Tag Archives: Book Discussion

E113: They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey

February 16, 2023Author InterviewAuthor Interview, ballet, blind sight, Book Discussion, Doubleday, family relationships, Friday Reads, greenwich village, meg howrey, Readers Advisory, Staff Pick, the cranes dance, the wanderers, they're going to love youtopshelfatmerricklibrary

“They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey is my idea of a perfect book. It is about art, life, death, love, and family and it is beautifully and sharply written. I cried several times while reading it, and was sorry to let it go when I was done. I cannot recommend it enough.” —Jami Attenberg, NYT bestselling author of The Middlesteins and All This Could Be Yours.

I will read anything Jami Attenberg tells me to and what I agree with wholeheartedly is that you’re all going to love They’re Going to Love You by the brilliant Meg Howrey. We talk about family bonds, family secrets, recording the audio book, what she’s working on next and so much more. I cannot thank Meg Howrey enough for joining me – it’s a wonderful interview!

Meg Howrey recommends: How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz; The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken; A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Hawke

Read the wonderful books by Meg Howrey here. Follow Meg Howrey on Twitter and Instagram: @meghowrey

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E109: Interview with Allegra Goodman, author of SAM

December 29, 2022Author InterviewAllegra Goodman, Author Interview, Book Discussion, coming of age, Dial Press, Friday Reads, Intuition, Kaaterskill Falls, Paradise Park, Readers Advisory, Sam, Staff Pick, The Chalk Artist, The Cookbook Collector, The Family Markowitz, The Other Side of the Islandtopshelfatmerricklibrary

“One of the most evocative and tender examinations of youth that I have ever read.” ~ Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here

Sam, the latest by Allegra Goodman knocked me sideways with how good it is. For this episode, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with Allegra Goodman herself to talk about her incredible new release. We talk about writing as a performance, establishing Sam’s voice through the years, the coming-of-age genre, and so much more. Sam is book club gold, so please don’t miss it! Thank you Allegra!

Allegra Goodman recommends: T.S. Eliot: An Imperfect Life by Lyndall Gordon; Haven by Emma Donoghue; Women Talking by Miriam Toews; This Boys Life by Tobias Wolfe; Boyhood directed by Richard Linklater; Lady Bird directed by Greta Gerwig

Click here to read Allegra Goodman’s piece in Vogue Magazine. Follow Allegra Goodman on Instagram: @allegragoodmanwriter and on Facebook: @allegragoodman

Place your hold here for all these wonderful Allegra Goodman titles.

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Episode 102: Interview with Bruce Holsinger author of The Displacements

August 8, 2022Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Book Discussion, Bruce Holsinger, Contemporary Fiction, Florida, Hurricanes, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Riverhead Books, Staff Pick, Texastopshelfatmerricklibrary

“Hypnotic.” ~ NYT

“Cinematic.” ~ USA Today

“A gripping, full-throttle page turner.” ~ Miranda Cowley Heller

The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger is an adrenaline-fueled story of lives upended and transformed by an unprecedented catastrophe. Holsinger weaves the story of a well-to-do family around a catastrophic hurricane that strips them of their privilege and exposes their humanity.

This episode we talk about how The Displacements shatters the complacency of every day life, we get into the mechanics of writing suspense, the book cover, and more. Thank you so much Bruce!

Bruce Holsinger recommends: Appleseed by Matt Bell; How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue; The Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet; How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

Reserve the books of Bruce Holsinger here.

Look for Bruce Holsinger on Twitter @bruceholsinger and on Instagram @bruceholsingerauthor

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Episode 87: Eli Cranor author of Don’t Know Tough

March 22, 2022Author InterviewArkansas, Author Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, crime noir, debut, debut author, Don't Know Tough, Eli Cranor, Football, Friday Reads, noir, Peter Lovesey, Readers Advisory, Russellville, Soho Press, southern noir, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

You may not know tough but author Eli Cranor sure does in his debut, DON’T KNOW TOUGH, a book that S.A. Cosby calls, “…a searing and stunningly poignant study in what makes us and what breaks us and ultimately what brings us to a place of peace. Eli Cranor is that rare writer who can make you gasp, cry and cheer often in the same paragraph.” There’s not a single a lie in that review.

Sarah Weinman, of the The New York Times Book Review and true-crime writer says, “Eli Cranor’s top-shelf debut, DON’T KNOW TOUGH, is Southern noir at its finest, a cauldron of terrible choices and even more terrible outcomes . . . There is a raw ferocity to Cranor’s prose, perfectly in keeping with the novel’s examination of curdling masculinity.” All I can say about DON’T KNOW TOUGH is, think Friday Night Lights with a much darker edge. Speaking of the edge? I was on the edge of my seat for this incredible debut. For this episode, we talk football, Arkansas, recording his own audiobook and more. Thank you Eli!

Eli Cranor recommends: Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland both by S.A.Cosby; Shoot the Moonlight Out and all of the novels by William Boyle; The Turnout and all of the novels by Megan Abbott; all the work by Ace Atkins; The Devil Himself by Peter Farris;

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Episode 84 : Interview with Katy Regan author of How To Find Your Way Home

February 28, 2022Author InterviewAuthor Interview, berkley publishing, Birding, Book Discussion, book discussions, Contemporary Fiction, Friday Reads, Homeless, How to Find Your Way Home, Katy Regan, Little Big Love, mental health, migration, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, siblings, Staff Pick, swallows, swiftstopshelfatmerricklibrary

From Katy Regan, the author of Little Big Love (a huge favorite of mine) comes her latest, How to Find Your Way Home, a warm, life-affirming novel. When a sister discovers that the brother she hasn’t seen in more than a decade is homeless, she learns the true meaning of belonging when she tries to reconnect. How to Find Your Way Home is not to be missed.

I enjoyed this conversation about the book so much, thank you Katy Regan! Keep an eye-out Roger…I’ll see you soon.

Katy Regan recommends: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave; Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers; Attic Child by Lola Jay.

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Episode 83 : Interview with Jennifer Fawcett, author of BENEATH THE STAIRS

February 22, 2022Author InterviewAtria Books, Author Interview, Beneath the Stairs, Book Discussion, book discussions, Childhood trauma, debut, debut author, Friday Reads, Jennifer Fawcett, Readers Advisory, Simon and Schuster, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

“OH MY GOD!” That’s what author/director/actress Leslie Zemeckis says about BENEATH THE STAIRS the debut by Jennifer Fawcett. And author Wendy Walker, author of Don’t Look for Me says, “In Beneath the Stairs, Jennifer Fawcett explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma in this metaphysical story about a house with buried secrets. An enthralling debut by a gifted storyteller!”

BENEATH THE STAIRS is a story about the trauma that follows us from childhood to adulthood and returning to the beginning to reach the end. I was on the edge of my seat. Jennifer and I talked about her inspiration for the book, writing something scary in the deep woods, and how building up to writing a novel is very similar to running a marathon. Great interview – especially the part about her playwriting which was fascinating. Thank you Jennifer!

Jennifer Fawcett recommends, Catch Her When She Falls by Allison Buccola

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Episode 82 : Interview with Edward Ashton author of MICKEY7

February 10, 2022Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, Edward Ashton, Friday Reads, Macmillan, quantum physics, Readers Advisory, Science Fiction, ship of theseus, St. Martin's Press, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

The Martian meets Dark Matter in Edward Ashton’s high concept science fiction thriller, in which Mickey7, an “expendable,” refuses to let his replacement clone Mickey8 take his place.

I sat down with Ed Ashton in November of 2021 to talk about his fabulous third novel, Mickey7. We talked about the Ship of Theseus, quantum physics, and yes, even some Cthulhu. He also mentioned that Mickey7 has been optioned by Plan B Entertainment with quite the stellar director and lead actor. Do not miss his website which has Ashton’s many short stories and please do not miss this terrific novel.

Great big thanks to Ed, I had a blast!

Edward Ashton recommends: The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie; and Shakespeare’s Planet by Clifford D. Simak

Ed & Carol Ann both recommend, Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @edwardashtonwriting

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Episode 79: Interview with Erin Bartels author of The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water

January 14, 2022Author Interviewaquanotes, Author Interview, baker publishing group, bay city rollers, Book Discussion, book discussions, erin bartels, family relationships, fiction, Friday Reads, michigan, Readers Advisory, revell, Staff Pick, the girl who could breathe underwater, upper peninsulatopshelfatmerricklibrary

Author Erin Bartels took me to the gorgeous state of Michigan not just in her book, but via her website and her stellar conversation for this interview. The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water explores the theme of forgiving what seems unforgiveable and also addresses how our memories may not be exactly as we remember.

The Library Journal says of The Girl Who Could Breathe Underwater, “Emotions leap off the page in this deeply personal book…” We explore some of those emotions in this episode as well as AquaNotes, the Bay City Rollers, where she gets her ideas from, and her next TWO books – you’re in for a treat right there! Thank you so much Erin – what a pleasure.

Erin Bartels recommends, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett; All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr; Atonement by Ian McEwan; and The Mirror and the Palette by Jennifer Higgie.

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Episode 78: Interview with Ethan Joella, A LITTLE HOPE

December 20, 2021Author InterviewA Little Hope, Author Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, book of the month, botm, debut, debut author, Ethan Joella, family, family drama, Friday Reads, grief, literary fiction, middle chil, Read With Jenna, Readers Advisory, Scribner, Simon and Schuster, small town life, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

“It’s all here—community, family and friendship, how we love, grieve…a story of ordinary moments that connect and eventually transform us in extraordinary ways.”
—Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of Lucia, Lucia and The Shoemaker’s Wife

I mean that quote right there says it all about A LITTLE HOPE by Ethan Joella. It was an absolute delight to sit down with him to talk about this remarkable gem of a book. A LITTLE HOPE gives us hope and it’s exactly what I needed as an end of year read. The book is book club gold. Ethan Joella also gives listeners some holiday cheer in this episode – to find out what those gifts are, you’ll have to listen to find out. It may involve actress Jean Smart… Thank you Ethan for joining me!

Ethan Joella recommends Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson.

You can follow Ethan Joella @joellawriting on Instagram and Twitter!

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Milestone! Episode 75: Interview with Kimmery Martin

November 19, 2021Author InterviewAuthor Interview, Book Discussion, book discussions, doctors, doctors and friends, Friday Reads, kimmery martin, medical fiction, penguin random house, Readers Advisory, Staff Picktopshelfatmerricklibrary

What a way to kick off my 75th episode: hosting author Kimmery Martin for her latest book, Doctors and Friends, and co-hosting this special episode with my pal Cindy Burnett at Thoughts from a Page podcast!

People Magazine calls Doctors and Friends a “..prescient, human and hopeful portrait of medical experts on a pandemic’s frontlines.” And I couldn’t agree more. We talked about writing the book pre-pandemic, how it changed post-pandemic, her wonderful website and so much more! Give a listen.

Kimmery Martin recommends: My Year Abroad by Chang-Rae Lee. My interview with Chang-Rae Lee can be found here!