I'm Gilbert Cruz and this is the Book Review Podcast.

This week Sarah Lyle, a writer at large for the Times and the Thriller's columnist for

the Book Review, speaks to Zadie Smith about the fraud.

Her new novel set in and around 19th century London.

But first, Alexandra Alter and Julia Jacobs join me to talk about the National Book

Awards and the recent controversy over its former host Drew Baramore.

Joining me now are Alexandra Alter, a reporter here at the Book Review.

Hello, Alexandra.

Hi, Gilbert.

And Julia Jacobs, a reporter for the Culture Desk.

Hello, Julia.

Hello.

So we're here to talk about the National Book Awards and the controversy that the National

Book Foundation, which is the organization that runs the awards, recently found itself

in when the person who was set to host this year's awards, Drew Baramore, did a boo-boo.

Julia, from the culture side, can you tell us why everyone was so mad at Drew Baramore?

There were a lot of twists and turns in this story over the past week.

We had Drew Baramore come out and announced that her show would be coming back after several

months of hiatus.

And this was unexpected because Hollywood is on strike right now.

You have the writers on strike.

You have actors on strike, many of whom are Drew Baramore's guests on her talk show.

...