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Kelly joins me for August's Real Time Reading episode where we discuss our current, past, and upcoming reads. Kelly's Selections: Last: Hollow Bones by Jodi Piccoult The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian Now: Minbak by Ela Lee Breathing Under Water by Jaqueline Friedland Next: Fallow by Sarah Anderson The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw DNFs: Land by Maggie O'Farrell (again) It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh The Things You'll Never Know by Ashley Audrain Book Mail highlights: Serious Music by Percival Everett Behind Every Face by Charlie Donlea Cindy's Selections: Special shoutouts: Some People by Parini Shroff Two Lives by Alexis Schaitkin Bad Words by Riognach Robinson Last: Proof of Progress by Elizabeth Castellano Miss Archer by Jordan Harrison Now: Briefly, Forever by Sarah Gray The Camino by Anya Niewierra Next: Fallow by Sarah Anderson The Minute Givers by Christine Smonk Didn't Work/DNFs: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett The Dog Stars by Peter Heller Sunrise by Tea Obreht Little Wonder by Sophie Chen Keller The Traveling House by Kristin Cashore Book Mail highlights: Just in Time by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka Revenge Plot by Stephanie Wrobel Connect with Kelly Hooker on Instagram. Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide here for a tip of your choice or for a set price here via credit card with over 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - a number of books you will not see on other guides. So many fabulous books are coming out in 2026, and you can learn about a bunch of them in my guide. Thanks so much to those of you who have donated to the show. Donate to the podcast here or on Venmo. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2026? Check out our sixth Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead, and we color-code by genre in this one! Sign up for my literary salon in Virginia. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly Buzz Reads column with five new recommendations each month. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ann Patchett's newest book “Whistler” is a love story born from grief. In this TED Talks Daily Book Club interview, Patchett tells host Elise Hu about her writing process for the novel, where she finds inspiration and her unlikely second life as a bookstore owner. (This conversation was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sanjana and Tyler saw One Night Only, and, listener, they loved it. More on that before Business or Pleasure and Extracurricular author Rachel Lynn Solomon joins to talk about the fantasy and complications of celebrity romance. Plus: what our hosts read and watched in August (shoutout Scandal). The One Night Only verdict: Give yourself over to the premise, support theatrical rom-com releases, and acknowledge that—spoiler—they probably should have had sex. Rachel Lynn Solomon is the author of Business or Pleasure and Extracurricular, two fresh takes on celeb/norm romance. Sanj’s recent cultural consumption: Sterling Point, Scandal, and C.R. Jane’s The Wrong Player series. Tyler’s latest: Brooke Averick’s Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It, Ann Patchett’s Whistler, and Jenny Jackson’s The Shampoo Effect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Virginia Evans' The Correspondent became a runaway hit for its exploration of a life told through letters. When readers meet Sybil Van Antwerp she's in her 70s, and she takes readers on a journey through her various correspondences — which include names as revered as Joan Didion and Ann Patchett. But Sybil isn't telling us everything, and her clever prose might hide as much as it reveals. In today's episode, author Virginia Evans joins Here and Now's Robin Young to discuss the value of correspondence, and how the book's success has changed the letter-writing industry itself.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show's perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
Hey friends, Chase here. Every summer, I revisit conversations from the archive that have stood the test of time. Not because I'm nostalgic, but because the best ideas don't expire. They deepen. This is the sixth and final installment of Summer School 2026—episodes I personally returned to most this year when I was stuck, blocked, or facing a very particular need. This one with Elizabeth Gilbert is the closer for a reason. I kept finding myself spending so much time navigating my internal landscape that it felt like it was taking me away from everything I wanted to do out in the world. And then I remembered something Liz said that rearranged the frame: she considers mental health her full-time job. Writing—being a professional creator—is a hobby she does on the side. That line alone is worth revisiting every summer. Liz Gilbert is the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love (more than 12 million copies), a Time 100 most influential person, novelist of City of Girls, and the rare creative who can talk about fear, mercy, grief, and truth-telling without flinching—and without performing enlightenment. She's a force of nature. Spend a few minutes with her and you'll know why. In this conversation, she makes the case that the way out of pain is through honesty. That grace can take you places hustling can't. That mercy is the foundation of any healthy creative life. And that you make the world safe for yourself by telling the truth in it. Grace can take you places where hustling can't. Summer School: Elizabeth Gilbert on Truth-Telling, Mercy, and the Art of Being Yourself Liz opens with City of Girls—a novel about promiscuous girls in 1940s New York theater who behave recklessly with their sexuality and aren't ruined by it. A palate cleanser, she jokes, from Anna Karenina: one orgasm and then you're under the train. Underneath the glamour is a deeper subject: how do you become yourself? How do you just be—not a role, not a brand, not a performance of "good girl"? Her aspiration is almost revolutionary: to be the most relaxed person in every room she's in. To show what it might look like for a woman—for anyone—to be at ease in a world of nearly universal anxiety. How do you get there? Not by hustling harder. Through foundational, almost unbelievable honesty—truth to yourself and truth to others. Spending most of the day saying no. Ending the hustle so grace has room to work. Her great love and teacher, Rayya (Ria in the transcript), lived by a line Liz now lives by too: the truth has legs. It's the only thing left standing in the room at the end of the day. Everything else blows up into drama. Since you're going to end up at the truth anyway—why not start there? If you've ever felt that taking care of your inner world is somehow stealing time from your "real work," this episode will reframe that entirely. The care is the real work. What You'll Hear in This Episode Why City of Girls is about becoming yourself—and why "just being" is rarer than we admit Liz's aspiration to be the most relaxed person in the room—and why honesty makes that possible "The truth has legs"—and how Rayya schooled her in radical truth-telling How withheld truth eventually breaks the body and mind—and why die-or-tell-the-truth becomes the only choice Why people-pleasing is really self-protection, not generosity Creativity and fear: being just 1% more curious than you are afraid A working definition of a creative life: decisions based more on curiosity than fear Mercy as the foundation—for self, for others, for the inevitable disappointment of making imperfect work Mental health as the full-time job; writing as the side practice The daily dialogue with Love that has saved her life for 20 years—and why writing slows the mind What to do when you're creatively stuck: walk away and do something with your hands Truth Has Legs Liz is clear: try to have a completely honest relationship with at least one person in your life—and it's best if that person is yourself. When she was younger, she thought she couldn't tell the truth because the world wasn't safe for it. Later she learned the reverse: you make the world safe for yourself by telling the truth in it. Around 30, the first major truth she couldn't say—ending her marriage—nearly destroyed her. Sleep gone. Appetite gone. Twenty pounds lost. Mental health broken. Physical health broken. Die or tell the truth. She finally told it. Instead of killing her, it brought her to life. And if she'd said it two years earlier, it would have been a greater gift to him as well. People-pleasing, in her frame, isn't kindness. It's manipulation for perceived safety. The other person deserves to know who they're actually talking to. And truth-telling isn't a one-and-done graduation. Life keeps offering another chance to be brave. The only way out is through honesty. Do it again. Trust builds. It gets easier—not because the stakes drop, but because you finally believe the method. Rayya's cancer journey deepened this. When Liz couldn't cope by clinging to her partner as salvation, she had to become the steady one. Wisdom she doesn't share, she says, starts to hurt—like unused talent turns into pain. So she shares. Not out of marketing duty to readers. Out of self-preservation and love. Mercy, Curiosity, and Mental Health as the Job Asked for compressed creative advice, Liz answers in one word: mercy. Mercy for yourself. Mercy for others. Mercy for the inevitable disappointment when what you make isn't the tourmaline butterfly you dreamed—when day one excitement becomes day two self-hatred. The only people who get to day three are the people who have mercy. Ann Patchett's image: smash the gemstone butterfly on day one, then make the weird little thing out of chewing gum and baseball cards and twigs—and say, good job, self. No one's ever made one like that before. That's compassion: ending the argument against reality. This is what we've got. Flap flap. A piece falls off. Keep going. On fear, Liz's saving grace is curiosity—just 1% more curious than afraid. That's enough. Her definition of a creative life isn't watercolor class. It's any life where your decisions are routinely based more strongly on curiosity than fear. Then the life itself becomes the work of art. And here's the Summer School lightning bolt: an enormous percentage of Liz's days is spent managing her mental health—the "dysfunctional family" inside her mind. Writing is what she does on the side. She was managing her mental health on the plane that morning. There are very few days off from saving her own life. Her primary practice for twenty years: a daily dialogue with Love (capital L)—writing the words she always wanted someone to say. I'm right here. I've got you. You can't tire me out. Love doesn't need the room to be different. Love doesn't issue a five-point improvement plan. Love is company in the darkest hour. Writing slows the mind enough to receive that. When creativity is stuck? Don't force the tormented artist fantasy. Walk away. Garden. Fix a bicycle. Power-wash a driveway. Get out of your head and into your hands. Inspiration returns after embodiment—not after more self-punishment. Timecodes So You Can Jump Around 00:00 – Welcome and why this episode closes Summer School 2026 04:24 – Liz joins; City of Girls, becoming yourself, and the aspiration to be relaxed 13:32 – Honesty, saying no, and "grace can take you places hustling can't" 15:12 – Rayya, addiction, and "the truth has legs" 19:00+ – The first major truth at 30: breakdown, then coming alive 22:23 – Truth-telling and creativity; Eat, Pray, Love as a story of learning to tell the truth 30:00+ – Rayya's illness, grief, and why unshared wisdom becomes pain 36:14 – Fear, curiosity, and the definition of a creative life 38:51 – Mercy: the foundation (and the tourmaline butterfly) 43:40 – Mental health as the full-time job; writing as the hobby 45:00 – The daily dialogue with Love 51:38 – Scrapping a book, gardening, and what to do when you're stuck 54:21 – Paint bicycles / power-wash driveways: walk away into the present Why This Conversation Still Matters We still live in the anxiety virus Liz named—exported globally, amplified by politics, climate dread, and the demand to be a thing at all times. Creators still treat self-care as optional overhead between "real" output. Hustle culture still pretends grace is lazy. This conversation is the antidote. Mental health isn't what you do after you're successful. It's the work that makes everything else possible. Truth isn't a brand strategy. It's how you stop poisoning your own body with secrets. Mercy isn't soft. It's the only way anyone ever reaches day three. That's why this episode earned the final Summer School slot. The year asked a lot of our inner landscapes. Liz's answer is still the one that helps me return to the world without abandoning myself: tell the truth. Tend the mind. Prefer curiosity over fear. Make the imperfect butterfly. Keep company with Love. Class dismissed—until next summer. Keep Going Deeper If this conversation resonates: City of Girls Big Magic Eat, Pray, Love Liz online: elizabethgilbert.com Follow Liz: Instagram | X/Twitter | Website Questions to Reflect On Where am I hustling for a result that only grace—and honesty—can deliver? What truth do I already know I'm going to end up telling—and what would it cost to start with it? Am I making the world safer for myself through honesty, or waiting for the world to feel safe first? Where has people-pleasing become self-protection dressed up as kindness? In my creative work, am I on day two (self-hatred) or practicing the mercy that gets me to day three? If mental health were my full-time job this week, what would change about how I schedule my days? When I'm stuck, am I forcing the art—or am I willing to power-wash a driveway and return to the present? The Core Idea You don't graduate from truth-telling. You practice it. You don't earn rest by producing enough. You save your own life daily so you have a life worth creating from. Liz's invitation—as the last lesson of this Summer School season—is both soft and severe: tell the truth until the room is safe. Put mercy under every creative attempt. Be just slightly more curious than afraid. Tend the warring neighborhood in your mind like it's the job. Write love to yourself when no one else can hold the need. And when the work won't move—move your body instead. If there's one lesson worth carrying forward from this final Summer School session, it's this: Mental health is the work. Creativity is what you get to do when you've tended it—and the only way out of the hard parts is through honesty.
This episode explores why decluttering can be a gift to the people you leave behind, not just a task for the present. Drawing on my own experience of clearing my mother's belongings after her death, I introduce the idea of Swedish death cleaning and reframe it as a practical, compassionate part of ageing positively.In this episode:I explain how discovering Swedish death cleaning arrived at the right moment during a personal loss.I talk about a simple mindset shift, inspired by Ann Patchett, to help you get your own decluttering started: imagine you're moving house, instead of confronting death directly.I mention the "someday" pile, and the reminder that "someday" needs a deadline later in life.I discuss that decluttering isn't about throwing everything away, but about deciding thoughtfully what's worth keeping — and how to begin with a small, manageable starting point: one cupboard, one step, one act of kindness.Find out how to live your best life after fifty by reading my book "Forward After 50: The Rising Reinventors".Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookEmail: hello@rebeccaronane.com Website; Rebeccaronane.comJoin my Monthly Inspiration
All aboard Fi and Eve's tugboat! Jane is off to an undisclosed Greek island, fending off the paparazzi. Fi and Eve discuss Noel Edmonds' Swap Shop's impact on the circular economy, taking a film in two halves, labia-like hanging baskets, and their favourite times of day. Plus, Laura Hackett, deputy literary editor and fiction editor across both The Sunday Times and The Times, stops in to share her book picks of the week. You can check out our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffAirWithJaneAndFi If you subscribe to The Times, you can get tickets to Laura's event with Ann Patchett and Meg Mason here: https://www.thetimes.com/timesplus/events/meet-the-writer-ann-patchett Our most asked about book is called 'The Later Years' by Peter Thornton. If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producers: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. This was actually released last year, but has had huge word of mouth enthusiasm for many, many readers and was voted onto the new Whitcoulls Top 100 last month. It's now out in a second format and is the story of a woman's life told through letters which she writes to a number of people important to her - some of whom are well known writers with whom she has an affinity, such as Ann Patchett, Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry - but also letters to her friends, her son, her brother and many others. It's warm, illuminating of a life well lived and I adored it. The Girl with the Seven Lives by Vikas Swarup. He was the author of Q and A which was made into the wildly successful movie Slumdog Millionaire, and he's back with a similarly quirky story about Devi, a young woman being held at ransom by a masked man who insists that over the course of a single day she recounts the seven very different episodes in her life for which he holds her to blame, whilst threatening to sell her off to the highest bidder as people affected by her various actions over the course of her life seek revenge. It's cleverly constructed and tells a very Indian story of the many lives lived by one woman. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're popping into the feed with a special episode. Leah and Graylin share their best reads of the year so far along with their least favorite…listen for some hot takes on popular titles!“Read every day – it is a practice that dignifies humans. Become a great reader of books and it will help you with reality, you'll more easily grasp the truth of things and that will set you up for life. And don't expose your brain to low-quality art forms because there will be a certain measure of pollution.” — Susie Boyt, Loved and MissedTHINGS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Best:A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction by Elizabeth McCrackenTender Is the Flesh by Agustina BazterricaThe Capital of Dreams by Heather O'NeillWatership Down by Richard AdamsEvery Exit Brings You Home by Naeem MurrLost Lambs by Madeline CashStrangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle BurdenThe Land and Its People by David SedarisDavid Sedaris on his Duolingo obsession: ‘Today is the last day,' I told myself – but I was powerless to stopMake Believe: On Telling Stories to Children by Mac BarnettThe My Friends series by Jane DuncanLoved and Missed by Susie BoytWorst:Theo of Golden by Allen LeviWhistler by Ann Patchett
[REBROADCAST FROM Jun 2, 2026] Celebrated author and bookstore owner Ann Patchett discusses her latest novel, Whistler, which tells the story of a woman and her old step-father who reconnect many years after the events that separated them. Cover art courtesy of the publisher Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode of Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, host Stephanie Hansen speaks with Jordyn Stocks from Paragis Outfitters Bookstore about the impact of recent wildfires on the Ely community, the role of the bookstore in supporting local culture, and the hidden gems of Ely. They discuss the diverse offerings of the bookstore, including popular book recommendations and the importance of community support during challenging times.Visit Ely, Minnesota for fun things to do year-round! Whether you are looking for a place to stay, a delicious meal, a hiking trail, or an immersion experience, we have businesses ready to meet your needs.Stephanie Hansen (00:00.824)Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, the podcast where we talk to people in the food space, but I also talk to other people too. And I've been doing a little mini-series here for VisitElyMN.com to help you get to know some of the cool Ely businesses. Ely is my second home. It is the place where I wrote the True North Cabin cookbook, and it's very near and dear to my heart. And you may have heard that theyHave experienced some wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe area and around that area this summer. As of this recording, I think the fires are about 40 to 50% contained. Some of the evacuation areas have been lifted. And the town has just really done a great job of keeping people informed and safe. And I'm here today with Jordan Stocks. She is from Piragis Outfitters.And she particularly runs the bookstore that opened gosh, it was last summer already, wasn't it, Jordyn?Jordyn Stocks (00:59.77)Yes, yeah. So in the new space, we've been there since last May, but the bookstore itself has been around in some version for over 20 years now. So it'sStephanie Hansen (01:11.286)So what happened is is there was in the Piragis store, there was the bookstore on the second level, and they used to have another building down the street that they did some surplus kind of sales, and they've merged a lot of that together inside this building. And then you guys have paddle boards and canoes also across the street. Piragis sort of owns this corner that has a lot of fun stuff going on in Ely andI know that with the boundary waters permits being canceled and just opening up more recently to daytime. And I imagine we'll get some more areas that'll open up here as the summer progresses. Has it been a hard time for you guys at the store?Jordyn Stocks (01:54.437)It's it's yeah, it's been a little bit different. It's been a little quieter as you can imagine, in outfitting particularly without having the boundary waters open. We've definitely seen some slowdown in traffic there.Stephanie Hansen (02:07.315)And when you think about the bookstore, yeah. WhatJordyn Stocks (02:11.732)Yeah, the bookstore and the store have maintained like we've still been busy. We've still seen traffic. you know, not as busy as it would normally be. Blueberry festival would have been this weekend, as you know. that didn't happen. But yeah, overall it's still been we're hanging in there. It's still been still been a good weekend, but yeah, quieter.Stephanie Hansen (02:35.286)It's a good example of how smart it is for businesses to kind of silo to. Like, you know, you start with one thing that maybe is your core competency, but then to support the business through non-trip times, you know, you've got the clothing store and then you add the bookstore, which is kind of a year-round service business for the town in and of itself. It's cool to have so many different facets. And I know you guys sell online too and have a pretty big online following.Jordyn Stocks (02:43.473)Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it it it does help that we have a few different things going on with the the clothing and the gifts and the gear and the books and the online presence. So that is that's been nice to have all of that going on. And we've definitely seen an uptick in in online sales and phone sales. So we're still shipping things out all over the country. We're still selling things to, you know, fire crews that are here, local folks that are out and about.People coming up for their cabins. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (03:37.612)What is your history with Paragas and how did you get started and land in the bookstore component?Jordyn Stocks (03:41.76)well I've been here. This is my third no 14th summer here. So I started out just kind of part-time evening shifts in the retail store. And then the bookstore manager at the time, she was she was moving on to I think she was going back home to Chicago or somewhere. So I was excited about the prospect of working with the books and here I am.Thirteen years later. Stephanie Hansen (04:13.856)And you are an Ely resident. Are there some features about Ely in particular or locations that you feel are like hidden gems?Jordyn Stocks (04:23.909)Yeah, so I was actually born and raised here. So I don't know, growing up I kind of kind of probably took a lot of it for granted, but now you know seeing it with fresh eyes, I guess through people who were coming here for the first time and you know coming here repeatedly year after year. one of one of my favorite things is the the Ely Witten Historical Society. They have this cute little museum in the Vermillion Community College.It's it's free, they just feel like goodwill donations, it's self guided. But there's a lot of really interesting historical things there. They have a lot of a lot of books that were written by local folks about history and like very specific history, like the Birdside River or Winton and the lumber industry. So that's pretty fun local history. I love the sedan mine. It's it's open now for underground tours again, which I'm excited to do this summer. I haven't goneYears. Yeah, we just went.Stephanie Hansen (05:19.384)I'm trying to think.I did go to the Sedan Underground mine tour. It's super cool. I think I went, gosh, probably when I first started coming to Ely. So maybe, you know, like gosh, 20 years ago, but it was so cool to be taken underground and through the mine system. And you went with a original miner. So they would talk about like what their day was like. That seems like a uniqueaspect of being in northeast Minnesota because mining was such a pillar of what was happening here at the time. And just like being underground and the constant temperature, that was one of the highlights of one of the things I've done in town.Jordyn Stocks (06:04.049)Yeah, yeah, it's a it's a very cool experience. I'd highly recommend doing that. but yeah, other than that, we've got a lot of great hiking trails, places to canoe and paddle and swim and do all those things. Berry picking. there's always something to do. We've got a great yeah, we've got a great you know, local art scene with the theater and art shows, we've got the movie theater.It's just a lot of fun stuff to do, always always something.Stephanie Hansen (06:38.12)Absolutely. And I know you guys for such a smallish town, your bookstore has like a big footprint. You guys have sold a ton of the True North Cabin cookbooks for me, so thank you. Also, the Moon Tav the Moon Tavern.Jordyn Stocks (06:49.271)Yeah. Yeah, of course. Thanks for coming and Yeah. Yeah, the the new one's been popular.Stephanie Hansen (06:58.964)And also Kurt's book, The Barrens, the Canoe Book has still done well too. So I wanna thank you for that. And I know you guys have a lot of artists that come through and authors that come through. When you're stocking the bookstore, like who would you say is your ideal customer that you're stocking for? Because you have like such a great romance section, a good kid section.Jordyn Stocks (07:21.126)Gosh, that that's a tough one. and it changes, I feel. a lot of people are just are looking for a book to take out on trip with them. Something something that's gonna like be engaging right away, something that's engrossing. they don't want a lot of heavy reading necessarily. But we've also got people who want, you know, the latest best sellers, the things they're seeing on on book talk or theYou know, Reese's book picks or all those things. but also a lot of people looking for local history, things about the area, just something to kind of you know put them in the mindset of being here in the woods. Yeah. A lot of lot of different customers, a lot of variety.Stephanie Hansen (08:07.916) I imagine maybe that changes as you get into the winter months too and it's more of the regular town folk versus the though you have a big visitors that come in the winter too, ‘cause we come and go snowmobiling, we cross country ski.Jordyn Stocks (08:19.792)Yeah. Yeah, yeah, totally. Yeah, there's definitely people coming all year round. It's it's of course, you know, a little a little more mellow in the winter, not as much foot traffic. But yeah, definitely a lot of locals will they'll special order things, you know, they heard about on the radio or they read about in the paper, or you know, they've gottheir favorite Minnesota authors having a new book come out and they want to pre-order that. So yeah.Stephanie Hansen (08:49.877)Yes. I love that. if you could pick three books that you think are kind of buzzy right now that you see that people are excited about, we'll we'll throw them out there because I think I'm always looking for new reads.Jordyn Stocks (09:05.333)Yeah, so people right now are looking for Theo of Golden. I'm blanking on the author's name, but they're also looking for the correspondent and Calamity Club. And then the newest William Kent Krueger book, which won't be out tillAugust, but you know, they're always looking for his latest. Stephanie Hansen (09:29.815)I think I'm the only one in the world that didn't love that Theo of Golden Book, but you know, everybody's got their own vibes.Jordyn Stocks (09:34.01)I haven't read it, but I've definitely that seems like a book that people are either loving or they're hating. There's no in-between on that, as far as I'm hearing.Stephanie Hansen (09:51.192)I feel like that's also what is the name of the book? And I bought it at your store about the social media influencer who gets dropped into the eighteen hundreds.Jordyn Stocks (10:00.429)Yesteryear. That one's been really popular too. Yeah, that's another love it or hate it one. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (10:02.347)Yes. Another book that I yes, like I totally hate read that book and read the whole thing and hated it, but kept going. It it was, you know how sometimes you don't love a book, but it's compelling enough to keep reading and sort of see what happens at the end.it's fascinating, I think, that that book got so much traction. But I don't know, like I I love the diversity of what you guys offer there. You have a ton of local too, like Abby Yaminez. I know you have a large section for her romance books. And romance is a big seller.Jordyn Stocks (10:36.246)We do. Yep. It is. We never used to carry much of it or like have much of a demand for it, but it's been like flying off the shelves lately. I I don't I don't know what it is, but and and that's not a genre that I typically read. So I I've been relying a lot on like s like coworker and customer recommendations, which has been fun. .Stephanie Hansen (11:09.793)It for your personal life, like you probably have to read a lot of books. Like how many books do you think you read in a month?Jordyn Stocks (11:17.462)And I I don't know. I also listen to a lot of books, but I don't know how many I read in a month. Probably like half a dozen, maybe. I don't I don't really know. I doStephanie Hansen (11:31.064)That's a lot. I listen to people talk about, you know, is listening to a book the same as reading or does it count? It's like who's keeping score number one? And yes, it counts. when you can think of a book that is narrated by someone that really makes it come alive, like I just listened to Whistler by Ann Patchett, which I don't know if I would have liked that book as much if she hadn't read it.Jordyn Stocks (11:58.966)Yeah, I totally get that. I I listen to more nonfiction, more memoirs and things, and I especially love when the author reads it. Like David Sederis will read his own, like Nick Offerman reads his own. They're both really great to listen to. And it's just I don't know, it it I think it brings a lot more to it in that circumstance. So but yeah. before we break here, I do want to mention that you guys have the catalog. And in the catalog are you have a lot of books in the catalog, a lot of the cookbooks, the seasonal books, there's also gear.Jordyn Stocks (13:16.393)We do. We do, yeah, and we have the website as well that's fully shoppable, the Boundary Waters catalog website. there's I mean certainly more than what was in the catalog, but not not as much as in the store. But there is quite a variety there and I'm I'm always happy to special order things too if someone's looking for something that they're not seeing in the store oron the website that's happy to look for things. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (13:43.949)That's good to know. That's good to know because I know there's been a lot of interest in supporting Ely in particular. I'm going to link there's a fund that's been established that the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is putting together and there's three pillars that you can donate to. One is nonprofits, one is Ely specific small business, which I appreciate. And also there is an opportunity to donate to the Wildfire Fund. SoI will put that in the show notes. Anything you want people to know specifically about Ely before we break?Jordyn Stocks (14:15.351)Great.gosh. it's just it's just such a great place to to live and to visit. There's you know great people here. Just the way you know you've mentioned people have been showing up for one another and supporting people during this just weird, uncertain wildfire time. It's it's been really cool. It's just a great place to be. Lots, yeah.Stephanie Hansen (14:42.423)I think so too. We're lucky. And we're lucky to have you, Jordan, be such a good supporter of books and reading. And I appreciate everything Piragis has done for our books. And I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. I always pop in to sign books and I'll see you, I'm sure, in the next week.Jordyn Stocks (14:59.62)Yeah, sorry I missed you yesterday. Hopefully we'll see you soon. All right. Wonderful. You too. Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Bye.Stephanie Hansen (15:02.34)Yeah. you will, you will. It's good to see you again, Jordan, and thanks for being a guest. Okay, bye-bye. Mm-hmm.Stephanie Hansen's @StephaniesDish Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stephaniehansen.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode of Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, host Stephanie Hansen speaks with Jordyn Stocks from Paragis Outfitters Bookstore about the impact of recent wildfires on the Ely community, the role of the bookstore in supporting local culture, and the hidden gems of Ely. They discuss the diverse offerings of the bookstore, including popular book recommendations and the importance of community support during challenging times.Visit Ely, Minnesota for fun things to do year-round! Whether you are looking for a place to stay, a delicious meal, a hiking trail, or an immersion experience, we have businesses ready to meet your needs.Stephanie Hansen (00:00.824)Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, the podcast where we talk to people in the food space, but I also talk to other people too. And I've been doing a little mini-series here for VisitElyMN.com to help you get to know some of the cool Ely businesses. Ely is my second home. It is the place where I wrote the True North Cabin cookbook, and it's very near and dear to my heart. And you may have heard that theyHave experienced some wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe area and around that area this summer. As of this recording, I think the fires are about 40 to 50% contained. Some of the evacuation areas have been lifted. And the town has just really done a great job of keeping people informed and safe. And I'm here today with Jordan Stocks. She is from Piragis Outfitters.And she particularly runs the bookstore that opened gosh, it was last summer already, wasn't it, Jordyn?Jordyn Stocks (00:59.77)Yes, yeah. So in the new space, we've been there since last May, but the bookstore itself has been around in some version for over 20 years now. So it'sStephanie Hansen (01:11.286)So what happened is is there was in the Piragis store, there was the bookstore on the second level, and they used to have another building down the street that they did some surplus kind of sales, and they've merged a lot of that together inside this building. And then you guys have paddle boards and canoes also across the street. Piragis sort of owns this corner that has a lot of fun stuff going on in Ely andI know that with the boundary waters permits being canceled and just opening up more recently to daytime. And I imagine we'll get some more areas that'll open up here as the summer progresses. Has it been a hard time for you guys at the store?Jordyn Stocks (01:54.437)It's it's yeah, it's been a little bit different. It's been a little quieter as you can imagine, in outfitting particularly without having the boundary waters open. We've definitely seen some slowdown in traffic there.Stephanie Hansen (02:07.315)And when you think about the bookstore, yeah. WhatJordyn Stocks (02:11.732)Yeah, the bookstore and the store have maintained like we've still been busy. We've still seen traffic. you know, not as busy as it would normally be. Blueberry festival would have been this weekend, as you know. that didn't happen. But yeah, overall it's still been we're hanging in there. It's still been still been a good weekend, but yeah, quieter.Stephanie Hansen (02:35.286)It's a good example of how smart it is for businesses to kind of silo to. Like, you know, you start with one thing that maybe is your core competency, but then to support the business through non-trip times, you know, you've got the clothing store and then you add the bookstore, which is kind of a year-round service business for the town in and of itself. It's cool to have so many different facets. And I know you guys sell online too and have a pretty big online following.Jordyn Stocks (02:43.473)Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it it it does help that we have a few different things going on with the the clothing and the gifts and the gear and the books and the online presence. So that is that's been nice to have all of that going on. And we've definitely seen an uptick in in online sales and phone sales. So we're still shipping things out all over the country. We're still selling things to, you know, fire crews that are here, local folks that are out and about.People coming up for their cabins. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (03:37.612)What is your history with Paragas and how did you get started and land in the bookstore component?Jordyn Stocks (03:41.76)well I've been here. This is my third no 14th summer here. So I started out just kind of part-time evening shifts in the retail store. And then the bookstore manager at the time, she was she was moving on to I think she was going back home to Chicago or somewhere. So I was excited about the prospect of working with the books and here I am.Thirteen years later. Stephanie Hansen (04:13.856)And you are an Ely resident. Are there some features about Ely in particular or locations that you feel are like hidden gems?Jordyn Stocks (04:23.909)Yeah, so I was actually born and raised here. So I don't know, growing up I kind of kind of probably took a lot of it for granted, but now you know seeing it with fresh eyes, I guess through people who were coming here for the first time and you know coming here repeatedly year after year. one of one of my favorite things is the the Ely Witten Historical Society. They have this cute little museum in the Vermillion Community College.It's it's free, they just feel like goodwill donations, it's self guided. But there's a lot of really interesting historical things there. They have a lot of a lot of books that were written by local folks about history and like very specific history, like the Birdside River or Winton and the lumber industry. So that's pretty fun local history. I love the sedan mine. It's it's open now for underground tours again, which I'm excited to do this summer. I haven't goneYears. Yeah, we just went.Stephanie Hansen (05:19.384)I'm trying to think.I did go to the Sedan Underground mine tour. It's super cool. I think I went, gosh, probably when I first started coming to Ely. So maybe, you know, like gosh, 20 years ago, but it was so cool to be taken underground and through the mine system. And you went with a original miner. So they would talk about like what their day was like. That seems like a uniqueaspect of being in northeast Minnesota because mining was such a pillar of what was happening here at the time. And just like being underground and the constant temperature, that was one of the highlights of one of the things I've done in town.Jordyn Stocks (06:04.049)Yeah, yeah, it's a it's a very cool experience. I'd highly recommend doing that. but yeah, other than that, we've got a lot of great hiking trails, places to canoe and paddle and swim and do all those things. Berry picking. there's always something to do. We've got a great yeah, we've got a great you know, local art scene with the theater and art shows, we've got the movie theater.It's just a lot of fun stuff to do, always always something.Stephanie Hansen (06:38.12)Absolutely. And I know you guys for such a smallish town, your bookstore has like a big footprint. You guys have sold a ton of the True North Cabin cookbooks for me, so thank you. Also, the Moon Tav the Moon Tavern.Jordyn Stocks (06:49.271)Yeah. Yeah, of course. Thanks for coming and Yeah. Yeah, the the new one's been popular.Stephanie Hansen (06:58.964)And also Kurt's book, The Barrens, the Canoe Book has still done well too. So I wanna thank you for that. And I know you guys have a lot of artists that come through and authors that come through. When you're stocking the bookstore, like who would you say is your ideal customer that you're stocking for? Because you have like such a great romance section, a good kid section.Jordyn Stocks (07:21.126)Gosh, that that's a tough one. and it changes, I feel. a lot of people are just are looking for a book to take out on trip with them. Something something that's gonna like be engaging right away, something that's engrossing. they don't want a lot of heavy reading necessarily. But we've also got people who want, you know, the latest best sellers, the things they're seeing on on book talk or theYou know, Reese's book picks or all those things. but also a lot of people looking for local history, things about the area, just something to kind of you know put them in the mindset of being here in the woods. Yeah. A lot of lot of different customers, a lot of variety.Stephanie Hansen (08:07.916) I imagine maybe that changes as you get into the winter months too and it's more of the regular town folk versus the though you have a big visitors that come in the winter too, ‘cause we come and go snowmobiling, we cross country ski.Jordyn Stocks (08:19.792)Yeah. Yeah, yeah, totally. Yeah, there's definitely people coming all year round. It's it's of course, you know, a little a little more mellow in the winter, not as much foot traffic. But yeah, definitely a lot of locals will they'll special order things, you know, they heard about on the radio or they read about in the paper, or you know, they've gottheir favorite Minnesota authors having a new book come out and they want to pre-order that. So yeah.Stephanie Hansen (08:49.877)Yes. I love that. if you could pick three books that you think are kind of buzzy right now that you see that people are excited about, we'll we'll throw them out there because I think I'm always looking for new reads.Jordyn Stocks (09:05.333)Yeah, so people right now are looking for Theo of Golden. I'm blanking on the author's name, but they're also looking for the correspondent and Calamity Club. And then the newest William Kent Krueger book, which won't be out tillAugust, but you know, they're always looking for his latest. Stephanie Hansen (09:29.815)I think I'm the only one in the world that didn't love that Theo of Golden Book, but you know, everybody's got their own vibes.Jordyn Stocks (09:34.01)I haven't read it, but I've definitely that seems like a book that people are either loving or they're hating. There's no in-between on that, as far as I'm hearing.Stephanie Hansen (09:51.192)I feel like that's also what is the name of the book? And I bought it at your store about the social media influencer who gets dropped into the eighteen hundreds.Jordyn Stocks (10:00.429)Yesteryear. That one's been really popular too. Yeah, that's another love it or hate it one. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (10:02.347)Yes. Another book that I yes, like I totally hate read that book and read the whole thing and hated it, but kept going. It it was, you know how sometimes you don't love a book, but it's compelling enough to keep reading and sort of see what happens at the end.it's fascinating, I think, that that book got so much traction. But I don't know, like I I love the diversity of what you guys offer there. You have a ton of local too, like Abby Yaminez. I know you have a large section for her romance books. And romance is a big seller.Jordyn Stocks (10:36.246)We do. Yep. It is. We never used to carry much of it or like have much of a demand for it, but it's been like flying off the shelves lately. I I don't I don't know what it is, but and and that's not a genre that I typically read. So I I've been relying a lot on like s like coworker and customer recommendations, which has been fun. .Stephanie Hansen (11:09.793)It for your personal life, like you probably have to read a lot of books. Like how many books do you think you read in a month?Jordyn Stocks (11:17.462)And I I don't know. I also listen to a lot of books, but I don't know how many I read in a month. Probably like half a dozen, maybe. I don't I don't really know. I doStephanie Hansen (11:31.064)That's a lot. I listen to people talk about, you know, is listening to a book the same as reading or does it count? It's like who's keeping score number one? And yes, it counts. when you can think of a book that is narrated by someone that really makes it come alive, like I just listened to Whistler by Ann Patchett, which I don't know if I would have liked that book as much if she hadn't read it.Jordyn Stocks (11:58.966)Yeah, I totally get that. I I listen to more nonfiction, more memoirs and things, and I especially love when the author reads it. Like David Sederis will read his own, like Nick Offerman reads his own. They're both really great to listen to. And it's just I don't know, it it I think it brings a lot more to it in that circumstance. So but yeah. before we break here, I do want to mention that you guys have the catalog. And in the catalog are you have a lot of books in the catalog, a lot of the cookbooks, the seasonal books, there's also gear.Jordyn Stocks (13:16.393)We do. We do, yeah, and we have the website as well that's fully shoppable, the Boundary Waters catalog website. there's I mean certainly more than what was in the catalog, but not not as much as in the store. But there is quite a variety there and I'm I'm always happy to special order things too if someone's looking for something that they're not seeing in the store oron the website that's happy to look for things. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen (13:43.949)That's good to know. That's good to know because I know there's been a lot of interest in supporting Ely in particular. I'm going to link there's a fund that's been established that the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is putting together and there's three pillars that you can donate to. One is nonprofits, one is Ely specific small business, which I appreciate. And also there is an opportunity to donate to the Wildfire Fund. SoI will put that in the show notes. Anything you want people to know specifically about Ely before we break?Jordyn Stocks (14:15.351)Great.gosh. it's just it's just such a great place to to live and to visit. There's you know great people here. Just the way you know you've mentioned people have been showing up for one another and supporting people during this just weird, uncertain wildfire time. It's it's been really cool. It's just a great place to be. Lots, yeah.Stephanie Hansen (14:42.423)I think so too. We're lucky. And we're lucky to have you, Jordan, be such a good supporter of books and reading. And I appreciate everything Piragis has done for our books. And I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. I always pop in to sign books and I'll see you, I'm sure, in the next week.Jordyn Stocks (14:59.62)Yeah, sorry I missed you yesterday. Hopefully we'll see you soon. All right. Wonderful. You too. Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Bye.Stephanie Hansen (15:02.34)Yeah. you will, you will. It's good to see you again, Jordan, and thanks for being a guest. Okay, bye-bye. Mm-hmm.Stephanie Hansen's @StephaniesDish Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stephaniehansen.substack.com/subscribe
Thank you for tuning in to Episode 324 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website. This week's segments included: Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins From the Armchair Some Years Later Knitting in Passing Crafty Adventures In my Travels KAL News On a Happy Note Quote of the Week Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu Check them out at their trunk show at South End Yarn Co in Newburyport until August 7, then at Fiber Revival in Newburyport, MA on August 8. Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Wicked Witch Pattern: The Wicked Witch by Ana Maria Liasch da Silva ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & Etsy- Etsy also offers larger bundles of Oz characters) Yarn: Worsted weight acrylic yarn from stash Hook: C: 2.75 mm Ravelry Project Page Note: I found the wig cap to be a bit small. Check before starting to sew in place. Dorothy Pattern: The Wicked Witch by Ana Maria Liasch da Silva ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & $4 on Etsy (sale)- Etsy also offers larger bundles of Oz characters) Yarn: Worsted weight acrylic yarn from stash Hook: C: 2.75 mm Ravelry Project Page Note: I found the wig cap to be a bit small. Check before starting to sew in place. Mine! Socks Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Fingering (90 SW Targhee, 10% Nylon) in the colorway- Mine! aka A Gull Takes Off with Bluberry Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Wild Violet Socks Yarn: Wild Violet Fibers Merino Sock (85/15 SW Merino/Nylon) in the OOAK #155 Colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Progress: 1st sock finished. 2nd sock part way through the heel flap Right as Rain Socks Yarn: Teal Torch Knits Fingering Weight in the Right as Rain colorway Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Progress: 1st sock is finished. 2nd sock is onto the foot. From the Armchair This Story May Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum. Amazon Affiliate Link. Whistler by Ann Patchett. Amazon Affiliate Link. Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston. Amazon Affiliate Link. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. Amazon Affiliate Link. Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases. Knitting in Passing Roc loves to visit yarn stores so we went to: Wicked Good Yarns in Braintree, MA where he bought scissors, a kit for a chicken and Joann gifted him the tapestry needle he was looking for. Elissa's Creative Warehouse in Needham, MA where he bought blue yarn to cast on an elephant. Stitch House in Dorchester, MA where Roc found a bright mini skein he liked and I restocked my favorite knitting stitch markers. Crafty Adventures Riley worked a bit on the cuff of a sock with her Area 51 Fibres Be FearLESS colorway yarn. Here's the Ravelry Project Page for mine. She also started a diamond painting project and crocheted several rounds on her hexagon blanket. She's using white worsted weight yarn held with minis from the advent yarn Nicole sent her. Marta and Roc both worked on his diamond painting project- a seaturtle. Marta got a crochet kit for a slice of pizza at Walmart and was able to finish 2 pieces with the yarn from the kit (with some heavy mods on the second one). Roc completed 2 hippo stuffies out of microfiber blanket yarn (free pattern from the Friendly Fox site). He finished a dinosaur he started during his last visit and the chicken he bought this year. Gabriella got a Craft-tastic learn to knit kit for her birthday (on sale at CVS right now). It came with a small circular loom. I taught myself how to do it and made a small axolotl. Came out cute! Has patterns for a bee and a panda too. In My Travels We visited Tall Ships while they were in Boston Museum of Ice Cream (lots of fun, especially with kids. We spent about 90 minutes there) Bota Borg 24 quests- each is a series of escape rooms. You can do as many as you like with teams of 3 or more. You choose 2 or 4 hours. We loved it and would definitely go back. The Great Gatsby (musical) We enjoyed seeing our small towns from another perspective. KAL News Splash Pad Party '26 Details Event runs 5/22-7/31 Splash Pad Party Registration is open as of 5/1 View Stats and/or Verify Registration here. Check out our Sponsor List Splash Pad '26 Official Rules Enter your FOs using the Summer Celebration Form. Then come over to this Ravelry Thread to share pics and let us ooh and ahh with you! Submit something incorrectly? Need help? Fill out this Support Form & we'll be in touch. Find official SPP'26 images you can use on social media in this Google folder. Splash Pad RAVELRY Links Start Here Thread Pro Shop Exclusive Items Thread Coupon Codes Thread Questions Thread Tune in to see if you won a July Participation Prize Pigskin Party will kick off with the NFL on Wednesday September 9th. Get those WIPs done before then! On a Happy Note Pottery from Riley! Wow A few amazing pool days during 4th of July weekend with family and friends. Riley & I went to the Megan Moroney concert!! Score N' Hole pool game! Marta's visit highlights America's Funniest Videos- especially these two contenders for best video of the year. We had running jokes based on these for 2 weeks straight. Riding around in Riley's Jeep. Kayaking. movies, night swimming, Making up songs. Going for ice cream & slurpees. Taste tests & inside jokes. I felt like I was at summer camp! On our last night togetherwe made up lyrics to a song from the Six musical we'd been listening to and Riley made a video using it. Adorable! My boss gave us 2 of his older kayaks. Dan bought a new rack for the truck so we can fit 5 inside the bed and the 2 longer ones on top. Our friends visited from PA. Millie and twins Rhiannon & Teaghan are so cute- especially in their matching bathing suits. Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases. Quote of the Week "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time." – Aliyyah Eniath ------ Thank you for tuning in! Contact Information: Check out the Down Cellar Studio Patreon! Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group Instagram: BostonJen1 YouTube: Down Cellar Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio Check out my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel Knit Picks Affiliate Link Bookshop Affiliate Link Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada Music -"Soft Orange Glow" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/ Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.
This week, Liberty and Danika discuss The New People, Cool Machine, The Princess Trap, and more great books! Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Keep track of new releases with Book Riot's New Release Index, now included with an All Access membership. Click here to get started today! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed On the Show: The New People by Andrea Uptmor The Masala Chai Mystery Club by MJ Soni The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly Lord of the Wood by E.M. Anderson Funerals are for the Living by Sami Ellis Cool Machine (The Harlem Trilogy) by Colson Whitehead The Mortons by Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld Vera Stein Is Fine by Julie Murphy Yellow Pine by Claire Vaye Watkins Fatal Glitch: Camp Zero by Eliot Schrefer, Erin Entrada Kelly Unsayable: A Life in Writing by Michael Cunningham What We're Reading: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell The Talking Bone by Rene Denfeld Serious Music by Percival Everett Life Beyond Measure: Nature's Hidden Wonders at Every Scale by Ed Yong Paperbacks: An Oral History of Atlantis: Stories by Ed Park Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris Necessary Fiction by Eloghosa Osunde Links: Jamie Smart and the rise of Bunny vs. Monkey Bestsellers: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Whistler by Ann Patchett Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett Tempting Venom by Rina Kent Communion: The Female Search for Love by bell hooks Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
本期介绍 友友们大家好,时隔两个月我们来填坑了,这期节目聊了聊我们最近读过比较喜欢的小说。希望你们听得开心,我们下次再见! 本期提及 Heart the Lover by Lily King Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Whistler by Ann Patchett 幸福蒙太奇 by 马凌云 (Bliss Montage by Ling Ma) Mobility: A Novel by Lydia Kiesling She Who Remains by Rene Karabash The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar 凯罗斯 by 燕妮·埃彭贝克 (KAIROS by Jenny Erpenbeck) 一个读书博客 节目备注 好小气的电报频道 好小气的长毛象 支持我们 订阅听友通讯请点击这里。 欢迎通过微博关注我们的节目@不丧Podcast和女主播@constancy好小气。
Afternoons critic Kate Langdon joins Jesse to share her takes on some recent releases. London Falling - Patrick Radden Keefe Whistler - Ann Patchett Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke
The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
#1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo spoke with us about overcoming rejection early on, her workmanlike process, and how she stays grounded after more than 25 years in the craft. Kate DiCamillo is a celebrated author of children's fiction, and famously one of only seven authors to win two Newbery Medals for her outstanding contributions to American children's literature. Because of Winn-Dixie—her debut novel—became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. Since then she has written for a wide range of ages, received countless awards, has nearly 49 million books in print worldwide, and been translated into 41 languages. Kate has multiple new books this year, and is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beloved classic, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. The Chicago Tribune wrote of the author, “DiCamillo has carved out a distinct place as one of her generation's most beloved writers.” There are popular feature film versions of some of her classic novels, including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora & Ulysses, The Tiger Rising, and The Magician's Elephant. Kate is also a literacy advocate and a Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Emerita. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Kate DiCamillo, Milena, and I discussed: Why all roads lead to the coffee maker Her morning ritual and daily page counts What she tells students about being relentless How each book presents a unique challenge for her Hanging out with friend Ann Patchett at Parnassus Books Why writers need to show up every day And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod katedicamillo.com Kate DiCamillo Amazon Author Page Kate DiCamillo on Facebook Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anyone looking for novels to read at the pool, beach, or on a plane will appreciate the entertaining, well-crafted books discussed in this episode. Hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Ellison Weist start with the “subtle beauty” of the latest novel by Ann Patchett (the host-duo detail their favorite novels by this esteemed author). In discussing a new domestic thriller, they debate why male narrators are somewhat rare in that genre. An engaging new book that elevates the standard beach read prompts a series of sideline conversations about various generations. Finally, each host shares a graphic novel she's recently read. The books discussed:Whistler: Ann PatchettThe Au Pair: Teddy WayneThe Shampoo Effect: Jenny JacksonAnxietyland: Gemma CorrellCharity and Sylvia: Tillie WaldenFeisty Fest: Join us from September 18-20, 2026 - https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themotherrunner/Cozy Earth: Use code: AMR to receive 20% off at https://cozyearth.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/Momentous: Use code AMR for up to 35% off your first order at https://www.livemomentous.com/Currex: Use code AMR15 for 15% off at https://currex.com/Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/ PLUS: Register to win a Free Pair of Sunglasses: https://feistymedia.activehosted.com/f/121
In the latest edition of Late Night Lit, Late Night Supervising Producer Sarah Jenks-Daly talks to NBC News Daily co-anchor and author Morgan Radford ("Now Then"), writer Stephanie Soileau ("Should The Waters Take Us") and author Ann Patchett ("Whistler").See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett. You know Ann's novels: Tom Lake, The Dutch House (which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), and her latest, Whistler, among others. Ann has been the recipient of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Women's Prize for Fiction in the UK. President Joe Biden awarded Ann the National Humanities Medal in recognition of her contributions to American culture. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages, and Time magazine named Ann one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Ann lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the owner of Parnassus Books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ann Patchett is an award-winning novelist—her most recent bestseller is Whistler—and she also owns an independent bookstore in Nashville. In this episode, Adam asks Ann about where she finds her ideas and how she shapes them into great stories. Along with the craft of writing, they discuss the mindsets and skillsets involved in seeing and bringing out the best in others. Ann also recounts the challenge she set herself to rethink her stance on social interaction.Featured guestFollow Ann Patchett on at https://www.annpatchett.com/Follow Parnassus Books on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and at https://parnassusbooks.net/Buy WhistlerConnect with the teamFollow Adam on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at adamgrant.net/Subscribe to Adam's Substack GrantedWatch ReThinking videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollectiveFollow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTokReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're chatting about small, free or inexpensive comforts you can employ to fix a bad day. Thank you to this week's sponsor: You can try their products and support our show by going to DrinkLMNT.com/ABeautifulMess Just head to LolaBlankets.com and use code [MESS] to get 40% OFF your order. Mini Comforts: Elsie: Making garlic parmesan noodles. Watching Knives Out or another comfort movie. Watching Twilight with my kids (has to be raining). Wandering a Flea Market Taking a walk to peep the Little Free Libraries (or drop books off) Emma: Bake something Going thrifting Get outside Clean something out Do a random art project Book Report: Emma: Shark Drunk by Morten Stroksnes Elsie: Whistler by Ann Patchett You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at podcast@abeautifulmess.com or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.
On today's episode, we're pleased to have Jenny Jackson back on the show. Beth Golay visits with Jackson about her new novel, "The Shampoo Effect." Plus, book reviewer Suzanne Perez says Ann Patchett's "Whistler" manages to be sentimental without being saccharine.
On today's show we recap a couple of weekend getaways and recommend Whistler by Ann Patchett, Rings of the Matriarch by S.D. McKittrick, and Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards. Audiobook of the Week is L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy. ITUNES – SPOTIFY
With the US and Iran locked in tense negotiations, are we going back to the future? Former Secretary of State John Kerry discusses the similarities between the Obama and Trump Iran deals. Then, Israel's new Arab-Jewish political party offering a different vision of the country's future. Christiane speak to the brains behind the new effort- Rula Daood & Alon-Lee Green. And, ten years since Britain chose to leave the EU, does the country regret its decision? A report from a Brexit heartland. Also, the acclaimed author Ann Patchett talks about her latest novel, and why she thinks America hasn't turned the page on book banning. Plus, as the World Cup rallies football fans, all over America, Christiane's report from the 2000 USA-Iran friendly at the Los Angeles Rose Bowl. And ahead of her big comeback at Wimbledon, a special window into Serena Williams' mindset. Air date: June 27, 2026 Guests: John Kerry Rula Daood & Alon-Lee Green Ann Patchett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2026 is half over. And Kate turned 50 on June 16th. So in honor of all of this half life, we decided to talk about our favorite books so far of 2026. Tana French, Tayari Jones, Ann Patchett and Allegra Goodman all made the list, but there are so many books we have loved this year that we think we mention just about all of them. Then we quiz each other on rapid fire and get sort of gooey about it. Join us! Find books mentioned on The Book Case: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode: Kin by Tayari Jones The Keeper by Tana French This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman Whistler by Ann Patchett The Godfather by Mario Puzo A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving The Hero Next Door by Martha Raddatz On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen The Things We Do Not Say by Elizabeth Strout Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott The Power Broker by Robert Caro The Holy Bible Martyr by Kaveh Akbar There, There by Tommy Orange The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In Episode 228, Sarah, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide), and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) take stock of the reading year so far, discussing the books, publishing trends, and industry chatter that have defined the first half of 2026. They dive into the biggest publishing stories of the year, the rise of "cozy everything," the continued influence of self-publishing and book-to-screen success stories, and whether it's possible to tap a Book of the Year before the second half of the publishing calendar arrives. Then, they share their Top 5 Books of 2026 So Far and a few disappointing reads that didn't quite live up to expectations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights How our 2026 reading has been so far How 2026 compares to this point in 2025 Each person's current Book of the Year pick Whether it's too early to crown a Book of the Year Midyear reading stats and surprise wins Each of our Top 5 books of 2026 so far Their biggest disappointments of the year so far Top 5 Books of 2026 So Far Sarah No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (Mar 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:42] A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36] Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:44] London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (Apr 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:55] The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:55] Catherine The Poet Empress by Shen Tao (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:11] A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36] Land by Maggie O'Farrell (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:55] Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (Mar 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:42] Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:09] Chrissie A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot (Feb 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:36] Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:44] The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:44] Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (Mar 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:10] Seek the Traitor's Son (The Burning Empire, 1) by Veronica Roth (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:55] Other Books Mentioned The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [41:31] Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2020) [42:14] The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) [53:03] Dune (Dune, 1) by Frank Herbert (1965) [59:38] Some Disappointing Books So Far Sarah Kin by Tayari Jones (Feb 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:33] Go Gentle by Maria Semple (Apr 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:55] Leave Your Mess At Home by Tolani Akinola (Apr 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:35] Catherine The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:03] The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (May 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:31] Chrissie Artifacts by Natalie Lemle (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:39] Hell's Heart by Alexis Hall (Mar 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:04:13] Fatherland by Victoria Shorr (Mar 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:04:54] Other Books Mentioned Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (2012) [1:01:01] Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville (1851) [1:04:19] Books From the Opening Discussion Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, 3) by Rebecca Yarros (2025) [2:39] Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [3:18] Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, 1) by Matt Dinniman (2024)* [3:22] Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) [4:34] Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (2025)* [4:41] The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [5:03] The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (2024) [5:57] Game Changer (Game Changers: Heated Rivalry, 1) by Rachel Reid (2024) [6:09] KPop Demon Hunters (Junior Novelization) by Jessica Yoon (Mar 31) [6:13] KPop Demon Hunters (Screen Comic Boxed Set) by Netflix (Nov 3, 2026) [6:13] The Martian by Andy Weir (2014)* [6:48] The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) [11:17] Trad Wife by Michelle Brandon (Aug 4, 2026) [16:57] Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer (Feb 10) [16:59] Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik (Mar 3) [17:02] The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (Apr 7) [17:29] Good People by Patmeena Sabit (Feb 3) [17:35] So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder (Feb 17) [17:40] No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes (Mar 10) [18:00] Upward Bound by Woody Brown (Mar 31) [18:33] This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman (Feb 10) [18:35] The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman (Feb 24) [18:38] Brawler by Lauren Groff (Feb 24) [18:43] My Dear You by Rachel Khong (Apr 7) [18:46] All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (Mar 10) [19:16] The Shippers by Katherine Center (May 19) [19:18] American Fantasy by Emma Straub (Apr 7) [19:32] Man Overboard by Kathleen Rooney (Jul 7, 2026) [19:37] Swept Away by Beth O'Leary (2025) [19:47] The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Vol. 1) by Beth Brower (2019) [22:45] *Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition. These titles were originally self-published. Additional Links The New Yorker | Glowworms by Ann Patchett (Sep 29, 2025)
The best celebrity profile we’ve read lately is with a famous actress who doesn’t exist. And yes, she’s a bit of a b*tch. How much money has Em spent on takeaway in the past year? And, send us the text messages from your friends that need analysing, it’s our new version of Book Club. Oh, and what your school house colour says about you. Support independent women’s media and get our biggest offer of the year. Subscribe here for 30% off your annual Mamamia subscription. Code applied at the checkout. Offer ends June 30. Plus, Recommendations Holly breaks all the rules with an impassioned plea for you to watch Rivals Season 2, specifically Episode 6 even though she’s been banging on about it for months. Em recommends Airbrush concealer by Hourglass. Mia has been reading Whistler by Ann Patchett, her latest novel about a woman who has three fathers. What To Listen To Next: Listen to our latest episode: ‘My Hardest Night As A Mum’: Jessie's 3-Month Check-In Listen: So The Wedding Has Happened & Kyle Sandilands' Big D*ck Deal Listen: The Ariana Grande Panic Listen: Um, WTF Is Going On With Gwyneth & A Very Beckham Weekend Listen: The Celebrity Bathroom Debate We Can't Agree On Listen: THAT Sex Scene in Off Campus. Oh. Listen: The Knicks, The ‘Witch’ & Can You Say No To Madonna? Listen: 3 (Celebrity) Weddings And A Guest Drama Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here including the very latest episode of Parenting Out Loud, the parenting podcast for people who don't listen to... parenting podcasts. SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media You can now watch our show in full length video on the Apple Podcast app - make sure your phone is up to date and we can't wait for you to see Mamamia Out Loud on Apple What to read: 'I can guess your entire personality from your school "house colour".' HOLLY WAINWRIGHT: Why every grown-up woman is cheering for this cheating couple. One of the sauciest book to television adaptations of the year is now on Disney+. THE END BITS: Check out our merch at MamamiaOutLoud.com Sign up to our newsletter here: Holly Out Loud GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us an email at outloud@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message. Join our Facebook group Mamamia Outlouders to talk about the show. Follow us on Instagram @mamamiaoutloud and on Tiktok @mamamiaoutloud CREDITS: Hosts: Holly Wainwright, Clare Stephens & Emily Vernem Acting Group Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock Executive Producer: Grace Rouvray Video Producer: Josh Green Associate Producer: Tessa Kotowicz Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a late-night, table-top signing at Versailles, President Trump put his pen to a memorandum of understanding to end his war on Iran and begin a 60-day period of negotiations. The MOU has gone down badly in Israel, with allies of Prime Minister Netanyahu expressing outrage. Danny Danon is Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, and he joins Christiane from New York. Also on today's show: former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer; author Ann Patchett on her new novel "Whistler"; Senator Raphael Warnock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whistler by Ann Patchett is a powerful novel about the choices we make and the ones that are made for us. Ann joined us live in Philly to talk about memory, romance, friendship, reading and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Whistler by Ann Patchett Commonwealth by Ann Patchett The Dutch House by Ann Patchett Tom Lake by Ann Patchett A Perfect Hand by Ayelet Waldman Love Story by Erich Segal The Land and Its People by David Sedaris Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li Buckeye by Patrick Ryan Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger Fair Ones by Lydia Millet The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Python's Kiss: Stories by Louise Erdrich The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett Taft by Ann Patchett The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett Bel Canto by Ann Patchett Run by Ann Patchett State of Wonder by Ann Patchett The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett Land by Maggie O'Farrell John of John by Douglas Stuart The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo Open Throat by Henry Hoke The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane Stations by Louise Kennedy Luna, Phoenix, Queen by Julie Orringer Lives of the Saints: For Everyday in the Year by Alban Butler Matrix by Lauren Groff Brawler: Stories by Lauren Groff
Ann Patchett is the bestselling author of ten novels, including Bel Canto, Commonwealth, The Dutch House, and Tom Lake, the co-owner of Parnassus Books, and the recipient of numerous literary honors. She joins live at the TED Conference to discuss the creative process, the lessons she's learned from love and marriage, and why she continues to find evidence of generosity and hope everywhere she looks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ann Patchett has written many celebrated books: Bel Canto, The Dutch House, State of Wonder. Her new book, Whistler, is another in her line-up of lovely stories that honour memory and the moments that make a life. Besides her work as a writer, Ann owns a bookstore called Parnassus in Nashville, and she's a tireless advocate for independent booksellers. In the midst of a busy book tour for Whistler, she stops by to chat and recommend some titles from the Parnassus shelves. Plus, author Monique Gray Smith talks about true happiness while answering The Next Chapter's version of the Proust Questionnaire.Books discussed on this week's show include:Whistler by Ann PatchettKin by Tayari JonesJohn of John by Douglas StuartThe Left and the Lucky by Willy VlautinMusic Against the Night by Yiyun LeeSharing the Light: Stories and Reflections by Monique Gray SmithCheck us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks
Novelist Ann Patchett has written about things as wild as hostage takeovers, fairy tales, and betrayed magicians' assistants. But her new novel Whistler turns down the stakes to focus on the quieter complexities of human relationships. Today's episode features two conversations between Ann Patchett and NPR's Mary Louise Kelly. First, Patchett talks about Whistler and how it embraces the act of aging among past and present loved ones. Then, we revisit Patchett's 2023 reflection on Tom Lake, a novel born from her serendipitous visits to the Michigan fruit farms she calls “a world like no other.”To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedaySee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
When novelist Ann Patchett is on Big Books and Bold Ideas, watch out. She and host Kerri Miller trade quips, stories, theories and book recommendations like two longtime friends. And this week, Patchett returns to talk about her latest novel, “Whistler.” She and Miller discuss the backstory about the novel within the novel. They trade stories about why friendships lost and rediscovered have a special mind of magic. And, of course, they talk about Minnesota author and friend of the show Kate DiCamillo, who has a special knack for editing Patchett's work — and vice versa. This is a rollicking, warm and delightful conversation — a singular Big Books and Bold Ideas, as only Miller and Patchett can do. Guest: Ann Patchett is a prolific writer. Her latest novel is “Whistler.” Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Women's Prize shortlisted author, Lily King, and previous Women's Prize winner, Tayari Jones, join Joe for this week's Book Off!They discuss their new novels, co-parenting Koalas, Ann Patchett, lovers, desire, chosen family, female friendship, mothers, Oprah and the many many forms of love.We LOVED this chat - and hope you do too! THE BOOK OFF'The Transit Of Venus' by Shirley HazzardVS'Song Of Solomon' by Toni MorrisonAnd here's a little more info on our guests' new novels:'Kin' by Tayari Jones A yearning for their missing mothers pulls Vernice and Annie apart. It will take a devastating tragedy to bring them back together.Vernice and Annie are 'cradle friends', born days apart in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, both destined never to know their mothers. The girls are inseparable, bound by a friendship far deeper than sisterhood. But this is the American south in the 1950s. Black girls like Vernice and Annie have to fight for every opportunity they can, and neither one can build the future they hope for in Honeysuckle. Gradually, inevitably, the girls drift apart. Vernice pursues her education; Annie is lured by the promise of a heady first love affair and a growing obsession with finding her mother. But her search pulls her even further into a world of danger that soon leaves her oldest friend battling to save her.'Heart The Lover' by Lily KingOur narrator understands good love stories - their secrets, their highs and free falls. But her greatest love story, the one she lived, never followed the rules.She was in her senior year of college when star students Sam and Yash swept her into an intoxicating world of academic fervour, rapid-fire banter and raucous card games. Their lives became quickly intertwined - with friendship but also with unpredictable passions and the intimations of first love.Decades later, she is a successful writer, living a comfortable life with her husband and children, when a surprise visit brings the past crashing into the present, forcing her to confront the decisions and deceptions of her youth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 227, Sarah talks with book industry analyst Brenna Connor about the behind-the-scenes world of book sales, bestseller lists, and publishing trends. Brenna shares insight into how sales data is gathered and used across the publishing industry, from tracking pre-orders and audiobooks to measuring the impact of celebrity book clubs and award recognition. They also discuss what makes a book commercially "successful," what current reading trends are revealing about 2026 so far, and what Brenna is watching for in the second half of the year. Plus, Brenna shares her own book recommendations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Why tracking book sales is far more complicated than most readers realize — including what Circana can and can't actually measure. A behind-the-scenes look at bestseller lists and the role Circana data plays in lists like the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly. The famously secretive methodology behind the New York Times Bestseller List. The impact celebrity book clubs and reading lists from Reese, Oprah, and Obama have on book sales. What current sales data is revealing about 2026 reading trends — and how the economy may be shaping book buying habits. Brenna shares the books she recommends — and the trends she's watching for the rest of the year. Brenna's Book Recommendations Two OLD Books She Loves The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:13] Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:00] Other Books Mentioned The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [40:22] Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) [40:23] Two NEW Books She Loves Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane (November 3, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:07] Joyride by Susan Orlean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:01] Other Books Mentioned Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (2019) [45:12] The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (2023) [45:14] The Library Book by Susan Orlean (2018) [46:12] One Book She DIDN'T Love Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:29] Other Books Mentioned The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (2019) [47:51] These Precious Days by Ann Patchett (2021) [47:57] Whistler by Ann Patchett (2026) [48:55] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Life Out of Order (The Time Traveler's Wife, 2) by Audrey Niffenegger (October 6, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:25] Other Books Mentioned The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003) [49:37] Books From the Discussion Untitled (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 6) by Sarah J. Maas (October 27, 2026) [9:38] Untitled (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 7) by Sarah J. Maas (January 12, 2027) [9:38] Strangers by Belle Burden (2026) [11:54] Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) [15:35] The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (2023) [15:45] Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) [15:53] The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [25:52] No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (2026) [31:38] London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (2026) [31:53] Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [33:35] Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, 1) by Matt Dinniman (2024)* [33:40] Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026) [36:58] Life Out of Order (The Time Traveler's Wife, 2) by Audrey Niffenegger (October 6, 2026) [37:00] Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (2025)* [38:39] *Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition. These titles were originally self-published. Other Links Publishing Confidential, on Substack | "A Tale of Three Bestseller Lists" by Kathleen Schmidt
It's almost the official dog days of summer, and today we're sharing with you some great reading suggestions to plan out your reading for these long hot days. We're going to tell you about what's new and hot this summer, what's on our reading lists, plus some suggestions for titles that can help you complete our Adult Summer Bingo challenge. And don't miss joining us for the first official podcast buddy read! Ellyn's Currently Reading | American Fantasy by Emma Straub, Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel, The Wild Beneath by Kelly Anderson, & Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara Amanda's Currently Reading | Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin, & Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Join us in our first official Bubbles & Books buddy read! We're reading True Grit by Hottest New Releases Coming Out this Summer June: Land by Maggie O'Farrell Whistler by Ann Patchett The Children by Melissa Albert Harvest Season by Brynn Weaver June 9 It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell June 23 July: Country People by Daniel Mason July 7 Helpless by Jessica Knoll July 7 The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren July 14 Make Nice by Ryan Effgen July 14 Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst July 28 Daggermouth by HM Wolfe July 28 August: The Unknown by Riley Sager Aug 4 Dreamland by Olivie Blake Aug 11 A Tender Age by Chang Rae-Lee Aug 11 God's Country by William Kent Krueger Aug 18 Daggerbound by T Kingfisher Aug 25 What we're looking forward to reading this summer: Ellyn: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Barker, The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig & Helpless by Jessica Knoll (July 7) Amanda: Modern Lovers by Emma Straub, Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett, & Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Shop Dog-Eared Books and pick up your books in store or have shipped HERE. Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Interested in e-books? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com
Chef Krissy Downey whips up family favorite dishes from Sheinelle's Recipe Box. Plus, Paul Rudd sits down with Jenna and Sheinelle to talk about his new blockbuster “Power Ballad” and stepping into a singing role alongside real-life pop star, Nick Jonas. And, author Ann Patchett dishes on her new novel “Whistler” and her homage to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Host Jason Blitman welcomes Ann Patchett back to the podcast—last heard discussing her annotated Bel Canto in fall 2024—for a conversation about her newest novel, Whistler.Conversation highlights include:⏱️ Changes made to the book moments before it went to print
Happy June! This month we read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. The novel follows Natalie, a modern-day woman who unexpectedly finds herself transported back to the year 1805, where she must navigate life, love, and society in a world vastly different from her own. Jackie, Dana, Becky and Snitch share their thoughts on the book, the characters, and the overall story. Enjoy!The next book is Dana's choice and she chose Whistler by Ann Patchett.The overall Readheads rating for Yesteryear is 3.125.Submit a question or comment to us at thereadheadsbookclub@gmail.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ann Patchett has written a new novel, and if you are a listener to this show, you know we are both huge fans of her work. Her newest, Whistler, is beautiful book about grace, kindness, the relationships we can't let go and what we learn of ourselves in a crisis. When we asked if we could come down to Parnassus in Nashville TN, she said yes. So, with great enthusiasm we hopped on planes and did The Book Case in front of a live audience at her Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville. We also have the tail end of our interview with Jesmyn Ward. I mean…Jesmyn Ward AND Ann Patchett? Doesn't get better than that. Join us. Find books mentioned on The Book Case: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode: Whistler by Ann Patchett Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett The Dutch House by Ann Patchett These Precious Days by Ann Patchett The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett State of Wonder by Ann Patchett Commonwealth by Ann Patchett Run by Ann Patchett This is the Story of a Marriage by Ann Patchett Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Taft by Ann Patchett Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ann Patchett is the author of novels, works of nonfiction, and children's books. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the PEN/Faulkner, the Women's Prize in the U.K., and the National Humanities Medal. TIME magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the owner of Parnassus Books. On this episode of Little Atoms she talks to Neil Denny about her latest novel Whistler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you want to live in a world where people read, novelist Ann Patchett has news for you: it's your job to help create that reality. Tracing her path from a chance airport encounter through a career writing iconic novels and opening a beloved independent bookstore, she makes the case that reading isn't a private pleasure but a civic act that builds empathy, sustains a "long-format brain" and pulls people out of isolation. Ready to lose yourself in a book?(Following her talk, Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, interviews Patchett on the joys and challenges of owning a bookstore. They also discuss whether audiobooks count as reading, the inefficiency of book banning, and how to raise young people to be readers. Patchett also teases the books she's excited about in 2026.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Celebrated author and bookstore owner Ann Patchett discusses her latest novel, Whistler, which tells the story of a woman and her old step-father who reconnect many years after the events that separated them. Cover art courtesy of HarperCollins Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ann Patchett is an author, bookstore owner, two-time Reese’s Book Club pick author, and overall icon on everybody’s bookshelf. Her newest novel, “Whistler,” is out today. In it, a woman reunites with her long-lost stepfather on a fateful day in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What follows is a story of family, loss, and the brief connections that change our lives forever. Ann joins the podcast to talk about her unique writing process, working through grief and love in her latest novel, and her favorite books hitting the shelves at Parnassus Books in Nashville. BOOKS MENTIONED: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett Run by Ann Patchett Commonwealth by Ann Patchett State of Wonder by Ann Patchett Whistler by Ann Patchett This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Swing Time by Zadie Smith Python’s Kiss by Louise Erdrich John of John by Douglas Stuart The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen The Color of Water by James McBride Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead Charlotte's Web by E. B. White This is Happiness by Niall WilliamsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bestselling author Ann Patchett joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her novels, children's books, nonfiction work, and what it's like to own her own bookstore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to the Summer 2026 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Sarah and Catherine share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing in June through mid – August. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcements One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through either our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both for just $7/mo) is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and Sarah share 4 bonus books (2 each) we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available and sign up here for Patreon and here for Substack! Highlights A lightning round of some big summer releases that are NOT our personal preview picks. Catherine's theme this season was following her initial emotional reaction to a book, while Sarah's picks skew a bit outside of her usual comfort zone. Catherine chose books across historical fiction, cultural fiction, romance, humor, and thriller. One of the season's more challenging reads for Catherine comes from an author she trusts, while Sarah has two books over 450 pages. There's one debut in Sarah's stack this season — along with some historical fiction. Sarah has already read one of her picks — not only was it 5 stars, it's already a strong contender for book of the year. Plus, their #1 picks for summer. Big Summer Releases Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer (June 9) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:28] God's Country (Cork O'Connor, 22) by William Kent Krueger (August 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:33] The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (June 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:36] Biological War by Annie Jacobsen (July 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:43] Cool Machine (The Harlem Trilogy, 3) by Colson Whitehead (July 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:48] A Tender Age by Chang-rae Lee (August 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:53] Under the Falls by Richard Russo (August 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:55] Sunrise by Téa Obreht (August 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:14] Dominion (The Silk and Iron Trilogy, 1) by Jean Kwok (July 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:26] Other Books Mentioned Less (The Arthur Books, 1) by Andrew Sean Greer (2017) [1:32] Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (2023) [1:41] Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen (2024) [1:47] Empire Falls by Richard Russo (2001) [3:04] Summer 2026 Book Preview June Sarah's Pick Whistler by Ann Patchett (June 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:53] Catherine's Picks A Year of Marvelous Ways by Sarah Winman (US Release June 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:23] Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshmi (June 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:29] The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (June 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:59] Keep Them Close by David Ellis (June 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:39] Other Books Mentioned Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2023) [8:05] The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [8:54] Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (2016) [9:12] Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2001) [9:16] The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (2019) [9:17] State of Wonder by Ann Patchett (2011) [9:18] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [10:07] Tin Man by Sarah Winman (US 2018) [13:39] Still Life by Sarah Winman (2021) [14:24] Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, 1) by Kevin Kwan (2013) [19:54] Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan (2025) [20:12] The Best Lies by David Ellis (2024) [26:44] July Sarah's Picks The Half Life by Rachel Beanland (July 14) |Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:40] Dad, Love, Me by Matthew Quick (July 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:27] Catherine's Pick City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi (July 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:28] Other Books Mentioned Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland (2020) [15:26] The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland (2023) [15:28] The Women by Kristin Hannah (2024) [16:27] The Wives by Simone Gorrindo (2024) [17:48] The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick (2008) [20:39] August Sarah's Picks Everything That Is Beautiful by Louise Nealon (August 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:33] Sunlight Finds You by Laura Moriarty (August 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[28:32] Kitten by Stacey Yu (August 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:07] Catherine's Pick You'll Love It Here by Natalie Sue (August 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:41] Other Books Mentioned Snowflake by Louise Nealon (2021) [25:05] Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (2019) [26:25] Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (2014) [28:54] The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty (2012) [29:14] The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) [36:01] I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue (2024) [37:51]
On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: both discuss plane reading and its advantages Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: book recs for each enneagram type Before We Go: our new segment featuring a bookish friend post and a sleeper hit brought by Meredith Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . 1:31 - Bookish Moments of the Week 1:55 - The House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas 2:03 - @hollyslitmagic on Instagram 2:50 - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas 8:08 - Current Reads 8:28 - The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (Meredith) 10:10 - Diavola by Jennifer Thorne 10:28 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live 13:31 - Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid 16:17 - Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo 18:23 - The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (Kaytee) 18:35 - The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali 23:09 - Radical Focus by Christina Wodke (Meredith) 24:45 - Traction by Gino Wickman 28:59 - Disney Adults by AJ Wolfe (Kaytee) 36:55 - When The Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy (Meredith) 42:30 - Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson (Kaytee) 47:09 - Deep Dive: Books for Each Enneagram Type 47:15 - CR Season 3: Episode 37 49:20 - American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (9) 49:45 - Zorrie by Laird Hunt (9) 51:11 - Beartown by Fredrik Backman (9) 52:23 - Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (8) 53:18 - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (8) 54:22 - Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple (7) 55:44 - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (7) 56:54 - We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (6) 57:04 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live 57:55 - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (6) 59:33 - Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel (5) 59:52 - The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (5) 1:00:54 - Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (4) 1:01:46 - Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery (4) 1:01:54 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (4) 1:02:51 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3) 1:03:01 - Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez (3) 1:03:49 - Erasure by Percival Everett (3) 1:05:14 - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2) 1:06:16 - The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah (2) 1:06:42 - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2) 1:08:30 - Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (1) 1:10:06 - The Home-maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1) 1:13:05 - Before We Go Kaytee highlights a bookish friend post Meredith brings a sleeper hit 1:14:25 - Wives Like Us by Plum Sykes Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. May's IPL is brought to us from a new to us bookstore, Book & Books in Coral Gables, Florida Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads | Substack | Youtube The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!
This week on From the Front Porch, it's a New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia share the May 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 580), or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: Annie's books: Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester (May 5th, 2026) Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick (May 26th, 2026) Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (May 26th, 2026) Olivia's books: Five by Ilona Bannister (May 5th, 2026) Young World by Soman Chainani (May 5th, 2026) Night Objects by Eli Raphael (May 26th, 2026) Erin's books: Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel (May 5th, 2026) The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline (May 12th, 2026) Babylon, South Dakota by Tom Lin (May 26th, 2026) 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 Whistler by Ann Patchett. Olivia is reading The Mortons by Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier. Erin is listening to Into the Blue by Emma Brodie 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...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.
Going back ten years to 2016, Sarah and Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide) dive into the annual Bookish Time Capsule episode and revisit the book world from that year. They cover big bookish highlights — from the buzziest books of the year to the award winners — along with what was happening in the wider world at the time. They also look back at their own reading from 2016, including their favorite releases, and share a quick round-up of listener-submitted favorites. This episode is overflowing with great backlist titles to add to your TBR! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights The big news that was going on outside the book world Book stories and trends that dominated 2016 The 2016 books that have had staying power Big books and award winners for the year Reading in the blog years before the Rock Your Reading Tracker Sarah's and Catherine's personal 2016 reading stats Listener-submitted favorites from 2016 2016 Bookish Time Capsule [1:45] The World Beyond Books Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:09] To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:59] My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:11] Ferrante's true identity has never been confirmed, despite multiple attempts by journalists and various theories pointing to different people. Book Industry Sales and Trends Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:02] The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:10] Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:21] A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:36] Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:40] To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:45] All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:57] The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:12] Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:16] StrengthsFinder 2.0 from Gallup (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:20] When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:30] The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:33] After You by Jojo Moyes (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:49] The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:52] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:59] Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (2016)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:36] Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:49] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:04] Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:05] The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (English Translation, 2015) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [13:32] My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman (English Translation, 2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:39] In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:51] Big Books of 2016 It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:47] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 2) by Sarah J. Maas (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:28] Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:25] Pines (Wayward Pines, 1) by Blake Crouch (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:57] Recursion by Blake Crouch (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:17] A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[18:34] Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:58] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:29] James by Percival Everett (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:42] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:51] Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:10] When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:28] Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:46] Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:19] Award Winners of 2016 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:54] The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:06] Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:35] The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:51] Let Me Die In His Footsteps by Lori Roy (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:50] Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:56] All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:05] Catherine's Top Books Forty Rooms by Olga Grushin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:46] A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[28:11] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:35] The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (June 2, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:03] Before the Wind by Jim Lynch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:57] Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:57] Miss Jane by Brad Watson (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:48] Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:57] Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:08] Adnan's Story by Rabia Chaudry (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:40] Sarah's Top Books Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:45] Shelter by Jung Yun (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:58] All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:06] The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:16] My Name Is Lucy Barton (Amgash, 1) by Elizabeth Strout (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:22] Oh William! 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