28 – Bethany Clift and Judging an Apocalypse by its Cover

Send us a text Isolation is a bitch, but it could be worse! Our guest is Bethany Clift and her debut novel is Last One at the Party – a pandemic novel that reminds you that at least we have Netflix, facetime and the chance to call our friends. Beth’s novel follows an unnamed woman, the last survivor of a global plague that has emptied out the world in just a few weeks. As she struggles through the ruins of a posta-apocalyptic Britain, she also confronts the wreckage of her life in the ‘before times’. If that all sounds dreadfully grim, and not at all what you want to read in our current plight, then remember three things: 1) WE have a vaccine (and it’s working) 2) This book is also laugh out loud hilarious 3) There is a dog called Lucky that you will love with all your heart. Beth and I have a bit of laugh on this one – perhaps inappropriately so considering we’re discussing the end of the world – but we also cover what it’s like to actually write about Covid-19 in retrospect, why ‘stroking the dog’ is not a euphemism, but a very clever trick, and whether we still have space for apocalyptic glee in our reading. Forgive the title of the episode, all will make sense when you listen … and read the book. Enjoy! Last One at the Party was published in the UK by Hodder on 4th Feb 2021 and will be published in other territories soon. Other books discussed include: The Stand (1978), by Stephen King The Long Walk (1979), by Stephen King I Am Legend (1954), by Richard Matheson The Road (2006), by Cormac McCarthy Come talk books on Twitter @talkscaredpod, on Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com. Thanks to Adrian Flounders for graphic design. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices