Tag Archives: Friday Reads

Episode 44 Interview with author A.H. Kim

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What constitutes a good family? You may think you know the answer, but then again, maybe not even for one little second.

Book clubs? Start your engines and grab your copy of A Good Family, the must-read debut by author A.H.Kim.  

Synopsis: Big pharma exec Beth Lindstrom is heading to prison thanks to a high-profile whistleblower law suit.  Beth enlists the help of her sister-in-law Hannah to figure out what happened. All I can say is, think Big Little Lies meets Succession and you have A Good Family.

I cannot thank A.H. Kim enough for sitting down to chat with me about family relationships, white-collar prisons and Fruit Stripe gum…no spoilers!

 

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Episode 43 Interview with author Kathleen Rooney

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I am thrilled to present this interview with Kathleen Rooney for her latest historical fiction stunner, Cher Ami And Major Whittlesey :  a tale based on true events that follows the experiences of an army officer who answers the call to service during WWI before his life and the lives of those in the Lost Battalion are astonishingly reshaped by a battlefield encounter with a messenger pigeon.

I cannot thank Kathleen Rooney enough for sitting down with me for this episode. Folks? Do not miss the unforgettable Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey.  #givealistenreadthebook

Click here to find out the latest and the greatest from Kathleen Rooney. 

Click here to place your hold for any Kathleen Rooney titles.

 

Kathleen Rooney recommends:

Trumbull Park by Frank London Brown; Hog Butcher by Ronald L. Fair

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Episode 42 Interview with author James Wade

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“There’s a story in my head…” novelist James Wade tells us in this incredible interview about his page-turning historical fiction debut, All Things Left Wild: after a botched robbery, sixteen-year-old Caleb Bentley is on the run with his mean-spirited older brother across the American Southwest at the turn of the 20th century. And boy will Caleb’s moral compass and inner courage be tested.

I could not put this book down. 

What a thrill to talk to James Wade about the book, his writing process, and how he became a writer. Just like his book, this interview is one wild and compelling ride. Hold on to your hats!  A total blast, thanks a million James!

#GiveaListenReadtheBook

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Episode 34: Interview with Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of We Cast A Shadow

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 Maurice Carlos Ruffin had an amazing book year in 2019, and since we recorded this podcast, his 2020 has only gotten better. We Cast A Shadow has been selected as a 2020 Pen Open Book Award finalist, is a 2020 ALA RUSA Audio Book award winner, Ruffin himself was the keynote speaker at the Literary New Orleans symposium earlier in the month, the paperback is out on February 4th and while I could go on, please just follow MCR on twitter! 

What a way to kick off 2020! This was a great interview and I really cannot thank him enough for taking the time. 

Place your library hold right here for We Cast A Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin. 

#GiveAListenReadTheBook

 

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Episode 32: Interview with Julia Armfield, author of Salt Slow

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What can I say about Salt Slow by Julia Armfield? This book was the stand-out for me, or a sit-down, because once I started it, I never left my beach chair. From the very first story, Mantis, to the award winning, The Great Awake, it will be hard to put down. Publisher’s Weekly calls Salt Slow by Julia Armfield, “unsettling, uncanny and an utterly delightful debut.” All true. It’s the first time I’ve covered this genre on Top Shelf and I’m thrilled to bring this interview to you.

One of the things we discussed were our favorites in the genre and Julia recommended Fen by Daisy Johnson, and titles by Sarah Hall.   My go-to authors in this genre are: Clare Beams, Angela Carter, Karen Russell, and Carmen Maria Machado. We also talked Stephen King, but really, who doesn’t?

I was so happy to speak with Julia Armfield about this incredible debut collection, Salt Slow. It hits shelves in the US, October 8, 2019. If you’re in the UK, it’s out already-don’t. miss. it.

Very special thanks to Flatiron Books, you guy rock.

#GiveAListenReadTheBook

 

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Episode 31: Interview with Erin Somers, author of Stay Up With Hugo Best

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“Reading is the whole reason to be alive”, says Erin Somers in this episode.

 

I couldn’t agree more.

So what are your plans for this weekend? Make sure it includes, Stay Up With Hugo Best by Erin Somers.

Our main character, June Bloom, is twenty-nine, broke, and an aspiring comedy writer. Hugo Best is a beloved late-night chat show host – and notorious womanizer – who invites her to his mansion for Memorial Day Weekend.  Stay Up With Hugo Best is the story of their four days together.

What a fabulous conversation I had with Erin about this book…we talked about many things, but no spoilers here.  She’s in the midst of her book tour and speaking at the Center for Fiction tonight (5/23rd) in Brooklyn. Get your tickets now, and then visit Erin’s website http://www.esomers.com/ or find her on Twitter at: @somerserin.  I’m thrilled to have hosted her and cannot wait to have her back.

Two books Erin mentioned as must reads: The Falconer by Dana Czapnik and Three Women by Lisa Taddeo.

Place a hold: Stay Up With Hugo Best 

#GiveAListenReadTheBook

Give a listen, read the book.

 

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Episode 29: Interview with Julie Langsdorf, author of White Elephant

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I’m on a roll with debut authors and their fabulous books and this podcast featuring author Julie Langsdorf is no exception.

White Elephant takes us to the suburban Washington DC town of Willard Park and particularly Tunlaw Place, where next door neighbors are not quite seeing eye-to-eye. Conflicts abound between the neighbors and to say I was on the edge of my seat to see how these conflicts would be resolved is an understatement. The book is honest, dark, joyful and at times, very funny. Told from alternating perspectives, White Elephant is perfect for book discussions.  Thank you so much, Julie!

Give a listen, read the book.

To view Julie Langsdorf’s very cool website, click here.

Merrick patrons place your hold here. 

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Episode 21 Interview with Susan Perabo, author of The Fall of Lisa Bellow

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What a great interview with author Susan Perabo…this novel is an absolutely perfect book discussion choice. Susan has an uncanny ability to nail the honesty, warts and all, of familial relationships within the construct of this stark family drama.

Please take a listen and read this book. 

We also discussed Susan’s name appearing at the Women in Baseball exhibit at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown! I know, right?

And from the  “If I can find a way to embarrass myself, I sure will nail it” category: in my fervor, at the end of the interview, I called Susan, “Lisa” after the title character of the book (eye-roll and rookie mistake all at once!), I apologized profusely and do hope she’ll allow another interview in the future.

Synopsis: When a popular middle-school girl is abducted in broad daylight by a masked man, the victim’s rival, Meredith, struggles with terror while their community organizes vigils and searches.

 

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