< The Latest 2025-10-17T22:42:10+0000
The Pasadena Star-News | Fri 10/17 10:00am PST | Erik Pedersen
Do you listen to Backlisted? Then you know how satisfying it is to hear people discuss books with humor, thoughtfulness and passion.
After talking about the podcast’s upcoming U.S. shows with cohost Andy Miller, we thought it would be a good idea to put together a brief list of episodes to check out for those new to the show.
Or feel free to scan the index of episodes and start where you like.
Why Backlisted books podcast cohost Andy Miller is coming to America
Ep. 1. J.L. Carr, “A Month in the Country”
Hear how it all started back in 2015: While some things have changed – the “Leavis & Butthead” tagline is gone now, thankfully – in many ways the podcast arrived fully formed. And what a book!
Link: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/1-j-l-carr-a-month-in-the-country
Ep. 26. The first Halloween episode
One of the show’s traditions is for music and culture writer (and frequent guest of the show) Andrew Male to discuss Halloween-appropriate reading. This 2016 episode about Robert Aickman’s “Cold Hand in Mine” is a good place to start. (Or try later ones devoted to Shirley Jackson’s “We Have Always Lived In The Castle,” Edith Wharton’s “Ghosts,” or M.R. James’s “Ghost Stories of an Antiquary.”)
Link: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/24-robert-aickman-cold-hand-in-mine
Ep. 49: Anita Brookner, “Look at Me”
Miller’s adoration of Brookner’s work was a long-running theme on the show, and so this 2017 episode is a chance to have all that enthusiasm blossom into one rich conversation.
Link: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/49-anita-brookner-look-at-me
Ep. 82. Anthony Powell, “Books Do Furnish a Room”
In this 2018 Christmas special, they discuss a Powell (pronounced, “Pole”) novel from his “A Dance to the Music of Time” cycle of books. How much did I enjoy this episode? Well, it got me to read the dozen novels – and listen to Simon Vance’s fantastic audiobook narration, too.
Link: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/anthony-powell-books-do-furnish-a-room
Ep. 93. Toni Morrison, “Beloved”
Reflecting the show’s increasing interest in discussing books by American and other non-British writers, this episode explores Morrison’s classic. (For more U.S. writers, try episodes on F. Scott Fitzgerald, Joseph Heller and Ursula K. Le Guin.
Link: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/93-toni-morrison-beloved
After nearly 200 episodes, the ‘Backlisted’ podcast isn’t running out of great books
Ep. 98. Russell Hoban, “Riddley Walker”
There’s much to enjoy here: a compelling novel written in its own strange language, excellent guests (Max Porter and later cohost McCormack) and plenty to think about.
Link: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/9-russell-hoban-riddley-walker
Ep. 100. Robert Burton, “The Anatomy of Melancholy”
His Dark Materials trilogy author Philip Pullman joins the conversation about a book that seems ready-made for Andy to dig into. (See also: W.N.P. Barbellion’s “The Journal of Disappointed Man” and J.K. Huysmans’ “A Rebours.“)
Link: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/100-robert-burton-the-anatomy-of-melancholy
That’s just a small sampling. Explore the index for authors you like or want to know more about.