The Book XChange Podcast: Recent Episodes
John F. Lovell
Identical twin brothers discuss their favorite individual titles, writers and books - based on their 50 years of reading, writing and celebrating their mutual love of all things literary.
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"I love what you do. We need more discussion of what really matters, like literature." - T.C. Boyle, award-winning novelist and short story writer
"Brilliant and edifying." - DAVID LAFIOSCA, Managing Director of Financial Operations, NCAA
"I would encourage you to give it a listen." - JEFF KELLY, Ph.D., Dean of Students, Stevenson University
We've been forced to take an indefinite hiatus from recording, but hopefully this is NOT the end of the BXC podcast! John Lovell delivers an explanation of why we haven't recorded new episodes in a little while. Thanks for listening, and stay with us! -The BXC Twins
This time around, the Book XChange looks forward to the rest of 2022 - and discusses books we haven't read, but hope to soon once they hit the shelves. We've loaded up the current episode with titles we are most anticipating as the rest of the year unfolds, and why we're looking forward to them. Fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, graphic novels... it's all fair game here. In some cases, we are looking forward to new titles from world-renowned writers - in others, we may be reading new authors for the first time. Hopefully listeners will come away with some books to look forward to later on in 2022, and of course, we'd love to hear any of your recommendations for forthcoming titles. Thanks for continuing to support the Book XChange, and happy reading...
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Sinister Pig,' Tony Hillerman -
'Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness,' Kristen Radtke -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Bone People,' Keri Hulme -
(Undisclosed) -
Books still coming in 2022 that we discussed in this episode:
'The World as We Knew It: Dispatches from a Changing Climate,' Ed. Amy Brady & Tajja Isen -
'Afterlives' (and 'Paradise'), Abdulrazak Gurnah -
'The Twilight World,' Werner Herzog -
'Fen, Bog and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis,' Annie Proulx -
'Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks,' Patrick Radden Keefe -
'Demon Copperhead,' Barbara Kingsolver -
'Victory City,' Salman Rushdie -
'Night of the Living Rez: Stories,' Morgan Talty -
'The Philosophy of Modern Song,' Bob Dylan -
'Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story,' Bono -
Untitled memoir by Geddy Lee -
'The Last Days of Roger Federer (and other Endings),' Geoff Dyer -
'An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us,' Ed Yong -
'We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power,' Caleb Gayle -
'The Passenger' and 'Stella Maris,' Cormac McCarthy -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
For Episode 53, Jude and John will recommend their favorite science fiction books, and discuss the genre in general.
The great and unclassifiable American novelist and journalist JENNIFER EGAN takes center stage in Episode 51 of the Book XChange podcast, and this is an episode co-hosts Jude and John Lovell had been looking forward to for a long time. Her 2010 novel 'A Visit to the Goon Squad' won the Pulitzer Prize, and now 12 years later Egan returns to some of the same characters in this follow-up she terms a 'sibling novel' to that earlier effort. This fascinating novel of interlocking stories riffs on social media, technology, human psychology, memory and identity, and yet somehow manages to be a page-turning and surprisingly funny read that digs into some truly compelling questions. Egan is a writer of great intelligence and curiosity, but does it all add up to a novel we'd recommend? Gotta stream, download or save for later to find out! Thanks for everyone's patience on this one, and continued support of the BXC!
MUSIC BY VOIDZ PANDA & YOUNG WOLF
Send your email: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com Leave us a voicemail: anchor.fm/book-xchange
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'All Men Are Brothers: Stories,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
'Leadership in Turbulent Times,' Doris Kearns Goodwin -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
An undisclosed novel -
'Cujo,' Stephen King -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Candy House,' 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' and various other books by Jennifer Egan -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
For episode 52, John and Jude will be looking down the tunnel at the rest of the year 2022 and talking about the books still to come this year that we are most looking forward to. If we do our jobs right, you'll have some new titles and writers on your reading radar for the rest of your summer and heading into the Fall!
Poetry is on the menu for this milestone 50th episode of the Book XChange - and why not? The world's only double-barreled bibliophile podcast takes on the challenge of reading poetry in our hyper-fueled, attention-challenged 21st century: is reading poetry worth the struggle? What is the value of slowing down, focusing one's attention and taking on poets and poems you've never tried before? And of course, who are some of the poets who have impacted us, changed our view of reading poetry and maybe even changed our way of seeing the world? Reading poetry can be an immensely powerful and insightful experience for those who have the patience and curiosity to give it a try. Remember, the mind is like a parachute: it works a lot better when it's open. We hope you'll join us as we talk about the individual poems, poets and experiences we've had listening to poets reading their work that have stayed with us, in many cases, for years.
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Omeros,' Derek Walcott -
'The Bad Guys Won!,' Jeff Pearlman -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Soulstorm: Stories,' Clarice Lispector -
'The Candy House,' Jennifer Egan -
Poets/Poems discussed in this episode:
Mary Oliver -
Seamus Heaney, "Personal Helicon" and "Postscript" -
Louise Glück -
Walt Whitman -
Yusef Komunyakaa, "Thanks" and "Ode to the Maggot" -
R. S. Thomas, "The Belfry," "Kneeling," "The Empty Church" -
Richard Wilbur -
Derek Walcott, "Omeros" -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
We will be on a brief hiatus for the rest of May, but plan to return some time during the month of June with Episode 51, a review of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan's new novel, 'The Candy House.'
In this (quite literally) world-spanning episode, Jude and John look at books that dare to confront one of the most vexing and critical issues of our time: the impact our race is having on the physical environment. Our "common home" (in the phrase favored by Pope Francis) literally hangs in the balance due to a whole series of choices we've made as a species, and we wanted to read more from both the fiction and non-fiction sides of the aisle about what this means (and could mean) for the future of humanity. In a very real sense, few subjects are more worth educating ourselves about more than this one. We talk about speculative science fiction, popular scientific and nature writing, pioneering novelists who have been sounding the alarm for years and yes, we even bring up a well-timed and surprisingly accessible Papal encyclical. We found it to be a wide-ranging, eye-opening and fascinating subject to dive into, and hope our listeners will too - if we do our job right, this one will provide plenty of food for thought, if nothing else. Thanks as always for listening to and supporting this homegrown effort!
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'World Made By Hand,' James Howard Kunstler -
'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Wake,' Paul Kingsnorth -
'Stella's Carpet,' Lucy E. M. Black -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy,' Michael McCarthy -
'The Overstory,' Richard Powers -
'The Road,' Cormac McCarthy -
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
'Last Chance to See,' Douglas Adams -
'The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History,' Elizabeth Kolbert -
'Dune,' Frank Herbert -
'The Stand,' Stephen King -
'The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,' Dan Egan -
'Storm,' George R. Stewart -
'2312' & 'New York 2140,' Kim Stanley Robinson -
'Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home,' Pope Francis -
'Fiskadoro,' Denis Johnson -
'A Canticle for Leibowitz,' Walter M. Miller, Jr. -
'A Friend of the Earth' & 'When the Killing's Done,' T. C. Boyle -
'The Geography of Nowhere,' 'The Long Emergency' & 'World Made By Hand,' T. C. Boyle -
'Flight Behavior,' Barbara Kingsolver -
'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 50 is called "Re:Verse," and for the first time, the Book XChange will take on poets and poetry: the value and challenges of reading it, why it matters, favorite poets and epics written in verse, etc.
In the 16th century, Michel de Montaigne created a new form of literary self-expression. He called these short pieces "essays," from the French verb "essayer" - "to try." In Episode 48 of everyone's favorite literary podcast hosted by genetic duplicates, Jude and John "try" to explain the appeal of essays to them, and why they find it to be one of the most satisfying and thought-provoking of all literary forms. We then go on to recommend some of our personal favorite collections and writers of essays, which ones we badly want to read and just haven't gotten to, and which writers are regarded as masters of the craft. Essays can be about anyone or anything, and that's why this is such a rich literary rabbit hole to get lost in. We hope you enjoy this all non-fiction episode of the Book XChange podcast!
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Orphans: Essays,' Charles D'Ambrosio -
'The Wake,' Paul Kingsnorth -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Shepherd's Hut,' Tim Winton -
'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Essays,' Michel de Montaigne -
'Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose,' Flannery O'Connor -
'A Stay Against Confusion,' Ron Hansen -
'Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher,' Lewis Thomas -
'Orphans: Essays,' Charles D'Ambrosio -
'Pulphead: Essays,' John Jeremiah Sullivan -
'Interior States: Essays,' Meghan O'Gieblyn -
'Faith and Violence: Christian Teaching and Christian Practice,' Thomas Merton -
'This is The Story of a Happy Marriage,' Ann Patchett -
'The Best American Essays of the Century,' Ed. Joyce Carol Oates -
'The Cathedral of Imagination: Essays and Reviews,' Jude Joseph Lovell (FORTHCOMING) -
'Seek: Reports from the Edges of America & Beyond,' Denis Johnson -
'The Tunnel at the End of the Light: Essays on Movies and Politics,' Jim Shepard -
'What's Wrong With the World,' G. K. Chesterton -
The Essays of E. B. White -
'The Solace of Open Spaces,' Gretel Ehrlich -
'Upstream,' Mary Oliver -
'Playing in the Dark,' 'Mouth Full of Blood,' 'The Source of Self-Regard,' Toni Morrison -
'How to Travel with a Salmon,' 'Kant and the Platypus,' - Umberto Eco -
'God in the Dock,' C. S. Lewis -
'The Memory Chalet,' Tony Judt -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"The Fate of the Planet" will be the title of Episode 49, and will feature books that relate in some fundamental way to the environment and the consequences of not taking care of our home.
This time around, the brothers are looking at novels with overt spiritual themes - novels in which the main character, or characters, undergo some type of transformation or evolution (or devolution?) in what they believe and how they look at life. As we say in our introductory comments, the "Big Questions" and spiritual themes are something we've never shied away from on this podcast. Now, these thorny questions take center stage. Mind you, we're not going to solve any of them for you - but we're fascinated when writers have the guts to take them on and send their characters on a spiritual journey in some way. Ranging from ancient texts to contemporary stage plays, picaresque tales and dark allegories, this episode isn't afraid to dive into the deep end of the pool.
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse -
'In The Eye of The Wild,' Nastassja Martin -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Obsidian,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
'So You Wanna Be a Teacher: A Memoir,' Peter Kravitz -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse -
'Laurus,' Eugene Vodolazkin -
'Les Miserables,' Victor Hugo -
Various works of Marilynne Robinson, Wendell Berry -
'In This House of Brede' and 'Black Narcissus,' Rumer Godden -
'The Violent Bear it Away,' Flannery O'Connor -
'The Epic of Gilgamesh' -
'The Sunset Limited,' Cormac McCarthy -
'Heaven's My Destination,' Thornton Wilder -
'The Damnation of Theron Ware,' Harold Frederic -
'The Sojourn,' Andrew Krivak -
'Obsidian' and 'Little Fathers,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
In Episode 48, Jude and John will share their favorite collections of essays/essay writers, which will go in all kinds of interesting directions. Next time on the XChange...
Both Jude and John agree that it's high time, and a distinct pleasure, to dedicate one of our "Dealer's Choice" episodes to a female writer - in this case, the esteemed and unique American author Annie Proulx. For those new to the show, a Dealer's Choice episode is when your humble hosts choose a writer whose work means a lot to us, and is well worth recommending, and taking an in-depth look at their entire oeuvre. One of us first came to Proulx's work through her most famous novel (The Shipping News), one through her acclaimed series of stories set in Wyoming, but it didn't take either of us long to count ourselves as dedicated members of the Annie Proulx fan club. What makes her work unique, valuable, fascinating and worth your time? That is what we aim to unpack in Episode 46 of the Book XChange podcast. Whether you've read several of her books or know nothing about her, this is an episode - and a writer - not to be missed. (You're gonna have to trust your favorite book-loving brothers on this one.)
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Laurus,' Eugene Vodolazkin -
'The Terminal Man,' Michael Chrichton -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Accordion Crimes,' Annie Proulx -
'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse -
Works by Annie Proulx discussed in this episode:
'Heartsongs' (stories) -
'Postcards' (novel) -
'The Shipping News' (novel) -
'Accordion Crimes' (novel) -
'Close Range' (stories) -
'Bad Dirt' (stories) -
'Fine Just the Way It Is' (stories) -
'Barkskins' (novel) -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 47 will features novels/fiction that take its characters on a spiritual journey, which can be defined in any number of ways...
What is with the human family's fascination with MONSTERS and supernatural creatures? We try to unpack that perennial question and topic of interest in Episode 45 of America's favorite double-barreled books and reading podcast, The Book XChange. The Brothers Lovell reach deep back into the past with classics like "Frankenstein" and "Beowulf," but also mention some of our favorite modern-day contributions to the conversation. Along the way we talk about how monsters reflect darker parts of the human psyche, why the line between "man" and "monster" is sometimes blurry, and the astounding imagination/erudition of a 19-year-old girl. Though this topic may not be for everyone, those who appreciate a good monster tale will find a feast here that they can really sink their claws, tentacles, or teeth into. Thanks to all of our listeners, as always, for keeping this party rolling! -J & J
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Fine Just the Way It Is: Wyoming Stories 3,' Annie Proulx -
'Bird Cloud,' Annie Proulx; 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Shipping News,' Annie Proulx -
'Akenfield: A Portrait of an English Village,' Ronald Blythe -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Pardon My Fangs,' Elizabeth Starr Hill -
'Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus,' Mary Shelley -
Various works of H. P. Lovecraft, including 'At the Mountains of Madness,' 'The Dunwich Horror' and 'The Shadow over Innsmouth'
'Beowulf,' Anonymous/'Grendel,' John Gardner -
'Blood Meridian' & 'No Country for Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy -
'Gargantua and Pantagruel,' Francois Rabelais -
'It,' Stephen King -
'Borne,' Jeff Van Der Meer -
'Railsea,' China Meiville -
'Jaws,' Peter Benchley -
'Obsidian,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
'Day of the Triffids,' John Wyndham -
'The Essex Serpent,' Sarah Perry -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Next time up, we'll take a deep dive into the work of Annie Proulx as one of our "Dealer's Choices" episodes. An incredible writer, you don't want to miss this one - or her books!
Episode 44 begins with the classic strains of Bruce Springsteen's "Factory"... why? Because this time out, we are exploring books that are all about "the work, the work, the working life." For the vast majority of adults, work takes up much of our waking hours and in some ways (for better or worse) defines who we are. So it makes sense that innumerable books, both fiction and non-fiction, delve into how it shapes and impacts our lives. From office drones gutting through the tedium of their daily tasks, to African-Americans migrating north in search of work to provide independence and a better life, to writers grappling to express their ideas, to elite chefs managing the chaos of hellish Manhattan kitchens - we take a look at both the drudgery, and the dignity, of labor as manifested through great books.
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'What Are We Doing Here?: Essays,' Marilynne Robinson -
TBD -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A Month in the Country,' J. L. Carr -
'The Shipping News,' Annie Proulx -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Bartleby, the Scrivener,' short story by Herman Melville -
'Gig: Americans Talk About Their Jobs,' Ed. John Bowe, Marisa Bowe & Sabin C. Streeter -
'Independent People,' Halldór Laxness -
'Blood on the Forge,' William Attaway -
'Working Days,' 'Journal of a Novel' and 'In Dubious Battle,' John Steinbeck -
'Laborem Exercens (On Human Work),' Pope John Paul II -
'Moby-Dick,' 'White Jacket' and 'Redburn,' Herman Melville -
'Microserfs,' Douglas Coupland -
'The Circle,' Dave Eggers -
'The Soul of a New Machine,' Tracy Kidder -
'The Jungle,' Upton Sinclair -
'Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,' Anthony Bourdain -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 45 can be summed in one word: MONSTERS! Come on back in about two weeks' time to find out more...
After a 33-day hiatus, which felt really long for us if not for our listeners, the BXC brothers return and finally kick off 2022 with a looser, less structured episode filled with a little of this and that. First, in response to a suggestion from a listener, we share what books we gifted each other for Christmas at the end of last year (and why). Second, we kick around the idea of setting "resolutions" for the upcoming year in reading, and share a few of the ones we made for ourselves. And finally (there's a reason we titled this episode "something a little different") we cross over to another medium entirely and offer short reviews of two excellent, recent movies adapted from literary works: 'The Tragedy of MacBeth' and 'The Green Knight.' Hope you enjoy this grab bag of an episode, and we're looking forward to continuing "the great conversation" with you all through 2022 and beyond...
MUSIC BY VOIDZ PANDA, YOUNG WOLF
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome,' Mary Beard -
'Transcendent Kingdom,' Yaa Gyasi -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Bleak House,' Charles Dickens -
'The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,' Dan Egan -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
CHRISTMAS XCHANGE PICKS -
Jude gave to John: 'Perchance to Dream,' Charles Beaumont; 'The Sea Trilogy,' Rachel Carson -
John gave to Jude: 'Paradise,' Abdulrazak Gurnah; 'The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo,' Tom Reiss -
THE BXC TWINS' READING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022 -
Jude: Listed first 12 books to read in 2022; read 3 BIG books from his shelf; read 2 "Collected Stories" volumes from major fiction writers; read 3 biographies -
John: continue spiritual reading and vacillating between fiction and non-fiction; read more books about the natural world in 2022 -
THE BXC TWINS' SURPRISE MOVIE REVIEWS/RECOMMENDATIONS:
'The Green Knight,' directed by David Lowery, based on the anonymously-written medieval epic poem -
'The Tragedy of MacBeth,' directed by Joel Coen, based on the play by William Shakespeare -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 44 is once again... TBD! (Sorry folks, we will get back on track with teasing upcoming episodes very soon)
For our final episode of 2021, we decide to broaden out a personal tradition and share it with listeners... we each share our 10 favorite reading experiences of the year, and discuss why these books made a lasting mark on us. Our choices are not at all limited to books that came out in 2021, but could be any book of any genre from any year. These books were "buried in our heads like a stinger" (to borrow from Flannery O'Connor) and just would not let go, no matter what else we might have consumed. We want to offer a sincere THANK YOU to anyone who chose to spend some of their valuable time listening to us blather on about books this year... we do not take your listening for granted, and while the twinly conversation would go on regardless, it has been humbling and heartening to receive all of your positive feedback about the show. We wish you all a very happy and restorative holiday season, and we'll be talking to you again in 2022!
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'White Line Fever,' Lemmy Kilmister (w/ Janiss Garza) -
'A Prayer for the Dying,' Jack Higgins -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,' Anonymous, trans. by W. S. Merwin
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
JUDE's BEST BOOKS OF 2021 -
-
'Extraterrestrial,' Avi Loeb -
-
'Walking with Ghosts,' Gabriel Byrne -
-
'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin -
-
'The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allen Poe and the Forging of American Science,' John Tresch -
-
'The Five Wounds,' Kristin Valdez Quade -
-
'Klara and the Sun,' Kazuo Ishiguro -
-
'Challenger: A Major Malfunction - A True Story of Politics, Greed and the Wrong Stuff,' Malcolm McConnell -
-
'Night Boat to Tangier,' Kevin Barry -
-
'Solar Bones," Mike McCormack -
-
'Close Range: Wyoming Stories,' Annie Proulx -
JOHN's BEST BOOKS OF 2021 -
-
'Via Negativa,' Daniel Hornsby -
-
'The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World,' Wade Davis -
-
'Exhalation: Stories,' Ted Chiang -
-
'Fragments of an Infinite Memory: My Life with the Internet,' Maël Renouard -
-
'The Mission: A True Story,' David W. Brown -
-
'Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2,' Annie Proulx -
-
'The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories, Vol. 1,' Ed. by James D. Jenkins & Ryan Cagle -
-
'Cockfighter,' Charles Willeford -
-
'Interior States: Essays,' Meghan O'Gieblyn -
-
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 43... TBD!
For episode 41 (commemorating, in part, the 80th anniversary of the United States' entry into the war in December 1941), the Book XChange brothers take on a subject that's as broad and wide-reaching as the conflict itself: World War II. As always, we aim here to provide some recommendations of books that aren't widely discussed and read, as well as cover some of the acknowledged classics. It's a huge subject and we did our best to cover a wide variety of titles that might speak to a broad expanse of interests. Thanks for listening!
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Interior States' Meghan O'Gieblyn -
TBD -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Every Man Dies Alone,' Hans Fallada -
'Lemmy: White Line Fever,' by Lemmy Kilmister & Janiss Garza -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Every Man Dies Alone,' Hans Fallada -
'Slaughterhouse Five,' - Kurt Vonnegut -
The short story "Telemachus," 'The Book of Aron,' and 'Paper Doll,' Jim Shepard -
'Battle Cry' and 'Mila-18,' Leon Uris -
'The Eagle Has Landed,' Jack Higgins -
'Priestblock 25487,' Jean Bernard -
'Advent of the Heart,' Fr. Alfred Delp -
'Suite Francaise,' Irene Nemirovsky -
'Manhattan Beach,' Jennifer Egan -
'Symphony for the City of the Dead,' Matthew Tobin Anderson -
'Hiroshima,' John Hersey -
'The Sea and Poison,' Shusaku Endo -
'Band of Brothers,' Stephen E. Ambrose -
'Memoirs of the Second World War,' Sir Winston Churchill -
'The Moon is Down,' John Steinbeck -
'The Naked and the Dead,' Norman Mailer -
'The Thin Red Line,' James Jones -
'Truman,' David McCullough -
'The Good War: An Oral History of World War II,' Studs Terkel -
'The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich,' William L. Shirer -
'Byline: Ernest Hemingway,' Ernest Hemingway -
'The End of the Affair,' Graham Greene -
'General of the Army,' Ed Cray -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 42 will feature Jude and John's Top 10 Books of 2021 - not necessarily books released in that year, but the ten reads that impacted and impressed us the most. We'll go through our individual lists and discuss why these titles stood out for us. What were your favorite reads in this past year?? Be sure to let us know at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com.
Calling all adventurous and open minded readers - join us for a special episode of the BXC podcast, in which we turn the lens on ourselves a bit and interview one-half of your favorite literary-minded twins. Jude Joseph Lovell (or is it Foster Mullins?), co-host of this show and author of 12 books, has just launched a brand new mind-bending, time-twisting mystery tale named TIME O'CLOCK, and we have an exclusive interview all about it right here. It's a two-part discussion, with part 1 discussing the book and its influences (including a reading from the author) but not giving any plot points away... and part 2 diving more into "spoilers" and unpacking the many layers of this wild, fun literary puzzle. We had a fascinating discussion touching on detective fiction, cop shows, "breaking the fourth wall," horror fiction, stories-within-stories, surreal art, talking dogs and the challenge of writing memorable, entertaining fiction. There's something for everybody in this strange concoction of an episode, folks - so we urge you to dive in, support independent fiction writing and listen/download wherever your find your podcasts!
TIME O'CLOCK (by Foster Mullins) is available for purchase right now on Amazon, please give it a look!!
*ALL MUSIC THIS EPISODE BY VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'In the Spirit of Ronald E. McNair, Astronaut - An American Hero,' Carl McNair with H. Michael Brewer -
'Hell of a Book,' Jason Mott -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Band of Brothers,' Stephen E. Ambrose -
'The Seventh Cross,' Anna Seghers -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Time O'Clock' by Foster Mullins
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 41 will hearken back to the year 1941 - while paying late tribute to our nation's Veterans - and feature some of our favorite and most recommended books having to do with "The Big One," World War II.
McGruff the Crime Dog guests hosts in Episode 39 of the Book XCh... well OK, maybe not (and yes, we just dated ourselves - but those who know, know!). This time out, your humble hosts/book-hungry twins take a bite out of the vast buffet of books that explore crime, both real and imagined. We delve into classic mysteries, true crime reportage, historical novels with unexplained murders at their center, pulp detective fiction, harrowing accounts of real-life urban crime, and some of the most heinous and traumatic events in American history (think JFK, Watergate and 9/11). Together, Jude and John dare to delve into the criminal mind and discuss just what it is that makes reading about the dark side of humanity so unnervingly, but undeniably, compelling. (And don't miss a very special and FUN interview coming up in a few weeks, for Episode 40!!) Thanks for listening everyone.
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin -
'Billy Summers,' Stephen King -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Foundation,' Isaac Asimov -
'The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories, Vol. 1,' Ed. by James D. Jenkins & Ryan Cagle
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
THE FACTORY SERIES by Derek Raymond (He Died with His Eyes Open, The Devil's Home on Leave, How the Dead Live, I Was Dora Suarez, Dead Man Upright) -
'The Name of the Rose,' - Umberto Eco -
'An Instance of the Fingerpost,' Iain Pears -
The crime fiction of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and P. D. James -
'In Cold Blood,' Truman Capote -
'Murders in the Rue Morgue (story),' Edgar Allen Poe -
'The Gangs of New York,' Herbert Asbury -
'The Lighthouse,' P. D. James -
'Classic Crimes,' William Roughead -
'2666,' Robert Bolaño -
'All the President's Men,' - Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein -
'Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK,' Gerald Posner -
'Oswald's Tale,' Norman Mailer -
'The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11,' Lawrence Wright -
'Killers of the Flower Moon,' David Grann -
'Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic,' - Sam Quinones -
'Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets,' David Simon -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 40 will be a BXC SPECIAL - an interview with our very own Jude Joseph Lovell, about his brand new time-twisting, mind-bending, noirish mystery thriller 'Time O'Clock.' (Available for order now on Amazon) We will discuss the book, the influences that went into writing it, and the delights of twisty, dream-like, rule-breaking fiction.
For the fifth time, the Book XChange podcast dedicates an entire episode to discuss a single book - in this case, one recommended to us by a BXC listener. 'Leave the World Behind' is a bestselling thriller written by Rumaan Alam - one that has been widely read and discussed, nominated for the National Book Award, and was also recently snapped up by NetFlix to be developed into a film. It's a novel that feels almost like a compendium of modern anxieties and fears, touching on issues such as racial relations, environmental concerns, geopolitical fears, parenting in a crisis, effective masculinity, our dependence on technology/connectivity (and what it may be doing to us), and above all, our obligation to our fellow human beings. But do all these intriguing touch points and hot buttons mean that the book itself is a satisfying reading experience that we both enthusiastically recommend? Sorry folks, you're going to have to listen to this one to find out... and we hope you do!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Selected Non-Fictions,' Jorge Luis Borges -
TBD -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
An undisclosed novel -
'The Meeting at Telgte,' Gunter Gräss -
'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Leave the World Behind' by Rumaan Alam -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
TBD!!
For this edition of everyone's favorite biweekly literary podcasts, your Book XChange hosts present some "deep cuts" from their own personal bookshelves. The idea with our "Hidden Gems" episode is to offer some "of the beaten path" recommendations of books - from all genres, fiction and non-fiction - that might intrigue our listeners and/or give them something new to try. As readers Jude and John both get a lot of satisfaction from discovering the work of a writer we may have never heard of before, or dusting off a long-forgotten novel or book that might provide some hidden insights for people living today. We hope that listeners can find something of interest in this adventurous and eclectic discussion... if nothing else, no one can accuse the BXC boys of narrow reading! Your meal is hot and waiting on the table folks... dig in!! [NOTE: Very special shout-out to listeners HW and KC for their recent contributions and feedback offered to the show. We appreciate you very much, and every other listener to the BXC!]
MUSIC: Young Wolf, Voidz Panda
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Gospel According to Jesus Christ,' Jose Saramago -
TBD -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
Undisclosed -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'At the End of the Santa Fe Trail,' Sister Blandina Segale -
'A Month in the Country,' - J. L. Carr -
'Fear,' Gabriel Chevalier -
'The Bookshop,' Penelope Fitzgerald -
'The Old Boys,' William Trevor -
'Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's,' Frederick Lewis Allen -
Books of history by Christopher Dawson -
Books of history by Barbara Tuchman -
'The Meeting at Telgte,' Günter Grass -
'Gould's Book of Fish,' Richard Flanagan -
'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin -
'You Know When the Men Are Gone,' Siobhan Fallon -
'A Hero for the People,' Arthur Powers -
Short stories by Tim Gautreaux, J. F. Powers and Breece D'J Pancake -
'The Cape and Other Stories from the Japanese Ghetto,' Kenji Nakagami -
'Red Dust: A Path Through China,' Ma Jian -
'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy,' Michael McCarthy -
'Fragments of an Infinite Memory: My Life with the Internet,' Maël Renouard -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 38 will be an in-depth review of a novel recommended by a BXC listener: 'Leave the World Behind' by Rumaan Alam... this is recent and "buzzy" novel that presents a vaguely apocalyptic scenario and how it is handled by two well-off couples who end up together in a lush vacation home in a rural area of Long Island.
Jude and John grab a rifle, a pony, and go ridin' out into the bloody "evening redness in the west" in Episode 36 of the Book XChange podcast. The subject of "the American west in literature" is about as vast, wide open and intimidating as the very landscape itself, so we decided it may take not one, but TWO episodes to do it justice. In this first part, we tackle "Western novels" - which of course is a term that can encompass a wide variety of books and writers. We talk of course about the well known, somewhat hackneyed symbols, cliches and archetypes that can populate the genre - but also cover a number of books that seek to satirize, analyze and subvert these tropes. We cover authors both legendary and lesser known, male and female, and try to articulate what makes the American west such mythic, mysterious, and at times malicious terrain. In a second part (which we will save until a later date), we will look not at novels but at non-fiction books that examine the history, mythos and allure of the land stretching beyond the Mississippi River... yeehaw!!
MUSIC: John Williams, Young Wolf, Voidz Panda
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Warlock,' Oakley Hall -
'How to Think: A Survival Guide for A World at Odds,' Alan Jacobs -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Red Storm Rising,' Tom Clancy -
TBD -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Blood Meridian,' 'The Border Trilogy,' 'No Country For Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy -
'The Virginian,' Owen Wister -
Various works of James Fennimore Cooper -
'The Ox-Bow Incident,' Walter Van Tilburg Clark -
'Giant,' Edna Ferber -
The 'Lonesome Dove' tetralogy of Larry McMurtry -
'Train Dreams,' Denis Johnson -
'To A God Unknown,' John Steinbeck -
'Death Comes for the Archbishop,' and other works by Willa Cather -
The Wyoming stories of Annie Proulx -
'News of the World,' Paulette Jiles -
'The Sisters Brothers,' Patrick deWitt -
The Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn mysteries of Tony Hillerman -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
For Episode 37, the Book XChange brothers will go to bat for lesser known and obscure books that we feel deserve to be read, discussed and shared. Any and all genres qualify - we're going to scour our shelves for some of the very best books we've read that are well under the radar for most folks. Here's hoping you'll find some undiscovered gems with us, next time...
In this episode the BookXChange looks at the experience of reading BIG, meaty, epic-length books... books that might function well as doorstops, should you have a need for one. We dive into whether the experience of reading big books (fiction or non-fiction) is at all different from reading shorter ones; whether a reader needs to "prepare" more mentally or otherwise to take on a large tome; what the experience is like in being immersed into a story or subject that goes on for hundreds of pages; and of course, what are some of the best (and worst) experiences we've had reading longer books. Most readers can talk about the "epic" books they've loved, hated or tried their best to finish... this is the episode where your fearless (at least on paper!) literary twins roll up their sleeves and make the case for "going big or going home" when it comes to reading.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Giving Up the Ghost,' Hilary Mantel -
'The Ox-Bow Incident,' Walter van Tilburg Clark -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2,' Annie Proulx -
'Warlock,' Oakley Hall -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Pillars of the Earth,' Ken Follett -
'Red Storm Rising,' Tom Clancy -
'Winter's Tale,' 'Freddy and Fredericka,' Mark Helprin -
'Weaveworld,' 'The Great and Secret Show,' 'Imajica,' Clive Barker -
'The Talisman,' Stephen King and Peter Straub -
'Koko,' Peter Straub -
'Tree of Smoke,' Denis Johnson -
'Middlemarch,' George Eliot -
'Skippy Dies,' Paul Murray -
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
Various works by Dickens, Tolstoy, Hugo -
'John Adams,' 'Truman,' 'The Path Between the Seas,' David McCullough -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"The BXC Goes West"... on our next episode, the brothers will dive into books that have to do with the American West and all of its well-worn mythology... from classic Western novels, to more modern takes on the genre, to books that explore the landscape and history of the Western half of the United States... grab your rifle and pony and get ready to saddle up!
The fourth in our podcast's regular series of "deep dives" into books that, for whatever reason, have the popularity, subject matter or complexity to justify an extended discussion. This time we tackle one of the more popular novels in the past several decades, a book that has struck a nerve with a great many American readers in particular, and was loudly championed by none other than Mr. Stephen King: John Irving's 1989 bestseller 'A Prayer for Owen Meany.' It's a book that certainly manages to cram quite a lot into its hefty 600-page length, and certainly has its admirers as well as its detractors. On which side will your twin hosts ultimately find themselves in this debate; how did the diminutive, prophetic titular character strike them; and what are some of the enduring merits and/or flaws of this widely read novel? Episode 34 leaves no stone unturned to try and wring some meaning out of the enigmatic seventh novel by Mr. Irving, previously best known for titles such as 'The World According to Garp' and 'The Cider House Rules.'
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allan Poe and the Forging of American Science,' John Tresch -
'The Abstainer,' Ian McGuire -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Book of Margery Kempe,' Margery Kempe -
'Time O'Clock,' Foster Mullins -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"Go Big or Go Home" - in our next discussion we will talk about "big books" - books that aren't afraid to go to great lengths (literally) to entertain, inform and risk possibly infuriating their readers. Why do some books decide to "go big," is it true that weighty tomes aren't quite as popular now as they once used to be, and of course... what are some of our favorites, and why?
No matter where you're from, no matter what your race, culture, creed or ancestry is – your life has been touched and shaped by music in some form or fashion. Musical expression is part of what makes us human, and the mysterious joy and emotion we experience when listening to and making music is an endlessly fascinating subject. The Book XChange brothers list and discuss their favorite books about music in Episode 34 - they might be novels, musicians' memoirs, biographies, appreciations or short stories... there's something for everyone in this jamboree of a show. Glad to have each and every one of our listeners along for the ride!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A Prayer for Owen Meany,' John Irving -
TBD -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A Prayer for Owen Meany,' John Irving -
The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allan Poe and the Forging of American Science,' John Tresch -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Land Where the Blues Began,' Alan Lomax -
'Chronicles: Volume 1,' Bob Dylan -
'33 1/3 Series: Master of Reality,' John Darnielle -
'Amsterdam,' Ian McEwan -
'How Music Works,' David Byrne -
'Born to Run,' Bruce Springsteen -
'The Commitments,' Roddy Doyle -
'Sonny's Blues' (short story), James Baldwin -
'Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural Nörth Daköta,' Chuck Klosterman -
'Random Samples: Demystifying the Magic Music of Rush,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 34 will be our first "BXC Review" episode since March, this time taking on the polarizing late 80's John Irving novel, 'A Prayer for Owen Meany.' Join us for a deep dive into a novel that has been both lauded and derided with equal vehemence over the years...
Recorded one day after the United States of America's 245th birthday, the latest episode of the Book XChange podcast takes advantage of the Independence Day vibes to consider the gifts and responsibilities of FREEDOM. And not just American freedom either, but "freedom" as it pertains to all members of the human family. We discuss and recommend books that have something to teach, say, remind, provoke, or inspire about the ideal of freedom. From classic autobiographies and political treatises, to novels, to philosophical ruminations on art and individual expression – this episode looks at what it means to consider, value, protect and fight for freedom. We hope listeners will appreciate whatever freedoms they are blessed to enjoy, and maybe hear some interesting reading recommendations along the way. Happy 4th of July to our American listeners, and a huge thank you as always to all of you, no matter where you're from!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Borstal Boy,' Brendan Behan -
'A Prayer for Owen Meany,' John Irving -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Fragments of an Infinite Memory: My Life with the Internet,' Maël Renouard -
TBD -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era,' James M. McPherson -
'Long Walk to Freedom,' Nelson Mandela -
'The Underground Railroad,' Colson Whitehead -
It Can't Happen Here,' Sinclair Lewis -
'Les Misérables,' Victor Hugo -
'Parting the Waters' (and the 'America in the King Years' trilogy), Taylor Branch -
'You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto,' Jaron Lanier -
'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself,' Frederick Douglass -
'A Star Called Henry,' Roddy Doyle -
'Common Sense,' Thomas Paine
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 33 1/3 (get it?) will cover... books that are somehow about music! Join us next time for a symphony of recommendations of great books either written by musicians, or about the magic and mystery of music in some way.
Readers around the world... admit it. We all have them. Those big, complicated, intimidating books that glare at us from our shelves, almost with an air of defiance, just daring us to take them down, dust them off, and you know... actually READ them. But for whatever reason, we haven't been able to get up the guts to do so... well, welcome to episode 31 of the Book XChange podcast, wherein America's favorite twin book nerds accept the challenge... not to read these books, you understand! Let's not get hasty. Merely to discuss those books that have to this point intimidated us enough to keep gathering dust on our shelves, rather than actually be cracked open. Why are Jude and John reluctant to take on some books, and which ones continue to deter them? Which ones have YOU yet to crack open? Come on, you know there's a list. We're sharing ours this time around, and trying to convince each other (or deter each other, as the case may be) to answer the call. This episode was brought to you by the color... YELLOW. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Chronicles,' Bob Dylan - 'Extraterrestrial,' Avi Loeb - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Tree of Man,' Patrick White - 'Machines in the Head: Selected Stories,' Anna Kavan - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: The 'Game of Thrones' series, George R. R. Martin - The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer - The work of Jane Austen and Henry James - 'War and Peace,' Leo Tolstoy - 'The Silmarillion,' J. R. R. Tolkien - 'City of God,' Augustine of Hippo - 'The Gulag Archipelago,' Alexander Solzhenitsyn - 'Bleak House,' Charles Dickens - The work of William T. Vollman - 'My Struggle,' Karl Ove Knaussgard - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Roughly aligning with the 4th of July weekend in the U.S., the Book XChange brothers will talk about books that somehow deal with freedom and independence - not just from the American perspective, but as a human ideal.
The Book XChange goes on safari for this, the 30th episode of the show... and discuss favorite or notable books that feature, or are about, animals. Once we got going on this topic, we realized how deep a rabbit hole (shout out to Richard Adams!) it is. Which makes sense, because if there's one thing that unites peoples of all times, places and cultures, it's a love for/fascination with our animal friends. There's a reason they are featured so heavily in our myths, cosmologies, religions and artistic efforts. How much do they really understand about us? Do animals have consciousness? culture? souls? values? How much do we really understand about them? From famous epics that pit man against beast to road novels with non-human companions - as well as non-fiction classics that aim to deepen our knowledge and appreciation for other species - this episode takes all of these fascinating topics on and more. Even fantastical creatures get their due... we're looking forward to having our listeners join us for this epic sojourn into the Animal Kingdom. Enjoy!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Tree of Man,' Patrick White -
TBD -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy,' Jane Leavy -
'Solar Bones,' Mike McCormack -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Moby Dick,' Herman Melville -
'Last Chance to See,' Douglas Adams -
'Travels with Charley,' John Steinbeck -
'Beyond Words: How Animals Think and Feel,' Carl Safina -
'The Whale Rider,' Witi Imihaera -
The 'Game of Thrones' series, George R. R. Martin -
'The Peregrin,' J. A. Baker -
'The Soul of An Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness,' Sy Montgomery -
'Grief is the Thing With Feathers,' Max Porter -
The 'Chronicles of Narnia' series, C. S. Lewis -
'Watership Down,' Richard Adams -
The 'Dun Cow' books, Walter Wangerin -
'H is for Hawk,' Helen Macdonald -
'Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia,' Dennis Covington -
'Platero y Yo,' Juan Ramon Jimenez -
'Animal Farm,' George Orwell -
'The Dialogue of the Dogs,' - Miguel de Cervantes -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"Books We're Intimidated By" - the brothers discuss which books they've long thought about reading, but for whatever reason have lacked the courage or motivation to take on... an entire episode on books we HAVEN'T read? Yep, that's right... should be different, anyway!
Be warned! By definition, every single book discussed in this episode of the Book XChange podcast is going to be utterly spoiled... Jude and John discuss some of their favorite all-time endings in literature, and why we feel they've made such a lasting imprint on our memories. There are many ways to end a story: wicked twists in the plot, notes of ambiguity and mystery, group hugs of happiness, or shocking, tragic losses. But for most readers there are those books that linger in the mind because of the way the author "stuck the landing," bringing all of the elements of his/her tale together in a uniquely satisfying - or sometimes, maddenly unsatisfying, but memorable! - close. We came up with a long list of interesting choices for this discussion, so much so that it could easily spawn a second episode to continue the theme in the future. What book endings linger in your mind? Now you can email the show at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com to share your recommendations, observations, criticisms, or whatever you'd like! Thanks as always for listening. -J & J BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering,' Makoto Fujimura - 'Avoid the Day: A New Nonfiction in Two Movements,' Jay Kirk - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Heart of the Matter,' Graham Greene - 'The New Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein: Expanded Universe,' Robert A. Heinlein - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: John 21: 20-25 - Matthew 28:18-20 - 'The Trial,' Franz Kafka - 'Mariette in Ecstasy,' Ron Hansen - 'Silence,' Shusaku Endo - 'The Grapes of Wrath,' John Steinbeck - 'The Lord of the Rings trilogy ("The Scouring of the Shire,"), J. R. R. Tolkien - 'The Road,' Cormac McCarthy - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "Animal Kingdom" - books featuring or about animals
In this special celebratory episode, your twin hosts Jude and John Lovell reflect back on the first year of the Book XChange podcast: what it's meant to us, and what we hope to continue to do with it going forward. And in a nod to the unique "hook" of our show, that is, identical twins reflecting on books and reading... we tackle books that feature, or are in some way about, twins and the phenomenon of "twinhood." Good twins, evil twins, estranged or missing or lost twins, damaged twins, "midnight twins"... there are so many great myths, novels and plays that explore the compelling and fascinating nature of this mysterious bond. We bring our own personal perspective of having lived for 50+ years as genetic duplicates to these books and stories, and unpack what each of them get right, exaggerate, and even illuminate for those who lead what you might quite accurately call "a double life." Whether you are a twin, a parent of twins, are related to a set or know some in your circle of friends/associates, this episode may have you thinking about their lived experience in a different way. A very special thank you to all of you who have ever listened to the show since April of 2020!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Shadowbahn,' Steve Erickson -
'Cornell Woolrich Omnibus: Rear Window & Other Stories; I Married A Dead Man; Waltz Into Darkness,' Cornell Woolrich -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A History of the World in 100 Objects,' Neil MacGregor -
'Summer Lightning and Other Stories,' Olive Senior -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Comedy of Errors,' William Shakespeare -
'Midnight's Children,' Salman Rushdie -
'East of Eden,' John Steinbeck -
'The Bridge of San Luis Rey,' Thornton Wilder -
'The Other,' Thomas Tryon -
'The Dark Half,' Stephen King -
'One and the Same: My Life As an Identical Twin and What I've Learned about Everyone's Struggle to Be Singular,' Abigail Pogrebin -
'Twins: And What They Tell Us About Who We Are,' Lawrence Wright -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"Spoiler Alert" - on Episode 29, we plan to discuss our favorite book endings! Should be a fun one...
The recently-premiered new PBS documentary "Hemingway" (from the renowned filmmaking team of Ken Burns and Lynn Novick) provided the BXC brothers with the perfect excuse to dive back into the short fiction of one of America's most celebrated and influential writers. Because the film centers on Hemingway's stories rather than his novels, John and Jude choose four of "Papa's" most famous tales, unpack them and examine how they exhibit his most impressive, intriguing and challenging qualities as a writer. Along the way we also get into some biographical details, our personal responses to Hemingway's work and how they may have changed over the years, and discuss and debate what made him both an admirable talent and a complex, tragic human being. It's all things Hemingway on Episode 27 of the XChange... we hope you'll jump on board and join us for a wild, bumpy ride through some exotic locations and pretty dark tunnels. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard - 'Ready Player Two,' Ernest Cline - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Life of Graham Green, Volume II: 1939-1955,' Norman Sherry - TBD - Short Stories by Ernest Hemingway discussed in this episode: "The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber" - "Hills Like White Elephants" - "Big Two-Hearted River (Parts 1 & 2)" - "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Celebrating the first anniversary of the podcast (thank you listeners!), Jude and John decide to link back to the genesis/unique 'hook' of our show to kick around books (both fiction and non-fiction) about twins.
Episode #26 delivers the third of an occasional series of in-depth reviews of books that have caught our attention (for whatever reason) and we feel are worth extended discussion and recommendation. This time, it's another debut novel, from Memphis-based (but Indiana-born) writer Daniel Hornsby. "Via Negativa" is a fascinating, spiritually rich hybrid of road novel, revenge tale and spiritual quest - steeped in Catholic history and tradition, but also in some of the strange, kitschy, roadside Americana that anyone who has traveled cross-country through this broad-shouldered land will recognize. As the homeless mendicant Fr. Dan wrestles with several morally complex, heart-breaking decisions and mistakes of his priesthood, he may also be bringing to light some of the most thorny and important questions that face the Catholic Church in the third millennium. Jude and I find a lot of quirky humor, pathos, and genuine spiritual insight to consider during this fascinating and fun discussion.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Labyrinth of Solitude,' Octavio Paz -
'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Life of Graham Green, Volume II: 1939-1955," Norman Sherry -
'The Hemingway Stories: As Featured in the Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on PBS,' Ernest Hemingway -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Via Negativa' by Daniel Hornsby
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Examining the short stories of Ernest Hemingway, in conjunction with the forthcoming PBS documentary on Hemingway by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (premiers April 5 in the U.S.)
The BXC co-hosts welcome a very special guest to the program for a fascinating and wide-ranging interview: Dr. Dennis Rebelo, professor, national speaker, career coach, mentor to CEOs and entrepreneurs and family man. Dr. Rebelo is about to release a brand new book that he has been researching and writing for the past decade, 'Story Like You Mean It: How to Build and Use Your Personal Narrative to Illustrate Who You Really Are.' Jude, John and "Dr. D" get deep into why it's important to know and understand your own personal narrative; storytelling as a path towards personal growth and transformation; mining your own life experiences to prepare for "high stakes moments;" the effects of social media on self-understanding; and more. This conversation was a rich experience for us and we hope our listeners will enjoy this "XChange" of ideas, and spread the word about this enlightening and engaging book!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Tyll: A Novel,' Daniel Kehlmann -
'My Lost Mexico: The Making of a Novel,' James Michener -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy," Michael McCarthy -
'The Relive Box and Other Stories,' T. C. Boyle -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Story Like You Mean It: How to Build and Use Your Personal Narrative to Illustrate Who You Really Are,' Dr. Dennis Rebelo (INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR)
Available for pre-order on Amazon now, available widely on March 16
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 26 will be our third "BXC Review" episode, where we take a deeper dive into one particular book... in this case, it's Daniel Hornsby's debut novel 'Via Negativa'
The tension is palpable in Episode 24 of the BXC podcast, as we discuss some of our favorite books and writers that might fall under the broad category of "Thriller." Every reader loves a story that keeps your posterior nailed to the chair and your fingers flipping pages, almost automatically, to find out what happens next. Jude and John talk about what makes a thriller, how the term is really more of a broad category vs. a genre, and serve up plenty of examples of "unputdownable" books. This is an episode sure to generate a multitude of opinions and plenty of discussion... and we've love to hear from our listeners about their examples of books that kept them riveted! As usual, thanks for listening, wherever you are located... and keep reading!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Look at Me," Jennifer Egan -
'Sweeney Astray: A Version from the Irish,' Seamus Heaney (trans.) -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Five Wounds,' Kirsten Valdez Quade -
'Via Negativa,' Daniel Hornsby -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Sphere,' 'Jurassic Park,' Michael Crichton -
'Final Flight,' Stephen Koontz -
'The Eagle Has Landed,' Jack Higgins -
'No Country for Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy -
The novels of John Le Carré -
The novels of Tom Clancy -
'The Quiet American,' 'The Third Man,' Graham Greene -
'Underground,' Haruki Murakami -
'And Then There Were None,' Agatha Christie -
Various short stories of Daphne du Maurier -
The novels of Patricia Highsmith -
'Killers of the Flower Moon,' David Grann -
'Endurance,' Alfred Lansing -
'DeliverMe,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
A special episode coming up! The Book XChange welcomes Dr. Dennis Rebelo to the podcast, as we discuss his forthcoming new book 'Story Like You Mean It' (March 16, available for pre-order now on Amazon)
Buckle up... because in this globetrotting episode, the twin hosts of the Book XChange podcast take you to locations far and wide: the orchards of California, islands in Polynesia, the ancient moors of England, northwest Canada, coastal fishing villages in Maine, the Antilles in the Caribbean, the Swiss Alps, and more. In Episode 23, Jude and John offers their recommendations of books that utilize landscape as character - meaning, the physical environment these stories are set in are so fundamental to the reading experience, they become "characters" in themselves. It's a fascinating topic, one we think generated a rich and entertaining discussion... we hope you'll think so too. Are there novels or stories that you can't forget, in part because of their setting? If so, then this episode is for you!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Right Stuff," Tom Wolfe -
'The Bones of St. Pierre,' Steven Knapp -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Citizen: An American Lyric,' Claudia Rankine -
'The Wayfarers: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World,' Wade Davis -
Jude's Recommendations of Books that Utilize Landscape as a Character:
'In Dubious Battle,' John Steinbeck -
'Mardi,' Herman Melville -
'The Orenda,' Joseph Boyden -
'The Bayou Trilogy,' Daniel Woodrell -
'The Sport of Kings,' C. E. Morgan -
John's Recommendations of Books that Utilize Landscape as a Character:
'The Hound of the Baskervilles,' Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -
'Close Range: Wyoming Stories,' Annie Proulx -
'The Country of Pointed Firs,' Sarah Orne Jewett -
'Rock Crystal,' Adalbert Stifter -
'Omeros,' Derek Walcott -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
TBD!
The second installment of our "Dealer's Choice" occasional series - in which your Book XChange podcast hosts decide to feature a particular writer whose work we feel deserves in-depth discussion and recommendation. This time around, it's one of America's most acclaimed and energetic living writers, Thomas Coraghessan (T. C.) Boyle. Widely known and appreciated for his prolific output, cultural satire, environmental themes and rollicking, often biting sense of humor, Mr. Boyle is the author of some 18 novels and 12 short story collections across 40+ years. But Jude and John have at times had different reactions to his work, and this makes for a lively and multi-faceted discussion that we hope listeners with find both illuminating and entertaining.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Haj,' Leon Uris
'The Right Stuff,' Tom Wolfe
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Atlas of A Lost World: Travels in Ice Age America,' Craig Childs
'The Getaway,' Jim Thompson
Works by T. C. Boyle discussed in this episode:
'Descent of Man' (stories)
'The Women' (novel)
'Tooth and Claw' (stories)
'When The Killing's Done' (novel)
'Water Music' (novel)
'World's End' (novel)
'After the Plague' (stories)
'Budding Prospects' (novel)
'The Relive Box' (stories)
'A Friend of the Earth' (novel)
'Without A Hero' (stories)
'Greasy Lake' (stories)
'East is East' (novel)
T. C. Boyle Stories (Vol. 1)
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Books featuring landscape as a character
The Book XChange Podcast celebrates short stories in general - and, the release of co-host Jude Joseph Lovell's brand new story collection, "Door in the Air" - in this special episode. Jude has been writing and releasing short stories off and on for over 20 years, with two previous short story collections to his credit... and now, he's just published his "New and Selected Stories, 1999-2020." John interviews Jude about writing short fiction, putting together the new collection and how his writing has evolved over the years. After that, the twins discuss what makes short stories such a compelling form of fiction, and bring up some of their favorite examples and masters of the craft. Thank you all for following and supporting the BXC Podcast into 2021!
NOTE: In this episode, after we completed recording, we experienced a problem with the audio that we were not aware of during recording. It appears the timing of our responses is compressed or shifted, so that in many cases our voices overlap by a few seconds. You can still follow the conversation, but in several situations our voices seem to be talking over each other. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope we will not experience this problem in future episodes. Thanks for your forebearance!
Happy 2021, listeners! Jude and John have returned for a second year of podcasting, and to kick off the new year right, we naturally look back at the one that just passed... and continue with our two-part series of "Top Reads of 2020." This time, we focus on fiction, and each bring our favorite novel (or story collection) from last year to the table for a rich and in-depth discussion. We also talk about which books we've dipped into to start our own personal year in reading, and end with an exciting teaser for a forthcoming release from one of your humble co-hosts... we hope you'll join in the great, ongoing conversation to hear what that is, and more! Cheers to all!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Invisible Scar,' Caroline Bird -
'Invaders: 22 Tales from the Outer Limits of Literature,' Jacob Weisman -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
Various favorite short story collections -
Either 'I, Rigoberta Menchú' by Rigoberta Menchú, OR 'The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood,' Sam Wasson -
John's Top Fiction Read of 2020:
'Cry the Beloved Country,' Alan Paton -
Jude's Top Fiction Read of 2020:
TIE: 'The Turning' & 'The Shepherd's Hut,' Tim Winton -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
In celebration of the impending release of BXC co-host Jude's new collection of stories (21 years in the making!), 'Door in the Air,' we'll celebrate the genre with a discussion about reading and writing short stories, and also reveal some of our favorite masters of the form.
To close out our first year in podcasting, your Book XChange hosts offer a two-part series of episodes highlighting our favorite non-fiction and fiction titles of 2020. As always with our show, titles are not limited to those released in 2020 - they could be from any era, as long as they were read by one of us this year. Part 1 covers non-fiction: we each choose one book that stood out during our year in reading, and get a little more in-depth about why it stood out. In our next episode, we'll cover our favorite fiction reads of the year. As the year comes to a close, we want to sincerely thank all of you listeners who gave a little of their time to listen and read along with us this year, we've greatly appreciated all the feedback and support. Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas/Happy New Year to you all!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Making It in America," Barbara Ehrenreich -
Short story collection TBD soon -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,' James Joyce -
TBD -
Jude's Top Non-Fiction Read of 2020:
'The Swerve: How the World Became Modern,' Stephen Greenblatt -
John's Top Non-Fiction Read of 2020:
'The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity,' Douglas Murray -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Part 2 of our End of Year series: the BXC co-hosts choose and discuss their top fiction reads of the year.
So you thought Thanksgiving 2020 was over?? Not so fast... at the Book XChange podcast, we extend the gratitude and feasting for at least another week, as Jude and John list some of the writers they are most thankful for. This episode goes off in all kinds of different directions and was a lot of fun to record... so pull up a chair and dig in: you're definitely invited to the banquet, and there's more than enough provisions to go around for everybody! You may even get a "take home box" out of it, jam-packed with writers and books you'll want to enjoy at home at another time! Speaking of thanks... we are grateful to all who choose to spend a little time listening to us blather on about books. We sincerely hope these discussions have helped you get through what's been a brutal year pretty much all around the world. Cheers, and remember our unofficial motto: "Read in order to live."
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Barkskins," Annie Proulx -
'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,' James Joyce -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Flying Inn,' G. K. Chesterton -
'Land's Edge: A Coastal Memoir,' Tim Winton -
Jude's List of Writers He's Thankful For:
Denis Johnson; Thomas Merton; Ron Hansen; Jack Kerouac; Charles DIckens -
John's List of Writers He's Thankful For:
G. K. Chesterton; Joseph Ellis; Michael Pollan; Wendell Berry; Jude Joseph Lovell -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
The BXC co-hosts choose and discuss their top fiction and non-fiction reads of the year.
The bibliophile brothers return with an in-depth discussion/review of Native American writer Tommy Orange's debut novel, 'There There.' Our second episode in an occasional series, in which your twin hosts will dedicate an entire episode to one book, digging into what makes it important, unique, special, noteworthy, odd, or otherwise worth reading - or not! (Warning: important plot points and story/character arcs from throughout the novel are discussed in this episode, so if you intend to read 'There There' at some point, you may want to come back to this episode and listen to the conversation once you have.)
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Being Dead,' Jim Crace -
'The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton,' Thomas Merton -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Pictures from Italy'/'Night Walks,' Charles Dickens -
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
(COMING SOON)
In this "return to form" Book XChange episode, your identical hosts recommend some of our recommended picks for first-time novels. There are so many instances of famous writers hitting home runs in their first trip to the plate - think Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" or Stephen King's "Carrie" - but there are also many great examples of debut novels that fascinatingly reveal the developing talent of a future master of the craft. Jude and John both select novels contemporary and classic, and discuss why these books left a mark on us as readers. As always, a great pile of books find their way into this conversation, so we hope listeners come away with some new titles to dive into! Enjoy, and thank you as ever for listening...
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Young Skins: Stories,' Colin Barrett -
'Democracy in America, Vol. 2,' Alexis de Tocqueville -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Love in the Time of Cholera,' Gabriel Garcia Marquez -
'There There,' Tommy Orange -
Debut novels recommended by Jude:
"Meditations in Green," Stephen Wright -
"The Sin Eater," Alice Thomas Ellis -
"Madame Bovary," Gustave Flaubert -
"City of Bohane," Kevin Barry -
"Dune," Frank Herbert -
Debut novels recommended by John:
"Then We Came to the End," Joshua Ferris -
"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," James Joyce -
"Wolf in White Van," John Darnielle -
"Invisible Man," Ralph Ellison -
"The Yellow Birds," Kevin Powers -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
A sort of "Part 2" to this episode's discussion... we will take a deep dive into and review Native American writer Tommy Orange's acclaimed debut novel, "There There."
Two weeks before their 50th birthday, the Book XChange brothers/co-hosts had the ultra-rare opportunity to get together in an isolated location, celebrate that we've somehow made it through a half-century, and talk books and reading face to face. The result was this one-time only, special episode of the podcast: a free-form, no holds barred, personal discussion about our lives as readers, how great books and writers have changed and challenged us across various stages in our lives, and the ultimate value and utility of reading. We won't often get so personal and self-reflective as in this show, but for this special occasion, we thought it would be appropriate to celebrate all that the Book XChange has meant to our lives, going back literally decades before the internet and podcasting enabled us to expand the conversation across the globe! We hope you will indulge us for this unique episode and give it a chance - it may even get you thinking about your own journey as a reader, and where it might be headed. As ever, thank you one and all for listening! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: literally too many to mention, considering we are covering a combined 100 years of reading (!)... but trust us, a LOT of interesting ground is covered! What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Mosquitoes,' William Faulkner; 'Love in the Time of Cholera,' Gabriel Garcia Marquez; What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Budding Prospects: A Pastoral,' T. C. Boyle; 'The Swerve: How the World Became Modern,' Stephen Greenblatt Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Favorite and notable Debut Novels
Each year in early October, the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded by by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. For the BXC podcast brothers, this event sparks an annual "Xchange" of reactions and thoughts over who won it, how familiar we are with the writer and whether we think it was warranted. It also reminds us of the work of other Nobel laureates we cherish, read and re-read, and want to recommend to others. In this episode we talk a bit about the prize in general, congratulate American poets Louise Glück on her recent honor, and then discuss the work of some of our favorite Nobel laureates. The work of past Nobel winners present to readers a rich and diverse pool of amazing writing, so we invite all listeners to dive in with us... you may just find some new books to read, learn from and possibly treasure. As always, thank you for listening to our little show!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Giant,' Edna Farber
'Manual of Painting and Calligraphy,' José Saramago
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Fiskadoro,' Denis Johnson
'Arabia Felix: The Danish Expedition 1761-1767,' Thorkild Hansen
Nobel Laureates Recommended by Jude:
José Saramago
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
William Faulkner
Nobel Laureates Recommended by John:
Seamus Heaney
Halldor Laxness
Rabindranath Tagore
Nobel Laureate "Should Haves" (now deceased) from John:
James Joyce
Leo Tolstoy
Graham Greene
Jorge Luis Borges
Tarjei Vesaas
Richard Wilbur
Nobel Laureate "Recommended Picks" from Jude:
Cormac McCarthy
Joyce Carol Oates
Jane Smiley
Billy Collins
T. C. Boyle
Isabel Allende
Hillary Mantel
Tim Winton
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"100 Years of Reading": The BXC Co-Hosts Discuss A Lifetime of Reading Across 50 Years (Times 2)
Here comes a fun "crossover" episode, in which your Book XChange co-hosts go multimedia and talk about some of their favorite (and maybe not-so-favorite) book-to-movie adaptations. The brothers discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with adapting a well-known or beloved book for the screen, and kick around a broad assortment of choices - some very famous, others a little more obscure. What makes an adaptation truly noteworthy and interesting? What are some of your favorite films made from books? What are some of the reasons book adaptations fail? All of this, plus plenty of movie recommendations to fill your queues or satisfy your quarantine viewing needs, are coming your way in lucky Episode 13 of the Book XChange podcast...
MOVIE ADAPTATIONS DISCUSSED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE (and what they're adapted from):
'No Country for Old Men,' directed by the Coen Brothers (from the Cormac McCarthy novel);
'True Grit,' directed by the Coen Brothers (from the Charles Portis novel);
'Silence,' directed by Martin Scorsese (from the Shusaku Endo novel);
'Hugo,' Martin Scorsese (from the Brian Selznick novel);
'Shutter Island,' Martin Scorsese (from the Dennis Lehane novel);
'The Age of Innocence,' Martin Scorsese (from the Edith Wharton novel);
'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,' Andrew Dominik (from the Ron Hansen novel);
'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,' by Peter Weir (from multiple Patrick O'Brian novels);
'The Grapes of Wrath,' John Ford (from the John Steinbeck novel);
'The Sister Brothers,' Jacques Audiard (from the Patrick deWitt novel);
'The Road,' John Hillcoat (from the Cormac McCarthy novel);
'The Big Short,' Adam McKay (from the Michael Lewis non-fiction book);
'The Shining,' Staley Kubrick (from the Stephen King novel);
'2001: A Space Odyssey,' Stanley Kubrick (from the Arthur C. Clarke novel);
'Barry Lyndon,' Stanley Kubrick (from the William Makepeace Thackeray novel);
'A Clockwork Orange,' Stanley Kubrick (from the Anthony Burgess novel);
'Rosemary's Baby,' Roman Polanski (from the Ira Levin novel);
'Oliver Twist,' Roman Polanski (from the Charles Dickens novel);
'Death and the Maiden,' Roman Polanski (from the Charles Dickens novel);
'Carnage,' Roman Polanski (from the Yasmina Reza play);
'The Innocents,' Jack Clayton (from the Henry James novella 'The Turn of the Screw' - adaptation written by Truman Capote);
'Ran' and 'Throne of Blood,' Akira Kurosawa (from the William Shakespeare plays);
'High and Low,' Akira Kurosawa (from the Ed McBain novel 'King's Ransom');
'Roshomon,' Akira Kurosawa (from the Ryūnosuke Akutagawa short story);
'Enemy,' Denis Villenueve (from the Jose Saramago novel 'The Double');
'Dune,' Denis Villenueve (from the Frank Herbert novel);
'Arrival,' Denis Villenueve (from the Ted Chiang short story 'Story of Your Life');
'Fantastic Mr. Fox,' Wes Anderson (from the Roald Dahl novel);
'The Iron Giant,' Brad Bird (from the Ted Hughes novel 'The Iron Man');
'A Scanner Darkly,' Richard Linklater (from the Philip K. Dick novel);
'Bernie,' Richard Linklater (from the Texas Monthly article 'Midnight in the Garden of East Texas' by Skip Hollandsworth);
'Fast Food Nation,' Richard Linklater (from the non-fiction book by Eric Schlosser);
'In Cold Blood,' Richard Brooks (from the non-fiction book by Truman Capote);
'Adaptation,' Spike Jonze (from the non-fiction book 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean - adaptation written by Charlie Kaufman);
'Kristin Lavransdatter,' Liv Ullman (from the trilogy by Sigrid Undset);
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
We discuss some of our favorite Nobel Prize for Literature winners!
Introducing "Dealer's Choice," an occasional series in which your Book XChange podcast hosts decide to feature a particular writer whose work we feel deserves in-depth discussion and recommendation. In the inaugural installment, we dive into the work of one of America's finest writers, Jim Shepard. "Who is Jim Shepard, and why should I be reading him?" is exactly what we aim to address, and we hope our listeners will trust us enough to listen in and find out. The brothers couldn't possibly recommend the novels, essays and especially the short stories of Mr. Shepard any higher. Tune in to this jam-packed episode as we unpack his work, discuss what makes it thrilling and unique, and examine why reading Shepard "makes you feel as if you're becoming a better human being."
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Nightmares and Dreamscapes,' Stephen King
(Future read withheld by request of the co-host!)
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Sisters Brothers,' Patrick deWitt
Works by Jim Shepard discussed in this episode:
'Like You'd Understand, Anyway' (stories)
'You Think That's Bad' (stories)
'Love and Hydrogen: New and Collected Stories'
'The World to Come' (stories)
'Paper Doll' (novel)
'Project X' (novel)
'You've Got to Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories that Held Them in Awe' (edited by Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard)
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Book-to-Film Adaptations
There are many classic trilogies of books known and loved the world over, and some that are lesser known but well worth diving into. In this episode, Jude and John recommend some of their favorite Trilogies and discuss why they are worth the investment of your time and energies. Ranging from epic fantasy quests to existential mysteries to poetic elegies of a fading time and culture, this discussion covers a ton of ground and should have something for just about any reader. It's a 3-for-1 special on the latest installment of the Book XChange!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
Trilogies recommended by both John and Jude:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, Return of the King) - J. R. R. Tolkien
The Border trilogy (All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, Cities of the Plain) - Cormac McCarthy
The New York trilogy (City of Glass, Ghosts, The Locked Room) - Paul Auster
Other titles from Jude:
Current read: 'The Mirror and the Light,' Hilary Mantel
Other recommended trilogies: The Divine Comedy trilogy by Dante Alighieri, the Los Angeles trilogy by James Ellroy, the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov, the Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff VanDerMeer
Upcoming read: 'Paper Doll'/'Project X,' Jim Shepard
Other titles from John:
Current read: Various short stories by Jim Shepard
Other recommended trilogies: The Africa trilogy by Chinua Achebe, the Cairo trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz, the Barrytown trilogy by Roddy Doyle
Upcoming read: Various short stories by Jim Shepard (in preparation for Episode 12)
"No man is an island," wrote John Donne... but many of us feel like we've been stranded on one in recent months. One potential remedy for this condition? Reading! For our tenth episode, the BXC brothers take on "isolation" as a literary theme. Books that explore, describe or portray subjects dealing with some form of isolation or solitude - how it challenges us, helps us to grow or forces us to confront the boundless mystery of ourselves. This discussion took us far and wide into many different genres: thrillers, travel books, mysteries, adventure stories and cultural satire. We hope you'll enjoy the diversity, and thanks again to all of you continue to download, stream and listen to our show!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From a listener (voice mail)
'Wuthering Heights,' Emily Bronte; 'Tom Sawyer,' Mark Twain; 'Cold Mountain,' Charles Frazier
From John
Recent read: 'Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation,' Joseph J. Ellis
Recommended Titles: 'Darkness at Noon,' Arthur Koestler; 'To the White Sea,' James Dickey; 'The Mysterious Island,' Jules Verne; 'Robinson Crusoe,' Daniel Defoe; 'The Andromeda Strain,' Michael Crichton; 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' Charlotte Perkins Gilman; 'A Time to Keep Silence,' Patrick Leigh Fermor; 'Into the Wild,' Jon Krakauer; 'Sun Dancing: A Vision of Medieval Ireland,' Geoffrey Moorhouse; 'A Time to Keep Silence,' Patrick Leigh Fermor; 'To the Lighthouse,' Virginia Woolf; 'Wittgenstein's Mistress,' David Markson
Next read: 'And Then There Were None,' Agatha Christie
From Jude
Current read: 'The Mirror and the Light,' Hilary Mantel
Recommended Titles: 'The Wisdom of the Desert,' Thomas Merton; 'The Shepherd's Hut,' Tim Winton; 'Drop City,' T. C. Boyle; 'The Temptation of St. Anthony,' Gustave Flaubert
Next read:Our co-host declined to reveal what he is reading next!
This time out, your fraternal co-hosts will take down some beloved classics, and/or more contemporary acclaimed or popular books, that they for whatever reason just didn't "get." We all have books we greatly anticipate or come to with high expectations, only to come away disappointed, or at least confused over what all the fuss was about. We had a good time sharing some of our picks. What are yours? Thanks as always for listening to our show!
Muster up your courage, listeners, because in Episode 8 of the Book XChange podcast, your twin co-hosts take on "tales of terror" - books and/or stories (even a few movies are mentioned!) that scare, provoke, disturb, unnerve or simply get under your skin. The twins are often asked by friends and family alike, "Why do you bother reading books that disturb or scare you?" We take a deep dive into horror as a genre, to attempt to answer that interesting question. Is there any value in books that evoke terror, and along the way, what are some of our favorites? We had a lot of fun recording this one (despite one technical glitch, sorry), and we hope you all have fun hearing and processing it. Keep reading, everyone!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From Jude
Current read: 'The Exorcist,' William Peter Blatty
Recommended Tales of Terror: 'Night Shift'/'The Shining,' Stephen King; 'Songs of a Dead Dreamer'/'Grimscribe,' Thomas Ligotti; 'Outer Dark'/'Blood Meridian,' Cormac McCarthy; 'Beloved,' Toni Morrison; 'The Factory Series (novels),' Derek Raymond
Next read: 'Our Kind of Traitor,' John Le Carré
From John
Current read: 'Theatre of Fish: Travels Through Newfoundland and Labrador,' John Gimlette
Recommended Tales of Terror: 'At the Mountains of Madness'/'Supernatural Horror in Literature (essay),' H. P. Lovecraft; Classic horror stories medley: "Don't Look Now" & "The Birds" (Daphne du Maurier), "The Tell-Tale Heart" & "The Cask of Amantillado" (Edgar Allen Poe); "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," "Moxon's Master" & "The Boarded Window" (Ambrose Bierce); "Casting the Runes" & "Oh Whistle and I'll Come for You, My Lad" (M. R. James); 'Horrorstör,' Grady Hendrix; "The Killer Inside Me,' Jim Thompson; 'The Haunting of Hill House,' Shirley Jackson; "Fracture" & "Suicide Station" by Jude Joseph Lovell from his short story collection We'll See You When We Get There
Next read:'Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe,' Roger McNamee
On the 244th birthday of the United States of America, the BXC brothers tackle some of their favorite biographies (excluding autobiographies, that's an episode for another day). Also discussed: what makes a compelling biography and how favorite biographies usually align with personal interests.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From John
Current read: 'The Devil's Highway: A True Story,' Luis Alberto Urrea
Recommended biographies: 'John Adams' by David McCullough; 'Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G. K. Chesterton' by Joseph Pearce; 'Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare' by Stephen Greenblatt; Life of St. Columba by Adomnan of Iona; 'Truman' by David McCullough; 'The Man Who Went into the West: A Life of R. S. Thomas' by Byron Rodgers, 'Leadership in Turbulent Times,' Doris Kearns Goodwin
Next read: 'Go Down, Moses,' William Faulkner
From Jude
Current read: 'Dancing in the Dark: A Cultural History of the Great Depression,' Morris Dickstein
Recommended biographies: 'The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton' by Michael Mott; 'Melville: His World and His Work' by Andrew Delbanco; 'Van Gogh: The Life' by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith; 'One Matchless Time,' Jay Parini; 'The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer' by Jackson Benson
Next read:'The Exorcist,' William Peter Blatty
Here's our first episode dedicated to a single book: in this case, Richard Powers' 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Overstory." On occasion this show will take a deep dive into a popular and/or intriguing book that the twin co-hosts think merits in-depth examination. This ambitious, fascinating novel about trees and their relationships to human beings on this planet made for a great discussion, and whether you've read the book or not we hope you'll find enough here to hold your interest! Thanks for listening to The Book XChange...
America's favorite bibliotwins are back (hah!) with another freewheeling episode of the Book XChange 'cast, in which we share some of our favorite all-time writers who happen to be female. This was a fun discussion covering 19th century British fiction, a smattering of poetry, medieval epics from Norway, contemporary genre fiction and more. Looking forward to hearing some of your voices as we continue "The Great Conversation"!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From Jude
Current read: The Overstory, Richard Powers
Recommended female writers/books: Jane Austen; Toni Morrison (Beloved, Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye); Jennifer Egan; Flannery O'Connor (Wise Blood, The Violent Bear it Away); Hilary Mantel (the Thomas Cromwell trilogy)
Next read: Dancing in the Dark: A Cultural History of the Great Depression, Morris Dickstein
From John
Current read: Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton
Recommended female writers/books: Sigrid Undset (The Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy); Mary Oliver; George Eliot (Middlemarch); Ursula K. Le Guin; P.D. James
Next read: The War of the Saints, Jorge Amado
In this wide-ranging and fun episode, John and Jude share books with some of the most wild, weird and original premises they've come across. Mind-bending dystopian epics, imaginative speculations on the nature of time and mortality, harebrained schemes hatched in the jungle and picaresque novels featuring murderous mutants - it's all here in this bizarre bouillabaisse of a show! Bon áppetit!!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From John
Current read: The Thirty Years War, C. V. Wedgwood
Wild/imaginative books: Toilers of the Sea, Victor Hugo; Einstein's Dreams, Alan Lightman; The Financial Lives of the Poets, Jess Walter; Madness is Better Than Defeat, Ned Beauman; The Postmortal, Drew Magary; Our Town, play by Thornton Wilder; The Spoon River Anthology, Edgar Lee Masters; Moravagine, Blaise Cendrars; The Memory of Fire trilogy, Eduardo Galeano
Next read: The Plague, Albert Camus
From Jude
Current read: Moby Dick, Herman Melville
Wild/imaginative books: Inverted World, Christopher Priest; Railsea, China Miéville; The Stone Raft and Death with Interruptions, José Saramago; M31: A Family Romance, Stephen Wright; Conquest of the Useless, Werner Herzog
Next read: Get That N----- Off the Field: An Oral History of the Negro League, Art Rust, Jr.
In this installment, co-hosts Jude and John Lovell discuss some of their favorite funny books and writers, from classics of world literature to more contemporary American titles. Short stories, novels, satires and books that defy classification - the common theme here is that one way or another, these are books that will not fail to entertain... or even inspire!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From JudeCurrent read: Moby Dick, Herman Melville
Funny books: Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes; Skippy Dies, Paul Murray; The Broom of the System, Girl with Curious Hair, Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace
Next read: Get That N____ Off the Field: The Oral History of the Negro Leagues, Art Rust, Jr.
From John
Current read: Day of the Oprichnik, Vladimir Sorokin
Funny books: Various works by Flannery O'Connor and Mark Twain; The Hitchhiker's Guide and Dirk Gently books, Douglas Adams; Homeland and The Ask, Sam Lipsyte; Pastoralia, George Saunders; Lost in the Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Book, Walker Percy; A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole
Next read: Out Stealing Horses, Per Pettersen
"Parting Gift," short story by Jude Joseph Lovell published by Silver Sage magazine
In part 2 of the inaugural pair of shows, the twins/co-hosts choose and discuss three non-fiction titles that were fundamental to their lives as readers/writers. They also briefly cover books they are reading now, and tease what's coming up for Episode 3.
In this inaugural episode of the Book XChange Podcast, lifelong readers and twin brothers Jude and John Lovell choose and discuss 3 fiction books each that have been particularly important in their reading lives (and why!). Coming up in Episode 2: their non-fiction choices.