The Book XChange Podcast

Short fiction fans, here's another episode tailor-made for you. Jude and John sit down and discuss some of our personal "unforgettable" short stories - not necessarily our all-time favorites, but the ones that we just can't get out of our heads... sometimes years or even decades after having read them. A few classics are discussed here (Bierce, Lovecraft, Poe, Wharton, O'Connor) - but for the most part, we try to bring up stories that may not be as well-known or widely anthologized. What follows is a classic BXC conversation that blends the heart-breaking, horrific, hopeful and the "holy sh*t!" into a big stew. We expect it will be seasoned to your liking! 

Welcome to the Book XChange's Science Ficiton Xtravaganza, wherein your humble twin hosts line up and discuss a plethora of science fiction titles we've read, remembered, and want to recommend. Science fiction is SUCH an incredibly broad genre to cover, and we don't even try to survey it all - rather, we list books we've read over the years that have really stayed with us for one reason or another, and that we think have something to offer to our listeners. Whether you're a sci-fi junky or only dabble in it occasionally, we think there's something here for everyone. Enjoy responsibly! 

John delivers a quick update on Episode 64, which was accidentally uploaded out of order. Tune in so you can figure out which Episode 64 is the right one to listen to/download. Thanks for supporting the show, folks. More great content coming!

IMPORTANT: The editing on this version of Episode 64 was messed up, sadly, and the audio was accidentally uploaded in a jumbled order. We apologize for the screw-up. If you want to hear the Episode as it was originally intended, and we hope you do - please download the "FIXED Episode 64" version of this show, which will appear in the feed very soon.  Full title of the CORRECT version of Episode 64 is: "FIXED Episode 64: The BXC's Best Books of 2023." Thanks for your patience with us, and for listening to the BXC podcast.  -J & J

This time out, you're listening to the BookXXChange podcast... get it? We're focused on characters bearing the XX chromosome in Episode 63, wherein Jude and John choose their most memorable FEMALE characters in fiction. It's quite a diverse list as we cover everything from literary classics to Westerns, fantasy epics, immigrant stories, and even strange Japanese tales in which women fall in love with actual brick-and-mortar stores (yes, you read that right). Some of these characters are beloved around the world, others much less known... but all have something fascinating to teach about that common pursuit we all share: being human. Hope you enjoy listening to this unique discussion even half as much as we enjoyed having it!

"The Rabbit Hutch" by Tess Gunty is a debut novel by a young writer from Indiana that has taken the literary world by storm, winning the prestigious National Book Award last year and garnering ecstatic praise far and wide. But what did America's favorite book nerd twins think of this buzzy, socially conscious novel? That question gets answered in episode 62 of the Book XChange podcast, as we dive deep into this polyphonic novel about a decaying town in Middle America and various residents of a dilapidated apartment building located therein. Glad to have you along for the ride. Please like, review, share and support the podcast if you're so inclined... and thank you!

Well Constant Readers... one week later, we have made good on our promise (against all odds!) and we present to you Part 2 of our Stephen King extravaganza. We begin with an in-depth take on King's 2022 novel Fairy Tale, which we both enjoyed - and then, John lobs several King-related questions at Jude (the more experienced King reader) that are designed to get listeners thinking about their own favorites and opinions when it comes to King's books. Questions like "Which King book is the scariest?," "What are your most egregious King blind spots?," and "If forced, what would you say is the best of all King works?" So many of us are King fans in one way or another, and with good reason. So tell your friends, spread the word about the show, and belly up to the table for another heaping helping of the King!

Episode 61 of everyone's favorite twin-led book podcast is so big, it had to be split into two parts! But, when your subject is the all-time legend and prolific writer STEPHEN KING, well, then it makes sense. This double-barrelled episode has been a long time coming for your fraternal hosts, as we are of the generation that has literally grown up reading King. But how do you take on so massive a subject as King's still-growing pile of work? Our approach is called "Then & Now" - we look at a work from very early in his career (The Long Walk), and then in Part 2, we review one of his most recent books (Fairy Tale). And along the way, we get in PLENTY of discussion about King's voluminous other work, what makes him special and unique, and why Stephen King may just be as "American" as Mom, movies, and apple pie. Enjoy the feast, "Constant Readers," and as always, thanks for being a part of this literary voyage with us...

What exactly is it about memoirs that make them so widely read and discussed, and so compelling? What distinguishes a good memoir from one that becomes a classic in the genre? What makes a person's experience or ordeal worth sharing with a wider audience, and what value can another person's trauma/survival story/struggle impart to a reader? For our 60th episode, Jude and John dig in and examine what is it about this particular form that hits a nerve with people - and share some of our own favorite examples and "wish list" reads. If you've ever been mesmerized by the narrative of someone else's life experience, this episode may be for you. Thanks as always for listening.

In our second "Read Around the World" episode (the first being Episode 55), we turn our focus to our neighbors just south of us... the rich, fascinating, troubled and beautiful mystery that is Mexico. We touch on famous Mexican writers such as Paz, Fuentes and Ruflo, but also recommend titles in different genres (comic novels, crime novels, thrillers, reportage, histories) in our effort to cover as much literary ground as we can. We even hit a few recent "buzzy" books that have garnered a lot of attention and acclaim - but do they pass muster with the BXC twins? That's the burning question the world needs to know! As always, thanks for listening - we hope you enjoy this second literary excursion to other parts of the world. There will be more!

One of our "!" episodes (after "Thriller!" and "Monsters!," check the archive for those) which, we think, means a wide-ranging and rollicking ride through a popular genre of books. In this case, spectral encounters and paranormal activity... from dusty old classic haunted house tales to meta/modern freakouts that play with cliches and conventions, we do our best to cover it all. Do your hosts believe ghosts actually exist? Debatable... but we can certainly prove the existence of great writing featuring ghosts, and we do it here on Episode 58. As always, thanks for joining in on the conversation...! 

Another episode-length discussion of a single novel we've deemed worthy of extra attention! This time around, the lads discuss an American classic neither of us were at all familiar with, Joseph Heller's world-famous debut novel Catch-22. We share our own personal impressions, talk about the impact it has had on the culture, compare and contrast it to other war novels, and debate whether or not it deserves a #7 ranking (!) on the Modern Library "Top 100 Novels of All Time" list. **We apologize for a few audio gaps that appear in this episode. As we're recording, we aren't sure whether any/all the glitches we hear are going to appear in the final output. There's really nothing we can do about them as they are a glitch in the app we are using. We hope it is not too much of a distraction.**

We're a bit late here as far as the calendar goes, but the subject of fathers and fatherhood will never get stale. We had intended to publish this episode to align with Father's Day, but... June got away from us a little bit. That said, Jude and John talk about some of their most notable father figures in literature, and recommend books that explore the mystery, challenge and promise (broken or unbroken) of paternity in one way or another. As always, we also discuss books we've been reading lately and tease the upcoming episode 57 of the podcast, in which a prominent classic American novel will be discovered, at least by your humble hosts, for the first time.

This time out, the BXC brothers begin their new occasional series, "Read Around the World," and set their sights on books from/about Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. These episodes will be your literary "travel guides" to places we may never get to visit in person, but have indeed visited in our imaginations and reading lives. We had a blast touring this region, and recommend quite an array of writers and works for adventurous readers to dive into. Enjoy - who knows where the next excursion will take us? Next time on the BXC: we explore fathers and fatherhood in literature! (P.S. We apologize once again for the less than optimal audio quality. We keep working with what we have to make it better, but we have opted to get the content out there rather than wait on it.)

Our occasional "BXC Reviews" series returns with an in-depth discussion of the TWO new novels from the highly regarded American writer Cormac McCarthy. Since our show's inception we've been looking for a chance to discuss McCarthy's work, and while this episode isn't a deep dive into his whole catalog, it is an extensive (and spoiler-filled) discussion of the pair of novels he released at the end of last year, his first published work in 16 years. **We love hearing from our listeners! Please reach out to us with feedback, reading suggestions or anything else at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com** BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: The Sound and The Fury, William Faulkner Cloud Cuckoo Land, Anthony Doerr ...and most of the published novels and plays of Cormac McCarthy, especially the new novels "The Passenger and "Stella Maris"

We are thrilled to be back, after a long hiatus, with a brand new episode in which your co-hosts Jude and John discuss some of the best books we read while we were on break. A little bit of Irish writing, poetry, a few science fiction selections, ancient civilizations, some social satire... there's quite a variety of titles here as regular followers of the show have come to expect. We know that the audio is a bit unpolished; we are still learning how to use our new podcast app and we do have some technical limitations. But we figured it's more important to get new content out there than to obsess over the details. Thanks so much to you all for your patience and for listening to the show. Please don't forget to throw us a positive star review on Spotify and other channels such as Apple or Google, it's easy and will really help us to build things back up. Hope you will enjoy the conversation! BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis Autobiographies, R. S. Thomas Frankenstein in Baghdad, Ahmed Saadawi Faith, Hope and Carnage, Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan Small Things Like These and Foster, Claire Keegan An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us, Ed Yong The Mountain in the Sea, Ray Nayler The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century, Olga Ravn Sucker, Daniel Hornsby Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, Annalee Newitz

After an extended hiatus due to technical challenges, Jude and John Lovell tease the return of the Book XChange podcast. Readers and book lovers around the world, buckle up! We hope to start bringing you new episodes very soon... Want to suggest a topic for an upcoming episode? Please do email us at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com. We're eager to get The Great Conversation going again!

We've been forced to take an indefinite hiatus from recording, but hopefully this is NOT the end of the BXC podcast! John Lovell delivers an explanation of why we haven't recorded new episodes in a little while. Thanks for listening, and stay with us! -The BXC Twins

This time around, the Book XChange looks forward to the rest of 2022 - and discusses books we haven't read, but hope to soon once they hit the shelves. We've loaded up the current episode with titles we are most anticipating as the rest of the year unfolds, and why we're looking forward to them. Fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, graphic novels... it's all fair game here. In some cases, we are looking forward to new titles from world-renowned writers - in others, we may be reading new authors for the first time. Hopefully listeners will come away with some books to look forward to later on in 2022, and of course, we'd love to hear any of your recommendations for forthcoming titles. Thanks for continuing to support the Book XChange, and happy reading... Website: anchor.fm/book-change Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Sinister Pig,' Tony Hillerman - 'Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness,' Kristen Radtke - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Bone People,' Keri Hulme - (Undisclosed) - Books still coming in 2022 that we discussed in this episode: 'The World as We Knew It: Dispatches from a Changing Climate,' Ed. Amy Brady & Tajja Isen - 'Afterlives' (and 'Paradise'), Abdulrazak Gurnah - 'The Twilight World,' Werner Herzog - 'Fen, Bog and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis,' Annie Proulx - 'Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks,' Patrick Radden Keefe - 'Demon Copperhead,' Barbara Kingsolver - 'Victory City,' Salman Rushdie - 'Night of the Living Rez: Stories,' Morgan Talty - 'The Philosophy of Modern Song,' Bob Dylan - 'Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story,' Bono - Untitled memoir by Geddy Lee - 'The Last Days of Roger Federer (and other Endings),' Geoff Dyer - 'An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us,' Ed Yong - 'We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power,' Caleb Gayle - 'The Passenger' and 'Stella Maris,' Cormac McCarthy - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: For Episode 53, Jude and John will recommend their favorite science fiction books, and discuss the genre in general.

The great and unclassifiable American novelist and journalist JENNIFER EGAN takes center stage in Episode 51 of the Book XChange podcast, and this is an episode co-hosts Jude and John Lovell had been looking forward to for a long time. Her 2010 novel 'A Visit to the Goon Squad' won the Pulitzer Prize, and now 12 years later Egan returns to some of the same characters in this follow-up she terms a 'sibling novel' to that earlier effort. This fascinating novel of interlocking stories riffs on social media, technology, human psychology, memory and identity, and yet somehow manages to be a page-turning and surprisingly funny read that digs into some truly compelling questions. Egan is a writer of great intelligence and curiosity, but does it all add up to a novel we'd recommend? Gotta stream, download or save for later to find out! Thanks for everyone's patience on this one, and continued support of the BXC! **MUSIC BY VOIDZ PANDA & YOUNG WOLF** Send your email: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com Leave us a voicemail: anchor.fm/book-xchange BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'All Men Are Brothers: Stories,' Jude Joseph Lovell - 'Leadership in Turbulent Times,' Doris Kearns Goodwin - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: An undisclosed novel - 'Cujo,' Stephen King - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'The Candy House,' 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' and various other books by Jennifer Egan - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: For episode 52, John and Jude will be looking down the tunnel at the rest of the year 2022 and talking about the books still to come this year that we are most looking forward to. If we do our jobs right, you'll have some new titles and writers on your reading radar for the rest of your summer and heading into the Fall!

Poetry is on the menu for this milestone 50th episode of the Book XChange - and why not? The world's only double-barreled bibliophile podcast takes on the challenge of reading poetry in our hyper-fueled, attention-challenged 21st century: is reading poetry worth the struggle? What is the value of slowing down, focusing one's attention and taking on poets and poems you've never tried before? And of course, who are some of the poets who have impacted us, changed our view of reading poetry and maybe even changed our way of seeing the world? Reading poetry can be an immensely powerful and insightful experience for those who have the patience and curiosity to give it a try. Remember, the mind is like a parachute: it works a lot better when it's open. We hope you'll join us as we talk about the individual poems, poets and experiences we've had listening to poets reading their work that have stayed with us, in many cases, for years. Website: anchor.fm/book-change Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Omeros,' Derek Walcott - 'The Bad Guys Won!,' Jeff Pearlman - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Soulstorm: Stories,' Clarice Lispector - 'The Candy House,' Jennifer Egan - Poets/Poems discussed in this episode: Mary Oliver - Seamus Heaney, "Personal Helicon" and "Postscript" - Louise Glück - Walt Whitman - Yusef Komunyakaa, "Thanks" and "Ode to the Maggot" - R. S. Thomas, "The Belfry," "Kneeling," "The Empty Church" - Richard Wilbur - Derek Walcott, "Omeros" - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: We will be on a brief hiatus for the rest of May, but plan to return some time during the month of June with Episode 51, a review of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan's new novel, 'The Candy House.'

In this (quite literally) world-spanning episode, Jude and John look at books that dare to confront one of the most vexing and critical issues of our time: the impact our race is having on the physical environment. Our "common home" (in the phrase favored by Pope Francis) literally hangs in the balance due to a whole series of choices we've made as a species, and we wanted to read more from both the fiction and non-fiction sides of the aisle about what this means (and could mean) for the future of humanity. In a very real sense, few subjects are more worth educating ourselves about more than this one. We talk about speculative science fiction, popular scientific and nature writing, pioneering novelists who have been sounding the alarm for years and yes, we even bring up a well-timed and surprisingly accessible Papal encyclical. We found it to be a wide-ranging, eye-opening and fascinating subject to dive into, and hope our listeners will too - if we do our job right, this one will provide plenty of food for thought, if nothing else. Thanks as always for listening to and supporting this homegrown effort! Website: anchor.fm/book-change Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'World Made By Hand,' James Howard Kunstler - 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Wake,' Paul Kingsnorth - 'Stella's Carpet,' Lucy E. M. Black - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy,' Michael McCarthy - 'The Overstory,' Richard Powers - 'The Road,' Cormac McCarthy - 'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx - 'Last Chance to See,' Douglas Adams - 'The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History,' Elizabeth Kolbert - 'Dune,' Frank Herbert - 'The Stand,' Stephen King - 'The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,' Dan Egan - 'Storm,' George R. Stewart - '2312' & 'New York 2140,' Kim Stanley Robinson - 'Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home,' Pope Francis - 'Fiskadoro,' Denis Johnson - 'A Canticle for Leibowitz,' Walter M. Miller, Jr. - 'A Friend of the Earth' & 'When the Killing's Done,' T. C. Boyle - 'The Geography of Nowhere,' 'The Long Emergency' & 'World Made By Hand,' T. C. Boyle - 'Flight Behavior,' Barbara Kingsolver - 'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 50 is called "Re:Verse," and for the first time, the Book XChange will take on poets and poetry: the value and challenges of reading it, why it matters, favorite poets and epics written in verse, etc.

In the 16th century, Michel de Montaigne created a new form of literary self-expression. He called these short pieces "essays," from the French verb "essayer" - "to try." In Episode 48 of everyone's favorite literary podcast hosted by genetic duplicates, Jude and John "try" to explain the appeal of essays to them, and why they find it to be one of the most satisfying and thought-provoking of all literary forms. We then go on to recommend some of our personal favorite collections and writers of essays, which ones we badly want to read and just haven't gotten to, and which writers are regarded as masters of the craft. Essays can be about anyone or anything, and that's why this is such a rich literary rabbit hole to get lost in. We hope you enjoy this all non-fiction episode of the Book XChange podcast! Website: anchor.fm/book-change Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Orphans: Essays,' Charles D'Ambrosio - 'The Wake,' Paul Kingsnorth - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Shepherd's Hut,' Tim Winton - 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Essays,' Michel de Montaigne - 'Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose,' Flannery O'Connor - 'A Stay Against Confusion,' Ron Hansen - 'Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher,' Lewis Thomas - 'Orphans: Essays,' Charles D'Ambrosio - 'Pulphead: Essays,' John Jeremiah Sullivan - 'Interior States: Essays,' Meghan O'Gieblyn - 'Faith and Violence: Christian Teaching and Christian Practice,' Thomas Merton - 'This is The Story of a Happy Marriage,' Ann Patchett - 'The Best American Essays of the Century,' Ed. Joyce Carol Oates - 'The Cathedral of Imagination: Essays and Reviews,' Jude Joseph Lovell (FORTHCOMING) - 'Seek: Reports from the Edges of America & Beyond,' Denis Johnson - 'The Tunnel at the End of the Light: Essays on Movies and Politics,' Jim Shepard - 'What's Wrong With the World,' G. K. Chesterton - The Essays of E. B. White - 'The Solace of Open Spaces,' Gretel Ehrlich - 'Upstream,' Mary Oliver - 'Playing in the Dark,' 'Mouth Full of Blood,' 'The Source of Self-Regard,' Toni Morrison - 'How to Travel with a Salmon,' 'Kant and the Platypus,' - Umberto Eco - 'God in the Dock,' C. S. Lewis - 'The Memory Chalet,' Tony Judt - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "The Fate of the Planet" will be the title of Episode 49, and will feature books that relate in some fundamental way to the environment and the consequences of not taking care of our home.

This time around, the brothers are looking at novels with overt spiritual themes - novels in which the main character, or characters, undergo some type of transformation or evolution (or devolution?) in what they believe and how they look at life. As we say in our introductory comments, the "Big Questions" and spiritual themes are something we've never shied away from on this podcast. Now, these thorny questions take center stage. Mind you, we're not going to solve any of them for you - but we're fascinated when writers have the guts to take them on and send their characters on a spiritual journey in some way. Ranging from ancient texts to contemporary stage plays, picaresque tales and dark allegories, this episode isn't afraid to dive into the deep end of the pool. Website: anchor.fm/book-change Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse - 'In The Eye of The Wild,' Nastassja Martin - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Obsidian,' Jude Joseph Lovell - 'So You Wanna Be a Teacher: A Memoir,' Peter Kravitz - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse - 'Laurus,' Eugene Vodolazkin - 'Les Miserables,' Victor Hugo - Various works of Marilynne Robinson, Wendell Berry - 'In This House of Brede' and 'Black Narcissus,' Rumer Godden - 'The Violent Bear it Away,' Flannery O'Connor - 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' - 'The Sunset Limited,' Cormac McCarthy - 'Heaven's My Destination,' Thornton Wilder - 'The Damnation of Theron Ware,' Harold Frederic - 'The Sojourn,' Andrew Krivak - 'Obsidian' and 'Little Fathers,' Jude Joseph Lovell - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: In Episode 48, Jude and John will share their favorite collections of essays/essay writers, which will go in all kinds of interesting directions. Next time on the XChange...

Both Jude and John agree that it's high time, and a distinct pleasure, to dedicate one of our "Dealer's Choice" episodes to a female writer - in this case, the esteemed and unique American author Annie Proulx. For those new to the show, a Dealer's Choice episode is when your humble hosts choose a writer whose work means a lot to us, and is well worth recommending, and taking an in-depth look at their entire oeuvre. One of us first came to Proulx's work through her most famous novel (The Shipping News), one through her acclaimed series of stories set in Wyoming, but it didn't take either of us long to count ourselves as dedicated members of the Annie Proulx fan club. What makes her work unique, valuable, fascinating and worth your time? That is what we aim to unpack in Episode 46 of the Book XChange podcast. Whether you've read several of her books or know nothing about her, this is an episode - and a writer - not to be missed. (You're gonna have to trust your favorite book-loving brothers on this one.) Website: anchor.fm/book-change Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Laurus,' Eugene Vodolazkin - 'The Terminal Man,' Michael Chrichton - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Accordion Crimes,' Annie Proulx - 'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse - Works by Annie Proulx discussed in this episode: 'Heartsongs' (stories) - 'Postcards' (novel) - 'The Shipping News' (novel) - 'Accordion Crimes' (novel) - 'Close Range' (stories) - 'Bad Dirt' (stories) - 'Fine Just the Way It Is' (stories) - 'Barkskins' (novel) - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 47 will features novels/fiction that take its characters on a spiritual journey, which can be defined in any number of ways...

What is with the human family's fascination with MONSTERS and supernatural creatures? We try to unpack that perennial question and topic of interest in Episode 45 of America's favorite double-barreled books and reading podcast, The Book XChange. The Brothers Lovell reach deep back into the past with classics like "Frankenstein" and "Beowulf," but also mention some of our favorite modern-day contributions to the conversation. Along the way we talk about how monsters reflect darker parts of the human psyche, why the line between "man" and "monster" is sometimes blurry, and the astounding imagination/erudition of a 19-year-old girl. Though this topic may not be for everyone, those who appreciate a good monster tale will find a feast here that they can really sink their claws, tentacles, or teeth into. Thanks to all of our listeners, as always, for keeping this party rolling! -J & J MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Fine Just the Way It Is: Wyoming Stories 3,' Annie Proulx - 'Bird Cloud,' Annie Proulx; 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Shipping News,' Annie Proulx - 'Akenfield: A Portrait of an English Village,' Ronald Blythe - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Pardon My Fangs,' Elizabeth Starr Hill - 'Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus,' Mary Shelley - Various works of H. P. Lovecraft, including 'At the Mountains of Madness,' 'The Dunwich Horror' and 'The Shadow over Innsmouth' 'Beowulf,' Anonymous/'Grendel,' John Gardner - 'Blood Meridian' & 'No Country for Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy - 'Gargantua and Pantagruel,' Francois Rabelais - 'It,' Stephen King - 'Borne,' Jeff Van Der Meer - 'Railsea,' China Meiville - 'Jaws,' Peter Benchley - 'Obsidian,' Jude Joseph Lovell - 'Day of the Triffids,' John Wyndham - 'The Essex Serpent,' Sarah Perry - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Next time up, we'll take a deep dive into the work of Annie Proulx as one of our "Dealer's Choices" episodes. An incredible writer, you don't want to miss this one - or her books!

Episode 44 begins with the classic strains of Bruce Springsteen's "Factory"... why? Because this time out, we are exploring books that are all about "the work, the work, the working life." For the vast majority of adults, work takes up much of our waking hours and in some ways (for better or worse) defines who we are. So it makes sense that innumerable books, both fiction and non-fiction, delve into how it shapes and impacts our lives. From office drones gutting through the tedium of their daily tasks, to African-Americans migrating north in search of work to provide independence and a better life, to writers grappling to express their ideas, to elite chefs managing the chaos of hellish Manhattan kitchens - we take a look at both the drudgery, and the dignity, of labor as manifested through great books. MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'What Are We Doing Here?: Essays,' Marilynne Robinson - TBD - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'A Month in the Country,' J. L. Carr - 'The Shipping News,' Annie Proulx - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Bartleby, the Scrivener,' short story by Herman Melville - 'Gig: Americans Talk About Their Jobs,' Ed. John Bowe, Marisa Bowe & Sabin C. Streeter - 'Independent People,' Halldór Laxness - 'Blood on the Forge,' William Attaway - 'Working Days,' 'Journal of a Novel' and 'In Dubious Battle,' John Steinbeck - 'Laborem Exercens (On Human Work),' Pope John Paul II - 'Moby-,' 'White Jacket' and 'Redburn,' Herman Melville - 'Microserfs,' Douglas Coupland - 'The Circle,' Dave Eggers - 'The Soul of a New Machine,' Tracy Kidder - 'The Jungle,' Upton Sinclair - 'Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,' Anthony Bourdain - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 45 can be summed in one word: MONSTERS! Come on back in about two weeks' time to find out more...

After a 33-day hiatus, which felt really long for us if not for our listeners, the BXC brothers return and finally kick off 2022 with a looser, less structured episode filled with a little of this and that. First, in response to a suggestion from a listener, we share what books we gifted each other for Christmas at the end of last year (and why). Second, we kick around the idea of setting "resolutions" for the upcoming year in reading, and share a few of the ones we made for ourselves. And finally (there's a reason we titled this episode "something a little different") we cross over to another medium entirely and offer short reviews of two excellent, recent movies adapted from literary works: 'The Tragedy of MacBeth' and 'The Green Knight.' Hope you enjoy this grab bag of an episode, and we're looking forward to continuing "the great conversation" with you all through 2022 and beyond... MUSIC BY VOIDZ PANDA, YOUNG WOLF BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome,' Mary Beard - 'Transcendent Kingdom,' Yaa Gyasi - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Bleak House,' Charles Dickens - 'The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,' Dan Egan - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: CHRISTMAS XCHANGE PICKS - Jude gave to John: 'Perchance to Dream,' Charles Beaumont; 'The Sea Trilogy,' Rachel Carson - John gave to Jude: 'Paradise,' Abdulrazak Gurnah; 'The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo,' Tom Reiss - THE BXC TWINS' READING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022 - Jude: Listed first 12 books to read in 2022; read 3 BIG books from his shelf; read 2 "Collected Stories" volumes from major fiction writers; read 3 biographies - John: continue spiritual reading and vacillating between fiction and non-fiction; read more books about the natural world in 2022 - THE BXC TWINS' SURPRISE MOVIE REVIEWS/RECOMMENDATIONS: 'The Green Knight,' directed by David Lowery, based on the anonymously-written medieval epic poem - 'The Tragedy of MacBeth,' directed by Joel Coen, based on the play by William Shakespeare - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 44 is once again... TBD! (Sorry folks, we will get back on track with teasing upcoming episodes very soon)

For our final episode of 2021, we decide to broaden out a personal tradition and share it with listeners... we each share our 10 favorite reading experiences of the year, and discuss why these books made a lasting mark on us. Our choices are not at all limited to books that came out in 2021, but could be any book of any genre from any year. These books were "buried in our heads like a stinger" (to borrow from Flannery O'Connor) and just would not let go, no matter what else we might have consumed. We want to offer a sincere THANK YOU to anyone who chose to spend some of their valuable time listening to us blather on about books this year... we do not take your listening for granted, and while the twinly conversation would go on regardless, it has been humbling and heartening to receive all of your positive feedback about the show. We wish you all a very happy and restorative holiday season, and we'll be talking to you again in 2022! MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'White Line Fever,' Lemmy Kilmister (w/ Janiss Garza) - 'A Prayer for the Dying,' Jack Higgins - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx - 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,' Anonymous, trans. by W. S. Merwin Books/Writers discussed in this episode: JUDE's BEST BOOKS OF 2021 - 1. 'Extraterrestrial,' Avi Loeb - 2. 'Walking with Ghosts,' Gabriel Byrne - 3. 'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin - 4. 'The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allen Poe and the Forging of American Science,' John Tresch - 5. 'The Five Wounds,' Kristin Valdez Quade - 6. 'Klara and the Sun,' Kazuo Ishiguro - 7. 'Challenger: A Major Malfunction - A True Story of Politics, Greed and the Wrong Stuff,' Malcolm McConnell - 8. 'Night Boat to Tangier,' Kevin Barry - 9. 'Solar Bones," Mike McCormack - 10. 'Close Range: Wyoming Stories,' Annie Proulx - JOHN's BEST BOOKS OF 2021 - 1. 'Via Negativa,' Daniel Hornsby - 2. 'The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World,' Wade Davis - 3. 'Exhalation: Stories,' Ted Chiang - 4. 'Fragments of an Infinite Memory: My Life with the Internet,' Maël Renouard - 5. 'The Mission: A True Story,' David W. Brown - 6. 'Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2,' Annie Proulx - 7. 'The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories, Vol. 1,' Ed. by James D. Jenkins & Ryan Cagle - 8. 'Cockfighter,' Charles Willeford - 9. 'Interior States: Essays,' Meghan O'Gieblyn - 10. 'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 43... TBD!

For episode 41 (commemorating, in part, the 80th anniversary of the United States' entry into the war in December 1941), the Book XChange brothers take on a subject that's as broad and wide-reaching as the conflict itself: World War II. As always, we aim here to provide some recommendations of books that aren't widely discussed and read, as well as cover some of the acknowledged classics. It's a huge subject and we did our best to cover a wide variety of titles that might speak to a broad expanse of interests. Thanks for listening! MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Interior States' Meghan O'Gieblyn - TBD - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Every Man Dies Alone,' Hans Fallada - 'Lemmy: White Line Fever,' by Lemmy Kilmister & Janiss Garza - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Every Man Dies Alone,' Hans Fallada - 'Slaughterhouse Five,' - Kurt Vonnegut - The short story "Telemachus," 'The Book of Aron,' and 'Paper Doll,' Jim Shepard - 'Battle Cry' and 'Mila-18,' Leon Uris - 'The Eagle Has Landed,' Jack Higgins - 'Priestblock 25487,' Jean Bernard - 'Advent of the Heart,' Fr. Alfred Delp - 'Suite Francaise,' Irene Nemirovsky - 'Manhattan Beach,' Jennifer Egan - 'Symphony for the City of the Dead,' Matthew Tobin Anderson - 'Hiroshima,' John Hersey - 'The Sea and Poison,' Shusaku Endo - 'Band of Brothers,' Stephen E. Ambrose - 'Memoirs of the Second World War,' Sir Winston Churchill - 'The Moon is Down,' John Steinbeck - 'The Naked and the Dead,' Norman Mailer - 'The Thin Red Line,' James Jones - 'Truman,' David McCullough - 'The Good War: An Oral History of World War II,' Studs Terkel - 'The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich,' William L. Shirer - 'Byline: Ernest Hemingway,' Ernest Hemingway - 'The End of the Affair,' Graham Greene - 'General of the Army,' Ed Cray - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 42 will feature Jude and John's Top 10 Books of 2021 - not necessarily books released in that year, but the ten reads that impacted and impressed us the most. We'll go through our individual lists and discuss why these titles stood out for us. What were your favorite reads in this past year?? Be sure to let us know at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com.

Calling all adventurous and open minded readers - join us for a special episode of the BXC podcast, in which we turn the lens on ourselves a bit and interview one-half of your favorite literary-minded twins. Jude Joseph Lovell (or is it Foster Mullins?), co-host of this show and author of 12 books, has just launched a brand new mind-bending, time-twisting mystery tale named TIME O'CLOCK, and we have an exclusive interview all about it right here. It's a two-part discussion, with part 1 discussing the book and its influences (including a reading from the author) but not giving any plot points away... and part 2 diving more into "spoilers" and unpacking the many layers of this wild, fun literary puzzle. We had a fascinating discussion touching on detective fiction, cop shows, "breaking the fourth wall," horror fiction, stories-within-stories, surreal art, talking dogs and the challenge of writing memorable, entertaining fiction. There's something for everybody in this strange concoction of an episode, folks - so we urge you to dive in, support independent fiction writing and listen/download wherever your find your podcasts! **TIME O'CLOCK (by Foster Mullins) is available for purchase right now on Amazon, please give it a look!!** *ALL MUSIC THIS EPISODE BY VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'In the Spirit of Ronald E. McNair, Astronaut - An American Hero,' Carl McNair with H. Michael Brewer - ' of a Book,' Jason Mott - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Band of Brothers,' Stephen E. Ambrose - 'The Seventh Cross,' Anna Seghers - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Time O'Clock' by Foster Mullins Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 41 will hearken back to the year 1941 - while paying late tribute to our nation's Veterans - and feature some of our favorite and most recommended books having to do with "The Big One," World War II.

McGruff the Crime Dog guests hosts in Episode 39 of the Book XCh... well OK, maybe not (and yes, we just dated ourselves - but those who know, know!). This time out, your humble hosts/book-hungry twins take a bite out of the vast buffet of books that explore crime, both real and imagined. We delve into classic mysteries, true crime reportage, historical novels with unexplained murders at their center, pulp detective fiction, harrowing accounts of real-life urban crime, and some of the most heinous and traumatic events in American history (think JFK, Watergate and 9/11). Together, Jude and John dare to delve into the criminal mind and discuss just what it is that makes reading about the dark side of humanity so unnervingly, but undeniably, compelling. (And don't miss a very special and FUN interview coming up in a few weeks, for Episode 40!!) Thanks for listening everyone. MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin - 'Billy Summers,' Stephen King - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Foundation,' Isaac Asimov - 'The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories, Vol. 1,' Ed. by James D. Jenkins & Ryan Cagle Books/Writers discussed in this episode: THE FACTORY SERIES by Derek Raymond (He Died with His Eyes Open, The Devil's Home on Leave, How the Dead Live, I Was Dora Suarez, Dead Man Upright) - 'The Name of the Rose,' - Umberto Eco - 'An Instance of the Fingerpost,' Iain Pears - The crime fiction of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and P. D. James - 'In Cold Blood,' Truman Capote - 'Murders in the Rue Morgue (story),' Edgar Allen Poe - 'The Gangs of New York,' Herbert Asbury - 'The Lighthouse,' P. D. James - 'Classic Crimes,' William Roughead - '2666,' Robert Bolaño - 'All the President's Men,' - Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein - 'Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK,' Gerald Posner - 'Oswald's Tale,' Norman Mailer - 'The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11,' Lawrence Wright - 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' David Grann - 'Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic,' - Sam Quinones - 'Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets,' David Simon - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 40 will be a BXC SPECIAL - an interview with our very own Jude Joseph Lovell, about his brand new time-twisting, mind-bending, noirish mystery thriller 'Time O'Clock.' (Available for order now on Amazon) We will discuss the book, the influences that went into writing it, and the delights of twisty, dream-like, rule-breaking fiction.

For the fifth time, the Book XChange podcast dedicates an entire episode to discuss a single book - in this case, one recommended to us by a BXC listener. 'Leave the World Behind' is a bestselling thriller written by Rumaan Alam - one that has been widely read and discussed, nominated for the National Book Award, and was also recently snapped up by NetFlix to be developed into a film. It's a novel that feels almost like a compendium of modern anxieties and fears, touching on issues such as racial relations, environmental concerns, geopolitical fears, parenting in a crisis, effective masculinity, our dependence on technology/connectivity (and what it may be doing to us), and above all, our obligation to our fellow human beings. But do all these intriguing touch points and hot buttons mean that the book itself is a satisfying reading experience that we both enthusiastically recommend? Sorry folks, you're going to have to listen to this one to find out... and we hope you do! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Selected Non-Fictions,' Jorge Luis Borges - TBD - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: An undisclosed novel - 'The Meeting at Telgte,' Gunter Gräss - 'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Leave the World Behind' by Rumaan Alam - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: TBD!!

For this edition of everyone's favorite biweekly literary podcasts, your Book XChange hosts present some "deep cuts" from their own personal bookshelves. The idea with our "Hidden Gems" episode is to offer some "of the beaten path" recommendations of books - from all genres, fiction and non-fiction - that might intrigue our listeners and/or give them something new to try. As readers Jude and John both get a lot of satisfaction from discovering the work of a writer we may have never heard of before, or dusting off a long-forgotten novel or book that might provide some hidden insights for people living today. We hope that listeners can find something of interest in this adventurous and eclectic discussion... if nothing else, no one can accuse the BXC boys of narrow reading! Your meal is hot and waiting on the table folks... dig in!! [NOTE: Very special shout-out to listeners HW and KC for their recent contributions and feedback offered to the show. We appreciate you very much, and every other listener to the BXC!] MUSIC: Young Wolf, Voidz Panda BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Gospel According to Jesus Christ,' Jose Saramago - TBD - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: Undisclosed - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'At the End of the Santa Fe Trail,' Sister Blandina Segale - 'A Month in the Country,' - J. L. Carr - 'Fear,' Gabriel Chevalier - 'The Bookshop,' Penelope Fitzgerald - 'The Old Boys,' William Trevor - 'Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's,' Frederick Lewis Allen - Books of history by Christopher Dawson - Books of history by Barbara Tuchman - 'The Meeting at Telgte,' Günter Grass - 'Gould's Book of Fish,' Richard Flanagan - 'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin - 'You Know When the Men Are Gone,' Siobhan Fallon - 'A Hero for the People,' Arthur Powers - Short stories by Tim Gautreaux, J. F. Powers and Breece D'J Pancake - 'The Cape and Other Stories from the Japanese Ghetto,' Kenji Nakagami - 'Red Dust: A Path Through China,' Ma Jian - 'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy,' Michael McCarthy - 'Fragments of an Infinite Memory: My Life with the Internet,' Maël Renouard - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 38 will be an in-depth review of a novel recommended by a BXC listener: 'Leave the World Behind' by Rumaan Alam... this is recent and "buzzy" novel that presents a vaguely apocalyptic scenario and how it is handled by two well-off couples who end up together in a lush vacation home in a rural area of Long Island.

Jude and John grab a rifle, a pony, and go ridin' out into the bloody "evening redness in the west" in Episode 36 of the Book XChange podcast. The subject of "the American west in literature" is about as vast, wide open and intimidating as the very landscape itself, so we decided it may take not one, but TWO episodes to do it justice. In this first part, we tackle "Western novels" - which of course is a term that can encompass a wide variety of books and writers. We talk of course about the well known, somewhat hackneyed symbols, cliches and archetypes that can populate the genre - but also cover a number of books that seek to satirize, analyze and subvert these tropes. We cover authors both legendary and lesser known, male and female, and try to articulate what makes the American west such mythic, mysterious, and at times malicious terrain. In a second part (which we will save until a later date), we will look not at novels but at non-fiction books that examine the history, mythos and allure of the land stretching beyond the Mississippi River... yeehaw!! MUSIC: John Williams, Young Wolf, Voidz Panda BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Warlock,' Oakley Hall - 'How to Think: A Survival Guide for A World at Odds,' Alan Jacobs - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Red Storm Rising,' Tom Clancy - TBD - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Blood Meridian,' 'The Border Trilogy,' 'No Country For Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy - 'The Virginian,' Owen Wister - Various works of James Fennimore Cooper - 'The Ox-Bow Incident,' Walter Van Tilburg Clark - 'Giant,' Edna Ferber - The 'Lonesome Dove' tetralogy of Larry McMurtry - 'Train Dreams,' Denis Johnson - 'To A God Unknown,' John Steinbeck - 'Death Comes for the Archbishop,' and other works by Willa Cather - The Wyoming stories of Annie Proulx - 'News of the World,' Paulette Jiles - 'The Sisters Brothers,' Patrick deWitt - The Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn mysteries of Tony Hillerman - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: For Episode 37, the Book XChange brothers will go to bat for lesser known and obscure books that we feel deserve to be read, discussed and shared. Any and all genres qualify - we're going to scour our shelves for some of the very best books we've read that are well under the radar for most folks. Here's hoping you'll find some undiscovered gems with us, next time...

In this episode the BookXChange looks at the experience of reading BIG, meaty, epic-length books... books that might function well as doorstops, should you have a need for one. We dive into whether the experience of reading big books (fiction or non-fiction) is at all different from reading shorter ones; whether a reader needs to "prepare" more mentally or otherwise to take on a large tome; what the experience is like in being immersed into a story or subject that goes on for hundreds of pages; and of course, what are some of the best (and worst) experiences we've had reading longer books. Most readers can talk about the "epic" books they've loved, hated or tried their best to finish... this is the episode where your fearless (at least on paper!) literary twins roll up their sleeves and make the case for "going big or going home" when it comes to reading. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Giving Up the Ghost,' Hilary Mantel - 'The Ox-Bow Incident,' Walter van Tilburg Clark - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2,' Annie Proulx - 'Warlock,' Oakley Hall - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'The Pillars of the Earth,' Ken Follett - 'Red Storm Rising,' Tom Clancy - 'Winter's Tale,' 'Freddy and Fredericka,' Mark Helprin - 'Weaveworld,' 'The Great and Secret Show,' 'Imajica,' Clive Barker - 'The Talisman,' Stephen King and Peter Straub - 'Koko,' Peter Straub - 'Tree of Smoke,' Denis Johnson - 'Middlemarch,' George Eliot - 'Skippy Dies,' Paul Murray - 'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx - Various works by Dickens, Tolstoy, Hugo - 'John Adams,' 'Truman,' 'The Path Between the Seas,' David McCullough - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "The BXC Goes West"... on our next episode, the brothers will dive into books that have to do with the American West and all of its well-worn mythology... from classic Western novels, to more modern takes on the genre, to books that explore the landscape and history of the Western half of the United States... grab your rifle and pony and get ready to saddle up!

The fourth in our podcast's regular series of "deep dives" into books that, for whatever reason, have the popularity, subject matter or complexity to justify an extended discussion. This time we tackle one of the more popular novels in the past several decades, a book that has struck a nerve with a great many American readers in particular, and was loudly championed by none other than Mr. Stephen King: John Irving's 1989 bestseller 'A Prayer for Owen Meany.' It's a book that certainly manages to cram quite a lot into its hefty 600-page length, and certainly has its admirers as well as its detractors. On which side will your twin hosts ultimately find themselves in this debate; how did the diminutive, prophetic titular character strike them; and what are some of the enduring merits and/or flaws of this widely read novel? Episode 34 leaves no stone unturned to try and wring some meaning out of the enigmatic seventh novel by Mr. Irving, previously best known for titles such as 'The World According to Garp' and 'The Cider House Rules.' BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allan Poe and the Forging of American Science,' John Tresch - 'The Abstainer,' Ian McGuire - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Book of Margery Kempe,' Margery Kempe - 'Time O'Clock,' Foster Mullins - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "Go Big or Go Home" - in our next discussion we will talk about "big books" - books that aren't afraid to go to great lengths (literally) to entertain, inform and risk possibly infuriating their readers. Why do some books decide to "go big," is it true that weighty tomes aren't quite as popular now as they once used to be, and of course... what are some of our favorites, and why?

No matter where you're from, no matter what your race, culture, creed or ancestry is – your life has been touched and shaped by music in some form or fashion. Musical expression is part of what makes us human, and the mysterious joy and emotion we experience when listening to and making music is an endlessly fascinating subject. The Book XChange brothers list and discuss their favorite books about music in Episode 34 - they might be novels, musicians' memoirs, biographies, appreciations or short stories... there's something for everyone in this jamboree of a show. Glad to have each and every one of our listeners along for the ride! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'A Prayer for Owen Meany,' John Irving - TBD - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'A Prayer for Owen Meany,' John Irving - The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allan Poe and the Forging of American Science,' John Tresch - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'The Land Where the Blues Began,' Alan Lomax - 'Chronicles: Volume 1,' Bob Dylan - '33 1/3 Series: Master of Reality,' John Darnielle - 'Amsterdam,' Ian McEwan - 'How Music Works,' David Byrne - 'Born to Run,' Bruce Springsteen - 'The Commitments,' Roddy Doyle - 'Sonny's Blues' (short story), James Baldwin - 'Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural Nörth Daköta,' Chuck Klosterman - 'Random Samples: Demystifying the Magic Music of Rush,' Jude Joseph Lovell - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 34 will be our first "BXC Review" episode since March, this time taking on the polarizing late 80's John Irving novel, 'A Prayer for Owen Meany.' Join us for a deep dive into a novel that has been both lauded and derided with equal vehemence over the years...

Recorded one day after the United States of America's 245th birthday, the latest episode of the Book XChange podcast takes advantage of the Independence Day vibes to consider the gifts and responsibilities of FREEDOM. And not just American freedom either, but "freedom" as it pertains to all members of the human family. We discuss and recommend books that have something to teach, say, remind, provoke, or inspire about the ideal of freedom. From classic autobiographies and political treatises, to novels, to philosophical ruminations on art and individual expression – this episode looks at what it means to consider, value, protect and fight for freedom. We hope listeners will appreciate whatever freedoms they are blessed to enjoy, and maybe hear some interesting reading recommendations along the way. Happy 4th of July to our American listeners, and a huge thank you as always to all of you, no matter where you're from! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Borstal Boy,' Brendan Behan - 'A Prayer for Owen Meany,' John Irving - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Fragments of an Infinite Memory: My Life with the Internet,' Maël Renouard - TBD - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era,' James M. McPherson - 'Long Walk to Freedom,' Nelson Mandela - 'The Underground Railroad,' Colson Whitehead - It Can't Happen Here,' Sinclair Lewis - 'Les Misérables,' Victor Hugo - 'Parting the Waters' (and the 'America in the King Years' trilogy), Taylor Branch - 'You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto,' Jaron Lanier - 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself,' Frederick Douglass - 'A Star Called Henry,' Roddy Doyle - 'Common Sense,' Thomas Paine Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 33 1/3 (get it?) will cover... books that are somehow about music! Join us next time for a symphony of recommendations of great books either written by musicians, or about the magic and mystery of music in some way.

Readers around the world... admit it. We all have them. Those big, complicated, intimidating books that glare at us from our shelves, almost with an air of defiance, just daring us to take them down, dust them off, and you know... actually READ them. But for whatever reason, we haven't been able to get up the guts to do so... well, welcome to episode 31 of the Book XChange podcast, wherein America's favorite twin book nerds accept the challenge... not to read these books, you understand! Let's not get hasty. Merely to discuss those books that have to this point intimidated us enough to keep gathering dust on our shelves, rather than actually be cracked open. Why are Jude and John reluctant to take on some books, and which ones continue to deter them? Which ones have YOU yet to crack open? Come on, you know there's a list. We're sharing ours this time around, and trying to convince each other (or deter each other, as the case may be) to answer the call. This episode was brought to you by the color... YELLOW. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Chronicles,' Bob Dylan - 'Extraterrestrial,' Avi Loeb - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Tree of Man,' Patrick White - 'Machines in the Head: Selected Stories,' Anna Kavan - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: The 'Game of Thrones' series, George R. R. Martin - The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer - The work of Jane Austen and Henry James - 'War and Peace,' Leo Tolstoy - 'The Silmarillion,' J. R. R. Tolkien - 'City of God,' Augustine of Hippo - 'The Gulag Archipelago,' Alexander Solzhenitsyn - 'Bleak House,' Charles Dickens - The work of William T. Vollman - 'My Struggle,' Karl Ove Knaussgard - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Roughly aligning with the 4th of July weekend in the U.S., the Book XChange brothers will talk about books that somehow deal with freedom and independence - not just from the American perspective, but as a human ideal.

The Book XChange goes on safari for this, the 30th episode of the show... and discuss favorite or notable books that feature, or are about, animals. Once we got going on this topic, we realized how deep a rabbit hole (shout out to Richard Adams!) it is. Which makes sense, because if there's one thing that unites peoples of all times, places and cultures, it's a love for/fascination with our animal friends. There's a reason they are featured so heavily in our myths, cosmologies, religions and artistic efforts. How much do they really understand about us? Do animals have consciousness? culture? souls? values? How much do we really understand about them? From famous epics that pit man against beast to road novels with non-human companions - as well as non-fiction classics that aim to deepen our knowledge and appreciation for other species - this episode takes all of these fascinating topics on and more. Even fantastical creatures get their due... we're looking forward to having our listeners join us for this epic sojourn into the Animal Kingdom. Enjoy! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Tree of Man,' Patrick White - TBD - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy,' Jane Leavy - 'Solar Bones,' Mike McCormack - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Moby ,' Herman Melville - 'Last Chance to See,' Douglas Adams - 'Travels with Charley,' John Steinbeck - 'Beyond Words: How Animals Think and Feel,' Carl Safina - 'The Whale Rider,' Witi Imihaera - The 'Game of Thrones' series, George R. R. Martin - 'The Peregrin,' J. A. Baker - 'The Soul of An Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness,' Sy Montgomery - 'Grief is the Thing With Feathers,' Max Porter - The 'Chronicles of Narnia' series, C. S. Lewis - 'Watership Down,' Richard Adams - The 'Dun Cow' books, Walter Wangerin - 'H is for Hawk,' Helen Macdonald - 'Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia,' Dennis Covington - 'Platero y Yo,' Juan Ramon Jimenez - 'Animal Farm,' George Orwell - 'The Dialogue of the Dogs,' - Miguel de Cervantes - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "Books We're Intimidated By" - the brothers discuss which books they've long thought about reading, but for whatever reason have lacked the courage or motivation to take on... an entire episode on books we HAVEN'T read? Yep, that's right... should be different, anyway!

Be warned! By definition, every single book discussed in this episode of the Book XChange podcast is going to be utterly spoiled... Jude and John discuss some of their favorite all-time endings in literature, and why we feel they've made such a lasting imprint on our memories. There are many ways to end a story: wicked twists in the plot, notes of ambiguity and mystery, group hugs of happiness, or shocking, tragic losses. But for most readers there are those books that linger in the mind because of the way the author "stuck the landing," bringing all of the elements of his/her tale together in a uniquely satisfying - or sometimes, maddenly unsatisfying, but memorable! - close. We came up with a long list of interesting choices for this discussion, so much so that it could easily spawn a second episode to continue the theme in the future. What book endings linger in your mind? Now you can email the show at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com to share your recommendations, observations, criticisms, or whatever you'd like! Thanks as always for listening. -J & J BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering,' Makoto Fujimura - 'Avoid the Day: A New Nonfiction in Two Movements,' Jay Kirk - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Heart of the Matter,' Graham Greene - 'The New Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein: Expanded Universe,' Robert A. Heinlein - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: John 21: 20-25 - Matthew 28:18-20 - 'The Trial,' Franz Kafka - 'Mariette in Ecstasy,' Ron Hansen - 'Silence,' Shusaku Endo - 'The Grapes of Wrath,' John Steinbeck - 'The Lord of the Rings trilogy ("The Scouring of the Shire,"), J. R. R. Tolkien - 'The Road,' Cormac McCarthy - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "Animal Kingdom" - books featuring or about animals

In this special celebratory episode, your twin hosts Jude and John Lovell reflect back on the first year of the Book XChange podcast: what it's meant to us, and what we hope to continue to do with it going forward. And in a nod to the unique "hook" of our show, that is, identical twins reflecting on books and reading... we tackle books that feature, or are in some way about, twins and the phenomenon of "twinhood." Good twins, evil twins, estranged or missing or lost twins, damaged twins, "midnight twins"... there are so many great myths, novels and plays that explore the compelling and fascinating nature of this mysterious bond. We bring our own personal perspective of having lived for 50+ years as genetic duplicates to these books and stories, and unpack what each of them get right, exaggerate, and even illuminate for those who lead what you might quite accurately call "a double life." Whether you are a twin, a parent of twins, are related to a set or know some in your circle of friends/associates, this episode may have you thinking about their lived experience in a different way. A very special thank you to all of you who have ever listened to the show since April of 2020! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Shadowbahn,' Steve Erickson - 'Cornell Woolrich Omnibus: Rear Window & Other Stories; I Married A Dead Man; Waltz Into Darkness,' Cornell Woolrich - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'A History of the World in 100 Objects,' Neil MacGregor - 'Summer Lightning and Other Stories,' Olive Senior - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'The Comedy of Errors,' William Shakespeare - 'Midnight's Children,' Salman Rushdie - 'East of Eden,' John Steinbeck - 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey,' Thornton Wilder - 'The Other,' Thomas Tryon - 'The Dark Half,' Stephen King - 'One and the Same: My Life As an Identical Twin and What I've Learned about Everyone's Struggle to Be Singular,' Abigail Pogrebin - 'Twins: And What They Tell Us About Who We Are,' Lawrence Wright - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "Spoiler Alert" - on Episode 29, we plan to discuss our favorite book endings! Should be a fun one...

The recently-premiered new PBS documentary "Hemingway" (from the renowned filmmaking team of Ken Burns and Lynn Novick) provided the BXC brothers with the perfect excuse to dive back into the short fiction of one of America's most celebrated and influential writers. Because the film centers on Hemingway's stories rather than his novels, John and Jude choose four of "Papa's" most famous tales, unpack them and examine how they exhibit his most impressive, intriguing and challenging qualities as a writer. Along the way we also get into some biographical details, our personal responses to Hemingway's work and how they may have changed over the years, and discuss and debate what made him both an admirable talent and a complex, tragic human being. It's all things Hemingway on Episode 27 of the XChange... we hope you'll jump on board and join us for a wild, bumpy ride through some exotic locations and pretty dark tunnels. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard - 'Ready Player Two,' Ernest Cline - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Life of Graham Green, Volume II: 1939-1955,' Norman Sherry - TBD - Short Stories by Ernest Hemingway discussed in this episode: "The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber" - "Hills Like White Elephants" - "Big Two-Hearted River (Parts 1 & 2)" - "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Celebrating the first anniversary of the podcast (thank you listeners!), Jude and John decide to link back to the genesis/unique 'hook' of our show to kick around books (both fiction and non-fiction) about twins.

Episode #26 delivers the third of an occasional series of in-depth reviews of books that have caught our attention (for whatever reason) and we feel are worth extended discussion and recommendation. This time, it's another debut novel, from Memphis-based (but Indiana-born) writer Daniel Hornsby. "Via Negativa" is a fascinating, spiritually rich hybrid of road novel, revenge tale and spiritual quest - steeped in Catholic history and tradition, but also in some of the strange, kitschy, roadside Americana that anyone who has traveled cross-country through this broad-shouldered land will recognize. As the homeless mendicant Fr. Dan wrestles with several morally complex, heart-breaking decisions and mistakes of his priesthood, he may also be bringing to light some of the most thorny and important questions that face the Catholic Church in the third millennium. Jude and I find a lot of quirky humor, pathos, and genuine spiritual insight to consider during this fascinating and fun discussion. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Labyrinth of Solitude,' Octavio Paz - 'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Life of Graham Green, Volume II: 1939-1955," Norman Sherry - 'The Hemingway Stories: As Featured in the Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on PBS,' Ernest Hemingway - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Via Negativa' by Daniel Hornsby Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Examining the short stories of Ernest Hemingway, in conjunction with the forthcoming PBS documentary on Hemingway by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (premiers April 5 in the U.S.)

The BXC co-hosts welcome a very special guest to the program for a fascinating and wide-ranging interview: Dr. Dennis Rebelo, professor, national speaker, career coach, mentor to CEOs and entrepreneurs and family man. Dr. Rebelo is about to release a brand new book that he has been researching and writing for the past decade, 'Story Like You Mean It: How to Build and Use Your Personal Narrative to Illustrate Who You Really Are.' Jude, John and "Dr. D" get deep into why it's important to know and understand your own personal narrative; storytelling as a path towards personal growth and transformation; mining your own life experiences to prepare for "high stakes moments;" the effects of social media on self-understanding; and more. This conversation was a rich experience for us and we hope our listeners will enjoy this "XChange" of ideas, and spread the word about this enlightening and engaging book! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Tyll: A Novel,' Daniel Kehlmann - 'My Lost Mexico: The Making of a Novel,' James Michener - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy," Michael McCarthy - 'The Relive Box and Other Stories,' T. C. Boyle - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Story Like You Mean It: How to Build and Use Your Personal Narrative to Illustrate Who You Really Are,' Dr. Dennis Rebelo (INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR) **Available for pre-order on Amazon now, available widely on March 16** Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Episode 26 will be our third "BXC Review" episode, where we take a deeper dive into one particular book... in this case, it's Daniel Hornsby's debut novel 'Via Negativa'

The tension is palpable in Episode 24 of the BXC podcast, as we discuss some of our favorite books and writers that might fall under the broad category of "Thriller." Every reader loves a story that keeps your posterior nailed to the chair and your fingers flipping pages, almost automatically, to find out what happens next. Jude and John talk about what makes a thriller, how the term is really more of a broad category vs. a genre, and serve up plenty of examples of "unputdownable" books. This is an episode sure to generate a multitude of opinions and plenty of discussion... and we've love to hear from our listeners about their examples of books that kept them riveted! As usual, thanks for listening, wherever you are located... and keep reading! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Look at Me," Jennifer Egan - 'Sweeney Astray: A Version from the Irish,' Seamus Heaney (trans.) - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Five Wounds,' Kirsten Valdez Quade - 'Via Negativa,' Daniel Hornsby - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Sphere,' 'Jurassic Park,' Michael Crichton - 'Final Flight,' Stephen Koontz - 'The Eagle Has Landed,' Jack Higgins - 'No Country for Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy - The novels of John Le Carré - The novels of Tom Clancy - 'The Quiet American,' 'The Third Man,' Graham Greene - 'Underground,' Haruki Murakami - 'And Then There Were None,' Agatha Christie - Various short stories of Daphne du Maurier - The novels of Patricia Highsmith - 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' David Grann - 'Endurance,' Alfred Lansing - 'DeliverMe,' Jude Joseph Lovell - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: A special episode coming up! The Book XChange welcomes Dr. Dennis Rebelo to the podcast, as we discuss his forthcoming new book 'Story Like You Mean It' (March 16, available for pre-order now on Amazon)

Buckle up... because in this globetrotting episode, the twin hosts of the Book XChange podcast take you to locations far and wide: the orchards of California, islands in Polynesia, the ancient moors of England, northwest Canada, coastal fishing villages in Maine, the Antilles in the Caribbean, the Swiss Alps, and more. In Episode 23, Jude and John offers their recommendations of books that utilize landscape as character - meaning, the physical environment these stories are set in are so fundamental to the reading experience, they become "characters" in themselves. It's a fascinating topic, one we think generated a rich and entertaining discussion... we hope you'll think so too. Are there novels or stories that you can't forget, in part because of their setting? If so, then this episode is for you! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Right Stuff," Tom Wolfe - 'The Bones of St. Pierre,' Steven Knapp - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Citizen: An American Lyric,' Claudia Rankine - 'The Wayfarers: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World,' Wade Davis - Jude's Recommendations of Books that Utilize Landscape as a Character: 'In Dubious Battle,' John Steinbeck - 'Mardi,' Herman Melville - 'The Orenda,' Joseph Boyden - 'The Bayou Trilogy,' Daniel Woodrell - 'The Sport of Kings,' C. E. Morgan - John's Recommendations of Books that Utilize Landscape as a Character: 'The Hound of the Baskervilles,' Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - 'Close Range: Wyoming Stories,' Annie Proulx - 'The Country of Pointed Firs,' Sarah Orne Jewett - 'Rock Crystal,' Adalbert Stifter - 'Omeros,' Derek Walcott - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: TBD!

The second installment of our "Dealer's Choice" occasional series - in which your Book XChange podcast hosts decide to feature a particular writer whose work we feel deserves in-depth discussion and recommendation. This time around, it's one of America's most acclaimed and energetic living writers, Thomas Coraghessan (T. C.) Boyle. Widely known and appreciated for his prolific output, cultural satire, environmental themes and rollicking, often biting sense of humor, Mr. Boyle is the author of some 18 novels and 12 short story collections across 40+ years. But Jude and John have at times had different reactions to his work, and this makes for a lively and multi-faceted discussion that we hope listeners with find both illuminating and entertaining. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Haj,' Leon Uris 'The Right Stuff,' Tom Wolfe What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Atlas of A Lost World: Travels in Ice Age America,' Craig Childs 'The Getaway,' Jim Thompson Works by T. C. Boyle discussed in this episode: 'Descent of Man' (stories) 'The Women' (novel) 'Tooth and Claw' (stories) 'When The Killing's Done' (novel) 'Water Music' (novel) 'World's End' (novel) 'After the Plague' (stories) 'Budding Prospects' (novel) 'The Relive Box' (stories) 'A Friend of the Earth' (novel) 'Without A Hero' (stories) 'Greasy Lake' (stories) 'East is East' (novel) T. C. Boyle Stories (Vol. 1) Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Books featuring landscape as a character

The Book XChange Podcast celebrates short stories in general - and, the release of co-host Jude Joseph Lovell's brand new story collection, "Door in the Air" - in this special episode. Jude has been writing and releasing short stories off and on for over 20 years, with two previous short story collections to his credit... and now, he's just published his "New and Selected Stories, 1999-2020." John interviews Jude about writing short fiction, putting together the new collection and how his writing has evolved over the years. After that, the twins discuss what makes short stories such a compelling form of fiction, and bring up some of their favorite examples and masters of the craft. Thank you all for following and supporting the BXC Podcast into 2021!