Tag Archives: penguin random house

Episode 90: Interview with Annie Hartnett author of Unlikely Animals

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“Unlikely Animals is a wondrous and wonderful story filled with unforgettable characters…an instant classic.”  – Jeff Vandermeer, author of The Southern Reach Trilogy

An instant classic indeed! Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett is a novel about familial expectations, imperfect friendships, and the possibility of resurrecting that which had been thought irrevocably lost. To say more would be a spoiler. This interview is chock full of fabulous things, so please give a listen and please don’t miss Unlikely Animals... Thank you Annie!

Annie Hartnett recommends: How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu; Bunny by Mona Awad; Good Grief: On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter by E.B. Bartels; Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.

Place your holds for Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals here!

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

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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 80! Interview with Jonathan Evison

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Jonathan Evison’s latest, Small World, really swings for the fences in this sweeping Great American Novel that intricately weaves family sagas spanning centuries, generations and experience. Small World chronicles 170 years of American nation building – it’s a grand entertainment and I loved every page. Evison also took the time to talk about the libraries of his youth and the impact they had on his life. What a great interview, thank you so much Jonathan!

Place your holds here for all Jonathan Evison’s books!

Jonathan Evison recommends Hell of a Book by Jason Mott; Great Expectations by Charles Dickens; The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck; and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. 

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Milestone! Episode 75: Interview with Kimmery Martin

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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!

Place your holds for these Kimmery Martin titles right here.

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E74: Interview with Naomi Krupitsky

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They say you can’t go home again but I sure did, right back to Brooklyn, NY with author Naomi Krupitsky’s debut novel The Family.  Set in early 20th century Brooklyn, The Family is a captivating debut novel and coming-of-age story about the tangled fates of two best friends, Sophia and Antonia, who are both daughters of the Italian mafia. My copy of The Family is covered in sticky notes, Krupitsky’s prose is beautiful, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Thank you so much for joining me Naomi!

The Family is a November 2021 Read With Jenna Pick and a NYT Bestseller!

Naomi recommends: Matrix by Lauren Groff; and Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim

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Episode 71: Interview with Nathaniel Philbrick

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What happened to George Washington after the Revolution? Find out in Nathaniel Philbrick’s latest bestselling book, Travels with George: In Search of George Washington and His Legacy.

Among other things, we talk about George Washington’s trip through Long Island, Philbrick’s love for libraries, and his excellent traveling companions. An absolutely delightful interview… thank you Nathaniel!

Award winning author Nathaniel Philbrick recommends, Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

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Episode 69: Interview with Megan Abbott

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Just after being selected as the August Read with Jenna pick for her latest book, The Turnout,  I was thrilled to host Megan Abbott!  Abbott was waving to us from Queens when we spoke…

Taut and unnerving, The Turnout is Megan Abbott at the height of her game. With uncanny insight and hypnotic writing, it is a sharp and strange dissection of family ties and sexuality, femininity and power, and a tale that is both alarming and irresistible and I will not say another word about it, I was on the edge of my seat. Give a listen!

Megan Abbott recommends: Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears, both by S.A.Cosby; Dreamgirl by Laura Lippman; The Collective by Alison Gaylin

Place you hold for all Megan Abbott titles here. 

    

 

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Episode 65: Interview with Matthew Norman, 2021 Edition!

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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 62: Interview with Steven Rowley

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Get your beach towels and picnic blankets ready because Steven Rowley has given us a perfect summer read. I am over the moon to have had the chance to sit down with him for his third book, The Guncle! Rowley tackles modern-day family issues with love and humor and this book is not to be missed. Think Auntie Mame for 2021, and you’ve got The Guncle.

FYI, Guncle’s Day is the second Sunday in August, so you have plenty of time to prepare!

Steven Rowley recommends: A Star is Bored by Byron Lane; Less by Andrew Sean Greer;  Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris; Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead By Emily Austin

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Episode 61: Interview with May Cobb!

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“In moving here, I thought I could become someone more wholesome, more grounded. Someone I could admire…as it turns out, you can’t outrun who you are.” ~ Sophie O’Neill, The Hunting Wives

“Margot is totally fiction, but she could be real…” ~ May Cobb

Yikes!  Folks, pour yourself a martini, hold onto your hats and get ready for THE HUNTING WIVES.  I sat down with the absolutely fabulous May Cobb to talk about her equally fabulous second book, THE HUNTING WIVES.  This spoiler-free interview was a delight and I could have spoken with May all darn day. We talked about East Texas, the character of Sophie O’Neill, a bit about Margot, and I will say no more. This book is a knockout.

Thanks so much May Cobb for sitting down with me, I really hope you’ll visit again!

May Cobb recommends: River Sing Out by James Wade; The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean; The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn; and Dial A For Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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