We're delighted to share Ali Benjamin's exclusive reading from The Smash-Up with you! A novel with rather more than a soupçon of satire, this timely book hones in on a snapshot of history to probe the depths of the culture wars in America. Zo is swept up in the politics of the #MeToo movement, the Kavanaugh hearings, and her duties to the feminist activism group she formed: All Them Witches. Ethan finds himself caught between his home life and the battle to get his livewire daughter Alex to sleep. But life is about to get a little more complicated when he receives a panicked message containing accusations against his former business partner, Randy. A slew of them. Suddenly on the wrong side of the narrative, Ethan is forced to question everything as the family slowly fractures under the pressure. Published by Riverrun and available now in all good bookshops. We strongly encourage you to buy through your local indie bookshop, but if that’s not possible then you can buy a copy through our shop on Bookshop.org. ‘The Smash-Up is an incandescent meteor of a novel, blazing through the preoccupations of our time with wit, originality and compassion. Timely, risky and dazzling.’ Polly Clark, author of Tiger ‘A great page-turner, this book could only have been written now. It made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me think. Every woman should read this book. Every woman, every feminist, every activist. And then, together we should all go and Burn It All Down.’ Jane Harris, author of Orange Prize shortlisted The Observations. Podcast produced and edited by Megan Bay Dorman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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