Episodes

  • The Things We Read Instead Christmas Special 2025 - Part 2
    Dec 22 2025



    Hello Lovely Readers!


    Welcome to Part 2 of our Christmas Special, covering the final round of the festive dust up between Ira Levin & John Wyndham, try not to spill your Baileys (other Christmas tipples are also available) while Chris & Vic cover their final choices in this Horror rumble.


    Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com,


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

    Rosemary's Baby 1968

    The Trouble with Lichen by John Wyndham


    Other honourable mentions

    The Omen by David Seltzer

    The Omen 1976

    Get Out 2017

    The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

    The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

    The Chrysalids by John Wyndham


    We will see you very soon for the next part of our Christmas Special, where we will be find out both Chris & Vic's top three books for the year and the feature we've all been waiting for... SHAG MARRY KILL!

    stay tuned and raid the biggest box of chocolates you can find.


    All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • The Things We Read Instead Christmas Special 2025 - Part 1
    Dec 16 2025


    Merry Christmas Readers!


    Welcome to Part 1 of our Christmas Special, covering the inter talent festive dust up between Ira Levin & John Wyndham, hold onto your baubles as Chris & Vic cover 3 books each by these two Sci-Fi heayweights.


    Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com,


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    The Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin

    The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

    The Stepford Wives 1975

    The Stepford Wives 2004


    The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

    The Day of the Triffids 1963

    The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

    The Village of the Damned 1960

    The Midwich Cuckoos 2022


    We will see you very soon for the next part of our Christmas Special, where we will be find out what the talent thought about the final two of their favourite Ira Levin & John Wyndham books on their lists, stay tuned and have a mince pie at the ready.


    All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 26 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of The Pursuit of Love - Part 2
    Nov 24 2025

    Hello Readers.


    Here are Vic's recommendations for what you could read and watch instead of The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. or get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com.


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    To Read Instead

    Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford

    The Mitford Girls by Mary S Lovell

    Decca The Letters of Jessica Mitford edited by Peter V Sussman

    The Bolter by Frances Osborne

    Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro



    To Watch or Do Instead

    Bright Young Things (2003)

    Brideshead Revisited (1981)

    Campion (1989)

    A Very British Scandal (2021)

    Chatsworth House


    We will see you in December for our very special Christmas episodes, have your baileys and mince pies at the ready :)


    All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of The Pursuit of Love - Part 1
    Nov 10 2025

    Here is what Chris made of The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford and what he read instead. Feel free to read along and prepare for the second half in a couple of weeks. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. Like, subscribe, email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com, and follow us on Instagram.


    Here’s a list of the books, movies and shows mentioned in the podcast.


    Ancient Sorceries by Algernon Blackwood

    The King in Yellow by Robert W Chambers


    Make sure you are subscribed for part two when the Girly Swot will give you her recommendations for what you could read and watch instead.


    All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • What Vic Read Instead of The Fall of the House of Byron - Part 2
    Oct 20 2025

    Hello Readers.


    Here's Chris' recommendations for what you could read and watch instead of Emily Brand's The Fall of the House of Byron. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. or get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com.


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    To Read Instead

    The Wager by David Grann

    Don Juan by Lord Byron

    The Vampyre by John Polidari


    To Watch or Do Instead

    Pirates exhibition

    Myth and Reality: Military Art

    Lady Caroline Lamb 1972

    Beau Brummell: The Charming Man 2006

    Gothic 1986

    Newstead Abbey



    We will see you in September for our next episode and you can find out what the War Bore thought about next month's read and what else he read instead.


    All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
  • What Vic Read Instead of The Fall of the House of Byron - Part 1
    Oct 8 2025

    Hello Readers.


    Here's Vic's take on Emily Brand's The Fall of the House of Byron and what she read instead. Feel free to read along and prepare for the second episode of the month in a couple of weeks. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. Like, subscribe, email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com, and follow us on Instagram.


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and museums mentioned in the podcast.


    The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis

    What’s That Lady Doing? by Lou Sanders

    Am I Having Fun Now? by Suzi Ruffell

    The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale

    Making Movies by Sidney Lumet


    Make sure you are subscribed for part two when the War Bore will give you his recommendations for what you could read and watch instead.


    All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of The Color Purple - Part 2
    Sep 22 2025

    Hello Readers.


    Here's Vic's recommendations for what you could read and watch instead of The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. or get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com.


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    To Read Instead

    The Same River Twice by Alice Walker

    Singin’ & Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas by Maya Angelou

    Just As I Am by Cecily Tyson


    To Watch Instead

    The Color Purple (1985)

    Sinners (2025)

    Rye Lane (2023)


    We will see you in October when the Girly Swot and War Bore return for our next episode and you can find out what Vic thought about next months read and what else she read instead. :)

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of The Color Purple - Part 1
    Sep 8 2025


    Hello Readers.


    Here is what Chris made of The Color Purple by Alice Walker and what he read instead. Feel free to read along and prepare for the second half in a couple of weeks. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. Like, subscribe, email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com, and follow us on Instagram.


    Here’s a list of the books, movies and shows mentioned in the podcast.


    Culloden by Murray Pittock

    Culloden by John Prebble

    The Anarchy by William Dalrymple

    The Essential Lovecraft edited by Leslie S Klinger


    Make sure you are subscribed for part two when the Girly Swot will give you her recommendations for what you could read and watch instead.


    All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins