnight Library* film with Florence Pugh, and Apple TV’s *Margot’s Got Money Troubles* renewal.
The Guardian's '100 best novels of all time' list uses collective voting with transparent ballot data, revealing that Salman Rushdie and Elif Shafak are among the top voters.
Penguin Random House reported 'strong business performance' despite a 100 million pound sales drop, driven by revenue growth from hit titles like *Project Hail Mary* and *For the Fans: K-pop Demon Hunters*.
Amazon has officially ordered *Fourth Wing* as a series with Michael B. Jordan as producer, though production and casting have not yet begun.
The *Midnight Library* film adaptation with Florence Pugh is moving forward with a director and screenwriter attached, with production set to begin in early 2027.
Apple TV’s *Margot’s Got Money Troubles* is renewed for a second season, with the first season covering most of the book’s plot and building a larger universe.
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The Guardian’s New '100 Best Novels of All Time' List
The hosts analyze The Guardian’s new collective-voting list of the 100 best novels of all time, noting its daily reveal format and the ability to see who voted for which book. They speculate on voting patterns and compare it to The New York Times list, highlighting the contrast between recency and enduring classics.
Penguin Random House’s 'Strong Business Performance' – What It Really Means
The hosts dissect PRH’s Q1 earnings report, explaining that while sales dipped slightly, revenues increased due to strategic divestitures. They attribute the 'strong performance' to blockbuster titles like *Project Hail Mary* and *For the Fans: K-pop Demon Hunters*, and use this to critique corporate overproduction and shelf-space inflation.
Adaptation News: *Fourth Wing*, *The Midnight Library*, and *Good Omens*
The hosts break down major adaptation announcements: Amazon’s official series order for *Fourth Wing* with Michael B. Jordan, the *Midnight Library* film with Florence Pugh, and the bittersweet conclusion of *Good Omens* with a single 90-minute episode. They reflect on the cultural weight of these adaptations and the ethical complexities behind them.
The Decline of 'Rich People Problems' Novels and the Rise of Authenticity
The hosts share a personal shift in taste, arguing that modern 'rich people problems' novels feel hollow and uninteresting due to the erosion of friction in daily life. They advocate for 'friction maxing'—intentionally embracing inconvenience—as a path to authenticity and human connection.
“is like reading Gilead. Wow. Yes! I know! And I thought I was having an original thought about that. Like, this feels like Gilead to me. And when I finished the book, I turned it over and Min Jin Lee refers to Gilead in her blurb. So I did not have an original thought, but at least I'm in the club with Min Jin Lee.”
“just, I'm not interested. I don't care about their apartments. I don't care about their shoes. I don't care if they're concerned. Like I just don't care. I find myself, I care about the artwork in the worlds of the artwork and how it's orthogonal to really rich people because that's the grease that keeps those wheels turning.”
“really fundamental way about the lives of rich people. I just... Like they're just not interesting? Just not. Maybe someone can say something interesting, but I've read The Great Gatsby. I've done all of this stuff for a long... I read Bonfire of the Bandages. I saw the material. It's like, I don't know what someone can say to me about really... I just read Last Night in”
Host
penguin random house
organization
the guardian
organization
douglas stuart
person
neil gaiman
person
11 reader
brand
michael b. jordan
person
florence pugh
person
merit beauty
brand
salman rushdie
person
terry pratchett
person
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