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Between the Covers: Favourite reads from Vick Hope, Rob Delaney, Rick Stein and Rachel Parris

17 May 2021

BBC Two's book club Between the Covers is back on our screens on Monday nights. Each week, Sara Cox invites her guests to share their favourite reads of all time. Read on for the eclectic books chosen by this week's panel of Vick Hope, Rob Delaney, Rick Stein and Rachel Parris.

Between the Covers brings the nation together through a shared love of reading. Four guests review the week’s book club picks and, for each of the next six weeks, reveal the books they treasure as their all-time favourites. This week, we feature the choices of Vick Hope, Rob Delaney, Rick Stein and Rachel Parris.

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Episode 2 Recommendations

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

Chosen by Vick Hope

Swing Time is the tale of two girls who meet at a West London dance class and then lose touch. The book deals with music, identity, race and class.

I danced through the pages of it like the protagonist does.
Vick Hope

Vick says: “Zadie Smith has bigger books … but sometimes it’s when you find that book and it’s just the perfect moment and it means everything. I was at a stage when I’d just moved to London and was trying make something of myself, trying to be someone and also trying to negotiate my racial identity, my cultural identity and it was like she [Zadie Smith] was helping me.

I danced through the pages of it like the protagonist does. It’s a really special piece of work. I think a good book is one you can lose yourself in and find yourself in, and that’s what I did with Swing Time.”

Presenter and journalist Vick Hope chooses Swing Time

A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin

Chosen by Rob Delaney

A collection of 43 stories about women in various demanding jobs, published posthumously thanks to the drive of Lucia Berlin’s creative writing students.

She had a very difficult life … but she couldn’t stop herself from writing.
Rob Delaney

Rob says: “One of the things I like most about her [Lucia Berlin] is not that the stories are amazing, because they all absolutely are, but the way that she wrote is what’s exciting to me.

She had a very difficult life … but she couldn’t stop herself from writing. She doesn’t use a lot of flowery language, which I really don’t like. The stories are so amazing and she just had to tell them and you can really feel that in this collection. I think it’s as good as it gets.”

Actor and comedian Rob Delaney chooses A Manual for Cleaning Women

The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

Chosen by Rick Stein

Considered one of the most important modern Italian novels, The Leopard chronicles the changes in Sicilian life and society during the unification and independence of Italy.

It just looks at everything with a clear eye.
Rick Stein

Rick says: “It is so voluptuous. If you like sensual description, whatever part of the book you open, you’re just lost in this wonderful detail.

I think that’s why it’s such a great book. It just looks at everything with a clear eye.”

Chef and presenter Rick Stein chooses The Leopard

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Chosen by Rachel Parris

The Name of the Wind is the first book of fantasy trilogy The Kingkiller Chronicle, and it tells the story of Kvothe, an unassuming innkeeper, and his journey from orphan to a dangerous school of magic.

It does that thing that you want from fantasy: it creates this whole world.
Rachel Parris

Rachel says: “I like books that are quite far departed from real life. I like to lose myself in something very different.

This is a such a good example of recent fantasy. I think it’s really poetic and beautiful and it does that thing that you want from fantasy: it creates this whole world.”

Comedian Rachel Parris chooses The Name of the Wind

Rob Delaney and reading #couplegoals

Rob shares his reading habits, including how he and his wife read to each other in bed.

More Books from BBC Arts

Between the Covers: Favourite reads chosen by Sara Cox's guests