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Ann Patchett burst on the scene with Bel Canto twenty three years ago. Bel Canto was not her first novel, but many still consider it to be her best (although she disagrees). This week she releases an Annotated Edition of Bel Canto and in it she rereads and notes her triumphs and mistakes on every page. Seriously. A great novel, a great writer making insightful comments on her own writing (in her own handwriting)…if you love reading, writing or Ann Patchett, this is a HUGE treat. In this episode, the first installment of our conversation with Ann, we talk to her about the inspirations behind Bel Canto, and so much of what she thinks she could do better if she wrote it today. Listen and nerd out with us on the writing experience.
Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:
Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Run by Ann Patchett
This is the Story of a Marriage by Ann Patchett
Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Taft by Ann Patchett
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand
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Danzy Senna has written a seriously funny and thought provoking book in Colored Television. It will make you laugh, but also make space for anger, pain and frustration as she skewers race, Hollywood, authentic voice, the publishing industry, the Kardashians, navel gazing, philosophy….you name it, there is satire in this book for everyone. Great writing and a great conversation with the author. We are also joined for our fourth writer in residence conversation with J. Ryan Stradal. He tells us why he is working so hard on the first draft of his new novel. Join us.
Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
Caucasia by Danzy Senna
New People by Danzy Senna
You are Free: Stories by Danzy Senna
Where did you Sleep Last Night by Danzy Senna
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
Colours of the Mountain by Da Chen
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Beloved by Tony Morrison
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
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Reginald Dwayne Betts is on a mission is to put a curated library in the cell block of every prison in America. A survivor of the system himself, he has obtained a college degree, a law degree from Yale, and a MacArthur Genius grant. Looking to bring hope to America’s most hopeless places, Bates has founded Freedom Reads, an organization that brings free curated library collections to every prison system that agrees to it. His partner in the endeavor, Debbie Leff, also talks to us about what inspired her about this tremendous organization. No one better personifies the power of reading to change a life, so join us for what we believe is an important discussion about the vitality of libraries and the power of books to heal.
Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:
The Circumference of a Prison by Reginald Dwayne Betts
Doggerel by Reginald Dwayne Betts
Felon: Poems by Reginald Dwayne Betts
Redaction by Reginald Dwayne Betts
Bastards of the Reagan Era by Reginald Dwayne Betts
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Paula Hawkins is a master of the mystery, and her new one, The Blue Hour, has one of the best opens and closes to a mystery we have ever read. An author who knows mood and atmosphere, this book will keep you turning the pages long after you told yourself to go to bed. Our bookstore this week is a revisit with one of our favorites, Beacon Hill Books. Join us!
Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
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Richard Osman has one of the most successful literary mystery series of all time: The Thursday Murder Club (just finished filming as a major motion picture too). So why start a new series and why do we love it so much? First, we will read anything this man writes, including his address book, but second, because it’s good, AND funny. We ask Richard what inspired him, why he was crazy enough to start a new series and how. Our bookstore this week is Collected Works in Santa Fe. Join us!
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman
The Man who Died Twice by Richard Osman
The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
Fade Away by Harlan Coben
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
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This week's book case: Emmitt Till’s murder has been a seminal moment in American history ever since it occurred in 1955. Wright Thompson’s new book “The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi” looks at the horror through a whole new prism. Thompson loves his native land of Mississippi but is haunted by the barn where Emmitt Till was murdered. Why is it that we still know so little about one of the ugliest chapters in the history of American race relations? Tune in and find out.
Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:
The Barn: The Secret History of A Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson
Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon and the Things that Last by Wright Thompson
The Cost of These Dreams: Sports Stories and Other Serious Business by Wright Thompson
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The United Kingdom has given us some amazing children’s authors: C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter...and may we add Katherine Rundell. Her newest, Impossible Creatures, is a sensation in Britain, and was declared an instant classic even before its U.S. release. It delivers all the magic promised in the fantastical title. Tune in to our conversation with this fascinating Renaissance literature and Dunne scholar as we talk to her about what’s so addicting about writing for middle schoolers, and where we can find the magical lands she creates.
Books mentioned in this week’s episode:
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
The Girl Savage by Katherine Rundell
The Zebra’s Great Escape by Katherine Rundell
Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Dunne by Katherine Rundell
The Golden Mole: And Other Living Treasure by Katherine Rundell
Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
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If you aren’t an Elizabeth Strout fan yet, Tell me Everything, her newest novel, is going to wow you. If you are already devoted fans, like we are, then you are in for a real treat. In Tell Me Everything, she brings together two beloved characters: Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. The results are truly magical. Our bookstore this week is Snowbound Books in Marquette, Michigan.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
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This is a special episode dedicated the art of spoken word poetry. One of our listeners wrote to us mentioning the name of Rudy Francisco and from there we fell down the rabbit hole of spoken word and slam poetry. We talk to Rudy and two other greats of the art, Bianca Phipps and Neil Hilborn. They are going to perform one work each and we will round it out with a conversation with Sam Van Cook. Sam is a founder of Button Poetry that represents and publishes so many of these great artists. Trust us, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Helium by Rudy Francisco
Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky by Rudy Francisco
Crown Noble by Bianca Phipps
The Future by Neil Hilborn
About Time by Neil Hilborn
Mill, Railways and General Castings by Sam Van Cook
Watch their poems online:
Hide and Seek by Rudy Francisco
Almosts by Bianca Phipps
OCD by Neil Hilborn
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Dr. Fei-Fei Li is one of the most important scientists of our time. Her book, The Worlds I See, chronicles her pioneering efforts in Artificial Intelligence. Does AI scare you? Us too. But read this book and listen to this episode. The book is not just the compelling story of Dr. Li herself, who immigrated as a girl speaking no English but who understands physics like Michael Jordan plays basketball. She is now a worldwide authority on AI and its development. Second, if you are scared of AI, this book explains it and the issues surrounding it both with beauty and with hope. She believes AI is the next step in our evolution, but that it MUST be rooted in humanity. What does that mean? Tune in and find out.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
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Have you ever heard the rumor that Shakespeare didn’t write his own plays? So had we, but By Any Other Name, the new novel by Jodi Picoult, may make the best case for it we have ever read. This novel puts forth a theory that Emilia Bassano wrote at least some of them, and she is an unforgettable character. This book succeeds on so many levels — a polemic, a great piece of feminist AND historical fiction, AND it’s a page turner. This is the book Jodi says she was born to write…and we think it’s her best to date.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Mermaid by Jodi Picoult
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Where There’s Smoke by Jodi Picoult
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
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Love it or hate it, the genre of “reality tv” has now shaped American history. That means no matter how you feel about it, you cannot ignore it. Enter Cue the Sun!, the most comprehensive, thoughtful and well written book about the history and development of the genre we have come across. We talk to the book’s author, Emily Nussbaum about how the genre has come to take up so much space in American pop culture and what that means for our country as a whole. We also talk to Ferguson Books' owner Dane Ferguson about how his shop serves rural communities in the upper midwest. You don’t want to miss it.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum
I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution by Emily Nussbaum
Black Bear Lake by Leslie Liautaud
Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman
Alter Ego by Brian Freeman
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Today we talk about a book that seems tailor-made to our show, given our conversations with independent booksellers. The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore is a book that, if you are a book lovers like we are, will give you the same warm, smiling feeling you get when you walk into your favorite bookstore. And we talk to Toby Cox, the owner of Three Lives & Company, one of Evan’s favorites.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss
On Bicycles: A 200-Year History of Cycling in New York City by Evan Friss
The Cycling City: Bicycles and Urban America in the 1890s by Evan Friss
All Fours by Miranda July
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports by Tim Noakes
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When you say the name Whoopi Goldberg it’s hard not to smile. The name is filled with heart, laughter, and a joyous sense of fun, just like the woman herself. Born Caryn Johnson, her memoir Bits and Pieces is a love letter to her mother and brother, the two people who molded her into the hilarious, honest and morally centered person she is today. She has also written a graphic novel about menopause (sure, why not?) called The Change, which is a declaration that women of a certain age (and color) can don a cape and fight bad guys with hot flashes, if they so choose. Join us for a laugh and some terrific storytelling.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg
The Change: A Graphic Novel by Whoopi Goldberg, Jaime Paglia and Sunkanmi Akinboye
Is It Just Me?: Or Is It Nuts Out There? By Whoopi Goldberg
If Someone Says "You Complete Me,” RUN!: Whoopi’s Big Book of Relationships by Whoopi Goldberg
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
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Ben Shattuck is a renaissance man of sorts, which might be why we dedicated the whole episode to him. He wrote The History of Sound, a thought provoking and beautiful collection of short stories that spans the Eastern Seaboard as well as eons of time. Then there's his general store, which, on top of being the oldest general store in the country also boasts an independent bookstore curated by, you guessed it, Ben Shattuck. Join us.
Books mentioned in this week’s episode:
The History of Sound: Stories by Ben Shattuck
Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau by Ben Shattuck
Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
This Is Happiness by Niall Williams
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Ship Fever by Andrea Barrett
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
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Every so often, a new author tackles the work of expanding a classic novel to expand its reach. Even more rarely, they succeed beautifully. This week’s book, Adventures of Mary Jane is just such a rare gem. Mary Jane's author, Hope Jahren, is a scientist (a geochemist, no less) who decided to write the story of Mary Jane, a character that haunted her from the pages of Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn her entire life. It is both a magical adventure story and an authentic and well written coming of age drama. This week’s bookstore is Where the Sidewalk Ends, which is also run by two generations in tandem. We talk to them about how they do it…and we commiserate on working with daughters and parents. Join us.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Adventures of Mary Jane by Hope Jahren
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here by Hope Jahren
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
A Man without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals that Helped him Save Lives in World War II by Vicki Constantine Croke
The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames-RELEASES 7/23/2024
More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova-RELEASES 1/14/2025
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Our third check in with J. Ryan Stradal, author extraordinaire and our writer in residence. He has begun to write in earnest, and has lots to tell us about his progress. We are loving these conversations with J., and every time we learn something new. For our bookstore we talk to Next Chapter Booksellers in St. Paul, J. Ryan's homeland. Join us.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Perfume and Pain by Anna Dorn
For The Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food: Interviews, Inspiration, and Recipes by Klancy Miller
The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir by Griffin Dunne
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The Magician’s Hat by Malcolm MitchellThis week we talk to Rachel Khong. Her new novel, Real Americans, asks probing questions about the reality of America’s “melting pot” mythology, and is also being a mysterious and compulsively readable family saga. We also talk to Judy Newman, Chief Impact Officer at Scholastic, in our continuing discussions on the importance of getting children to read. We hope you will join us.
Books mentioned in this week's podcast
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
Perfecto Pet Show by Judy Newman
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Do you like a good spy novel? Do you love le Carré and Graham Greene? Then we hope, with great sincerity, that you are reading the work of Joseph Kanon. His latest, Shanghai, centers around the city’s lesser known freewheeling WWII history and some of the lawless people who escaped the war to be there. Tune in to find out why he is fascinated by spy novels, and what he calls “spy adjacent novels”, that capture such rich moments in history.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Shanghai by Joseph Kanon
The Good German by Joseph Kanon
Istanbul Passage by Joseph Kanon
Los Alamos by Joseph Kanon
The Prodigal Spy by Joseph Kanon
The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon
Leaving Berlin by Joseph Kanon
Defectors by Joseph Kanon
Alibi by Joseph Kanon
The Accomplice by Joseph Kanon
The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Barry
Winter Work by Dan Fesperman
The Cover Wife by Dan Fesperman
Safe Houses by Dan Fesperman
The Letter Writer by Dan Fesperman
Unmanned by Dan Fesperman
The Double Game by Dan Fesperman
Layover in Dubai by Dan Fesperman
The Arms Maker of Berlin by Dan Fesperman
The Prisoner of Guantanamo by Dan Fesperman
The Warlord's Son by Dan Fesperman
The Small Boat of Great Sorrows by Dan Fesperman
Lie in the Dark by Dan Fesperman
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Sandwich: A Novel by Catherine Newman is full of great characters, evocative nostalgic imagery and a love for Cape Cod that we share with her. It is full of thoughts on what it means to be a woman, why we keep secrets from our family, and what it is we love about the yearly vacation traditions we cherish if we were lucky enough to have them in our lives. For our bookstore this week, Bookshop West Portal, who for independent bookstore day brought in llamas. Because....well, tune in.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
Waiting for Birdy: A Year of Frantic Tedium, Neurotic Angst, and the Wild Magic of Growing a Family by Catherine Newman
The Worst Noel: Hellish Holiday Tales by Catherine Newman
Catastrophic Happiness: Finding Joy in Childhood's Messy Years by Catherine Newman
The Beans of Egypt, Maine, by Carolyn Chute
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Long Island by Colm Toibin
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
Shopkeeping: Stories, Advice, and Observations by Peter Miller
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