Monthly Archives: June 2021

Episode 65: Interview with Matthew Norman, 2021 Edition!

June 14, 2021Author InterviewAll Together Now, Author Interview, Ballantine Books, Beach Read, Billionaire, Book Discussion, Delaware, Fenwick Island, Friendship, Last Couple Standing, Matthew Norman, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, The Big Chilltopshelfatmerricklibrary

Welcome back to our E35 guest, Matthew Norman. Matthew Norman was here previously to talk about his third book, Last Couple Standing. For this episode, we talk about his latest publication, All Together Now. Please feel free to sing right along with that title! All Together Now is about a reclusive billionaire who invites his four oldest friends to their beloved Fenwick Island on the coast of Delaware to share his secret and to reveal plans to change their lives forever.

So grab your beach towels, unfold your picnic blankets and check this one out! This novel of friendship will kick off your summer reading perfectly! Can’t thank Matthew Norman enough for coming back on the show!

Reserve your copies here: All Together Now; Last Couple Standing; Domestic Violets; We’re All Damaged

Matthew Norman recommends: Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau; Station Eleven and Glass Hotel both by Emily St. Mandel; All Adult Here by Emma Straub

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Episode 64: Interview with Laurie Frankel for ONE TWO THREE

June 8, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, corporate malfeasance, Friday Reads, Henry Holt & Co, Laurie Frankel, malfeasance, One Two Three, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, tripletstopshelfatmerricklibrary

What is “normal”? Who defines “normal”?

Laurie Frankel asks these questions in all of her books, most notably for One Two Three, a book that had me absolutely riveted. We sat down to talk about the book, how humans define “normal” and so much more. I love the voices of these triplet sisters trying to make their way through insurmountable challenges.

To say I am grateful to have had this time with Laurie Frankel is an understatement. Please don’t miss this episode and do not miss One Two Three, it’s book club gold.

Laurie Frankel recommends: Stranger Care: A Memoir of Loving What Isn’t Ours by Sarah Sentilles; Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy; Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConahgy; and the Hilary Mantel Trilogy: Wolf Hall (2009), Bring up the Bodies (2012) and The Mirror and the Light (2020)

Reserve your Laurie Frankel titles here: One Two Three; This Is How It Always Is; The Atlas of Love; Goodbye For Now

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Episode 63: Interview with James Wade 2021 Edition: RIVER, SING OUT

June 8, 2021Author InterviewAll Things Left Wild, Author Interview, bad guys, Blackstone Audio, Blackstone Publishing, Book Discussion, book discussions, East Texas, Friday Reads, James Wade, Mare of Easttown, Readers Advisory, River Sing Out, Staff Pick, Texas, The Thin Mantopshelfatmerricklibrary

You all remember when James Wade joined us for E42 to discuss his debut novel, All Things Left Wild.

Well, James Wade is BACK!

He’s back on Top Shelf and he’s back to talk about his new book, River Sing Out. River Sing Out is an East Texas thriller that finds young Jonah Hargrave navigating the very depths of the river bottoms in more ways than one. Hold on to you hats folks, because once again James Wade delivers some serious bad guys in River Sing Out...one in particular is known as the Thin Man and I’m getting the chills just typing his name. So check out this episode because this southern gothic kept me glued until the very last page.

Man it was great to catch up with James Wade, and we even managed to talk about Mare of Easttown, so you’ll just have to give a listen.

James Wade recommends: The Hunting Wives by May Cobb; Joe Lansdale titles especially the forthcoming Moon Lake; and Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann