Avsnitt
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Tommy Orange has written a second novel. Although technically a sequel, you can easily read Wandering Stars without having experienced There There. But you should read at least one. Or both. Oh to heck with it, we love Tommy Orange and we will read anything he writes. He is incredibly talented. And we pair him with Birchbark Books & Native Arts, a bookstore that is a beloved Twin Cities landmark, while also serving the national and international Indigenous community. Tune in to find out how.
Books mentioned in this week’s episode:
There There by Tommy Orange
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
James by Percival Everett
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Waltzing the Cat by Pam Houston
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
The Iliad translated by Emily Wilson
The End of the World is a Cul de Sac by Louise Kennedy
Native Love Jams by Tashia Hart
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Amor Towles is publishing a short story collection (with a novella included) called Table for Two, and we waited with bated breath as it arrived in our mailboxes. Can he bring the same artistry in short form that he does to his novels? Is he equally talented in novella, short story and novel? Short answers are yes, yes and yes. This rich collection of stories are varied, thought provoking, funny and beautiful. Join us to find out how and why he does what he does.
Book mentioned in this week's episode.
Table for Two by Amor Towles
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
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This Disaster Loves You is the newest by Richard Roper, which we would probably best describe as a quirky British romcom, sort of... a little. But it’s also hilarious and there is both depth and humanity to it that will surprise you. We both read it in about 48 hours, and you probably will too. Read it, and then listen to this conversation; you’ll understand why we’re so charmed. Our bookstore this week is Roebling Books which has a few locations in Kentucky. Owner, Richard Hunt has some terrific recommendations you won’t want to miss.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
This Disaster Loves You by Richard Roper
When We Were Young by Richard Roper
Something to Live for by Richard Roper
Us by David Nicholls
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
The Land of the Laughs by Jonathan Carroll
Clay’s Quilt by Silas House
The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
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THE WRITER IN RESIDENCE SHOW!
We kick off our new series, Writer in Residence, with our resident writer, J. Ryan Stradal. A great writer, a national bestseller, and a friend of Kate’s for almost thirty years, J. Ryan is going to give The Book Case a front row seat from page one to publication. Join us as he walks us through what he does to get started, and his thoughts on how the book might proceed. What does he do to get past self doubt to be the best writer he can be? He joins us once a month for about fifteen minutes to talk us through every phase. This, our first episode, he gets the whole episode. Enjoy!
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
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Working by Robert A. Caro
The World According to Garp by John Irving
Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
Adventures in Screen Trade by William Goldman
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If you are a mystery fan who hasn’t read Tana French, then you have missed one of the great modern mystery writers of our time. American by birth and Irish by residence, her Irish set mysteries will both haunt you and keep you guessing. Her newest, The Hunter, is one of her best, a rousing combination of a murder mystery and heist suspense. She tells us what motivates her and how she does what she does time and time again. Our bookstore is The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
In the Woods by Tana French
The Likeness by Tana French
Faithful Place by Tana French
The Searcher by Tana French
The Secret Place by Tana French
Broken Harbor by Tana French
The Witch Elm by Tana French
The Trespasser by Tana French
The Hunter by Tana French
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
I Will Surprise My Friend! by Mo Willems
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
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We believe that Anna Quindlen should be declared a national treasure. Her new novel, After Annie, is an intimate look at a family recovering from the loss of their matriarch. Taken too young, she dies suddenly of an aneurism while making dinner. It’s funny, sad, and, like all of Anna’s work, universal in its themes and depictions of family life. We pair her this week with the Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California. Join us for some great conversations.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
After Annie by Anna Quindlen
Write for Your Life by Anna Quindlen
Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen
Miller’s Valley by Anna Quindlen
Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
Blessings by Anna Quindlen
Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen
Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen
One True Thing by Anna Quindlen
Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
Ablaze by Christopher Krovatin
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
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It’s never a great idea to pigeonhole a talented writer, but you could probably call Sloane Crosley a humorist... most of the time. Her newest, Grief Is for People, is a funny, raw, introspective, and beautiful look at grief from every angle. Rocked by the suicide of her best friend, Crosley dives into her pain and loss in this slim, but effecting book that will make you laugh out loud while you reach for your tissue box. (Yes, a cliche. But, here, a true one.) We also speak with McLean and Eakin books in Petoskey Michigan, run by a husband and wife team who fell in love in the shop they now own.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley
I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley
Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley
The Clasp by Sloane Crosley
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Truth and Beauty: A Friendship by Ann Patchett
The Long Goodbye: A Memoir by Meghan O'Rourke
Taking a Long Look: Essays on Culture, Literature and Feminism in Our Time by Vivian Gornick
The Painter by Peter Heller
The Last Ranger by Peter Heller
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A few weeks ago Kate received an email informing her of a debut author: Diane Oliver. But this debut book stood out because the author had been dead for more than fifty years. Fascinated, we asked for copies...and Diane Oliver's work knocked us out. Her debut collection, Neighbors and Other Stories, is a compendium of her work: insightful, raw, beautiful, intimate, with character's stark and naked humanity jumping off every page. We talk to the writer Tayari Jones, who wrote the book's enthusiastic introduction, as well as Diane's agent, Elise Dillsworth and her publisher, Katie Raissian. How does one release a debut work when the author is long gone? Tune in and find out.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Neighbors and Other Stories by Diane Oliver
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
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It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes we just want to talk to each other. And that’s what happened this week. We spent some time reflecting on lessons we have learned from our authors and we go through our favorite love stories of all time (Valentine’s Day and all). It’s nice to pause every once in a while. We hope you will take a pause with us.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
This Is Happiness by Niall Williams
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
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Have you ever heard of William and Ellen Craft? They were an escaped enslaved husband and wife whose stories read like a blockbuster action movies. Symbols in their time, Ellen (who was the daughter of an enslaved woman and her master) passed as a white man and had her husband William pass as her property. A harrowing journey gave way to their leadership in the fugitive slave movement, even though it cost them dearly. Ilyon Woo shares their incredible story in her book, Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom. A great read and a great conversation about American heroes of whom you might never have heard. This week we also talk to Island books in Middletown Rhode Island. Join us.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo
The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother's Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times by Ilyon Woo
William Wells Brown: An African American Life by Ezra Greenspan
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Alicia Miles
Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market by Walter Johnson
The Slave's Cause by Manisha Sinha
Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp
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Kate revisits her favorite genre: horror (but she prefers the moniker of dark fiction), and this one is taped in front of a live audience! Plus: you get three great guests for the price of one, which should be irresistible. In New Hampshire to celebrate the new novel by Chris Golden (do not miss The House of Last Resort!), Kate was given the opportunity sit down with Paul Tremblay, Victor LaValle and Jennifer McMahon. It was really fun, a terrific conversation, and a lot to think about. There is great writing taking place in this genre, and this episode quizzes three of the best. Join us.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
The Little Sleep by Paul Tremblay
No Sleep Till Wonderland by Paul Tremblay
Swallowing a Donkey’s Eye by Paul Tremblay
Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly by Paul Tremblay and Stephen Graham Jones
Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay
In the Mean Time by Paul Tremblay
Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay
The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay
The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon
Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
The Changeling by Victor LaValle
Big Machine by Victor LaValle
The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle
The Ecstatic by Victor LaValle
Slapboxing with Jesus by Victor LaValle
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Maniac by Benjamin Labatut
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
The Sundial by Shirley Jackson
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs
Skeleton Crew by Stephen King (Contains the short story-“Survivor Type”)
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson
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Kaveh Akbar weighs every word that he writes. An accomplished and published poet, any reader can tell that he understands the undeniable power of language with his first novel, called Martyr! Engaging, funny, fascinating and downright beautiful, Martyr! grabs your attention by the lapels and won’t let go. Read the book and listen to our podcast to hear how Kaveh creates his unforgettable work.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar
Portrait of the Alcoholic by Kaveh Akbar
Calling a Wolf a Wolf by Kaveh Akbar
Pilgrim Bell: Poems by Kaveh Akbar
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
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Inci Atrek is a debut novelist to watch. We recommend going out and picking up a copy of her debut, Holiday Country, a novel it would be easy to overlook and underestimate. It’s much deeper than it appears at the surface. An intimate portrait of multi-generational mother-daughter relationships, it’s also a story about growing up. Growing up is never easy, but adding two countries of origin and two female role models not born in the U.S. makes it that much harder. We are back interviewing a bookstore this week with The Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Vermont, whose owner is also a children’s author. Join us.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Holiday Country by Inci Atrek
Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
How do you Wokka-Wokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle
Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow
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Happy New Year! The first episode of the year is a truly terrific mystery. Entertaining in the extreme, this is a whodunnit that breaks the mold. Ashley Elston, its author, has written plenty of quality YA titles, but First Lie Wins is her first adult mystery. In this game of cat and mouse, the reader is constantly asking which character is telling the truth….and we never figured it out. A great start to the new year, this book invites you to just relax and enjoy the ride. We sure did. We are taking next week off…but please come back the week after when we talk to author Kaveh Akbar, who has authored the intriguing and funny novel, Martyr!
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston
This is Our Story by Ashley Elston
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
The Trackers by Charles Frazier
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
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Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow's All the Little Bird-Hearts is a novel that will stay with you long after you close the book. It takes place in the 1980’s, and the narrator and heroine is the autistic mother of a teenage daughter. She worries she is on the verge of losing the only person she has ever really loved, and of being seduced by the magnetic social butterflies that are her new neighbors. Viktoria Barlow has autism as well, and her novel is a beautiful exploration of motherhood, friendship and one character’s experience of autism. Long listed for the Booker Prize, Viktoria’s words are lyrical and haunting. This is a great episode on which to end the year. Happy 2024!!!
Books mentioned in this week’s episode:
All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
Geek Girl by Holly Smale
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
The Haunting at Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
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Mitch Albom became a household name with his bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie. His new novel, The Little Liar, is an original and fascinating look at the complexities of truth and what motivates us to lie. It takes place during the Holocaust, at the height of which a little boy tells a lie that affects the rest of his life… coloring all that he is and everything he does. We thought this was a fascinating book and we wanted to talk to Mitch about what drove him to write it. We get a little philosophical in this episode, although every issue is worth talking about this holiday season. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Books mentioned in this week's podcast:
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
The Five Strangers You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
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If you haven’t heard of Patricia Cornwell you’ve never been to a bookstore, or an airport, or a library…heck. She is everywhere and there is a reason for that. Prolific AND talented, she has written 27 mystery novels centered around her medical examiner heroine, Kay Scarpetta, and she shows no sign of stopping. We talk about what it’s like to create and shepherd a character like Scarpetta, and what keeps her going. We then have a brief talk about our favorite books of the year. We hope you will join us.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell
All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell
Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell
From Potter’s Field by Patricia Cornwell
Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell
Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell
Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell
Scarpetta’s Winter Table by Patricia Cornwell
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
Dust by Patricia Cornwell
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell
The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell
Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell
The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell
Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
Chaos by Patricia Cornwell
Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell
Livid by Patricia Cornwell
Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell
Portrait of a Killer by Patricia Cornwell
The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell
Predator by Patricia Cornwell
Spin by Patricia Cornwell
Quantum by Patricia Cornwell
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Paved Paradise by Henry Grabar
Absolution by Alice McDermott
The General and Julia by Jon Clinch
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
Central Park West by James Comey
Swamp Story by Dave Barry
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan
Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears by Michael Schulman
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
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When we first began the podcast, our main goal was to inspire more folks to read. But we also talked about how we might offer content to help parents inspire their kids become life long readers. It isn’t easy, and there is no magic bullet, but we have some of the best of the best to tell us how to do it and why it’s so important. Emma Lee is the Associate Director of the Fred Rogers Institute at St Vincent College, Kate DiCamillo is a beloved children’s author, and Holly Weinkauf is the owner of the Red Balloon Children’s Bookshop in St. Paul. We spoke with them for a piece we did for Good Morning America that aired at the end of November. But we loved these conversations so much we wanted to bring them to our podcast audience, extended. There is some great advice here, and it’s worth hearing what these remarkable women have to say.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Mercy Watson is Missing by Kate DiCamillo
The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo
Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo
The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo
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The General and Julia is a wonderful novel, delving deeply into the final days of Ulysses S. Grant. Not many know this, but at the end of his life, Grant was financially destitute and in a race to write his memoirs before his death. He knew that if he wrote his memoirs and did it well, it would leave his family financially stable. His love for his wife and children knew no bounds, and his race was born of love. Like Grant Jon Clinch is a wonderful writer, and if you like this, and you will, check out Finn and Marley too (both amazing - both Clinch historical novels). For our bookstore this week, we talk to an old friend who has taken two independent bookstore road trips. What’s an independent bookstore road trip? Tune in and find out.
Books mentioned in this week’s episode:
The General and Julia by Jon Clinch
Marley by Jon Clinch
Finn by Jon Clinch
The Thief of Auschwitz by Jon Clinch
Kings of the Earth by Jon Clinch
Grant by Ron Chernow
Personal Memoirs of US Grant by Ulysses S. Grant edited by John F. Marszalek
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Trackers by Charles Frazier
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Absalom, Absalom! By William Faulkner
Grendel by John Gardner
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
How to Protect Bookstores and Why: The Present and Future of Bookselling by Danny Cain
The World Below the Brine by Walt Whitman
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Lawrence Wright’s newest novel, Mr. Texas, revolves around Texas politics and how they relate to our national political conversation, and he knows from where he speaks. Not only is he a native Texan, but he has also written one of the definitive NON fiction books about Texas, (God Save Texas). Both books are insightful, prescient, and, this might surprise you, very funny. Mr. Texas is about modern politics, the price of selling your soul, the importance of Texas politics, how to talk to each other, and whether or not one person can make a difference in this world. Our bookstore this week is Werner Books and Coffee in Erie PA.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Mr. Texas by Lawrence Wright
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright
The End of October by Lawrence Wright
The Plague Year: America in the Time of Covid by Lawrence Wright
Thirteen Days in September: The Dramatic Story of the Struggle for Peace by Lawrence Wright
The Terror Years: From Al Qaeda to the Islamic State by Lawrence Wright
Sheets by Brenna Thummler
Lights by Brenna Thummler
Delicates by Brenna Thummler
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