Podcasts about allegra goodman

Allegra Goodman tells the surprising origin story of Isola—from a children's book discovery to immersive museum research—all written in complete secrecy.In today's Book Gang episode, celebrated author Allegra Goodman joins me to discuss her stunning survival novel Isola, the incredible true story that inspired it, and the highly unusual creative process behind her most critically acclaimed book yet.Allegra kept Isola a secret—entirely—from her agent, her family, and even close friends while she wrote it. She reveals why this story demanded privacy and how keeping it under wraps gave her a rare creative clarity. She also shares what it meant to research this historical setting in museums and archives and how a serendipitous find in a children's book 22 years ago sparked the idea that would grow into Isola.In this inspiring conversation, Allegra and I discuss:Why she kept Isola a secret from everyone—even her agent and family—throughout the writing process. We explore what drove this decision, how it freed her creatively, and what it felt like to reveal the project once it was complete.The immersive research behind the novel, including museum visits and the spark of inspiration that came from a children's book during a late-night feeding session. Allegra traces the story's origin back 22 years, when she stumbled on a brief mention of a marooned noblewoman that she couldn't shake.What it's really like to be selected for both Reese's Book Club and Read With Jenna. Allegra is the first guest to share a behind-the-scenes look at these high-profile honors—how they differ, what surprised her, and how they've shaped her connection with readers.BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I'm sharing a companion book list with 25 Enthralling Books Set on Islands to read, including new releases and backlist titles. Whether you crave adventure, a love story, a small town, or historical fiction, this list has you covered.Meet Allegra GoodmanAllegra Goodman's novels include Isola (a Reese's Book Club selection), Sam (a Read With Jenna Book Club selection), The Chalk Artist (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award), Intuition, The Cookbook Collector, ParadisePark, andKaaterskill Falls(a National Book Award finalist). Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She has written two collections of stories, The Family Markowitz and Total Immersionand a novel for younger readers, The Other Side of the Island. Her essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic,The Washington Post,The Boston Globe, and The American Scholar. Raised in Honolulu, Goodman studied English and philosophy at Harvard and received a PhD in English literature from Stanford. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer's Award, the Salon Award for Fiction, and fellowships from MacDowell and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced study. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass.Mentioned in this episode:Browse the 2025 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide (with ads) or download the 48-page reading guide ($7) to support our show. If you are a show patron, please check your inbox for your copy as part of your member benefits. Thank you for supporting my small business!   Download Today's Show TranscriptJoin the June Book Club Chat (The Reckless Oath We Made)BONUS BOOK LIST: 25 Enthralling Books Set on IslandsIsola by Allegra GoodmanThe Cookbook Collector by Allegra GoodmanSam by Allegra GoodmanJunie by Erin Crosby EckstineSixVirginalsThe Golden HindeClement Marot Bookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches 10% to independent bookstores!Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Allegra on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals NewsletterBuy Me a Coffee (for a one-time donation) 

Allegra Goodman, author of ISOLA joins us on the front porch. Allegra is the author of seven novels. ISOLA was a Reese's Book Club selection. Her novel SAM was a Read With Jenna Book Club selection. KAATERSKILL FALLS was a National Book Award finalist. THE CHALK ARTIST was winner of the Massachusetts Book Award. Her other books include INTUITION, THE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR, and PARADISE PARK. Allegra tells us about the 20-year gestation period for writing ISOLA, the "inspired by a fragmentary true story" novel about Marguerite, an orphaned noble in Renaissance France. We were fascinated to hear about Allegra's exploration of the danger of being a girl and how she wove that into Marguerite's story. We also talked about the realistic portrayal of Marguerite's faith journey. Allegra tells us she enjoys writing about belief and doubt and that was a key part of Marguerite's story. If you've ever wondered about the creative and research process of writing a novel, you'll enjoy this episode. We also have some hearty laughs!

Allegra Goodman, author of ISOLA joins us on the front porch. Allegra is the author of seven novels. ISOLA was a Reese's Book Club selection. Her novel SAM was a Read With Jenna Book Club selection. KAATERSKILL FALLS was a National Book Award finalist. THE CHALK ARTIST was winner of the Massachusetts Book Award. Her other books include INTUITION, THE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR, and PARADISE PARK. Allegra tells us about the 20-year gestation period for writing ISOLA, the "inspired by a fragmentary true story" novel about Marguerite, an orphaned noble in Renaissance France. We were fascinated to hear about Allegra's exploration of the danger of being a girl and how she wove that into Marguerite's story. We also talked about the realistic portrayal of Marguerite's faith journey. Allegra tells us she enjoys writing about belief and doubt and that was a key part of Marguerite's story. If you've ever wondered about the creative and research process of writing a novel, you'll enjoy this episode. We also have some hearty laughs!

ISOLA, a brand-new novel by Allegra Goodman, takes us to Renaissance France and into the life of Marguerite, a child heir to a fortune. Unfortunately for Marguerite, her deceased parents' choice for her guardian means her life does not unfold as one of prosperity and gentility. Instead, her guardian fritters away her wealth on his desire to settle New France (i.e., Canada). Marguerite is caught up in his ambitious plans and when she objects, she is left to die on a deserted Canadian island with her nanny and a man who loves her. Aside from the beautiful writing, the most amazing thing about this story, perhaps, is it was inspired by a true story. ISOLA was a Reese's Book Club Pick, a national best-seller, and was also recommended by a friend of Nancy's. It's a good one!

ISOLA, a brand-new novel by Allegra Goodman, takes us to Renaissance France and into the life of Marguerite, a child heir to a fortune. Unfortunately for Marguerite, her deceased parents' choice for her guardian means her life does not unfold as one of prosperity and gentility. Instead, her guardian fritters away her wealth on his desire to settle New France (i.e., Canada). Marguerite is caught up in his ambitious plans and when she objects, she is left to die on a deserted Canadian island with her nanny and a man who loves her. Aside from the beautiful writing, the most amazing thing about this story, perhaps, is it was inspired by a true story. ISOLA was a Reese's Book Club Pick, a national best-seller, and was also recommended by a friend of Nancy's. It's a good one!

My guest today on CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY is Allegra Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of Sam and, more recently, Isola. Allegra's books have also been a National Book Award Finalist, a Reese's Book Club pick and a Read with Jenna/TODAY Show pick.Today, we talk about:* what Allegra would do if she won a book-shopping spree,* how reading has influenced the way she writes,* why writing in third person or first person changes the experience for both the author and the reader,* writing historical fiction in a way that resonates with contemporary readers,* whether celebrity book club endorsements (Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Hager Bush) has changed the way Allegra thinks about the audience for her books* recent books she's read that surprised or delighted herand so much more.

Leah and Kate recap recent opinions and arguments from the Supreme Court, including cases about tax exemptions for religious organizations and the future of Planned Parenthood. Along the way they celebrate Susan Crawford's election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Cory Booker's 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, touch on potential legal challenges to Trump's ruinous tariffs, and discuss the latest in the ongoing right-wing effort to challenge Allison Riggs' election to the Supreme Court of North Carolina.Hosts' favorite things this week:Kate: Unmarked Vans. Secret Lists. Public Denunciations. Our Police State Has Arrived, M. Gessen; Setting the Record Straight on the Anti-Trump Injunctions, Steve Vladek; The Battle for the Bros, Andrew Marantz; Museum of Now, This American Life; The Senate and the Edward Martin Nomination, Jack Goldsmith; Isola, Allegra Goodman; How the Trump Administration Learned to Obscure the Truth in Court, Leah LitmanLeah: Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead, Ariana Grande; Hate Won't Win: Find Your Power and Leave This Place Better Than You Found It, Mallory McMorrow; Why Trans People Must Prove a History of Discrimination Before the Supreme Court, Chase Strangio; Remarkable Things in the Government's Alien Enemies Act Briefs to the Supreme Court, Marty LedermanVote for Less Radical in the Webby Awards here and here! Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 5/31 – Washington DC6/12 – NYC10/4 – ChicagoLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsPre-order your copy of Leah's forthcoming book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes (out May 13th)Follow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky

In this final installment of my talk with Allegra Goodman, author of the newly released novel, “Isola,” a historical novel about a young French woman purposefully marooned on an island off the coast of Quebec inspired by true 16th century events, we find out what's currently brewing for Allegra and what she knows at this moment about where her personal through line is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching, and listening to lately. We talked about: - The nonfiction book she currently stayed up too late reading - An amazing story about how her mother stood up for herself in the 1970s–and how that example inspires Allegra to this day - A sneak peek at her next book, which is currently in the copy editing phase - Her dreams for her work in the next ten years (super inspiring!) - The historical novel she carried around with her so she could read whenever she had a few quiet minutes - The very specific snack that keeps her going - The Maggie Rogers song that she feels captures the essence of Isola Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kati startet diese Folge mit einer Portion Wut: Zwei Bücher haben sie aufgebracht. Eines davon heißt "Isola" von Allegra Goodman, ein Roman über das Leben einer Frau im 15. Jahrhundert, der viele Fragen über Freiheit, Rolle und Selbstbestimmung aufwirft. Tina bringt zwei Romance-Novels mit, die sich um das Leben in der Lebensmitte drehen – charmant, ehrlich und mit einem Blick auf gesellschaftliche Erwartungen. Außerdem sprechen wir über "Hell und Laut", einen Roman über Hrotsvit von Gandersheim, die erste bekannte Dichterin deutscher Sprache. Was hat sich verändert – und was nicht? Wir reden über Feminismus, Sichtbarkeit und die Kraft weiblicher Stimmen in der Literatur. Hör rein, fühl mit – und erzähl uns, welche Bücher dich bewegt haben!

Welcome to part two of my interview with Allegra Goodman, author of the recent Reese's Book Club selection, “Isola” as well as “Sam,” “The Chalk Artist,” “Intuition,” “The Cookbook Collector,” “Paradise Park,” and “Katterskill Falls.” Today, I'm talking with Allegra about what I call inner stuff, the thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that influence your work, even if you're not fully conscious of it. - How she thinks of being a writer like being a performer “in the theater of a reader's imagination” - Why starting a new project is the hardest part–and how she gets herself through it - How she trusts her inner critic to offer constructive criticism - The one part of the writing process that really makes her nervous - How she got past being pigeon-holed as a writer of a certain genre and built a career on writing many different types of stories - Making the shift from being intimidated by studying the great works of literature to being inspired by them - Why now is the best time of her career - How living to be older than her mother was when she died influences Allegra's work and her life - How it's OK to have multiple different voices as a writer Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm thrilled to be talking with Allegra Goodman, author of numerous novels including her newest, “Isola,” which was a Reese's book club selection, and her first, “Katterskill Falls,” which was a National Book Award finalist. Allegra also wrote two story collections, “The Family Markowitz” and “Total Immersion,” as well as a novel for younger readers, “The Other Side of the Island.” Allegra's fiction has appeared in “The New Yorker” and has been anthologized in “O. Henry Awards” and “Best American Short Stories.” She was raised in Honolulu and now lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass. We covered: - Getting published for the first time as a freshman in college by an encouraging editor who “discovered” her - How it's a love of writing, and not a drive to be published, that will sustain you over the long-term - Learning to build patience and endurance when going from writing short stories to writing novels - Her case for setting very low daily writing goals - Why she doesn't ascribe to the “shitty first draft” school of thought - Her daily and weekly writing routines - How having grown children makes those routines possible - Why she only works on shorter pieces one day per week - The specific times when she'll listen to a podcast—and when she'll choose to keep her ears podcast-free - The nightly ritual that helps her get started on work the next day - How non-digital activities feed her creative process - The benefits and mechanics of writing two books at the same time Connect with Allegra on Instagram @allegragoodmanwriter. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we recommend: Isola by Allegra Goodman,  Stranded by A. K. Duboff, and Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morisson. Audiobook of the Week is What in the World by LeAnne Morgan. Plus – Dave's students mistake wig glue for styling mousse, Laura spies Sylvia reading her Kindle while playing … Continue reading Wig Glue Shenanigans

Novelist Allegra Goodman found the name of a marooned French noblewoman in a history book decades ago when she was vacationing with her family off the coast of Canada. The woman’s name was mentioned in passing and Allegra got curious about her life. Years later, Allegra is out now with the brilliant new novel “Isola” based on the real life of a 16th-century noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque — and it’s February’s pick for Reese’s Book Club. She joins us to talk about her first foray into historical fiction and the moment when she first heard Marguerite’s voice in her head.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February has flown, and it's time for book club! We're excited to discuss Isola by Allegra Goodman, a polarizing pick within the pod. We're covering our expectations before reading, the pacing, how we'd handle the scenarios the characters found themselves in, and more!   Obsessions Becca  - Leopard Adidas x Wales Bonner sneakers   What we read this week Olivia - Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin, Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson,  Becca - This Love by Lotte Jeffs   This Month's Book Club Pick - Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Cozy Earth - Get 40% off your purchase at cozyearth.com/BOP or use our code BOP. Prose - Get your free consultation and 50% off your custom routine at Prose.com/bop.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.  

This week, we were inspired by a thread in our Facebook group and are looking back on season 1 of the TV show Younger! This is Olivia's first watch and a rewatch for Becca, and we're very excited to break down how it reflects the publishing industry, discuss how it portrays authors, talk about the fashion, share if we are on Team Josh or Team Charles, and more!   Obsessions Olivia - Severance Season 2 + Reddit Becca - Lost re-watch   What we read this week Olivia - Nothing Serious by Emily J. Smith, Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner Becca -     This Month's Book Club Pick - Isola by Allegra Goodman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop to get free shipping and 365-day returns. Better Help - Visit BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER today to get 10% off your first month.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.  

We're thrilled to interview Chelsea Handler this week! We talk about her forthcoming book: I'll Have What She's Having, coming out on her 50th birthday. She tells us about her reading life (and how she could never date someone who doesn't read), thoughts on aging, and why Jane Fonda gave her notes on one chapter in her book.   Chelsea's book, I'll Have What She's Having is out February 25th and is available for pre-order now at chelseahandler.com/book.   Obsessions Becca - The Agency on Paramount+ Olivia - Daughter   What we read this week Olivia - The Safari by Jaclyn Goldis (Out May 20), The Reformatory by Tananarive Due Becca - The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden   This Month's Book Club Pick - Isola by Allegra Goodman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Wayfair - Give your home the refresh it needs at Wayfair.com   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

This week on From the Front Porch, it's another New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia are sharing the November releases they're excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order! To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 515”), or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: Annie's books: The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy (2/4) We Would Never by Tova Mirvis (2/11) Back After This by Linda Holmes (2/25) Olivia's books: The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune (2/4) You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego (2/11) The Enemy's Daughter by Anne Blankman (2/18) Erin's books: The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict (2/11) The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (2/25) Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister (2/25) From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Isola by Allegra Goodman.  Olivia is reading The Enemy's Daughter by Anne Blankman.  Erin is reading Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Valentine's Day is around the corner! Romance is in the air! So, we obviously had to find some obscure erotica to get in the spirit. And boy did we find some gems. (Horrors?) Weirdness and NSFW content ahead! (Also, sorry in advance)   Olivia's Pick - Garden Knome Sex Party by Fanny Tucker  Becca's Pick - The Deviled Egg Made Me Do It by Holly Wilde    Obsessions Olivia - My Old Ass Becca - Variations pour une Porte et un Soupir at the New York City Ballet   What we read this week Oliva - The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Becca -    This Month's Book Club Pick - Isola by Allegra Goodman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Cozy Earth - Get 40% at cozyearth.com when you use code BOP. This weekend, February 7-9, use our exclusive code BOPBOGO to buy one pair of bamboo pajamas and get a second free to gift to a loved one. Prose - Get your one-of-a-kind formulas and get 50% off at prose.com/bop.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.  

Bestselling author Allegra Goodman returns to the podcast to discuss ISOLA, a blazing, immersive castaway survival story through the eyes of Marguerite de la Rocque—based on the real story of a young French noblewoman who sails to the new world in 1544. Allegra shares the fascinating 22-year journey of writing this book—from discovering the story during a sleepless road trip with her four young children to finally finding her protagonist's voice years later. She and Zibby delve into the challenges of writing historical fiction, the universal nature of survival and isolation, and how motherhood shaped Allegra's creative process.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4aHoYxiShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Now there's more! Subscribe to Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books on Acast+ and get ad-free episodes. https://plus.acast.com/s/moms-dont-have-time-to-read-books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isola by Allegra Goodman is a story of courage and isolation and a sweeping tale of companionship against all odds. Goodman joins us to talk about the real historical events that inspired the novel, her meticulous research process, her unique experience writing this book and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Jamie and Donald.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.   Featured Books (Episode):  Isola by Allegra Goodman  Sam by Allegra Goodman  Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe  Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel  Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift  Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson  Featured Books (TBR Top Off):  Burial Rite by Hannah Kent  Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor 

Today I talked to Alegra Goodman about her novel Isola (The Dial Press, 2025) After Marguerite is orphaned as a young girl, her guardian leaves her alone in her family's enormous home, where servants see to her needs until he hires a mother and daughter to tutor her in the ways of wealthy 16th century lords and ladies. The guardian sells her home and spends her fortune, betting on an expedition to New France (now known as Canada). The guardian insists that she accompany him, only with her old maid. Afraid and lonely, Marguerite befriends her guardian's secretary and falls in love with him, but the guardian learns of it and abandons her, her maid, and his secretary on a deserted island. Marguerite is forced to learn survival skills in this tale based on a true story. Allegra Goodman's novels include Isola (2025), Sam (a Read With Jenna Book Club selection), The Chalk Artist (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award), Intuition, The Cookbook Collector, Paradise Park, and Kaaterskill Falls (a National Book Award finalist). Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She has written two collections of stories, The Family Markowitz and Total Immersion and a novel for younger readers, The Other Side of the Island. Her essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The American Scholar. Raised in Honolulu, Goodman studied English and philosophy at Harvard and received a PhD in English literature from Stanford. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer's Award, the Salon Award for Fiction, and a fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced study. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Today I talked to Alegra Goodman about her novel Isola (The Dial Press, 2025) After Marguerite is orphaned as a young girl, her guardian leaves her alone in her family's enormous home, where servants see to her needs until he hires a mother and daughter to tutor her in the ways of wealthy 16th century lords and ladies. The guardian sells her home and spends her fortune, betting on an expedition to New France (now known as Canada). The guardian insists that she accompany him, only with her old maid. Afraid and lonely, Marguerite befriends her guardian's secretary and falls in love with him, but the guardian learns of it and abandons her, her maid, and his secretary on a deserted island. Marguerite is forced to learn survival skills in this tale based on a true story. Allegra Goodman's novels include Isola (2025), Sam (a Read With Jenna Book Club selection), The Chalk Artist (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award), Intuition, The Cookbook Collector, Paradise Park, and Kaaterskill Falls (a National Book Award finalist). Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She has written two collections of stories, The Family Markowitz and Total Immersion and a novel for younger readers, The Other Side of the Island. Her essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The American Scholar. Raised in Honolulu, Goodman studied English and philosophy at Harvard and received a PhD in English literature from Stanford. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer's Award, the Salon Award for Fiction, and a fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced study. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Today I talked to Alegra Goodman about her novel Isola (The Dial Press, 2025) After Marguerite is orphaned as a young girl, her guardian leaves her alone in her family's enormous home, where servants see to her needs until he hires a mother and daughter to tutor her in the ways of wealthy 16th century lords and ladies. The guardian sells her home and spends her fortune, betting on an expedition to New France (now known as Canada). The guardian insists that she accompany him, only with her old maid. Afraid and lonely, Marguerite befriends her guardian's secretary and falls in love with him, but the guardian learns of it and abandons her, her maid, and his secretary on a deserted island. Marguerite is forced to learn survival skills in this tale based on a true story. Allegra Goodman's novels include Isola (2025), Sam (a Read With Jenna Book Club selection), The Chalk Artist (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award), Intuition, The Cookbook Collector, Paradise Park, and Kaaterskill Falls (a National Book Award finalist). Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She has written two collections of stories, The Family Markowitz and Total Immersion and a novel for younger readers, The Other Side of the Island. Her essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The American Scholar. Raised in Honolulu, Goodman studied English and philosophy at Harvard and received a PhD in English literature from Stanford. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer's Award, the Salon Award for Fiction, and a fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced study. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/historical-fiction

It's our first Book Club episode of the year! As tradition dictates, we're starting 2025 with a nonfiction book, Stolen Focus by Johann Hari.    We discuss our overall thoughts on the book, its major themes, how it connects to current events, and our evolving relationships to social media, reading, multitasking, focus, and more! We also ponder if we would go on a 3-month trip without using internet-connected devices.    Related to this topic! A listener suggested using the screen time app Opal. We also recommend reading the newsletter Break Free From the Internet, our Social Media Habits episode with Leslie Stephens, the Search Engine episode “Is there a sane way to use the Internet?,” and Kate Lindsay's piece in Embedded ‘You might just have to be bored.'   Obsessions Olivia - The Book Case Podcast Becca - Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx® Collagen Face & Eye Hydra-Gel Patches   What we read this week Becca - Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams, One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (out May 6), Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Olivia - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, Isola by Allegra Goodman, Schroder by Amity Gaige   This Month's Book Club Pick - Isola by Allegra Goodman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Master Class - Get 15% off any annual membership at masterclass.com/BOP. Cozy Earth - Visit cozyearth.com and use our exclusive 40 percent off with code BOP.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.

Get ready to build up your 2025 TBR because we're chatting with some of our bookish friends about the upcoming releases they're excited to read this year!    Alyssa Morris's picks - The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, Misdirected by Lucy Parker| Her newsletter is Romancing the Phone   Michelle Martin's picks - The Colony by Annika Norlin (out 3/25), The Antidote by Karen Russell (out 3/11) | Her newsletter is Literary Leanings   Thao Thai's picks - Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (out 7/8), Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte Mcconaghey (out 3/4) | She's the author of Banyan Moon, out now!   Josh Lora's picks - Nothing Serious by Emily Jane Smith, Universality by Natasha Brown | His newsletter is Tell the Bees   Jordan Bogigian's picks -  Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang, Old Soul by Susan Barker | Her newsletter is The Composite    Becca's picks - Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (out 2/25), The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager (out 7/1)   Olivia's picks - Isola by Allegra Goodman (2/3), Heartwood by Amity Gaige (April 1, 2025).    Obsessions Olivia -  Jarlic support Becca -  Madewell The Essential Medium Bucket Tote in Deep Merlot   What we read this week Becca - Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams   January's Book Club Pick - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Cozy Earth - Visit cozyearth.com and use our exclusive 40% off with code BOP.  BetterHelp - Visit BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER today to get 10% off your first month.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.  

Allegra Goodman reads her story “Ambrose,” from the September 30, 2024, issue of the magazine. Goodman has published two story collections and seven novels, including “Kaaterskill Falls,” which was a National Book Award Finalist; “The Chalk Artist”; and “Sam,” which came out last year.

rWotD Episode 2651: Kaaterskill Falls (novel) Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia’s vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Tuesday, 6 August 2024 is Kaaterskill Falls (novel).Kaaterskill Falls is a 1998 novel by Allegra Goodman, set in a small Catskill Mountains, New York, USA, community of predominantly Orthodox Jews during summers in the mid-1970s. The location is based on the town of Tannersville, New York, where Goodman spent summers with her family. Like its fictional counterpart, Tannersville at the time was a summer home for the German Jews of Washington Heights, Manhattan.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:49 UTC on Tuesday, 6 August 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Kaaterskill Falls (novel) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Aditi.

The Second Coming by Garth Risk Hallberg is a story of fathers and daughters and the lengths we'd go to for the people we love. Hallberg joins us to talk about writing likable characters, self-discovery and trauma, his literary influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Donald. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.           Featured Books (Episode): The Second Coming by Garth Risk Hallberg City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg Underworld by Don DeLillo The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby Sam by Allegra Goodman

Guest host David Sedaris presents stories that reimagine holiday rituals. In Tobias Wolff's “Powder,” a pre-Christmas snowstorm provides an adventure for a father and son. SELECTED SHORTS' late host and founder Isaiah Sheffer is the reader. A long-established couple turn out to be able to surprise one another in Allegra Goodman's gentle borrowing from an O. Henry classic. Dana Ivey and Michael Cerveris read her “Gifts of the Jewish Magi.” And David Sedaris says English writer Jeanette Winterson captures the city to a “T” in “Christmas in New York,” a modern fairy tale with just a hint of magic, performed by Richard Masur.

On today's episode of The Lives of Writers, Holly Pelesky interviews Allegra Goodman.Allegra Goodman is the author of two stories collections and many novels, including Intuition, The Cookbook Collector, The Chalk Artist, and most recently SAM. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere, and she's been a finalist for the National Book Award.Holly Pelesky is the author of the essay collection, Cleave, from us at Autofocus Books. She also writes fiction and poetry and co-edits Vast Chasm literary magazine.____________PART ONE, topics include:-- a recently empty nest-- writing routines-- holding the thread-- growing up in Honolulu-- the seven-year-old novelist--  a literary family-- Little House in the Big Woods--  writing short stories at Harvard in the 80's-- a story as a ship in a bottle-- living with a novel-- words as tools vs words as jewels-- writing as performance with a delay between the audience-- Allegra's new coming-of-age novel SAM-- evolving consciousness as plot____________PART TWO, topics include:-- process changing over time as a writer-- studying Shakespeare and writing the Markowitz stories-- throwing away hundreds of pages-- versatility-- writing about interests in different keys-- multimedia research-- imaginative research-- startling humor-- Tolstoy-- new reading recommendations-- laws, rituals, and rules-- observing the Sabbath ____________PART THREE, topics include:-- writing things when ready to write them--  courage-- working through uncertainty-- the hugeness of coming-of-age-- the prospect of being a moon lady-- self-deception-- not pushing-- forthcoming books____________Podcast theme music provided by Mike Nagel, author of Duplex. Here's more of his project: Yeah Yeah Cool Cool.The Lives of Writers is edited and produced by Michael Wheaton.

Allegra Goodman discusses the first pages of her latest novel, Sam, how she discovered the voice of her young protagonist through freewriting, how she complicated that voice as her protagonist aged, the limitations and gifts of writing in the present-tense, 3rd-person limited point of view, and how silence helps a writer stay true to her characters.Goodman's first pages can be found here.Help local bookstores and our authors by buying this book on Bookshop.Click here for the audio/video version of this interview.The above link will be available for 48 hours. Missed it? The podcast version is always available, both here and on your favorite podcast platform.Allegra Goodman's novels include Sam (a Read With Jenna Book Club selection), The Chalk Artist (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award), Intuition, The Cookbook Collector, Paradise Park, and Kaaterskill Falls (a National Book Award finalist). Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Commentary, and Ploughshares and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She has written two collections of short stories, The Family Markowitz and Total Immersion and a novel for younger readers, The Other Side of the Island. Her essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The American Scholar. Raised in Honolulu, Goodman studied English and philosophy at Harvard and received a PhD in English literature from Stanford. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer's Award, the Salon Award for Fiction, and a fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced study. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Mass, where she is writing a new novel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

Good morning everyone. I just want to tell you about what we're doing next on the 7am novelist, which is something I'm lamely calling “Passages of Summer.” But the upcoming episodes this summer won't be so lame, because we're going to be talking about one of the most difficult parts of a story or novel or memoir to get right: The first pages. I'll be interviewing over forty writers as we read and analyze the beginning pages of their novels in hopes of helping you with your own. We'll have Idra Novey, Caroline Leavitt, Paul Rudnick, Amina Gautier, David Heska Wanbli Weiden, and many more. Take a look at our schedule below:PASSAGES OF SUMMER ‘23 RELEASE SCHEDULEAll episodes will be pre-recorded and released at 7am EST. They can be found on 7amnovelist.substack.com and your favorite podcast platforms.May 25: Elizabeth Graver on KantikaMay 29: Vanessa Hua on Forbidden CityMay 31: Marisa Crane on I Keep My Exoskeletons to MyselfJune 2: Jane Roper on Society of Shame~~~June 5: Nathaniel Miller on The Memoirs of Stockholm SvenJune 7: Juliette Fay on The Half of ItJune 9: VV Ganeshananthan on Brotherless Night~~~June 12: Jasmin Hakes on HulaJune 14: Julie Carrick Dalton on The Last BeekeeperJune 16: Amina Gautier on “Lost and Found” in The Loss of All Lost Things~~~June 19: Henriette Lazaridis on Terra NovaJune 21: Frances de Pontes Peebles on The Air You BreatheJune 23: BA Shapiro on Metropolis~~~June 26: Daphne Kalotay on “Relativity” in The Archivists: StoriesJune 28: Wanda Morris on Anywhere You RunJune 30: Idra Novey on Take What You Need~~~July 3: Aaron Hamburger on Hotel CubaJuly 5: Caroline Leavitt on Days of WonderJuly 7: Joanna Rakoff on My Salinger Year~~~July 10: Rachel Barenbaum on Atomic AnnaJuly 12: Alix Ohlin on Dual CitizensJuly 14: Maya Shanbhag Lang on What We Carry~~~July 17: Kirthana Ramisetti on Advika and the Hollywood WivesJuly 19: EB Moore on Loose in the Bright FantasticJuly 21: Allegra Goodman on Sam~~~July 24: Kelly Ford on The HuntJuly 26: Alta Ifland on Speaking to No. 4July 28: Suzanne Berne on The Blue Window~~~July 31: Neema Avashia on Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain PlaceAugust 2: Jessica Keener on Night SwimAugust 4: Hank Phillippi Ryan on The House Guest~~~August 7: Nancy Crochiere on GracelandAugust 9: Elizabeth Silver on The MajorityAugust 11: Alyssa Songsiridej on Little Rabbit~~~August 14: Sara Johnson Allen on Down Here We Come UpAugust 16: Julie Gerstenblatt on Daughters of NantucketAugust 18: Paul Rudnick on Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style~~~August 21: Rachel Kadish on The Weight of InkAugust 23: Angel Di Zhang on The Light of Eternal SpringAugust 25: Charlotte Rixon on The One That Got Away~~~August 28: Virginia Pye on The Literary Undoing of Victoria SwannAugust 30: Isa Arsén on Shoot the MoonSeptember 1: Shilpi Suneja on House of CaravansSeptember 4: David Heska Wanbli Weiden on Winter Counts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

In our latest read, hosts Deb, Tanya and Simone discuss SAM by Allegra Goodman. A coming-of-age story about a girl from the ages of 7 to about 19. Sam adores her father, though he isn't around much. She lives with her mother, Courtney, who struggles to make ends meet, and her half-brother, Noah. Sam doesn't fit in at school, and doesn't care about jeans or rules. She just loves to climb--trees, fences, walls, the side of a building. Climbing, is where she belongs: she can turn off her brain, pain has a purpose, and it's okay if you want to win. Into her teens, she grapples with self-doubt and insecurity. And then the girl becomes a woman. There's a struggle between what brings her joy and what she thinks she should do, through heartbreak, friendships, identity and hope. Plus a Q & A with the author herself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah is in the Berkshires (or someplace) digging for ramps and concerned about her to-be-read list, but she made some time to talk books, including "Rough Sleepers" (the next Book Club book), which leads to a big discussion of why people do good works. Sam thinks it's anger. Heavy cynicism ensues. As a palate-cleanser, we then engage in a discussion of note-taking — Hannah won't write in her hardcovers — and the use of notes at Book Club and the preciousness of books. (Note: Maine and Massachusetts are NOT the only states that celebrate Patriots Day). Oh, yeah, the books we read: "Blue Skies," by TC Boyle (who's great, but stay for the mediocre TC Boyle anecdote at the end); "Symphony of Secrets," by Brendan Slocumb (don't read the jacket copy!); "Saha," by Cho Nam-Joo (Singapore is not for Sam; it's unclear whether all of his facts are in order); "You Are Here," by Karin Lin-Greenberg ("shining beacons of capitalism"). And then there's 15 minutes worth of stuff about the Newburyport Literary Festival — for which Hannah is leading a panel on the "coming of age" novel, with Allegra Goodman, Kai Harris, and Jessica Anya Blau — and how we manage our advance-reader copies. Also Roxanne Gay's new imprint and its new romance novel from Vannessa Lyon. 

On this episode of the Gulf Coast Life Book Club, National Book Award finalist Allegra Goodman talks about her new novel, Sam.

Episode 111 March 16, 2023 On the Needles  ALL KNITTING LINKS GO TO RAVELRY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.  Please visit our Instagram page @craftcookreadrepeat for non-Rav photos and info     Sail Away socks omg heel socks by Megan Williams, ONline Supersocke 4-fach Merino Extrafein Color Gridlines by Susanne Sommer   Lemonade Shop simple sock in Ugh People Morning Sunshine Cowl by Stephanie Lotven/Tellybean Knits, Nanostitch Lab Microsock in California Poppy bundle (also available in DK) Shawlography 2021 Westknits Knitalong.  Brioche section. Yes still.  But not for long!   Fabrics-store.com: Paola Workwear Jacket Pattern, Type - PDF   On the Easel 16:09 New approaches to podcast art Private collection work ** incredible interview with Lynette Yiadom-Boakye via The Tate On the Table 19:08 Pie day whole lemon tart – smitten kitchen   Gochujang-Glazed Fish - Dinner: A Love Story Cauliflower Scampi | The Wimpy Vegetarian Egg Bites with Zucchini & pancetta Poppy's Ragu (+Rao's)   On the Nightstand 33:38 We are now a Bookshop.org affiliate!  You can visit our shop to find books we've talked about or click on the links below.  The books are supplied by local independent bookstores and a percentage goes to us at no cost to you!   Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair/Alan Gordon Before All the World by Moriel Rothman-Zecher The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk, trans by Jennifer Croft The Books of Jacob, or: A Fantastic Journey across seven borders, five languages, and three major religions, not counting the minor sects. Told by the dead, supplemented by the author, drawing from a range of books, and aided by imagination, the which being the greatest natural gift of any person that the wise might have it for a record, that my compatriots reflect, laypersons gain some understanding, and melancholy souls obtain some slight enjoyment   Foster by Claire Keegan Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins Sam by Allegra Goodman  

In this special episode (a live event for the Streicker Center!), Zibby speaks to author Allegra Goodman about Sam, a Read With Jenna pick, and a powerful and endearing coming-of-age story with poignant reflections on class, addiction, sacrifice, parenthood, and love. Zibby and Allegra talk about the protagonist, Sam, analyzing her neurodiversity, her love of climbing, her need for her father's attention, and the realization that her parents are humans with flaws. Allegra also discusses the process behind her title and cover, how her writing has changed since becoming an empty nester, and the books and writers that have inspired her recently. Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Ey6Xm4Subscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. Now there's more! Subscribe to Acast+ and get exclusive access to the in-store author events at Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica, CA. Join today! https://plus.acast.com/s/moms-dont-have-time-to-read-books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens interviews Allegra Goodman, author of “Judaism Without Borders, Diaspora Without Tears”

Allegra Goodman reads her story “The Last Grownup,” which appeared in the February 27, 2023, issue of the magazine. Goodman has published two story collections and seven novels, including “Kaaterskill Falls,” which was a National Book Award finalist, “The Chalk Artist,” and, most recently, “Sam,” which came out earlier this year.  

Allegra Goodman joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her latest novel, SAM, which is a “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club selection. They talk about the character development of Sam, and Allegra's challenge of writing her with the right voice as she ages. They explore Sam's worldview during her coming of age and how it changes through the years, as risk comes more to the forefront. Allegra explains why she included climbing in the book and who inspired Sam as a young climber. And they share their love of adventure films, namely one called Free Solo. Book discussed in this episode: SAM: https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/sam Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews: Dani Shapiro: https://youtu.be/cxN5wItfyP0 Clare Mackintosh: https://youtu.be/yxU_npofftw Jamie Fiore Higgins: https://youtu.be/bz6tTCLmxlE Thrity Umrigar: https://youtu.be/295H-VzRJeU Alli Frank and Asha Youmans: https://youtu.be/4kvcZ6nqoo4 Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events: Chamaine Wilkerson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DluxmfXGoI Joyce Maynard: https://youtu.be/atXP9_gxGU8 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/ FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter Website: https://www.bookreporter.com Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald Edited by Jordan Redd Productions

We remember novelist Russell Banks, whose working-class background inspired much of his work. His best known novels were adapted into films, including Affliction, The Sweet Hereafter, and Continental Drift. We'll listen back to portions of our interviews with him. Also, we're revisiting our interview with photographer Larry Sultan, whose photographic memoir of growing up in California in the '50s and '60s is the basis of a new Broadway show starring Nathan Lane. Maureen Corrigan reviews the novel Sam by Allegra Goodman. And Justin Chang reviews No Bears, the Iranian film that's been on his year-end best list.

We remember novelist Russell Banks, whose working-class background inspired much of his work. His best known novels were adapted into films, including Affliction, The Sweet Hereafter, and Continental Drift. We'll listen back to portions of our interviews with him. Also, we're revisiting our interview with photographer Larry Sultan, whose photographic memoir of growing up in California in the '50s and '60s is the basis of a new Broadway show starring Nathan Lane. Maureen Corrigan reviews the novel Sam by Allegra Goodman. And Justin Chang reviews No Bears, the Iranian film that's been on his year-end best list.

It might be the hottest book going right now: "SAM," by Allegra Goodman, set in Beverly, and telling the coming-of-age story of a young girl from age 6 to 19. We've both read it now and so spend a lot of time talking about why it's so good. But we've had a lot of time to read lately! So, we also run through a bunch more titles, something like 24 in all, including thoughts about Bret Easton Ellis, why we're struggling to read hard books right now, coffee table books that are actually good, why Reddit hates Murakami, and much more!

“One of the most evocative and tender examinations of youth that I have ever read.” ~ Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here Sam, the latest by Allegra Goodman knocked me sideways with how good it is. For this episode, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with Allegra Goodman herself … Continue reading E109: Interview with Allegra Goodman, author of SAM →

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Allegra Goodman, author of Sam. Allegra Goodman is the author of five novels, two short story collections, and a novel for young readers. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere, and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on From the Front Porch, it's time for another Literary Therapy session! Our literary Frasier Crane, Annie, is back to answer more of your reading questions and dilemmas. If you have a question you would like Annie to answer in a future episode, you can leave us a voicemail here. The books mentioned in this episode can be purchased from The Bookshelf: The Ensemble by Aja Gabel Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann Circe by Madeline Miller The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis Perelandra by C.S. Lewis That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis The Paris Bookseller by Kerrii Maher Ulysses by James Joyce My Reading Life by Anne Bogel The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson The Night Ship by Jess Kidd Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey Just Another Love Song by Kerry Winfrey Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams Well-Matched by Jen DeLuca The Most Likely Club by Elyssa Friedland Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin The Bodyguard by Katherine Center Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith Sam by Allegra Goodman From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Sam by Allegra Goodman. If you're a local reader, Thomasville native and author Katie Joy Duke is coming to The Bookshelf on September 19 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. for a book signing. Katie's new book, Still Breathing: My Journey with Love, Loss, and Reinvention is a raw, vulnerable story about Katie's healing journey after her first daughter, Poppy Annabelle, was stillborn at full-term. Join us on September 19th for an afternoon of hope and resilience. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on iTunes. Or, if you're so inclined, support us on Patreon, where you can hear our staff's weekly New Release Tuesday conversations, read full book reviews in our monthly Shelf Life newsletter and follow along as Hunter and I conquer a classic. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are... Donna Hetchler, Angie Erickson, Cammy Tidwell, Chantalle C, Nicole Marsee, Wendi Jenkins, Laurie Johnson, and Kate Johnston Tucker.

Discussion Notes: A Challenge You Have Overcome This week’s story: A Challenge You Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman  Next week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado  Rated: Clean Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “A Challenge You Have Overcome” by Allegra Goodman, a story about an older couple who feel stuck in their careers... The post Ep 209: A Challenge You Have Overcome appeared first on Literary Roadhouse.

Discussion Notes: A Challenge You Have Overcome This week’s story: A Challenge You Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman  Next week’s story: The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado  Rated: Clean Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “A Challenge You Have Overcome” by Allegra Goodman, a story about an older couple who feel stuck in their careers... The post Ep 209: A Challenge You Have Overcome appeared first on Literary Roadhouse.

Discussion Notes: Hollow This week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake  Next week’s story: A Challenge Your Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman  Rated: Clean Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hollow” by Breece D’J Pancake, the story of Buddy, a coal miner in West Virginia, his community, and his humble dreams. This story split our hosts.... The post Ep 208: Hollow appeared first on Literary Roadhouse.

Discussion Notes: Hollow This week’s story: Hollow by Breece D’J Pancake  Next week’s story: A Challenge Your Have Overcome by Allegra Goodman  Rated: Clean Gerald, Andy and Anais discuss “Hollow” by Breece D’J Pancake, the story of Buddy, a coal miner in West Virginia, his community, and his humble dreams. This story split our hosts.... The post Ep 208: Hollow appeared first on Literary Roadhouse.

Family is forever, and so, it appears, is our fascination with reading about them. Allegra Goodman--author of The Family Markowitz, Kaaterskill Falls (National Book Award finalist), Intuition, Paradise Park, The Chalk Artist, and short stories included in The New Yorker, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and Best American Short Stories--dishes with Eve and Julie about why families remain such a compelling subject for literature. They discuss how age and experience change our perspective on family-related matters, what impact COVID-19 has had on familial relationships both nuclear and extended, and how a child’s college application process can function as a Hitchcockian bomb under the table in a story. Allegra also recommends some favorite novels about families! Find us on Twitter (@bookdreamspod) and Instagram (@bookdreamspodcast), or email us at contact@bookdreamspodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allegra Goodman reads her story from the January 25, 2021, issue of the magazine. Goodman’s books include “The Family Markowitz” and “The Chalk Artist.”

Guest host David Sedaris presents stories that reimagine holiday rituals.  In Tobias Wolff’s “Powder” a pre-Christmas snowstorm provides an adventure for a father and son.  SELECTED SHORTS’ late host and founder Isaiah Sheffer is the reader.   A long-established couple turn out to be able to surprise one another in Allegra Goodman’s gentle borrowing from an O’Henry classic.  Dana Ivey and Michael Cerveris read her “Gifts of the Jewish Magi.”  And David Sedaris says English writer Jeanette Winterson captures the city to a “T” in “Christmas in New York,” a modern fairy tale with just a hint of magic, performed by Richard Masur. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allegra Goodman joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “No Place for You My Love,” by Eudora Welty, which appeared in a 1952 issue of the magazine. Goodman’s books include “The Family Markowitz” and “The Chalk Artist.” 

On this bonus episode, Jenny reports on the first quarter of her TBR Explode project (now on its second year) and announces this year's Reading Envy Summer Reading Challenge! It's almost May, so it's almost summer, depending on how you define it. Please let me know what you are reading for your summer reading by using the hashtag #readingenvysummerreading - yes I left the challenge part out but it's long enough.Download or listen via this link: Reading Envy 188: TBR Explode and SUMMER READING Subscribe to the podcast via this link: FeedburnerOr subscribe via Apple Podcasts by clicking: SubscribeOr listen through TuneIn Or listen on Google Play Listen via StitcherListen through Spotify Books discussed: Kept on TBR but did not finish The Forgotten Garden by Kate MortonTalking to Girls About Duran Duran by Rob SheffieldWent ahead and read The River Gods by Brian KiteleyThe Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando SkyhorseBeginner’s Greek by James CollinsA Brief History of Time by Shaindel BeersUnformed Landscape by Peter StammTried and abandoned The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. MoraisHeart of Lies by M.L. MalcolmMy Empire of Dirt by Manny HowardWonder by Hugo ClausThe Twin by Gerbrand BakkerKings of the Earth by Jon ClinchThe Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean GreerTwo Marriages by Phillip LopateWhat is Left the Daughter by Howard NormanThe Bible Salesman by Clyde EdgertonLush Life by Richard PriceIn the Kitchen by Monica AliThe Grift by Debra GinsbergMy Father’s Tears and Other Stories by John UpdikePygmy by Chuck PalahniukA Good Fall by Ha JinThe Case of the Missing Books by Ian SansomThe Widower’s Tale by Julia Glass The Cookbook Collector by Allegra GoodmanCheese Making by Rita AshThe Irresistible Henry House by Lisa GrunwaldCountry Driving by Peter HesslerThe Big Short by Michael LewisOther mentions:The Last Policeman series by Ben H. Winters (The Last Policeman is book 1)Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French (In the Woods is book 1)Tana French - Book Riot recommended order The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante (My Brilliant Friend is book 1)Related episodes:Episode 024 - The Attention of Humanity with guests Seth Wilson and Barret Newman Episode 149 - TBR Explode! (2019)Episode 158 - TBR Explode 2 (2019)Episode 168 - TBR Explode 3 (2019)Episode 169 - Simulacrum with Jon Sealy   Episode 174 - Cozy Holiday Reads and TBR Explode 4 (2019)Stalk us online:Jenny at GoodreadsJenny on TwitterJenny is @readingenvy on Instagram and Litsy

When their crops are plagued by caterpillars, farmers often turn to wasps for help. These wasps are hardened parasites: they lay their eggs inside the caterpillars, and once these eggs hatch the baby wasps eat the caterpillar from inside out. But the wasps themselves are parasitized by organisms that manipulate their host's reproduction! Is this Nature's way of enacting poetic justice in response to the wasps' cruelty? Join the conversation to find out! Speaking of poetry, Aditi, John, Julian, and Lev also discuss what they read for inspiration. For some, the amount of reading done for work pulls them away from reading for pleasure, but for others it brings out their appreciation of genres like science fiction. Listen in to hear more about the writing that inspires us. Find more examples of the wasps’ weird reproduction, called parthenogenesis, or virgin births, here: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141219-spectacular-real-virgin-births Find the scientific paper demonstrating the link between bacterial infections and parthenogenesis in parasitic wasps here: https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/87/7/2424.full.pdf You can also check out the books and show we mention: I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong, Intuition by Allegra Goodman, Solaris by Stanisław Lem, and “Planet Earth” by BBC America. Find us at https://caltechletters.org/podcasts/ Contact us at biospherepodcast@gmail.com Tweet Lev @LMT_spoon Upgoer5 editor: https://splasho.com/upgoer5/ *** The cover image is from the 1910 book “Annual report, including a report of the insects of New Jersey, 1909,” accessed via the Internet Archive Book Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/18405644036/. It shows an insect egg parasite, Trichogramma pretiosa, very much enlarged.

Allegra Goodman reads her story from the September 11, 2017, issue of the magazine. Goodman is the author of two story collections and six novels including “Kaaterskill Falls,” “The Cookbook Collector,” and “The Chalk Artist,” which was published earlier this year.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Allegra Goodman about about the challenges of articulating the visual, about what fiction and video games have in common (and how they differ), and about why she believes art continues to be important ("people are interested, these days, in which lives matter... a novel validates individual lives"); guest readers Alice Baumgartner and Brad Ridky join Oppenheimer to discuss mythology, metaphor, and metamorphosis.

Allegra Goodman reads John Updike's "A & P," and discusses it with The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. "A & P" was published in the July 22, 1961, issue of The New Yorker and is collected in "The Early Stories: 1953-1975."

Allegra Goodman, 'The Cookbook Collector,' Noam Shpancer's 'The Good Psychologist' and Elie Wiesel 'The Sonderberg Case'