Likely Stories: Recent Episodes
Jim McKeown
So many books, so little time! Jim McKeown hosts this weekly review of fiction, poetry, non-fiction and biographies. Jim is a lifelong voracious reader who learned to read by the “rule of 50" - if he’s not engaged in the characters, the prose, or the plot by page 50, he puts in a book mark and returns it to the shelf. Likely Stories is a production of KWBU in Waco, Texas.
My name is Maggie McCarthy and today I will be reviewing The Land and Its People by David Sedaris.
I'm not a huge fan of hot weather. My summer reads tend to be set in cold climates, in wintertime- books that take me away from the heart of Texas. Two Old Women by Velma Wallis is a perfect diversion.
Imagine if one day you suddenly discovered that the tenets that have governed your life, through no choice of your own, have been undeniably broken. This is exactly where protagonist Soren Johanssen finds himself at the start of Steven L Peck’s novella, ‘A Short Stay in Hell.’
Haven’t we all thought at one point how nice it would be to get away from the hustle and bustle of workaday life and return to living in simpler times? To disconnect, to live off the land, to embrace true family values? It sounds so refreshing in theory, but I’m not sure I could hack it in reality.
Gia Chevis reviews The 10 by E.A. Hanks—a reflective road trip memoir about memory, identity, and finding meaning in small moments along the way.
A charming but mysterious stranger arrives in a college town. He skirts questions about himself and his past, but soon becomes a vital part of the community through his kindness, his generosity, and his willingness to be friends with anyone.Welcome to “Likely Stories.”I’m Diane Kemper.
Love Island meets Lord of the Flies meets Survivor meets Big Brother is a heavy mantle for a book to carry, but it’s an accurate description of what you’ll think of when you read The Compound by Aisling Rawle.
"Every Kid Deserves a Champion" is a famous quote by educator powerhouse Rita Pearson. For years, teachers have been considered champions for students regardless of their economic background, academic growth, race, or behavior. History.
Hello. My name is Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University, with this week’s edition of Likely Stories. Fantasy writer R.F. Kuang published her sixth novel last year. It’s called Katabasis, an odd but fitting Greek word for her story of academic misadventure.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed, and maybe just a bit freaked out, by the absurd enormity of inhabiting a fragile body in a rapidly-changing and dangerous world? George Hall has, a little too often. I’m Gia Chevis, and for this week’s installment of Likely Stories on KWBU, I’m recommending A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
A married couple’s long awaited adventure at sea becomes a disaster and a nearly four month long deperation to stay alive.
I don't know if there is a more perfect book. I've read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern five times (unheard of for someone like me who does not ever reread books), and each time I find myself utterly captivated by this beautiful, mystical story of love, magic, sweeping talents and mystery, and the ties that bind us to each other.
This is Guilherme Feitosa de Almeida, senior lecturer in music theater at Baylor University. I'm here with this week's edition of Likely Stories.
Have you contemplated spring cleaning? When this bug hit me, I turned to the grand-master cleaner, Marie Kondo, for inspiration. This best-selling author has sold 9 million copies of her classic book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Ok, add me, Maggie McCarthy, to the ranks of readers as I set out on my decluttering journey with this instructive read.
I'm Kevin Tankersley and this is likely stories on KWBU. I first learned about the book 'Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur' when I heard the author Jeff Pearlman on 'The Pete Sousa Show' podcast last year. I knew of Pearlman from his writings at Sports Illustrated and ESPN. He was a sports guy. Why would he be talking about Tupac?
I can remember a number of truly incredible meals in my life, whether cooked for me at home or in restaurants locally or while traveling. Some of the food stands out in my mind: a perfectly-cooked piece of meat, a well-crafted cocktail, a side dish that pairs perfectly with the entree, a dessert that caps off the wonderful meal. But in all those epicurean events, what I recall most are the people with me around the table, loved ones sharing a gustatory experience always seems more important than the food itself.
"Some books stay with you for decades. For me, that’s A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson. First published in 1985, it’s a funny, Southern tale of Neely, North Carolina, told through the eyes of young Louis Benfield, Jr. From quirky townsfolk to a chimpanzee companion, the story blends humor and heart in unforgettable ways. I first heard it on The Radio Reader in 1986—and I’ve never forgotten it."
Imagine being punched in the ovaries to bring on a fit.This is The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein, which was inspired by the dark history of the Salpêtrière asylum in the 1880s.
I am a huge James Bond fan, and never missed an episode of Charlie’s Angels as a pre-teen growing up. A story about women my age who could still fight, run, plan, take action, and do all the things they did in their early years really appealed to me.
The book that I'm reviewing today is challenging. It was an unsettling read, and I thought about it for weeks after I finished it. I hesitated to recommend it on Likely Stories. But these difficult books catch our attention for a reason, they are important to talk about and examine.
Part murder mystery, part coming-of-age tale, My Favorite Thing is Monsters blends pulp horror, art history, and raw emotion into a stunning graphic novel experience. Told through a young girl's illustrated diary, Emil Ferris's masterpiece is unforgettable in both story and style.
Hello, I'm Rebecca Flavin, director of engaged learning curriculum and senior lecturer of political science at Baylor University. My friends will all attest. Two of my favorite things are reading and traveling. And when I can combine the two by reading books about places I travel, I am in heaven.
Kevin Tankersley is in the host seat for this weeks Likely Stories. Behind the music, the comedy, and the car chases, The Blues Brothers was a passion project fueled by friendship. The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship explores the rise of Belushi and Aykroyd, the film’s impact, and the legends it helped reignite.
As an English teacher. Shakespeare has been in my lesson plans for years. I could teach the bard with my eyes closed. But what if we could reimagine one of the most classic plays in a new light, and take the famous couplet 'for never was there a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo', and flip it on its end. For never was a story of more whimsy than this. Of the Montagues and their daughter Rosie.
Have you ever found yourself inexplicably moved by something incredibly simple and innocuous? A blinking street light in the dead of night. A solitary shopping cart in an empty parking lot. If so, then you might like to know, that sudden shift of emotion is known as a heartspur.
This is Guilherme Feitosa DeAlmeida, senior lecturer of Musical Theatre at Baylor University. I'm here with this week's edition of Likely Stories. Award winning author Mahasweta Devi is an environmental crusader. Bitter Soil is her narrative manifesto.
In my goal to read more nonfiction books, I picked up You’re Not Listening – what you’re missing and why it matters by Kate Murphy. I admit I can’t remember who recommended this book, I probably wasn’t listening… but reading it is a great opportunity to learn how to become a better listener and who doesn’t want that.I’m Lucy Petter. Welcome to today’s Likely Stories.
My name is Heather White, I teach Art History classes at Baylor and manage my household, I have two toddlers and a ten year old. Today I am reviewing, “I Who Have Never Known Men,” by Jaqueline Harpman. If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry, it’s an older, obscure book with a somewhat wordy title.
If you haven’t seen the movie Midnight Cowboy, don’t read Baylor professor James Kendrick’s new book Midnight Cowboy. It is full of spoilers…full.
You know, investing my soul into a story about fictional competitive ice dancers was not what I had on my 2025 BINGO card, yet there I was, poring over the pages of this book and pouring out my emotions over this debut that is an homage to Wuthering Heights and reads like part fictional account and part Netflix Olympic documentary. Dig in your toepicks to 'The Favorites' by Layne Fargo and get ready for one heck of a spin.
Hey there. Lauren here. I’m KWBU’s public relations intern as well as a Baylor student and a bookseller at Fabled. Today I’m going to be talking all about the book, Carrie Sotozis Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Let me tell you, I love me some Taylor Jenkins Reid. I would probably say she’s my favorite author. She writes such fascinating stories with the most interesting characters. One of these interesting characters being Carrie Soto.
Have you ever been in a daily commute, or in a class, and sat next to the same people day in and day out, and not known one thing about them? Not their names, not their jobs, and certainly not their lives. You give them nicknames in your head attributed to what they wear and what they drink, but you have no idea who they are. Of course, you never speak. The first rule is “don’t talk to strangers.” What would it take to get to know these people, and in turn to let them into your life?
I’m Joe Riley with KWBU, and this is Likely Stories.Every couple of weeks, I visit the Waco McLennan County Library and browse the New Book shelves. That’s where I saw Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice. Actually, it was the author’s name that first caught my eye – Barbara Bradley Hagerty is currently a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Before that, she spent 19 years reporting on justice issues and religion for NPR. I checked the book out because I’ve always been impressed by her work.
It’s not Christmastime anymore, but that's never stopped me from enjoying any story set during the most wonderful time of the year. This one is heavy on mystery, lightly romantic, deeply nostalgic, fully entrenched in the setting.
Nearly every time my husband sees me reading he asks, “Reading one of your “happy” books again?” To be fair, he may have a point. For example, listening to the audiobook of a novel that unpacks the emotional trauma of four generations of Filipino men, is possibly not the most uplifting way to spend a drive through the plains of the Texas Panhandle. But Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay was so worth it. I’m Gia Chevis with this week’s installment of Likely Stories.
For this week's episode of Likely stories, Kevin Tankersley, from the Department of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media at Baylor, is investigating what goes into the making of True Crime Television.
Hi, I’m Molly-Jo Tilton, reporter at KWBU and hobbyist reader. On this week’s episode of Likely Stories, we’ll be talking about Trust by Hernan Diaz.
Hello. My name is Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University, with this week’s edition of Likely Stories.
My name is Heather White, I teach Art History classes at Baylor. Before I begin this segment of Likely Stories, I wanted to let you know that this review acknowledges the existence of sexual desire, if this is not appropriate for everyone in your listening space, you may want to return after this three minute segment has ended. Okay, here we go.
I have a love hate relationship with reading and learning about history. I can’t decide whether I hate being reminded that humans seem to absolutely refuse to learn from their past mistakes or love the hope I feel knowing that we’ve more or less survived those past mistakes and have made progress, however slowly.
Hi I’m Molly-Jo Tilton, reporter at KWBU, and welcome to this week’s episode of likely stories. Today I want to talk about one of my favorite books of all time, Andrew Joseph White’s “The Spirit Bares its Teeth”.
Hosting this edition of Likely Stories is Lori Fogelman. Lori works at Baylor University and is part of the broadcast team for Baylor Women’s Basketball. Here is her review of Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Hi, and welcome to Likely Stories. I’m Paige Connell, and I teach English at Midway High School, and today I want to talk about everyone’s favorite science fiction construct: time travel.
Hello, and welcome to this week’s episode of Likely Stories. I’m Malcolm Foster, operations assistant at KWBU and aspiring habitual reader. Today I want to talk about Haruki Marakumi’s best known body of work, ‘Norwegian Wood.’
Hey there, my name is Lauren Hooker. I'm a student at Baylor as well as a bookseller at Fabled and I'm also the Public Relations intern this semester here at KWBU.
In this week's episode of Likley Stories, art historian and educator, Heather White, is discussing 'North Woods' by Daniel Mason.
Hello, my name is Douglas Henry, dean of the Honors College at Baylor University. With this week's edition of Likely Stories.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Likely Stories. I’m Paige Connell, and I teach English at Midway High School. When this year comes to a close, if The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon isn’t my top 1-2 best books of the year, I will be shocked.
This is the Reverend Dr. Andrew Armand. I'm an Episcopal priest here in town at St. Alban's Episcopal Church. Welcome to this next edition of Likely Stories.
Spooky season is approaching. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and the flavors are getting pumpkiny-er.
If you have ever wanted a glimpse behind the curtain at the White House, "Upstairs at the White House" by Chief Usher JB West is the book for you.
Hi, my name is Shenequa Williams, and I am an Instructional Specialist at Cedar Ridge Elementary. Today, I'm reviewing The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
Hi, and welcome back to Likely Stories. I'm Paige Connell, an English teacher at Midway High School, with a review of the most precious book about finding your purpose, caring for others, and the beauty of life-even among the smallest of creatures. Sipsworth by Simon van Booy moved me to tears and filled my cup.
I love books about books. Really, who wouldn't want to be a librarian holding the multiverse together, as in The Invisible Library series? And so many give great us reading lists as a bonus.
Hello. My name is Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University.Last year, Barbara Kingsolver won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel, Demon Copperhead. Inspired by Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, Kingsolver lays bare the woeful lives of orphans in drug-addicted America.
During the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, some people learned to make sourdough, and some learned to paint. Me? I read books. I'm Emma Weidmann, the Arts and Life Editor at the Baylor Lariat, with this week's edition of Likely Stories on KWBU.
Harrison Otis says of The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the nineteen thirty-six Berlin Olympics, "...this is more than a sports story. It’s a window into American life during the Great Depression. It’s a story about Hitler’s rise to power. It’s a story of the men and women from Washington whose friendships and conflicts are the real heart of the book...".
Why hello there, I’m Malcolm Foster, Operations Assistant at KWBU, habitual collector of books and lifelong lover of compelling storytelling. Today I want to talk about a body of work that captured both my head and my heart. A book that I still find myself thinking of years after my first read through.
Hi, and welcome to Likely Stories. I’m Paige Connell, and I teach 9th grade English at Midway High School. Today I want to talk about one of my surprise favorite books of 2023, Starter Villain by John Scalzi.
Of all the books I have read recently, the one I have recommended to the most people is “The Displacements” by Bruce Holsinger.
My name is Heather White. When I am not managing my household and caring for my young children, I teach art and art history classes here in Waco. Today I am recommending the book “Devotions” by Mary Oliver
Hi, and welcome to Likely Stories. My name is Harrison Otis, and I'm a graduate student in the English department at Baylor University. Today I'm reviewing Klara and the sun, the 2021 novel by the British author Kazuo Ishiguro.
As a kid, you could find me either writing my own stories or with my nose buried in one. I grew out of fairytales and fantasy magic, but a good book? Well, I never grew out of that. I'm Emma Weidmann, the Arts and Life Editor at the Baylor Lariat, with this week’s edition of Likely Stories on KWBU.
Hi, and welcome to Likely Stories. I’m Paige Connell, and I teach 9th grade English at Midway High School. Today I want to discuss The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard, a book my friend at Fabled, Elizabeth Barnhill, first pointed me toward.
On this week's edition of Likely Stories, Justin Jones, a lecturer with the English Department at Baylor University discusses Shirley Jackson's 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle.'
I want to talk today about a book that completely captured my heart, The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer.
Outside of narrative fiction I'm rather partial to memoirs. In recent years I've vicariously lived amongst rock stars, performing artists, and iconic comedians. Today I want to talk about the strangest, and at times, the most frustrating memoir I've ever read.
Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon? It is one of my favorite National Parks and one of the most memorable places I have visited.Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, I was overwhelmed with sublime awe, I felt small and insignificant, contemplating the unfathomable scale of earth time. I felt the same way reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yoo vuhl Noah Hraa ree.
Hello. My name is Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University.For this week's Likely Stories, I'll be discussing The Ascent. A gripping new thriller, the debut novel of Adam Plantinga.
Maybe it's the point in my life right now but aging slowly sounds devine."How to Stop Time," by Matt Haig, shares the story of Tom Hazard, who has a dangerous secret. He looks 40-ish, but he has actually lived for centuries.
Welcome to Likely Stories. I’m Paige Connell, and I’m a 9th grade English teacher at Midway High School, and today I want to talk about Kristin Hannah’s latest historical fiction masterpiece, The Women.
Over the years there have been numerous books that have lingered hopelessly in my list of titles to read. Novels that have captured my interest, sparked my curiosity, and then…found themselves hanging in the ether as I’ve neither found, nor made the time to actually read them. However, one title that has evaded this perpetual limbo is Chain-Gang All-Stars. The debut novel by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.
My name is Harrison Otis, and I'm a graduate student in the English Department at Baylor University. Today I'm reviewing Peace Like a River, the 2001 debut novel by Minnesota author Leif Enger.
John Hopkins Hospital... Medical Revolution...and Henrietta Lacks...are words that will ring in your mind for endless days after reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.
I’m an easy mark for campus novels. I recently discovered Rebecca Kuang, known for her Poppy War trilogy and satire, Yellowface. Kuang also wrote Babel, a novel uniting magical realism and social critique
This past year, I’ve read plenty of books and stories, some of them normal, some of them extraordinary. Today, I want to discuss the most extraordinary book about normal people that I’ve read this past year.
If you have been to the mountains recently and had the opportunity to soak in the alpine forests, the placid lakes, the beautiful leaves, and the pristine snow, then you may have the fourteenth-century Italian poet Petrarch to thank.
The five senses...what do you think of when I say that phrase? As an educator I think about teaching younger students what the senses are, and examples of them. But beyond that- do we really give them much thought?
The beginning of this slow burn crime fiction is a doozy. During the beginning days of the pandemic, beaches in Florida were closed to the public, but two boys sneak out to surf near Reef Road, when they spot a hand that has washed up to shore.
Hello, my name is Shenequa Williams with this week's edition of Likely Stories. I am a Reading Interventionist teacher in Waco I.S.D. at G.W. Carver Middle School.I recently read a book called Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore, and could not stop turning the pages. This beautiful debut novel is a story of heartbreak, guilt, hope, and courage.
I am a big reader. Recently, I've been reading Alexander McCall Smith's Sunday Philosophy Club Series. The latest installment, The Sweet Remnants of Summer, offers an intelligent and emotionally sensitive exploration of the light-hearted and profound.
I knew the ultimate ending of Altamont when I first picked up the book by the same name. In fact, the first sentence on the inside of the dust jacket gives it away: "The definitive story of the Rolling Stones' infamous Altamont concert and the murder that brought the sixties rock revolution to a shocking conclusion.”
Nugent, an Irish writer, always starts her books with a catchy opening line. Any time she has a new book out, I immediately turn to the first sentence to see what sort of tale awaits me.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built is the first book in the Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers. This charming novella won the Hugo award in 2022 - the Hugo recognizes the best science fiction or fantasy titles of the previous year.
A nonfiction deep dive into one of America's most intriguing cities is the book I am bringing to you today. That is The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Missisippi by Richard Grant.
Today I am recommending my favorite book of last year, Love and Saffron by Kim Fay. I describe is as if Ruth Reichl, food writer for the NYT, and Laurie Colwin, my favorite food memoir writer wrote Eighty Four Charing Cross and I loved everything about it
“The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson was at the top of my summer reading list this year.Wilson won the 2022 Minnesota Book Award for this novel, which is her first fiction work. Her previous, non-fiction writings have also received numerous awards.
A book that is a brand new August release and taking the publishing world by storm is Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. This debut has perhaps one of the strangest premises I will ever bring to Likely Stories.
A story of jealousy and greed, Yellowface takes the reader many places. It is also a story of a scathing look at the publishing industry.
There are a few books that I hand sell like crazy at Fabled and one that I am known to adore is “the donkey book”. Yes, the donkey book is Running With Sherman: How a Rescue Donkey Inspired a Rag-Tag Gang of Runners to Enter the Craziest Race in America by Christopher MacDougall.
If there's one thing that I learned from AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies, it's that I never want to play cards with the author, Derek Delgaudio.
I want to highlight an under the radar gem that is a contender for my favorite book of 2023. That is the debut novel Go As A River by Shelley Read. Read is fifth generation Coloradoan and her love of the land shines through in this gorgeous novel.
I recently read 'Last Summer on State Street', the debut novel of Toya Wolfe. I had my eye on it for a while and I'm so glad I finally picked it up.
A forced family reunion with people who really don’t want to be with each other, can’t be without issues. ‘Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone’, a novel by Benjamin Stevenson, is a maniacal ‘Knives Out’ type story of homecoming and murder.
I’ve read a number of memoirs by musicians over the years. Mary Gauthier’s Saved by a Song is absolutely one of my favorites.
A new chapter in the life and legacy of long term favorite 'Likely Stories' begins with Elizabeth Barnhill's most beloved book of 2023 so far, 'Hello Beautiful' by Anne Napolitano.
As Likely Stories comes to an end, we spend this month featuring some of Jim's favorite episodes.
This collection of short stories contains one by Elizabeth Berg. Berg is a funny writer, and I 've admired nearly all of her novels
This collection of short stories contains one by Elizabeth Berg. Berg is a funny writer, and I 've admired nearly all of her novels
Lauren Groff’s "Such Small Islands" is one of 35 fascinating stories in “Small Odysseys”
Lauren Groff’s "Such Small Islands" is one of 35 fascinating stories in “Small Odysseys”
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak is a powerful and intoxicating story of the dangers of climate change.
Horrific story of a detective who must overcome her loss while still managing her life.
A pleasant story of overcoming obstacles. Tracey Garvis Graves is a New York Times bestselling author. Her most recent bestseller, The Girl He Used to Know received rave reviews. Her latest novel is Heard it in a Love Song. She currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Layla Hilding is thirty-five and recently divorced. She had some glory days as a lead singer. Her ex-husband, Iiam, shares custody with Layla. Josh is an electrician, and he begins thinking about Lala every day. The story begins, Graves writes, “Layla Hilding-Cook stood on the curb next to the drop-off line on a mild day in early September, bracing herself for what she was about to endure. Drop-off and pickup frustrated the staff on the best of days, but that was nothing compared to the confusion on the first day of school” (3). Tonya Perkins taught with Layla for ten years. When Layla split from Liam, she shut down and could not handle the break-up. Tonya wrote from time to time, and on occasion brought
250 items to engage your reading pleasure for many years. I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Books and Libraries Poems from the Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets is edited by Andrew D. Scrimgeour. The poetry is amusing, and I will scatter a handful from my copy of the book. Wallace Stevens : “The house was quiet, and the world was calm. The reader became the book; and summer night. Was like the conscious being of the book. The house was quiet, and the world was calm. The words were spoken as if there was no book, Except that the reader leaned above the page, Wanted to lean, wanted much most to be The scholar to whom his book is true, to whom The summer night is like a
A collection of the best women artists of their day. Those of you who have followed Likely Stories for Public Radio 103.3 FM for many years, I would like to point out something about me. I am a voracious reader; a large percentage of my reading is by and/or about women; and I have often woven works by women into my own imagination. The five stories in this novel—by Harriet Scott Chessman—are all collections from woman painters I have admired. This is my attempt to gather all these works into one sublime experience. We begin with Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper . Paris, Septembre,1878 . ‘‘Could you model for me tomorrow, Lydia?’’ […] ‘‘Mother thinks it will make you too tired.’’ […] . May looks up. I can see she is studying me with her painter’s eyes. Inwardly, I flinch; I feel shy, always when someone looks at me. […] sometimes, I can’t help wondering when she sees. I’m as plain as a loaf of bread. […] ‘Maybe you can just do the back of my head,’ I suggested. […] ‘Lyddy, I want
Powerful story of a maid who must fight for her rights. The 2021 Booker Prize was awarded to Damon Galgut for his stunning novel, The Promise. This was his second trip to the shortlist. His most recent novel was nominated for the Walter Scott and Folio Prizes. These novels have appeared in sixteen languages so far. He has a recent film adaptation of The Quarry released in 2020. Damon lives and works in Cape Town. Amor is a young woman, whose mother has recently passed. Damon wrote, “The moment the metal box speaks her name, Amor knows it has happened. She’s been in a tense, headachy mood all day, almost like she had a warning in a dream but can’t remember what it is. Some sign or image, just under the surface. Trouble down below. Fire Underground, // But when the words were said to her aloud, she doesn’t believe them. She closes her eyes and shakes her head. No, no. It can’t be true, what her aunt has just told her. Nobody is dead. It’s a word, that’s all. She looks at the word, lying
I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Elizabeth Strout has a number of excellent novels of love and death, danger and pleasure. Oh William! Is her latest effort. She is a New York Times bestselling author with numerous awards including Olive Kitteridge which awarded her a Pulitzer Prize. Another of her fine novels is My Name is Lucy Barton. She is also a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Kate Atkinson’s first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum , was named England’s Whitbread Book of the Year in 1996. Since then, she has written nine more novels, and she lives in Edinburgh. Transcription is a recent novel.
I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Philipp Meyer grew up in Baltimore. After spending several years volunteering at a trauma center in downtown Baltimore, he attended Cornell University, where he studied English. He split his time between Texas and upstate New York. American Rust is his first novel.
I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Paula Hawkins is the author of The Girl on the Train and Into the Water. A Slow Fire Burning is her latest novel. These superb novels are by turns frightful, serious, and filled with deceit—by the three main characters. The story revolves around a gruesome murder, which arouses the suspicions of other characters. These three women are connected to the victim.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. I decided to gather a collection of the best books from 2021. Some have lagged from earlier memories, and several from new titles ahead.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Lauren Groff is a two-time National Book Award finalist and the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Fates and Furies and Florida. Her latest novel is Matrix. This terrific novel demonstrates the raw power of female creativity in a corrupt world.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Rebecca Raisin is the author of several novels, including the ‘Little Paris’ series. Her short stories have been published in various anthologies and fiction magazines series. The Little Bookshop on the Seine is another novel set in a bookshop.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Lily King is the author of several novels with terrific stories, especially The Pleasing Hour, and The English Teacher. King is the recipient of a Whiting Award. She lives in Maine. Her novels are stimulating and deserve my highest praise. Father of the Rain is her third novel, which spans three decades of a volatile relationship between a frighteningly charismatic, alcoholic father and the daughter who cannot help but leave him.
I’m Jim McKeown . Welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Stacey Lee is a New York Times bestselling author of several novels, such as Under a Painted Sky, and Outrun the Moon. She won the PEN Center USA Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. She was born in Southern California, and she now lives with her family outside San Francisco. Downstairs Girl is her latest novel.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Erika Swyler, a graduate of New York University, is a writer and playwright whose work has appeared in literary journals and anthologies. She was born and raised on Long Island’s North Shore. The Book of Speculation is her first novel.
I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The Diary by Eileen Goudge is a touching tale of love, betrayal, and danger.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Mauve: How One Man Invented a Color That Changed the World by Simon Garfield is an interesting story and full of information about chemistry and science in general. The story begins with Simon Garfield, “Sir William Perkins seldom traveled abroad. He wrote in a modest and unflowery style. Quote: ‘The first public laboratory I worked in was the Royal College of Chemistry in Oxford Street, London, in Eighteen-fifty-three to Eighteen-fifty-six.’ It wasn’t like the great electric laboratories of today, he noted, with your huge booming furnaces. ‘There were no Bunsen burners—we had short lengths of iron tube covered with
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Ann Hood’s first novel, Three-Legged Horse is one I have treasured since I first read it in 1989 when I met her at an American Library Association meeting. She graciously signed my copy. Ann is an American novelist and short Story writer. She is the author of fourteen novels, four memoirs, a short story collection, as well as other favorites of mine, The Italian Wife and The Obituary Writer.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Patricia Highsmith died February 4, 1995. She was an American novelist and short story writer widely known for her psychological thrillers. The Cry of the Owl is one of my favorites.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. I have often tried numerous times to achieve even a minimal amount of skill on a piano. Thad Carhart’s wonderful book, The Piano on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier , gives me many interesting insights into music. Thad is a dual citizen of Ireland and the US, and he has spent much of his life in France. He now lives in Paris with his wife and children.
I’m Jim McKeown , welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Nick McDonell is the author of Twelve, The Third Brother, and An Expensive Education, as well as a number of books on political theory and reportage. His latest book is, The Council of Animals.