The Book Case: Recent Episodes
ABC News | Charlie Gibson, Kate Gibson
Are you stuck in a reading rut? The Book Case makes the case for books outside of your usual genre. Wander the aisles of your local bookstore with Kate and Charlie Gibson and meet fascinating characters who will open your appetite to new categories while deepening your hunger for books. This weekly series will journey cover to cover through the literary world, featuring interviews with best-selling authors, tastemakers, and independent bookstore owners. New episodes post every Thursday.
Kate often says that if she were a writer she would have trouble reading James McBride. It's hard not to hear a mic drop when you close the back cover. He is a master of storytelling; his sentences so packed with history, humor, and meaning that at times you forget what he was talking about, but you won't mind a bit. His writing often knocks off our socks, and his new novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, is no exception. For our bookstore this week? We let James choose one of his favorites, Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, New Jersey.
Books mentioned in this week's podcast:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Kill 'em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul by James McBride
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
Song Yet Sung by James McBride
Five-Carat Soul by James McBride
Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
The Bridge Builder by Will Allen Dromgoole
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
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Andrew Ridker is but 32 years of age - yet already he has written what promises to be his second very successful novel - Hope. The title is an acronym for a medical study, but it is also a feeling that pervades his depiction of a Jewish suburban family, the Greenspans, living near Boston. Each member of the family stumbles, and struggles to find footing. But much as they may transgress, Ridker projects a belief that family of origin has an inexorable pull on all of his characters and all of us. Ridker is wise beyond his years and this book is downright funny at times! And did we mention the book has the best cover photo seen in years? Our bookstore this week is RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut, owned by the very entertaining Roxanne Coady. A bookstore that pairs well with Ridker’s novel.
Books mentioned in this week's podcast:
Hope by Andrew Ridker
The Altruists by Andrew Ridker
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton
The Topeka School by Ben Lerner
10:04 by Ben Lerner
Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry
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We have three horror shows left. But we are not sure Jennifer McMahon fits within the genre so neatly. If you are dipping your toe into the genre...start with the Children on the Hill, her latest. It's suspenseful, compelling, chilling and the ghoulish gore is at a bare minimum. We talk to her about why she keeps coming back to what scares her. We then talk to horror academic (yes, you heard us) Michael Arnzen, an accomplished writer in his own right. Books mentioned in this week's podcast:
Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon
Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Amityville Horror by Jay Anson
Jaws by Peter Benchley
Grave Markings by Michael A. Arnzen
Play Dead by Michael A. Arnzen
Dying (With No Apologies to Martha Stewart) by Michael A. Arnzen
Many Genres, One Craft: Lessons in Writing Popular Fiction by Michael A. Arnzen and Heidi Ruby Miller
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We talked to the renowned bilingual author Esmeralda Santiago a few months about her incredible trilogy of memoirs. So when she sent us her new novel, Las Madres, we couldn’t wait. Turns out she is just as good of a fiction writer as she is a memoirist. This is a searing, funny and fascinating portrait of mothers and daughters, the connection Puerto Ricans feel to their island, whether we are made up of more than our memories….and so much more. It sounds like a lot, but she does it all and she does it all well. We also talk to Lynne Phillips of Wordsworth Books, one of the plaintiffs in the case against Arkansas Act 372. She will give us her recommendations and talk about why her fight is so important. Books mentioned in this week's podcast:
Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago
Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago
America’s Dream by Esmeralda Santiago
When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago
Almost a Woman by Esmeralda Santiago
The Turkish Lover by Esmeralda Santiago
Visitation by Jenny Erpenbeck
The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck
Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck
The Firm by John Grisham
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
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PATCHETT PUBLISHES!! That should be big news in the literary world. Ann Patchett has a new book out as of August 1st. Tom Lake is the title - a novel influenced by COVID as three daughters come home to be with their mother during the pandemic. What do they want to talk about? Her past. And she has a past - having had a romance with a man who went on to become a famous actor. How much do you tell your kids? “I want them to think I was better than I was, and I want to tell them the truth…those two desires do not neatly co-exist.” Ann Patchett is a wonderful writer - one of America’s best! She’s also a wonderful and amusing talker! And she owns an independent bookstore - Parnassus Books in Nashville. That makes her a perfect guest, we think, for The Book Case. Books mentioned in the podcast: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett The Dutch House by Ann Patchett Commonwealth by Ann Patchett These Precious Days by Ann Patchett Bel Canto by Ann Patchett State of Wonder by Ann Patchett Run by Ann Patchett Truth & Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir about Writing and Life by Ann Patchett Our Town by Thornton Wilder Absolution by Alice McDermott Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week we take you back in time to a book that is so good it’s ageless. Charlie interviewed author Markus Zusak about his phenomenal novel The Book Thief many, many years ago, and it has been a discovery and an interview that has stayed with him ever since. This week, we interview Markus about the phenomenon of his book and ask him how he came to write such a remarkable modern classic. If you haven’t read The Book Thief, run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore! If you already love it then you are in for a treat as we take a deep dive into the making of one of the great books of our time. Books mentioned in the podcast: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak The Messenger by Markus Zusak Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak Underdogs by Markus Zusak When Dogs Cry by Markus Zusak A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne Cloudstreet by Tim Winton Breath by Tim Winton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Historical fiction is the genre this week, and it centers around a lesser WWII phenomenon. During the Blitz, many British families sent their children abroad to live with families in Canada or the United States to keep them safe until the war was over. Beyond That, the Sea by debut novelist Laura Spence-Ash, beautifully weaves the tale of one of these children. Sent abroad by parents torn apart by their decision, Bea lives with an affluent family with whom she falls in love. She spends the rest of her life reckoning with that love how it shapes her sense of self. Our bookstore this week is a Las Vegas Gem (yes, we said Vegas) called The Writer’s Block. We hope you will join us. The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ABC News. Books mentioned in the podcast: Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash The Waves by Virginia Woolf Fools of Fortune by William Trevor Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë The Magician by Colm Tóibín Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín A Guest at the Feast by Colm Tóibín The Guest by Emma Cline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The History of a Difficult Child is a beautiful and sprawling family story set in Ethiopia during the Socialist Revolution. It is narrated by a young girl born into a family fighting against the system for their Christian beliefs, while being systematically relieved of their wealth and livelihood due to the oppressive incoming regime. It’s riveting, ambitious, and utterly compelling. And you know what else? It’s funny. Really funny! Take a journey with debut novelist Mihret Sibhat into The History of a Difficult Child, you will be so glad you did. Books mentioned in this podcast: The History of a Difficult Child by Mihret Sibhat The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz Go as a River by Shelley Read Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginzburg Family Sayings by Natalia Ginzburg All our Yesterdays by Natalia Ginzburg A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid My Garden (Book) by Jamaica Kincaid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Second Horror Thursday on The Book Case! Kicking off our month, we speak to the incredible Josh Malerman. How does one write a best selling horror novel while riding shotgun in a band van blasting Jerry Garcia from its speakers? And how did Josh decide to revisit his most famous work after living through the real life horror of Covid? The second of five deep dives into the horror genre, we invite you to take a step out of your comfort zone, explore what scares us, and learn how writers like Josh keep us up at night. Books mentioned in the podcast: Bird Box by Josh Malerman Inspection by Josh Malerman Malorie by Josh Malerman Daphne by Josh Malerman Pearl by Josh Malerman Unbury Carol by Josh Malerman A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman Black Mad Wheel by Josh Malerman Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas by Josh Malerman Foe by Iain Reeid The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Shining by Stephen King The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Animal Farm by George Orwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are times where Shelley Read’s Go as a River reads less like a novel and more of a philosophical teaching. Grounded in Buddhist philosophy, this is a beautiful story of love, nature, family and changing times. A lyrical journey of epoch proportions this book has a doomed love affair, a flooded town, an illegitimate child, a heartbreaking abandonment….and Shelley Read writes it all beautifully. As first time novelist, Read has created a journey that you will enjoy every mile of. For a bookstore this week we talk to Appletree Books in Cleveland OH. Books mentioned in the podcast:
Go as a River by Shelley Read
The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
No Self, No Problem by Anam Thubten
The Magic of Awareness by Anam Thubten
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family Time and Place by Terry Tempest Williams
When Women Were Birds: 54 Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams
Homecoming by Kate Morton
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Henry
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If you have never heard of Stéphane Breitwieser don’t feel bad, we hadn’t either. Turns out he is one of the most successful art thieves of all time. In his hey day, he could steal more than once a day (museums, cathedrals, chateaus…you name it); billions of dollars worth of art. That’s right, billions. Thank goodness for the writer Michael Finkel who brings us a page turning book that tells the story of the most incredible art thief you’ve never heard of. The book is called, appropriately, The Art Thief. And this book certainly proves that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. We are back with a book store this week, Head House Books. Books mentioned in this podcast:
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel
The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
The Journalist and Murderer by Janet Malcolm
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
The 12 Live of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Outline by Rachel Cusk
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We wanted to affectionately title this episode, Kate and Charlie are really smart and have great taste, but ABC thought that would be a little obnoxious. Maybe it is, but we are and we do. To prove it, this week we have recut Barbara Kingsolver and Hernan Diaz into one episode. Their novels Demon Copperhead and Trust (respectively) are sharing the Pulitzer this year, and deservedly so. We knew these two novels were something special, and so are their authors. We are very happy that these two talented authors share the prize. Their novels are breathtaking-one about extreme wealth, the other about extreme poverty. 2022 was a banner year for fiction, and these two novelists wrote two of the best. Enjoy! Books mentioned in this podcast:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
King Lear by William Shakespeare
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Middlemarch by George Eliot
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Dave Eggers is a writer who does not want to be put in a box. His writing often defies easy cataloging or genre classification and he doesn’t like to be specific about who his readers should be. His latest, THE EYES AND THE IMPOSSIBLE could be loosely described as an animal fable, but it isn’t exactly that. And it could be described as a book that is good for younger readers, but it isn’t exactly that either. Here is what we ARE certain of: It’s wonderful, funny, engaging, original and full of joy! Eggers’ words, his writing and his characters will stay with you long after you close the book. We also talk to his illustrator for EYES, the very talented and prolific Shawn Harris, whose inspirations and technique might surprise you.The Eyes and The Impossible by Dave Eggers A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris What Can a Citizen Do? By Dave Eggers, Illustrated by Shawn Harris The Every by Dave Eggers The Circle by Dave Eggers Zeitoun by Dave Eggers The Parade by Dave Eggers The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers Heroes of the Frontier by Dave Eggers The Wild Things by Dave Eggers You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman Speaking with the Angel edited by Nick Hornby Corduroy by Don Freeman Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Old Heart by Peter Ferry The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter Busy, Busy Town by Richard Scarry I am a Bunny by Ole Risom Dune by Frank Herbert Christine by Stephen King Have You Ever Seen a Flower? by Shawn Harris A Polar Bear in the Snow by Shawn Harris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nelson DeMille - to meet him you’d think of him as the prototypical grandfatherly guy, mild-of-manner with a gentle soul. And you’d be right. It would be most unlikely that you’d also spot him as a guy who has written dozens of murder mysteries, spy novels and thrillers that have gained him a devoted audience. He has devised lots of ways to bump off his characters. You must watch out for those grandfatherly types. With 23 books in circulation and over 50 million sold, DeMille still debuts on the bestseller list with each release, and his latest, The Maze, was no exception. The bookstore this week is also an American institution: The Faulkner House Bookstore in New Orleans. The store sells all kinds of books in a space that also happens to be a Faulkner landmark.Books mentioned in this podcast: The Maze by Nelson DeMilleThe Gate House by Nelson DeMilleThe Gold Coast by Nelson DeMilleThe Panther by Nelson DeMilleThe General’s Daughter by Nelson DeMilleThe Charm School by Nelson DeMilleThe Quest by Nelson DeMilleNight Fall by Nelson DeMillePlum Island by Nelson DeMilleThe Lion’s Game by Nelson DeMilleThe Lion by Nelson DeMilleThe Deserter by Nelson and Alex DeMilleRadiant Angel by Nelson DeMilleWild Fire by Nelson DeMilleThe Sniper by Nelson DeMilleThe Hammer of God by Nelson DeMilleSpencerville by Nelson DeMilleCathedral by Nelson DeMilleBy the Rivers of Babylon by Nelson DeMilleThe Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMilleMayday by Nelson DeMille and Thomas BlockSuperfudge by Judy BlumeAtlas Shrugged by Ayn RandThe Fountainhead by Ayn RandKlara and the Sun by Kazuo IshiguroAshton Hall by Lauren BelferAs I Lay Dying by William FaulknerAbsalom, Absalom! By William FaulknerThe Sound and the Fury by William FaulknerSome Go Home by Odie LindseyWelcome to our Senses by Odie LindseyCollected Stories by William Faulkner
Let’s do the math. A human’s average life span: 80 years. Years after Similac and Gerbers: say 75 years. At approximately 1000 meals per year, that’s a lifetime of 75,000 meals. What if you had a different recipe for every one of those 75,000 meals? Celia Sack does. She is one of the owners of Omnivore Books in San Francisco. They sell nothing but cookbooks and books about food and drink. You don’t go into her store asking, “What should I be reading?” but instead, “What should I be cooking or baking?" We ‘drop’ this podcast on Thanksgiving Day when everyone is thinking about food. Celia thinks about it every day. And, of course, we’re all thinking about things to be thankful for, including our listeners. We’re thankful for our chance to talk with Celia. She is a delight. Books mentioned in this podcast:
Small Victories by Julia Turshen
Kitchen Simple: Essential Recipes for Everyday Cooking by James Peterson
The Nutmeg Trail: Recipes and Stories Along the Ancient Spice Routines by Eleanor Ford
The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer
The New Basics Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins
The Food of Morocco by Paula Wolfert
The Art of Mexican Cooking by Diana Kennedy
Mourad: New Moroccan by Mourad Lahlou
Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle
The Way to Cook by Julia Child
Julia's Kitchen Wisdom: Essential Techniques and Recipes from a Lifetime of Cooking by Julia Child
The Pat Conroy Cookbook: Recipes and Stories of My Life by Pat Conroy
The Escoffier Cookbook: and Guide to the Fine Art of Cookery for Connoisseurs, Chefs, Epicures by Auguste Escoffier
Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman
Dining In: Highly Cookable Recipes by Alison Roman
The Zuni Cafe Cookbook by Judy Rogers
This week on the Book Case we have two more authors from the Brooklyn Book Festival. You can find Angeline Boulley's The Firekeeper's Daughter on the YA shelves of your local library or bookstore, but the book transcends the genre. She'll talk about how she approaches world-building and gives us a sneak preview of her highly-anticipated new novel coming out next spring. Kate also catches up with Book Case favorite Sidik Fofana and sits down with Jory Southurst, the manager of the bookstore at the Center for Fiction. This episode was recorded at The Center for Fiction. It's a beautiful part of the Brooklyn literary community with classes and events. Their bookstore shouldn't be missed!
Books mentioned in this podcast;
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana
Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend by Erika T. Wurth
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon
The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Babel by R.F. Kuang
A Little Life Hanya Yanagihara
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
Greenland by David Santos Donaldson
A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
Cleyvis Natera took 15 years to write Neruda on the Park, and you can see why when you read the novel. There many pieces of the book that speak to Natera's life: navigating America with and on behalf of her parents, seeing gentrification slowly creep into the neighborhoods she has loved, the flawed and complex relationships between generations of women within one community. Kate had a chance to sit down with Cleyvis at the recent Brooklyn Book Festival and they talked about how Cleyvis' growth and maturity contributed to the growth and maturity of her novel. We then talk to Book Ends and Beginnings in Evanston, Illinois, a book lovers bookstore in a great college town. Books mentioned in this podcast:
Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera
When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
The Street by Ann Petry
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close
When this podcast was in its infancy, John Irving joined us to talk about his work and what he described as “his last big novel,” that was, at the time, still being written. It is now “in better bookstores everywhere” as they say. And “big” is something of an understatement. “The Last Chairlift” is close to 900 pages! Is it worth that much an investment of time? If you’re a John Irving admirer—how can you say no? And we are among John’s many admirers. The novel has all of John’s familiar themes: the search for an unknown father, sexual politics, a highly unusual family, ghosts as well as skiing, wrestling and Exeter Academy. John even includes a couple of screenplays as part of the story. Reading “The Last Chairlift” is a significant investment of time, but it is both moving and entertaining. This is our second conversation with John Irving, and he never fails to fascinate us. Books in this podcast:
The Last Chairlift by John Irving
Setting Free the Bears by John Irving
The Water-Method Man by John Irving
The 158-Pound Marriage by John Irving
The World According to Garp by John Irving
The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
The Cider House Rules by John Irving
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Trying to Save Piggy Sneed by John Irving
A Son of the Circus by John Irving
The Imaginary Girlfriend by John Irving
A Widow for One Year by John Irving
My Movie Business: A Memoir by John Irving
The Fourth Hand by John Irving
Until I Find You by John Irving
Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
In One Person by John Irving
Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
A Saint from Texas by Edmund White
A Previous Life by Edmund White
Original Prin by Randy Boyagoda
Dante's Indiana by Randy Boyagoda
The Absolutist by John Boyne
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
A History of Loneliness by John Boyne
The Way Home by Kardea Brown
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch
Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera
A quick Google search will tell you there are over 15,000 books about Abraham Lincoln. Do we need another? Well yes, considering that none of them so far has been written by Jon Meacham who is one of America’s best biographers. “And There Was Light” has just been released. It is a most readable 420 page biography of our 16th President and it is timely. America is probably more divided now that at any time since Lincoln’s. Jon writes, “A President who led a divided country in which an implacable minority gave no quarter…has much to teach us in a twenty-first century moment of polarization.” Jon is a great conversationalist. At one point he says, "Some think I’m the love child of Mr. Rogers and Doris Kearns Goodwin.” How is that for a tease? Books mentioned in this podcast:
And There was Light by Jon Meacham
The Soul of America by Jon Meacham
American Lion by Jon Meacham
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham
Franklin and Winston by Jon Meacham
His Truth is Marching On by Jon Meacham
American Gospel by Jon Meacham
The Hope of Glory by Jon Meacham
Destiny and Power by Jon Meacham
All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
The Wise Men by Walter Isaacson and Evan Thomas
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope
The Warden by Anthony Trollope
Emma by Jane Austen
The Chain by Adrian McKintey
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
Doug Bauer has written a love story, "The Beckoning World". A man and a woman. A father and son. A love for a more innocent time. A lovely homage to America’s midwest. And a love story about baseball. It’s a simple book really—until it’s not. Boy meets girl. Boy is a promising pitcher. Girl's father says, "You pick: my daughter or baseball." He picks the girl. But then the book veers back to baseball and the protagonist pitcher and his son are barnstorming across America with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Sound implausible? Doug makes it seem perfectly reasonable. The Beckoning World is evocative of the early 20th century, conjures up small town baseball parks (you can almost smell the peanuts), and makes you feel like you know the Babe and Lou. Especially the Babe. And speaking of small towns, this week’s bookstore is Fact and Fiction in Missoula, Montana. Give it all a listen. Books mentioned in this podcast:
The Beckoning World by Douglas Bauer
The Book of Famous Iowans by Douglas Bauer
The Very Air by Douglas Bauer
Dexterity by Douglas Bauer
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Sister Noon by Karen Joy Fowler
Wild Kingdom by Vijay Seshadri
War and Peace By Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Thrust by Lidia Yuknavitch
Body Grammar by Jules Ohman
Killing Custer by James Welch
Penguin Problems Jory John
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Mother Bruce Book Series by Ryan T. Higgins
Winter in the Blood by James Welch
Perma Red by Debra Magpie Earling
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Once Sentence Journal by Chris La Tray
Once again it was a title that caught our eye, leading us to a the book that was even more intriguing than the title. The book is How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water. The author is Angie Cruz. The book is a fascinating character study of Cara Romero, a Dominican immigrant who came to this country more than 25 years ago. She needs a job. There are 12 chapters— each a transcription of one of Cara’s meetings with a professional job counselor. You come to know Cara - or do you really? As she talks to the counselor and tells her/him not just about herself but about the immigrant community of which she is a part? A reader, we believe, will thoroughly enjoy getting to know Cara. A listener to The Book Case will enjoy getting to know Angie Cruz. Instead of an independent bookstore this week we talk to each other about books we’ve read this year that we loved, but might not have been suited to a podcast. How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz Dominicana by Angie Cruz Let It Rain Coffee by Angie Cruz Soledad by Angie Cruz Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement Incidents in the Life of a Slave by Harriet Jacobs The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin The Lost Kings by Tyrell Johnson The Guest List by Lucy Foley Head Full of Ghosts by Paul G. Tremblay Full Throttle by Joe Hill and Stephen King The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson Robert E Lee: A Life by Allen C. Guelzo
We have expressed a desire to keep The Book Case non-political. But there is one issue we feel should not be a source of contention - and that is book banning and book challenges. We have been looking for a relatively safe way to approach the issue and think we’ve found it in a book by Amy Sarig King entitled Attack of the Black Rectangles. The "black rectangles" to which she refers are those black stripes that represent redactions of language. Amy writes for young people— target audience probably 11 to 16. But this book reads well for adults as well and addresses an important subject. It is a fictionalized account of an actual book redaction that her son discovered in a school assigned novel about the Holocaust. Amy argues, persuasively we feel, that young people don’t need this kind of ‘protection’ and that it’s a slippery slope from redactions to actual book bans. She has both a lovely book and a powerful argument. Afterwards we talk with Jonathan Friedman of PEN America who has written a thorough report about how the number of book challenges and bans are growing across the United States at an alarming rate. Books mentioned in the podcast:
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King (A.S. King)
Me and Marvin Gardens By Amy Sarig King (A.S. King)
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Dig by Amy Sarig King (A. S. King)
Ask the Passengers by Amy Sarig King (A. S. King)
Reality Boy by Amy Sarig King (A. S. King)
Everybody Sees the Ants by Amy Sarig King (A. S. King)
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
So you’re in your mid-50s, you’ve got a great career going as a television personality in Great Britain, so what might be enjoyable to do next? Why write a hugely successful series of mysteries of course. And that is what Richard Osman has done. His novel The Thursday Murder Club is about four bold septuagenarian friends who meet to discuss about unsolved crimes in their retirement village. The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed are two riveting extensions of The Thursday Murder Club. Osman talks about casting the film adaptation of his novels and how his mother’s retirement village in England inspired his writing process. The independent bookstore this week is 27th Letter Books and we talk to Erin Pineda, the owner about their incredible story of survival.
Books mentioned in the podcast:
The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Scorpionfish by Natalie Bakopoulos
Gag Reflex by Elle Nash
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry, Jessica Curry and Brittany Jackson
Crescenciana: An Art Book and Memoir by Crescenciana Tan + Kenneth Tan
Elizabeth Strout is our guest this week, and our conversation couldn’t be more timely. First, her novel, Oh William! has just been short listed for the Booker Prize - perhaps the most prestigious award for a writer of literary fiction. And second, her latest novel in the Lucy Barton series has just been published - Lucy by the Sea. For those who love her writing, and we are among her greatest admirers, you know that Lucy by the Sea represents a continuation of the series that includes Oh William! The book allows us to see the chaos of the last years through Lucy's eyes, and it's a tumultuous, beautiful journey. The independent bookstore this week is Tattered Cover and we talk to Jeremy Patlen, their head buyer. Books mentioned in the podcast:
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
This is Happiness by Niall Williams
The Collected Stories of William Trevor
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Pigeon Feathers and Other Stories by John Updike
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro
Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
Just Kids by Patti Smith
We are the Light by Matthew Quick
Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer
Sue Miller is one of America’s finest and most admired authors. From the time of her first published novel in 1986, (The Good Mother), to her most recent, (Monogamy), Sue has developed a legion of devoted readers. Her plots often involve major events, but her greatest skill is the intimate understanding she has of her characters. She knows their head and their heart, or maybe it is that they know hers. How she writes, how she develops those characters, and what they mean to her are all subjects of our conversation. Sue Miller is one of our finest practitioners of literary fiction. We feel honored to have her in The Book Case. This week, we also talk to the host of “Moms Don’t Have Time to Read," Zibby Owens. She invited us on her podcast, so we returned the invitation. Books mentioned in this podcast:
The Good Mother by Sue Miller
Family Pictures by Sue Miller
While I Was Gone by Sue Miller
Inventing the Abbotts and Other Stories by Sue Miller
Monogomy by Sue Miller
The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller
The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller
The Arsonist by Sue Miller
The Distinguished Guest by Sue Miller
The World Below by Sue Miller
The Story of My Father: A Memoir by Sue Miller
Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller
For Love by Sue Miller
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Short Stories of Leo Tolstoy by Leo Tolstoy
Slow Motion: A Memoir of a Life Rescued by Tragedy by Dani Shapiro
Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro
It was just a year ago that the U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan. On that date, Nahid Shahalimi, an Afghan female writer living in Germany, realized that she needed to hurry to record the stories of prominent Afghan women who soon would try to escape their country, or stay and risk death. She did so, and compiled their stories in “We Are Still Here.” The world’s attention has turned to the crisis in Ukraine, but Afghanistan is still there and should not be forgotten, particularly the stories of women oppressed by the Taliban. This week, a conversation with Nahid Shahalimi, as she writes, “Listen to these women. See them. See their commitment to freedom and to their rights." Books mentioned in this podcast:
We are Still Here edited by Nahid Shahalimi
The Book of Life by Jidda Krishnamurti
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi
The Secret Sky: A Novel of Forbidden Love in Afghanistan by Atia Abawi
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi
When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi
One Half from the East by Nadia Hashimi
The Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi
The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
Stuart Gibbs is this week’s guest and begins what we intend to be a periodic look at children's’ literature, or in the parlance of the day, “kids’ books”. Stuart has five different series of kids’s books in print - all successful, each aimed at the middle grades. His latest Spy School book is just out. Kate and I (grown-up who like to believe) loved it, as did our 12-year-old grandson and nephew, Lang (but then Stuart is his favorite author). To be a successful author of kids’ books we believe you have to be a good writer as well as a bit of a kid yourself. Stuart checks both boxes. Books mentioned in the podcast:
Moon Base Alpha Series by Stuart Gibbs
Once Upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs
Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs
Spy School Series by Stuart Gibbs
FunJungle Series by Stuart Gibbs
Charlie Thorne Series by Stuart Gibbs
The Last Musketeer Series by Stuart Gibbs
Poached by Stuart Gibbs
Encyclopedia Brown Series Donald J. Sobol
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe
Superfudge by Judy Blume
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Our author this week is David Koepp. You may not realize it, but you’ve been exposed to David’s writing. Probably many times. Did you see the first two Jurassic Park movies? Spider-Man? Indiana Jones? Mission Impossible? David has worked on the screenplays of some of the most successful movies ever. Indeed, movies he has written have sold almost $2.5 billion in tickets. He also writes novels. “Aurora” is his latest. It’s an enjoyable, and even thought-provoking read. Why write novels when you’re so successful with screen plays? How do the disciplines differ? Which is more rewarding? All good questions. We ask them. Our independent bookstore this week is Interabang Books in Dallas, Texas. Books Mentioned in the Podcast:
Cold Storage by David Koepp
Aurora by David Koepp
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
That’s Good! That’s Bad! by Margery Cuyler
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
A Queen to the Rescue: The Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah by Nancy Churnin
A Girl Named Carrie: The Visionary Who Created Neiman Marcus and Set the Standard for Fashion by Jerrie Marcus Smith
River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Sidik Fofana has written “Stories from the Tenants Downstairs.” This is his first novel and very much worth a reader’s time. His book is eight interrelated short stories written by residents of a fictional tenement in New York City in a neighborhood going through gentrification. You root for his characters. You identify with their aspirations. But for each of them it is so tough to realize their dreams. For each of them it is so tough to negotiate the realities of every day life. And Sidik knows from whence he writes—for years he has been a New York City public school teacher. Many of his stories, he tells us, come from his kids. “Stories from the Tenants Downstairs” is an excellent book. One small warning—a couple of the stories are written with the voice of the street, but were that not the case, it would not be as authentic. And every inch of this book is authentic. Our independent book store this week is Women and Children First in Chicago—we talk with one of its owners, Lynn Mooney. Books mentioned in the podcast:
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fafana
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
The Broken Earth Trilogy N.K. Jemisin
“Harlem” by Langston Hughes from The Collected Works of Langston Hughes
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
The Odyssey by Homer
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Native Son by Richard Wright
Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews
Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Johnson
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Jenny Lawson is a funny writer, but that label doesn’t tell the whole story. In her three books, her "parenthetical ramblings" are hilarious glimpses into her razor sharp wit that keep you laughing long after you put the book down. At the same time, Jenny Lawson deals with deep depression that has her also writing about her struggles - sometimes just to stay alive. She writes of the “monster” that at times takes over her mind. That mind works in wonderous ways - not always helpful to her own well being - but wonderous just the same. Our bookstore this week? Well that’s Jenny Lawson’s too. We talk to Elizabeth Jordon, the general manager of Jenny Lawson’s bookstore, Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio. Books mentioned in the podcast: Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson Twice 22 by Ray Bradbury Pet Sematary by Stephen King Hurricane Girl by Marcy Dermansky Florida Woman by Deb Rogers Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado There, There by Tommy Orange A Visitation of Spirits by Randall Kenan Stories From the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine
Julia Glass burst on the writing scene in 2002 when her first novel, “Three Junes”, won the National Book Award for fiction. Her newest novel “Vigil Harbor” plots current problems such as worldwide virus infections, climate change and increasing political violence as they might increase over the next twelve years, and charts their impact on a small town in coastal Massachusetts. Set in 2034, the novel includes a touch of mystery and the supernatural, and is a most enjoyable read from almost any perspective. On the show, Julia speaks about the ways climate change has shaped the novel, her experience writing with a supernatural twist for the first time, and how the book changed with the Covid-19 pandemic started. Our independent book store for this podcast is Keplers, in Menlo Park, California.
Hernan Diaz is an author, essayist, and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award. His newest novel, "Trust," has just this week been chosen as a finalist for the Booker Prize - one of the most prestigious of literary prizes. The head of the Booker judging panel said many of this year’s finalists involve “the elusive nature of truth”. That certainly would pertain to “Trust”. The book is intricately plotted, marvelously written, and insightful about the world of finance and the singular relationship Americans have with money. Diaz also talks about his writing process, writing a character with an "obnoxious" point of view, and the thrills and perils of releasing a book out into a world. Our conversation took place just before the Booker nominees were announced, but reading ’Trust" and listening to Diaz will leave you with no doubt that this novel deserves the high honor according it by the Booker judging committee. Our independent book store this week is Market Street Books in Mashpee, Massachusetts, a favorite vacation destination. Books mentioned in the podcast this week:
Trust by Hernan Diaz
In The Distance by Hernan Diaz
A Backward Glance by Edith Wharton
Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
I am a Bunny by Richard Scarry
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
The Old Man in the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Emma by Jane Austen
J. Ryan Stradal is one of America’s finest young authors. His two novels have been out for some time - both highly acclaimed. Another is releasing next year. “Kitchens of the Great Midwest” was his first with “The Lager Queen of Minnesota” following four years later. Publishers conducted a bidding war for ‘Kitchens' - how rare is that for a first work? And it’s been translated into more than a dozen languages. You can argue over which is the better of the two and we have. Both are excellent. Kate likes ‘Kitchens’. Charlie is partial to “Lager Queen”. While these titles may make them sound like food books, they aren't. For J. Ryan food serves as a way of explaining different aspects of humanity, largely around themes of forgiveness. J. Ryan and Kate have been good friends since their college days (we're talking the ‘90s here folks) and she says she loves to listen to him talk. And laugh. You will too. Since J. Ryan’s books have a Midwest setting and flavor we’ve paired him with Ann Woodbeck, one of the owners of Excelsior Bay Books to be found in Excelsior Bay Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. Books mentioned in this episode:
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
Elsewhere, California by Dana Johnson
Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brian
Goodnight Loon by Abe Sauer
Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges
Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salesses
Shoulder Season: A Novel by Christina Clancy
Four Dead Horses by K. T. Sparks
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
This is Happiness by Niall Williams
The Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher
Anna Quindlen can write pretty much anything – years of insightful columns for the “New York Times,” wonderful fiction as evidenced by nine widely-read novels, and non-fiction as well. The latest is her plea for all of us to write. “Write for Your Life” is the book. It’s a small volume but it’s message belies its size. Anna Quindlen wants us writing for future grandchildren and great-grandchildren, for our current loved ones, and even for ourselves. Write letters, keep journals, record your own life history – it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be personal. She asks her readers: If you could have one piece of writing from someone in your life who’s gone, who would that be? When you answer that, you’ll know why writing is so important. As you write, she argues, it may even bring greater clarity about your own problems and thoughts. After our conversation with Anna, stay for Sharon Davis of Book Bound Bookstore in Blairsville, Georgia, population 616. Talk about an act of faith! Opening a tiny town independent bookstore. Talking to Sharon was at the suggestion of one of our listeners, and we appreciate it.
Books Mentioned:
Write for Your Life by Anna Quindlen
Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen
The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Pioneer Women: The Lives of Women on the Frontier by Linda Peavy
Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen
The Holy Bible
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
One Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni
The Gilded Wolves by Roshai Choksi
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
Twelve years ago, Jennifer Egan won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, “A Visit from the Goon Squad.” It was wildly successful and totally original. Now she has written a companion novel - a continuation, if you will - “The Candy House.” The premise is intriguing and while impossible, it lends itself to many opportunities for Jennifer to write in different styles. The premise is that it has become possible for a person to have every one of their memories, since birth, encapsulated in a box and every one of those memories can be recalled. In fact, a person can get access to someone else’s memories if willing to share their own. Every chapter is written in a different style - but all fit together nicely. Pulling that off, and she does, is literary, a feat of no small proportion. You need not have read “Goon Squad” to enjoy “Candy House.” But listening to Jennifer may well make you want to. This week we take a pause from talking to an independent bookstore. Kate and Charlie discuss what they’ve learned from their first ten podcasts.
Books Mentioned:
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
The Keep by Jennifer Egan
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Lavender's Blue: A Book of Nursery Rhymes by Kathleen Lines and Harold Jones
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Happy For You by Claire Stanford
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Preston & Child's Agent Pendergast Series
The Power Broker By Robert Caro
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (Yes, Charles Gibson read it. And yes, I am listing it. Sorry, dad.)
What if an app could quantify exactly how happy you are? That's the premise for Clare Stanford's debut novel, "Happy For You," in which a philosopher leaves academia to work as a researcher for"the third-most popular internet company" where she struggles to find belonging as a biracial woman. "Happy For You,' is a funny story of a woman searching for her identity and a satirical commentary on today's h(app)iness-obsessed world. Plus, a conversation with Mitchell Kaplan at Books and Books. Other books mentioned in the pod:
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño
The Bernstein Bears Series by Stan and Jan Bernstein
Year of Dangerous Days: Riots Refugees and Cocaine in Miami 1980 by Nicholas Griffin
Big Trouble by Dave Barry
Trust by Hernan Diaz
David Gergen says it's time for new American leadership. As a political advisor who served four presidential administrations, Gergen has a perspective on the White House that's unrivaled in the political world. Gergen wrote his new book, "Hearts Touched with Fire," to advise the next generation of political leaders. Maybe that will include you! In President Truman's words, "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers."
List of books mentioned: Hearts Touched with Fire by David Gergen Lincoln at Gettysburg by Garry Wills The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters Flying Solo by Linda Holmes Maine Beer: Brewing in Vacationland by Josh Christie Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey Letters of EB White by EB White (Revised) Charlotte's Web by EB White Stuart Little by EB White Sigh, Gone by Phuk Tron
Delia Ephron went through hell. Her leukemia almost killed her - so did the treatments to cure it. In “Left on Tenth”, her new book that is on many best seller lists, she writes about wanting to die - pleading with the doctors to let her die. However a doctor, who perhaps knew Delia better than she knew herself, wouldn’t let her. And a late in life, second love, sustained her through the most difficult of times. Delia’s book is inspiring and is testament to the strength of the human spirit and the healing power of love. Now, remarkably recovered, she talks about her ordeal. Listen to her answer of what she wants the rest of her life to be. It will make you smile.
You may know the story of Emmett Till. But you might’ve never heard his story if it weren't for one woman: Mamie Till-Mobley. In a new three-part season of ABC News' "Reclaimed" podcast, host Leah Wright Rigueur explores who Mamie Till-Mobley was before she lost her son: a young girl growing up in Illinois. Rigueur traces Mamie's journey after Emmett’s death, and how she turned her grief into a movement that changed the course of American history. The first two episodes of "Reclaimed" are available now. To listen, follow the show on Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/3zofsOC), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/3PSLBDU), Amazon Music (https://amzn.to/3tgHfNf), or wherever you like to listen.
Azar Nafisi offers you - a reader - a challenge. It is the title of her latest book - “Read Dangerously”. Azar comes with a unique perspective. She was teaching in Iran when the clerics took over, banned books, and eliminated many of the freedoms that Americans often take for granted. She caused something of a sensation when she wrote “Reading Lolita in Tehran” - contending that reading fiction can be a liberating and even subversive act. Now she teaches in the United States and worries that Americans aren’t reading enough - specifically aren’t reading works that take them outside their comfort zone. What freedoms could we lost if we don’t "Read Dangerously"? Her argument is an important one and very much worth a listen.
Odds are you’ve never heard of Shelby Van Pelt. She is a new author, and as we spoke she was just a week away from the publication of her first novel “Remarkably Bright Creatures”. Strange to say but this is a novel novel and both of us loved it. A writing advisor once told Shelby to try writing from an unlikely point of view - and has she done just that! Her narrator is an octopus. But not just any octopus. Marcellus is a captive in an aquarium and from that vantage point is an observer of we humans. He doesn’t have much respect for what he sees, but his warm, funny and wary narrative will have you hooked from the first page. As in almost all our podcasts, you’ll also hear from an independent bookseller from somewhere in the country. We believe independent book stores are critical. In this podcast, Otto Penzler of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York talks about mysteries as literature. Believe us, Otto knows mysteries, and is acutely aware that we all love ‘em.
John Irving has written fourteen novels, is working on a fifteenth, has been translated into more than thirty languages, and is one of America’s most popular and beloved authors. If you’ve never read a John Irving novel, how would John suggest you start? What great American writers does he loathe (spoiler alert, one is considered America’s greatest author) and why did John adopt a model for story telling that was more than a century old? And how does he draw readers into his novels so that they will read the whole book? Our conversation with John is a master class on writing, and how he tackles his craft might surprise you.
Dr. Carla Hayden is the Librarian of Congress. In the 222 year history of the Library of Congress there has never before been a female Librarian of Congress, nor an African-American Librarian of Congress. Carla Hayden has broken many barriers. Dr. Hayden comes from a background of having run the Baltimore public libraries and from having a critical role in running Chicago’s libraries. On her first day in the job, what did she want to see, and hold, in the Library’s incredible collection? How can any citizen utilize the Library of Congress? And how can a library absorb 10,000 new items every single day? Carla Hayden holds the most important librarian’s job in the world - and she refers to librarians as the world’s “first search engines."
Calling all parents - you need to listen to Mary Laura Philpott and read her insightful essays that speak to everyone who ever raised a child. In the vein of Erma Bombeck and Nora Ephron, her new book is “Bomb Shelter” - something she wishes she could build around her two children as they prepare to leave home and begin adulthood. Like all of us, she struggles with the realization she can’t keep them safe. It’s hard to imagine a writer could say something totally original about parenting and yet she does. She is witty and wise and the angst she feels about wanting to keep her kids safe applies to all of us.
Niall Williams is an Irishman who possesses the Irish knack for telling a great story, and he does this in lyrical prose that will take your breath away. He was living in America, participating in the infamous New York City rat race, when he and his wife decided 35 years ago they needed to go back to the land of their birth, Ireland, and find out if they could write. And can he ever. If you haven’t read “This is Happiness”, you must. Just for the pure beauty of Niall’s language. And if you have read it, you’ll love our conversation as his language and his gentle Irish lilt are delightful.
How better to begin a weekly podcast on books than with Oprah Winfrey who has, in the last quarter century, done more to get Americans to read than almost any literacy program we can think of. However the beginning of her book club was something of an accident. Oprah tells us why she didn’t believe it had a chance. She tells us what is in her personal, extraordinary collection of books, what she finds the perfect reading environment, and Oprah even takes a suggestion from Kate about how she might change her reading habits. Oprah's enthusiasm for reading has proven infectious to the entire nation, and her enthusiasm for literature is addicting. After you hear our conversation, Oprah will have you wanting to immediately pick up a book. We guarantee it
Are you stuck in a reading rut? The Book Case, a new weekly series from ABC Audio launching May 2, makes the case for books outside of your usual genre. Wander the aisles of your local bookstore with Kate and Charlie Gibson and meet fascinating characters who will open your appetite to new categories while deepening your hunger for books. The Book Case will journey cover to cover through the literary world, featuring interviews with best-selling authors, tastemakers, and independent bookstore owners.