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The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast

Trevor Berrett
Literature
Books
Grief
Identity
Cormac Mccarthy
Memory
Virginia Woolf
Poetry
Kazuo Ishiguro
Jane Austen
George Eliot
Translation
Literary Completionism
Historical Fiction
Women In Translation Month
The Remains Of the Day
Lesser Ruins
Roberto Bolaño
2023 Books
Book Recommendations

In each episode Trevor Berrett and Paul Wilson have a pleasant conversation about books and reading. Visit our blog at mookseandgripes.com/reviews. Follow us on Twitter @mookse and @bibliopaul. Email mookseandgripes@gmail.com. mookse.substack.com

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes136Founded5 years ago
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BooksArts

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Artwork for The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast

Latest Episodes

Every season we tell ourselves we’ll be more selective. Every season publishers respond by announcing another avalanche of books we want to read!

In this episode, we look ahead to the second half of 2026, sharing the forthcoming novels, nonfiction, ... more

Every ten episodes, Trevor and Paul pause their usual reading discussions to spend time with a single author. This time: William Faulkner.

After recent journeys through As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, Light in August, and Absalom, Absalom!, ... more

What draws us beyond a writer’s books and into their life? Why do some authors inspire us to seek out letters, journals, interviews, and biographies while others remain known to us only through their work? In this episode, Trevor and Paul are joined ... more

For the second installment in our series on the three pieces of a book, we turn from beginnings to that more difficult territory: the middle. What happens in the middle of a book? Is it simply the space connecting a strong opening to a satisfying end... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

James Bailey
Dr. James Bailey, author of Like a Cat Loves a Bird, The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark
Author, biographer
Episode: Episode 134: Authors' Lives
Abigail Dunn
Publicist at NYRB Classics
New York Review Books (NYRB)
Episode: Episode 131: Trust the Spine: On the Pleasure and Riches of NYRB Books
Nick During
Publicist at NYRB Classics
New York Review Books (NYRB)
Episode: Episode 131: Trust the Spine: On the Pleasure and Riches of NYRB Books
Luis Panini
Guest, reader and writer with a focus on reading projects
Episode: Episode 129: Reading with a Plan: The Joys and Complications of Reading Projects
Alina Stefanescu
An avid reader and book enthusiast
Episode: Episode 122: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2025, Part II
Laurie Feathers
A book club member and literary enthusiast
NYRB Women
Episode: Episode 122: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2025, Part II
Ron Restrepo
A passionate reader and commentator on literature
Episode: Episode 122: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2025, Part II
Dorian Stuber
A reader and literary critic
Episode: Episode 122: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2025, Part II
Kim McNeil
A book lover and NYRB Women member
NYRB Women
Episode: Episode 122: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2025, Part II

Hosts

Trevor Berrett
Host of The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast; long-time literary enthusiast and reviewer.
Paul Wilson
Co-host with a wide-ranging literary palate, co-host of discussions on books and publishing.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 109 ratings
  • Javier Marias

    Thank you both so much for taking the time to speak about JM! I’m totally wrapped up in him and in complete awe and hunted down your podcast because I had to hear what people were thinking about him and what they knew. Best!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Madrid in Brooklyn
    United States6 months ago
  • Book talk I enjoy

    Lovely to find a book discussion off the beaten paths

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Valsmyname
    United Statesa year ago
  • Incredible source to explode your TBR!

    Trevor and Paul offer a plethora of classics, new and old, that are off the beaten path of literary fiction.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kmvandergrift
    United Statesa year ago
  • a favorite!

    excellent!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    campstripe
    United Statesa year ago
  • Wonderful podcast

    I absolutely love this podcast. It’s like chatting with friends about books-it’s perfect. I always come away with lots of great recommendations. Keep up the great work guys 👍🏻📖

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elizabeths bookcase
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the hosts' engaging, friendly banter and deep love of books.
Guests and topics are consistently insightful, with strong publishing industry context.
The show is a reliable source of varied, often offbeat book recommendations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#240
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#202
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#220
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#233
Belgium/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 134: Authors' Lives
Q: Why is the title Like a Cat Loves a Bird, and how does this imagery guide your biographical method?
Bailey explains Spark's nature—restless, playful, calculating—and how he used the cat-bird metaphor to structure a biography that follows multiple life fragments rather than a single definitive arc.
Episode 134: Authors' Lives
Q: James, what surprised you most in writing this book compared to your previous work?
Bailey discusses how the perceived ease of Spark's writing contrasted with the extensive archival work and the careful, fragmentary portrayal that illuminated how her life fed into her fiction.
Episode 125: Flannery O'Connor
Q: What were your thoughts on this novel?
I think it's fair to say that O'Connor is known as a short story writer, and those novels are masterpieces too.
Episode 88: Women in Translation
Q: What brought you to translation and what are some of the things that you find appealing about it?
I'm grateful for the work of translators. It’s a mix for me at this point; there are books I love and translate for fun and interest, and some that come as commissions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast

What is The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts discuss books, reading habits, and publishing with a warm, thoughtful cadence. Episodes commonly explore reading practices, favourite titles, and thematic threads like genre-defying works, reading projects, curation of libraries, and book culture communities. Guests range from publicists and publishers to readers and critics, offering insider perspectives on publishing, translations, and editorial choices. The show is notable for its friendly banter, broad literary appetites, and practical takeaways for listeners who love thoughtful recommendations and behind-the-scenes publishing stories.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast:

1. One Bright Book
2. Backlisted
3. London Review Bookshop Podcast
4. The Book Club Review
5. Take Four Books

How many episodes of The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast are there?

The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 136 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast?

Recent guests on The Mookse and the Gripes Podcast include:

1. James Bailey
2. Abigail Dunn
3. Nick During
4. Luis Panini
5. Alina Stefanescu
6. Laurie Feathers
7. Ron Restrepo
8. Dorian Stuber

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