PODCAST · arts
Paperback Friends
by Sam Ögren
Welcome to Paperback Friends!This is my weekly book podcast where I do book reviews, interviews and touch on a myriad of book-related topics from – Why Mind Control Sucks to How to Get Your Book Published.I think reading should be fun, but I never settle with "good" or "bad." My reviews dig deeper, and the question I usually start with: "How can I contribute to the conversations about this book?"Trust me, you've never heard book reviews quite like these.
Episodes
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Episode: 111 – [Interview] Andreas Hedberg National Library of Sweden
In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Andreas Hedberg from the National Library of Sweden. Andreas is a researcher at the National Library. We managed to cover quite a lot in this episode. How much of a book comes from the writer, and how much from the interpretation? Why…
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Episode: 110 – [General] Why Did Orwell Write?
Why did George Orwell write? In this episode of Paperback Friends, I take a look at Orwell's essay Why I Write, where he explores the four motivations he believed drive writers: ego, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and of course the aspect that made his own writing so famous. But this...
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Episode: 109 – [Review] A Man Called Ove
In this episode, we take a look at Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, a hugely popular Swedish novel about grief, loneliness, friendship, and finding a reason to keep going. The emotional beats are not bad, and the novel manages a tender moment or two, but Backman comes to represent a type of...
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Episode: 108 – [Review] Dune
In this episode of Paperback Friends, we dive into one of the most beloved science-fiction novels ever written: Dune by Frank Herbert. I have to tread lightly on this one, to avoid the drum sand and the fans… While Dune has inspired generations of readers, I found myself struggling to connect…
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Episode: 107 – [Review] Rogue Protocol
Martha Wells continues to prove why The Murderbot Diaries has become one of modern science fiction's most beloved series. In Rogue Protocol, Murderbot infiltrates an abandoned research station to uncover the truth behind GrayCris's illegal operations,but beneath the action lies a surprising story...
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Episode: 106 – [Review] Moral Ambition
Can ambition be moral? In this episode, I review Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman—a book arguing that too many of us spend our lives chasing status instead of solving meaningful problems. We talk about how Bregman builds his case through history and biography, why his arguments are surprisingly...
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Episode: 105 – [Review] Butcher's Crossing
What if the wilderness doesn't destroy you—but reveals who you really are? This week on Paperback Friends, we return to John Williams to review Butcher's Crossing, the novel that came before Stoner and helped establish Williams as one of the great overlooked American writers. We follow Will…
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Episode: 104 – [Review] The Old Curiosity Shop
Charles Dickens really is a master of craft, and padding a novel. The Old Curiosity Shop is also one of the most exhausting books I've read for the podcast. In this episode, I take a baseball bat to Dickens' fourth novel while examining why it feels so painfully slow, melodramatic, and padded –...
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Episode: 103 – [Review] The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
We’re diving into Ursula K. Le Guin for the first time on Paperback Friends with The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. It may be one of the shortest stories we’ve covered, but there’s an awful lot packed into those few thousand words. Le Guin’s writing is secondary to the question she builds the...
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Episode: 102 – [Review] Artificial Condition
We’re back with Martha Wells and The Murderbot Diaries! I really enjoyed All Systems Red, and Artificial Condition continues to show me why I like this series so much. Wells's writing is remarkable restraint, building a surprisingly complex world without drowning the story in unnecessary detail....
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Episode: 101 – [Review] To the Lighthouse
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I try to answer a question I've been asking myself ever since I finished the novel: why is this book considered such a fantastic novel? Together we explore why To the Lighthouse became a cornerstone of modernist literature, and why Woolf's...
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Episode: 100 – [Review] The Remains of the Day
Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day is my favorite novel – not because I believe it's objectively the greatest ever written, but because it was the first book that truly showed me what literature could do. It challenged me, reached me, and ultimately set me on the path that would lead to...
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Episode: 99 – [Review] The Lie Tree
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I return to Frances Hardinge with The Lie Tree, a Victorian mystery where science, religion, reputation, and social systems collide. This is a novel about deception, but more importantly, it is about the systems that decide what society believes. Hardinge...
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Episode: 98 – [General] Can You Misunderstand a Book?
What does it really mean to "not get" a novel? Can an interpretation be wrong, or are books simply open to whatever we bring to them? In this episode of Paperback Friends, we dive into one of my favorite topics: literary interpretation. We talk about what a book means, the difference between an...
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Episode: 97 – [Review] Parable of the Talents
Parable of the Sower left a massive impression on me, so I expected Parable of the Talents to hit just as hard. It didn't. At least... not in the way I expected. In this episode, we dive into Octavia E. Butler's final Earthseed novel, discussing why this sequel frustrated me, why I think its…
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Episode: 96 – [General] Why You Should Let Books Make You Uncomfortable
Some books comfort us. Others challenge us. Some make us uncomfortable, and maybe that's exactly why they're worth reading. In this episode, we talk about why stepping outside your comfort zone as a reader can be one of the most rewarding things you do. From trying new genres to taking on books...
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Episode: 95 – [Review] Life of Pi
Life of Pi is one a beloved novels of the 21st century. It has sold millions of copies, won major awards, inspired a successful film adaptation, and continues to be recommended as a modern classic. So why did I spend most of my time with it feeling bored? In this episode, we dive into Yann…
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Episode: 94 – [Review] Aurora Rising
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I review Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. A squad of academy rejects, an ancient galactic threat, a girl lost in time, and enough banter to power a small moon. Aurora Rising is one of those books that constantly reminded me that I am probably…
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Episode: 93 – [Review] The Alchemist
Finally! We are reviewing The Alchemist. This one has been a long time coming, and considering how famous this book is, and what it did to new age; I felt it was only a matter of time before we got here. In this episode I break down why The Alchemist has connected with so many readers, why the...
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Episode: 92 – [Review] Parable of the Sower
This week I finally tackle Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower—one of the most recommended books I've ever received, and one that completely challenged me. We talk about why Butler's writing feels so relentlessly human, why Lauren Olamina stands among the strongest protagonists I've read…
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Episode: 91 – [General] Are Book Sequels Going too Far?
Book sequels are everywhere. Fantasy becomes trilogies. Trilogies become sprawling series. Successful books grow into franchises that can last for decades. But is that actually good for storytelling? In this episode I explore why writers keep returning to the same worlds, why readers keep asking...
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Episode: 90 – [Interview] Oskar Eklind - How to Build a Reading Habit
Personal efficiency expert Oskar Eklind once again honors us with his presence! This time he talks about something that I hear people mention quite often; not reading as much anymore. Why do we stop reading, when does it happen, and how can we pick it back up again? These and more questions we...
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Episode: 89 – [Review] Outback
I've never really been a crime thriller reader. So what happens when I finally pick one up? This week I review Patricia Wolf's Outback—a thriller set in the unforgiving Australian outback where two backpackers disappear, a detective from Berlin arrives searching for her sister, and the hunt for a...
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Episode: 88 – [Writing 101] How to Get Your Book Published?
Everyone wants to know how to get published. Few people talk about what that journey actually looks like. In this Writing 101 episode, I break down the publishing process—from finding the right concept and approaching publishers to literary agents, pitching your manuscript, marketing yourself…
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Episode: 87 – [Review] The Secret Garden
Sometimes the books we overlook are the ones that surprise us the most. In this review, I dive into Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden—a century-old children's novel about healing, friendship, nature, and becoming a better person. What begins as a simple story about a neglected garden...
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Episode: 86 – [Writing 101] What Is Purple Prose?
Why does some writing feel beautiful while other writing feels like it is desperately trying to prove how beautiful it is? In this Writing 101 episode, I explore the concept of purple prose: overly elaborate, flowery, and self-indulgent writing that can distract from the story instead of…
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Episode: 85 – [Review] Down and Out in Paris and London
The five-star-legend is back! In Down and Out in Paris and London, Orwell trades fictional warnings for personal experience, recounting his time living in poverty, working brutal jobs, and surviving alongside society’s forgotten people. But this is not just a book about being poor. It is about...
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Trailer - 3
Alright, nothing to see here, just a new trailer for the podcast =) /Sam - 11/04-2026.
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Episode: 84 – [Review] Red Seas Under Red Skies
Locke Lamora returns to Paperback Friends! In this episode, we return to Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series and review Red Seas Under Red Skies – a fantasy adventure full of elaborate schemes, dangerous enemies, pirates, and some of the most memorable names and cultures fantasy has to offer....
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Episode: 83 – [General] The Problem with Book Snobbery
Not every book conversation needs to become a competition. In this episode of Paperback Friends, we are talking about book snobbery — why some readers feel the need to judge what others read, and why nobody should have to defend the books that bring them joy. Whether you read classics, fantasy,...
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Episode: 82 – [General] Three Books I Can’t Wait to Talk About
Sometimes you just have books sitting on your shelf that you cannot wait to get to. In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m taking a quick look at three upcoming books that have me especially excited: Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s Aurora Cycle, and George...
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Episode: 81 – [Review] Shutter Island
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m reviewing Dennis Lehane’s psychological thriller Shutter Island — a story filled with mystery, paranoia, and a disturbing question: what happens when you can no longer trust your own perception of reality? I’ll talk about Lehane’s writing, the…
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Episode: 80 – [Review] The Picture of Dorian Gray
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m diving into Oscar Wilde’s classic novel The Picture of Dorian Gray — a story about youth, vanity, temptation, art, and the consequences of escaping the passage of time. The concept of a portrait carrying the weight of a person’s sins is one of those ideas...
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Episode: 79 – [Review] The Man Who Fell to Earth
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m reviewing Walter Tevis’ science fiction novel The Man Who Fell to Earth — a story about an alien visitor, humanity’s flaws, and the slow destruction of someone who simply wanted to help. The Man Who Fell to Earth is a strange and unpredictable novel that...
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Episode: 78 – [General] The Angriest I’ve Ever Been While Reading a Book
Some books make you think. Some books make you laugh. And some books make you want to throw them across the room. In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m taking a break from traditional reviews to talk about the angriest I’ve ever been while reading a book. Join me for a slightly unhinged, but...
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Episode: 77 – [Review] Permanent Record
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m reviewing Edward Snowden’s memoir Permanent Record — the story of how a curious kid fascinated by computers became one of the most controversial whistleblowers in modern history. I’ll talk about Snowden’s journey, the writing of the memoir, and the...
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Episode: 76 – [Review] Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m reviewing Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — a story about identity, morality, and the darker parts of human nature. I’ll talk about Stevenson’s writing, the famous relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr....
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Episode: 75 – [Review] The Old Man and the Sea
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m reviewing Ernest Hemingway’s famous novella The Old Man and the Sea — a story about perseverance, dignity, aging, and one man’s struggle against nature. I’ll talk about Hemingway’s writing style, the symbolism behind Santiago’s journey, and why this is a...
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Episode: 74 – [Review] Coraline
In this episode of Paperback Friends, I’m taking a look at Neil Gaiman’s Coraline — a dark fantasy novella about curiosity, courage, and the dangers of getting everything you think you want. A bored young girl discovers a mysterious door leading to a twisted version of her own world, where...
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Episode: 73 – [Review] Burmese Days
Burmese Days takes us to British-controlled Burma in the 1920s, where Orwell explores colonialism, racism, hypocrisy, and the moral compromises of people trapped inside an unjust system. I’ll discuss Orwell’s early novel, its historical importance, and why I think it contains many of the themes...
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Episode: 72 – [Review] The Dice Man
What begins as an experiment in breaking free from routine quickly spirals into something much darker, as Luke Rhinehart uses the dice to justify increasingly disturbing choices and challenge ideas of morality, responsibility, and personal freedom. I’ll discuss the novel’s provocative ideas, its...
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Episode: 71 – [General] Year in Review
Let's recap the year. If we squint, it's kind of a review episode ^^ Type: [General] | Book: N/A | Writer: N/A
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Episode: 70 – [Review] Great Expectations
Charles Dickens. One of the biggest names in literature. A novel considered by many to be a masterpiece. So naturally, I had to find out whether Great Expectations was actually great… or just a very long book about a guy learning some expensive life lessons. In this episode of Paperback Friends…
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Episode: 69 – [Review] All Systems Red
An AI security unit with a hacked governor module, a group of scientists in danger, and a machine that would rather watch TV than save humanity. Sounds like the beginning of a typical sci-fi story… except Murderbot is probably the least interested hero you’ll ever meet. In this episode of…
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[Update] 4 – Goals for 2026
I wanted to say thanks for 2025, and talk about some goals for 2026. Shorter than last time... Thanks for your time, really. It means the world to me =) /Sam.
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Episode: 68 – [Review] Queen of Fire
Some good points here, but I still need to tighten up, and I promise that this is one of the key focus points for 2026, and I hope that in some of the coming episodes we will see way more signs of that. For now, an okay episode, but I can do way better, and you deserve better. Let's get better =)...
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Episode: 67 – [Review] Dragonfruit
A bit sloppy on my end, but I feel as if I get a lot better results with more scripted stuff. Sadly, I was a bit distracted at the time of recording this. 2026 is going to start pretty rough, but at least I have you guys! Type: Review | Book: Dragonfruit | Writer: Makiia Lucier
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Episode: 66 – [General] Topp 5 Protagonists
Filler, unhinged? You’ve heard it before, welcome to another episode of Paperback Friends with your host Sam Ögren. Type: [General] | Book: N/A | Writer: N/A
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Episode: 65 – [Writing 101] Closed World Narrative
Was my pronunciation extra off this week? Seems like I heard way more mistakes than usual. Simple 101 episode, pretty interesting topic, but I don't know how interesting it was to listen to ^^ We have been pushing a lot of reviews, and with audio books in the mix as well; we are not about to slow...
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Episode: 64 – [Review] The Hustler
God, I love it when I stumble over something I really, really love. This book was such a treat for me. It had pretty much all I want from a novel like this. This novel was also a perfect return to our normal audio settings. I hated that messed with the quality (the audio quality, I still suck as...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Paperback Friends!This is my weekly book podcast where I do book reviews, interviews and touch on a myriad of book-related topics from – Why Mind Control Sucks to How to Get Your Book Published.I think reading should be fun, but I never settle with "good" or "bad." My reviews dig deeper, and the question I usually start with: "How can I contribute to the conversations about this book?"Trust me, you've never heard book reviews quite like these.
HOSTED BY
Sam Ögren
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Paperback Friends have?
Paperback Friends currently has 116 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Paperback Friends about?
Welcome to Paperback Friends!This is my weekly book podcast where I do book reviews, interviews and touch on a myriad of book-related topics from – Why Mind Control Sucks to How to Get Your Book Published.I think reading should be fun, but I never settle with "good" or "bad." My reviews dig deeper,...
How often does Paperback Friends release new episodes?
Paperback Friends publishes regularly with 116 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Paperback Friends?
You can listen to Paperback Friends on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Paperback Friends?
Paperback Friends is created and hosted by Sam Ögren.
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