Podcasts about Fredrik Backman

Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll reflect on authors who take big risks in their storytelling, everything from subject matter to writing styles and killing off significant characters.   Books mentioned in this episode include:   • “The First Law Series” and “The Heroes” by Joe Abercrombie   • “Brighton Rock” and “The End of the Affair”  by Graham Greene   • “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman   • by Joe Abercrombie   • “The Road” and “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy   • “Flesh” by David Szlay   • “Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin   • “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and “The Adventure of the Empty House” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle • “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by J. K. Rowling   • “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie   • “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift   • “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn • “Patriot” by Alexei Navalny   • “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov   • “Ball Four” by Jim Bouton and Leonard Shecter   This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.  Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episodes a week on Fridays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. ET. Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe We want your feedback!Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up! Our email address is: AudiobookCafe@ami.ca About AMIAMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Learn more at AMI.caConnect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaInc Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Episode 261! It looks like our first quarter readalong title, FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley, has not lost its grip on us. We both finally watched and in this episode discuss The Bride!, written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Wow. It is a wild ride of a movie and, much like the original novel, not for the faint of heart. Emily watched Remarkably Bright Creatures, based on the novel of the same name by Shelby Van Pelt, and Chris saw The Devil Wears Prada 2, inspired by the novels by Lauren Weisberger What a great year for page-to-screen adaptations 2026 is shaping up to be! Two forthcoming adaptations that we're looking forward to are a mini-series of East of Eden by John Steinbeck and a series called Anna Pigeon based on Nevada Barr's series that starts with TRACK OF THE CAT. Books we've Just Read include FIVE by Ilona Bannister, FROM POTTERS FIELD: Scarpetta #6 by Patricia Cornwell, and THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST by Anne Tyler. It is now officially #BigBookSummer, and we're ready to dive into some books that are 400+ pages. Emily plans on starting with the BEARTOWN trilogy by Fredrik Backman, and Chris's first big book will be 11/22/63 by Stephen King. We'd love to hear about your summer reading plans. Leave a comment or send us an email (hello@bookcougars.com). Happy Listening and Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2026/episode261

Hello from Team Simon! We're taking a quick break this week and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism next Tuesday.  Until then, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes — when bestselling novelist Fredrik Backman joined the show to talk about the thing he's spent his whole career writing about: the quiet, radical power of showing up for people. And Fredrik says great friendships aren't found by luck. They're built deliberately, repeatedly, and, sometimes, inconveniently by people who choose to do the work. Fredrik is the internationally bestselling author of A Man Called Ove (adapted into the film A Man Called Otto), Anxious People, and the Beartown series. His book, My Friends, is a love letter to the relationships that quietly shape who we become. In this conversation, Fredrik opens up about his best friend of over 30 years and what 30 years of real friendship actually requires. His words will have you thinking hard about the friends you might be taking for granted. In this episode you'll learn:  ➡️ Why great friendship is a skill + what the work actually looks like  ➡️ The concept of your "people” vs. “humans"  ➡️ Why your friends are your best editors ➡️ The friendship rule that changed how Fredrik's entire friend group thought about relationships ➡️ The unexpected value of quantity of time vs. quality of time  ➡️ How to be genuinely happy for someone else  ➡️ The difference between healthy self-deprecation and low self-esteem  ➡️ Why the work in a relationship is never solely on the relationship — it's always on you A great relationship isn't a stroke of luck. It's a choice you make every day, in small ways, often when it's inconvenient. This conversation is a reminder of why it's worth it. This… is A Bit of Optimism. + + + To buy Fredrik's book, My Friends, visit: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Fredrik-Backman/411545926  + + + Chapters Chapters 00:00:00 We Don't Need Algorithms to Find Our People 00:02:45 Fredrik's Viral Speech: Fueled by Pure Panic 00:05:55 The Power of Authenticity: Why Imperfection Resonates 00:07:29 Choose Your Seven Humans Wisely 00:08:56 The Friend Who Taught Him Everything 00:15:43 Quality Time vs Quantity Time: The ROI of Presence 00:17:53 The "I Want To," Not "I Have To" Philosophy 00:20:55 Your Friends Are Your Best Editors 00:13:23 Writing as Self-Editing 00:15:06 Learning to Be Happy for Others 00:22:41 The Gift of Time: Showing Up When It Matters 00:23:56 Be A Great Friend, Get Great Friends 00:28:55 The Work Is On You: Relationships and Self-Growth 00:36:23 Algorithms Would Never Match Us: The Value of Difference 00:34:21 Trying Is Everything 00:35:55 People vs Humans 00:37:18 Self-Deprecation vs Low Self-Esteem 00:39:22 The Jantelagen: Swedish Humility Law 00:45:26 The Fear of Disappointing People 00:48:00 Expectations vs Reality: Letting Go of Fantasy 00:49:00 Understanding Bullies: Finding What We Have in Common 00:51:21 Fighting Narcissism: Surrounding Yourself With Better People 00:52:08 Being Comfortable Not Knowing: The Gateway to Learning 00:55:28 The World's Best Cardamom Bun Debate + + + Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do. Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game. + + + Website: http://simonsinek.com/ Leaderful: https://simonsinek.com/leaderful Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/ Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek

Get your copy of "The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth von Arnim here: https://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-April-Penguin-Classics/dp/0143107739/ Get your copy of "A Man Called Ove: A Novel" by Fredrik Backman here: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Called-Ove-Novel/dp/1476738025/ Get your copy of "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens here: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Crawdads-Sing-Delia-Owens/dp/0735219109/ Get your copy of "Simplicity, A Love Story" by Jackie Adams here: https://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Love-Story-Jackie-Adams-ebook/dp/B0B257LHHK/   Learn more about Jackie and her books here: https://jackieadamssite.wordpress.com/   Until next time!

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!

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! (Amgash, 3) by Elizabeth Strout (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:38] Tell Me Everything (Amgash, 5) by Elizabeth Strout (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:47]   Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:05]  Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:30] Tender by Belinda McKeon (US Release, 2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:44] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:03]  When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:05] The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31]  Listeners' Top Books A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[44:14] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:19] A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 2) by Sarah J. Maas (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:35]   Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:47] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:01]  Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:24] Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:30] Beartown by Fredrik Backman (English Translation, 2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:32] Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:40]  The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:45] Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:58] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:00] The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:16] 

Satu lukisan. Tiga sosok kecil. Dan sebuah cerita yang belum selesai. Kali ini, Perimin kembali membawakan satu kisah persahabatan yang begitu menghangatkan. Alkisah, Louisa, seorang seniman muda yang menempuh perjalanan demi mengetahui satu rahasia besar di balik lukisan yang ia dapatkan. Dengan sentuhan khas Fredrik Backman yang hangat dan jenaka, cerita ini terasa sederhana, tetapi perlahan meninggalkan kesan yang mendalam di hati para pembaca. Jadi, apakah kamu sudah siap menelusuri kisah persahabatan di balik lukisan ini bersama Louisa? https://www.periplus.com/p/9781398516434/my-friends

Book publishing continues to rise year after year. But with all the noise in book marketing and recommendations from algorithms, how do you decipher what book to pick up next that is actually worth the read? Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll share some tips and tricks to help you find your next favourite book!   Books mentioned include:   “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman   “Is a River Alive?” by Robert Macfarlane “Crow” by Amy Spurway “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir   “The Apollo Murders Series” by Chris Hadfield   Other notable mentions include:   Goose Lane Editions   ECW Press   This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.  Audiobook Café is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes two new podcast episodes a week on Fridays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. ET. Follow Audiobook Café on Instagram @AMIAudiobookCafe We want your feedback!Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up! Our email address is: AudiobookCafe@ami.ca About AMIAMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Learn more at AMI.caConnect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaInc Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bestselling thriller writer Clare Mackintosh joins Philippa to talk about her gripping new novel It's Not What You Think— packed with jaw-dropping twists.We cover:How Clare creates unforgettable plot twistsWriting habits, pressure & her next very spicy thrillerDream writing spots (and total nightmares!)Plus, quick-fire reviews of:My Friends by Fredrik Backman – emotional, funny, unforgettableMrs Spy by M J Robotham– smart, fun spy fictionSupercrash: How to Hijack the Global Economy by Darryl Cunningham– sharp and eye-openingCaller Unknown by Gillian McAllister - Out soon!And: Kindle vs Kobo — which wins?Love books? Hit follow and don't miss an episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety has a way of creeping up on us. Sometimes the source of our unease is easy to pinpoint, while others times it seems to bubble up without cause. The natural tendency is to push away the anxious thoughts or deny they exist at all. Unfortunately, this rarely helps matters; in fact, it often makes things much worse. But what if we were able to face our anxiety head on? And what if we could use our spiritual practice as an additional tool to support ourselves through these anxious periods? Is it possible that anxiety could actually serve as a useful teacher? As we listen to the pitter-patter of the spring rain, consider how you might create a new relationship with the anxiety in your life.  What am I reading? Anxious People by Fredrik Backman https://bookshop.org/a/111301/9781501160844How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women by Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell https://bookshop.org/a/111301/9781464241222https://bookshop.org/shop/witchywomanwalkingWhat's playing on repeat?Song of Sorrow by Elle KingWhat's for dinner?Mediterranean Baked CodIngredients:1 ½ pounds cod fillet1 small red onion OR large shallot, sliced3 cloves garlic crushed1 pound cherry tomatoes halved¼ cup sliced black olives1 tablespoon olive oil1 teaspoon Italian seasoningsalt & pepper to taste¼ cup white wine OR water4 tablespoons butter choppedInstructionsPreheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a rectangular baking dish that will comfortably hold all your cod pieces and tomatoes and place the fish inside.Scatter the onion, garlic, tomatoes and olives around the fish. Drizzle the olive oil all over the ingredients in the dish. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and season with salt and pepper. Pour the water into the dish. Scatter the butter evenly over the dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tomatoes and fish are cooked.Tofu Matcha White Chocolate Mousse Ingredients:Mousse12 oz (340 gr) silken tofu6 oz (170 gr) white chocolate, melted1 tbsp matcha powder1 tsp vanilla extractToppings:Greek/coconut yogurtBerriesInstructionsBlend silken tofu, melted white chocolate, matcha powder, and vanilla extract in a blender until smooth.Pour the mixture into serving glasses.Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to let the mousse set.Top with toppings. Serve.https://jajabakes.com/wprm_print/tofu-matcha-white-chocolate-mousseSupport the show

This episode contains spoilers! You can find us on youtube @TuneinSoFarSoGood :)

Recording of Off the Shelf Radio Show from WDLR with co-hosts Nicole Fowles and Molly Meyers LaBadie. Guests include Chase Waits and Kris Hodge from the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This week we chat about Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with our friends from the Delaware County Board for Developmental Disabilities Learn more here.    Recommendations include My Friends by Fredrik Backman, Unseen by Molly Burke, and Good Kings Bad Kings by Susan Nussbaum. Read more about today's episode here. Listen live every Friday morning at 9 AM. https://my967.net/  This episode originally aired on March 6, 2026.

Book Besties Season 10 Episode 3: BeartownThis week tackle Fredrik Backman for the first time with his book Beartown. Join them as they talk about herd mentality, loyalty, and the worst parts of humanity. Trigger Warning for this episode: rape on page, bullying, violence, gun violence, child abuse, alcohol abuse, body dysmorphia. Things talked about in this episode: Madison on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsmadisonreadingnow The Lottery: https://bit.ly/4ayOKDU Steubenville Rape Case: https://bit.ly/3OjTciyOpenly gay NFL Player: https://bit.ly/4aOdFot This episode was filmed prior to the death of James Van Der Beek. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.Meet Molly and April, they bonded over books and became Book Besties. So, what do you do when you find your book bestie? Start a podcast of course. Hang out with April and Molly as they talk about everything they love and hate about books. Follow the Book Besties on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube. If you'd like to contact the Book Besties, please email us at bookbestiespod@gmail.com or visit our website bookbestiespodcast.com. This episode is sponsored by Carpe Librium: Bookish Things for Bookish People. Use the code besties10 to save 10% off your total order through February at https://beawesomereadbooks.com.

In Episode 213, Sarah and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) wrap up the year with the Best Books of 2025 Genre Awards. They reveal their Overall Best Books (Fiction and Nonfiction) and a full breakdown by genre, including: Best Literary Fiction, Best Romance, Best Brain Candy, Best Genre Mash-Up, and more! Plus, they share the winners for these same genres as chosen by the Sarah's Bookshelves Live Member Community. 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 The 2026 Reading Tracker is out! This year brings upgraded features across the board — including NEW average star rating and 5-star book tracking for every stat on the Dashboard — plus an updated Lite Tracker for those who prefer a streamlined version. Both Trackers are ONLY available to paid Patreon or Substack subscribers ($7/month) and is no longer sold separately. To avoid Apple's 30% fee, be sure to join directly from the Patreon website (mobile or desktop). Join our Patreon Community (here) OR become a Substack Paid Member (here)! Highlights Podcast reflections from 2025 — including top episodes based on download stats. A brief overview of Sarah's and Chrissie's 2025 year in reading. Their favorite books of the year: overall and by genre, including the SBL Member Community's picks. 2025 Genre Awards [12:39] Sarah The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:45]  The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [16:32]  The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:13]  One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [23:48]  The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:47]  August Lane by Regina Black (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:03]  The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:54]  Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:36] This American Woman by Zarna Garg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:00] Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [52:59] The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [54:44]  Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [56:29] Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [1:00:10]  The Elements by John Boyne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:03:10] Chrissie Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:42]  Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:36]  Marble Hall Murders (Susan Ryeland, 3) by Anthony Horowitz (2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org  [21:39]  The Pretender by Jo Harkin (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [25:51]  What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:28]  To Clutch a Razor (Curse Bearer, 2) by Veronica Roth (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:39]  The Love Haters by Katherine Center (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [37:03]  These Heathens by Mia McKenzie (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:31]  The Zorg by Siddarth Kara (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:11]  Misbehaving at the Crossroads by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [51:09] A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:38]  Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[55:11] Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [57:16]  Future Boy by Michael J. Fox (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:01:23]  Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:06:07]  SBL Member Community The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:43] The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [19:02] Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:52]  Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:21] The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:28]  The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:23]  One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:39] Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:57] Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:15] Hot Air by Marcy Dermansky (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:17] Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:19] The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:22] Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:24] So Far Gone by Jess Walter (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:27] This American Woman by Zarna Garg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:28] Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:20] Ordinary Time by Annie Jones (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [52:32] Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:31]  Among Friends by Hal Ebbott (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [59:25] Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:02:33] Other Books Mentioned Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024) [13:51]  Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) [15:35]  Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) [15:58]  Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) [16:09]  The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) [16:11] Dream State by Eric Puchner (2025) [16:13] Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne (2023) [17:45]  Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (2025) [18:46]  Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (2025) [18:56]  The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (2025) [19:18] Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan (2025) [19:23] Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (2023) [21:28]  The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (2025) [23:03] The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (2025) [23:07]   Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) [23:13] The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) [23:15]   We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2017) [24:09]  Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin (2022) [26:03] What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) [26:55] Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) [27:06]   The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (2025) [27:12] Isola by Allegra Goodman (2025) [28:13]  Merge by Grace Walker (2025) [31:35] The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve (2025) [31:43]  Sunrise on the Reaping by Susanna Collins (2025) [31:48] Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (2025) [31:01] The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (2025) [32:05] When Among Crows by Veronica Roth (2024) [33:05]  Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (2025) [34:23] Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [34:36] Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [34:37] A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (2025) [34:49] The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (2024) [34:54] Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (2025) [34:58] The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (2025) [35:05] Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (2025) [35:31] The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (2023) [36:49] The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) [38:54]  The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones (2025) [40:30] Hungerstone by Kat Dunn (2025) [40:37] We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad (2025) [40:42] The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (2025) [41:19] Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (2025) [41:30] When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi (2025) [44:56] The Wager by David Grann (2023) [47:34]  Replaceable You by Mary Roach (2025) [49:04] The Gales of November by John U. Bacon (2025) [49:11] Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (2025) [51:58] All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (2025) [52:08] Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) [52:24] Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre (2025) [52:28] One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (2025) [52:49] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [53:22] Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) [54:21] Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo (2025) [54:27] Woodworking by Emily St. James (2025) [56:16] Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) [58:57] The Elements by John Boyne (2025) [59:15]   Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (2025) [59:49] My Friends by Fredrik Backman (2025) [59:51] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [1:05:51] James by Percival Everett (2024) [1:08:07]  Top Podcast Episodes Ep. 199: Best Books of 2025 (So Far) with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Susie (@NovelVisits) Ep. 184: Best Books of 2024 Genre Awards with Susie (@NovelVisits) Ep. 185: Winter 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) Ep. 205: Fall 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) Ep. 192: Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) Ep. 198: Best of Thrillers with Anderson McKean of Page & Palette (@PagePalette) Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) Ep. 193: Clare Leslie Hall (author of Broken Country) Ep. 187: State of the Industry in 2024 with Kathleen Schmidt (@KathMSchmidt), author of the Publishing Confidential Substack Ep. 208: Best of Narrative Nonfiction with Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop (@FabledBookshop)

Do you love a good holiday story that brings different traditions, and unexpected friendships, together in one cozy, snowed-in town? We're diving into our December Book Club pick, Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). Before we get into the book club chat, we start with a bookish check-in: Jen shares about Nadia Davids's Cape Fever (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), and Ashley talks about A. R. Abbott's Founded on Blood and Magic (Bookshop.org). From there, we get into all things Three Holidays and a Wedding. We talk about the way Maryam and Anna's unlikely friendship becomes the heart of the story, the charm of the Snow Falls setting, and the beauty of seeing Ramadan, Hanukkah, and Christmas all woven into the same timeline. We also share book pairings, including Ali Brady's Merry Little Bookshop (Bookshop.org) and Fredrik Backman's Anxious People (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), and wrap up with our bookish heart ratings and a couple of Unabridged Favorites. This is our final new episode of 2025, and we'll be back soon with a re-release of a past book club discussion before we head into a new year of reading together. Also be sure to check out our 2026 Reading Challenge as we turn toward the new year!    Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.   Want to support Unabridged?   The number 1 way to support us is by purchasing Bookshop.org books from our Unabridged shop. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram or Facebook. | Join our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. | Visit our curated list of books at Bookshop.org. | Become a patron on Patreon. | Check out our Merch Store. | Visit the resources available in our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Internationally bestselling author, Niklas Natt och Dag, discusses his new release, HOPE AND DESTINY. When a revolutionary rises in northern Sweden in 1434, the nobility scrambles to come out on the winning side. With so much at stake, betrayal abounds, and murder is inevitable. "…a grand piece of historical fiction…everything you could wish for in a story: kings and rebels, betrayals and murder..." —Fredrik Backman, The New Yorker Listen in as we chat about his famous ancestor, the powerful topics he didn't shy away from, and the importance of a little tennis table in Stockholm! https://www.mariesutro.com/twisted-passages-podcast ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Niklas Natt och Dag (“Night and Day”) is a member of the oldest surviving noble family in Sweden. The Wolf and the Watchman: 1793, his first novel, was named the Best Debut of 2017 by the Swedish Academy of Crime Writers. It and the second book in the trilogy, The City Between the Bridges: 1794, are being published in thirty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and their two sons.

What if great friendships aren't found by luck but built through effort?Bestselling novelist Fredrik Backman, the mind behind A Man Called Ove (adapted into the Tom Hanks film A Man Called Otto), Anxious People, and the beloved Beartown series, has spent his career writing about the quiet power of ordinary people. But in his real life, he learned one of his most important lessons from his best friend of 30 years: meaningful friendship is a skill you develop, not a lottery you win.Despite being a self-described introvert, Fredrik discovered that you don't need hundreds of friends. You only get a few humans who truly shape your life. His newest book, My Friends, is a tribute to those relationships and the daily work of showing up for the people who matter most.In this candid and inspiring conversation, Fredrik and I talk about the healing power of friendship, why differences make relationships stronger, the value of having friends who edit us, and the joy of being genuinely happy for someone else.If you want to become a better friend and build deeper connections, this episode offers heartfelt lessons from one of the world's most compassionate storytellers.This is A Bit of Optimism.---------------------------This episode is brought to you by the Porsche USA Macan---------------------------To check out Fredrik's newest book, “My Friends,” visit: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/My-Friends/Fredrik-Backman/9781982112820Find the full-length speech Fredrik gave for Simon & Schuster here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSuSyZ92Cjg

Lisa discusses My Friends by Fredrik Backman, which was an immediate best seller when it was published in 2025. This is a book that focuses on a dual-storyline highlighting a handful of friends and a story unveiling around art.  Books Discussed:  The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh. 

The Buddies return with Fredrik Backman's 2025 novel "My Friends," their second dive into Backman's work after "Anxious People." They get to chatting about art snobs, nicknames, train conductor, and how this books first draft was originally was way more depressing. The Buddies try to bring some levity to this one (and some much-needed revenge on specific parents). Like the book this one is filled with a bunch of ups and downs. So, fill out your postcards, imagine you are 14 again (you'll need it for our sense of humor), and join us along with all of our other Buddies, or as we like to call them “My Friends”.Intro (0:00-4:11)Stock Up/Down (4:12-38:32)Favorite Scene/Character (38:33-42:11)Love/Hate/Lingering Questions (42:12-53:08)Conclusion/Casting (53:08-57:26) NEXT BOOK: Legend by Marie Lu

Join John Maytham as he recaps on the authors and books he enjoyed this week. · Fiction - An Inside Job by Daniel Silva / My Friends by Fredrik Backman · Non-fiction - How To Fit All Of Greece In An Elevator by Theodore Papakostas Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The BARD annotation follows: My friends DB129483 Author: Backman, Fredrik Reading Time: 13 hours, 9 minutes Read by: Ireland, Marin Subjects: General Fiction, Friendship Fiction “Most people don’t even notice them–three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures. Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love. Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.”– From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. New York : Simon & Schuster Audio, 2025. You can find this book on Bookshare at the following website: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6545673?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPU15JTJCRnJpZW5kcyUyQg

The BARD annotation follows: My friends DB129483 Author: Backman, Fredrik Reading Time: 13 hours, 9 minutes Read by: Ireland, Marin Subjects: General Fiction, Friendship Fiction “Most people don’t even notice them–three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures. Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love. Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.”– From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. New York : Simon & Schuster Audio, 2025. You can find this book on Bookshare at the following website: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6545673?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPU15JTJCRnJpZW5kcyUyQg Enter the Worlds of Books Zoom Room Worlds of Books Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9pm Eastern. Join the Worlds of Books Meeting from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: Or iPhone one-tap : US: +14086380986,,286200556# or +16468769923,,286200556# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 408 638 0986 or +1 646 876 9923 Meeting ID: 286 200 556 International numbers available:

The Buddies are back for their sixth rodeo with Pierce Brown's "Light Bringer," the final book in the second Red Rising trilogy (before the 7th book). The Buddies needed some cliff notes to remember what happened in this one (it was a lot). The gang discusses Mission Impossible/Scooby-Doo mask reveals, and how Atlas has been playing 4D chess while everyone else was playing checkers. There's also talk of self-help books, Darrow having an identity crisis, and Virginia actually getting to do cool Mustang things instead of just being stuck in meetings. So grab your 35-hour audiobook stamina, practice remembering approximately 847 character names, and join the Buddies as we contemplate life until Red God comes out.Intro/Book Summary (0:00-5:37)Stock Up/Down (5:38-32:12)Favorite Scene/Character (32:13-36:25)Love/Hate (36:26-50:45)Conclusion (50:46-55:36) NEXT BOOK: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Jimmy addresses the latest news, like Trump demanding Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute his political foes, before speaking with Sean Penn, Zachary Quinto and Fredrik Backman.

In this episode, Jeff, Laura, and a few members of the community discuss the book My Friends by Fredrik Backman. [WARNING! SPOILERS] They get into the character arcs, the power of the narrator, nonlinear story telling, and the beauty of Backman's writing. Also, Jeff reveals his super fandom, and Laura and Jeff debate the ending of a character. For more on the craft of writing, come to https://dialoguedoctor.com/

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: overflowing bookshelves + a fun way to count your finished reads Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we are bossing some more TBRs The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). .  .  .  .  2:29 - Ad For Ourselves 6:45 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 9:55 - Meredith's Floor Lamp 10:46 - “The Number of Books I've Read This Year” desktop counter from Etsy 13:06 - Our Current Reads 13:32 - A Duke Never Tells by Suzanne Enoch (Kaytee) 16:18 - Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 17:16 - The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North (Meredith)  18:32 - The Whisper Man by Alex North 22:05 - Ordinary Time by Annie B. Jones (Kaytee) 24:48 - Annie B. Jones on Instagram 25:25 - The Dark One (Vicious Lost Boys, 2) by St. Crow (Meredith)  26:13 - Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie 26:36 - The Never King (Vicious Lost Boys, 1) by Nikki St. Crow 30:07 - Shutter by Ramona Emerson (Kaytee) 34:19 - Withered Hill by David Barnett (Meredith) 37:28 - Slewfoot by Brom 38:28 - The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier 38:34 - Boss My TBR From Catherine Bridgewater 40:19 - Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie 40:21 - North Woods by Daniel Mason 40:24 - After the Crash by Michel Bussi 40:27 - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 40:29 - The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher 40:42 - Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 40:43 - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann From Lisa Stone 44:05 - Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall 44:08 - My Friends by Fredrik Backman  44:10 - Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson 44:13 - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaughy 44:17 - The Unseen World by Liz Moore 44:25 - Today Tonight Forever by Madeline Kay Sneed 44:37 - Happy Place by Emily Henry 49:36 - Meet Us At The Fountain 49:40 - I wish to become (or really, have already been) a correspondent. (Kaytee) 49:52 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 51:56 - I wish that for every book it had a perfume-type scent to transport you back to that particular experience of reading it. (Meredith) 52:06 - Ffern | Organic Eau de Parfum 53:40 - The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister 56:35 - Chrissie on Instagram and at Sarah's Bookshelves 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. September's IPL comes to us from: Words Matter in Pitman, NJ. 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 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!

Using stories from Fredrik Backman's new book, My Friends, Dr. Jordan helps listeners get below the surface and into the hearts of how kids feel who are different, lonely, hurting, or experiencing traumas.Fredrik Backman's new book: My Friends: A NovelDr. Jordan's new book is now an audio book: Keeping Your Family Grounded When You're Flying By the Seat of Your Pants, revised and updated edition with an invaluable chapter on technologies, social media, and readiness signs for both https://drtimjordan.com Amazon Book Link: Join Our Community:https://www.facebook.com/DrTimJordanhttps://www.instagram.com/drtimjordan/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-jordan-md-79799120b/

In Episode 203, Gayle Weiswasser, co-founder of Wonderland Books, an independent bookstore in Bethesda, Maryland, returns to the podcast with Sarah for a one-year check-in on the shop's journey. From holiday-season chaos to surprising customer favorites, Gayle shares what worked, what didn't, and why she still handpicks every title on the shelves — plus the biggest lessons (and mistakes) from year one. Plus, Gayle shares some great 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 Gayle shares what it was like to open the bookstore right before the holiday season. How the store's first year compared to their original projections and expectations. The now-dispelled fears Gayle had before opening. Why she's glad they curated every book in their inventory themselves, and why they still do all the book buying in-house. The course correction Wonderland had to make in their romance section. The biggest mistake they made before opening their doors. Which genres and titles have become customer favorites and which don't seem to sell well. How they plan and host book events — and why those events are such a key part of the store's community success. The books that taught them exactly how (and how not) to decide how many copies to order. The surprising punch poetry has packed with customers. Whether Gayle's own reading life has bounced back after the pre-opening stress and time crunch. Gayle's Book Recommendations [39:12] Two OLD Books She Loves One's Company by Ashley Hutson (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:25] Sam by Allegra Goodman (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:46] Other Books Mentioned The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (2020) [44:40]  The Girls from Corona del Mar by Rufi Thorpe (2014) [44:42]  Two NEW Books She Loves The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:01] What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[47:18] Other Books Mentioned The Wedding People by Alison Espach (2024) [46:56] Pretty Things by Janelle Brown (2020) [49:06] One Book She DIDN'T Love Back After This by Linda Holmes (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:55] Other Books Mentioned Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (2019) [51:14]  Flying Solo by Linda Holmes (2022) [53:34]  One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Wreck by Catherine Newman (October 28, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[53:57] Other Books Mentioned Sandwich by Catherine Newman (2024) [54:03]  Last 5-Star Book Gayle Read The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:34] Books from the Discussion Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) [16:30]  Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (2025) [25:41]  The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [26:39]  The Wedding People by Alison Espach (2024) [26:40] The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (2023) [26:42] James by Percival Everett (2024) [30:09] Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) [31:28] Mark Twain by Ron Chernow (2025) [31:38] Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (2025) [31:55]   Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (2025) [32:00]  Cher: Part One: The Memoir by Cher (2024) [32:25]  Gwyneth: The Biography by Amy Odell (2025) [32:35]  Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old by Brooke Shields and Rachel Bertsche (2025) [33:07] Yoko Ono: A Biography by David Sheff (2025) [33:10]  My Friends by Fredrik Backman (2025) [38:29] 

This week we're feeling Dune and My Friends by Fredrik Backman. We then discuss Celine Song's latest film, Materialists.Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FeelingItPodLeave a review on iTunes: http://apple.co/1PXfRMS Feel free to use the chapter buttons to skip between segments!

In our summer books special, Fredrik Backman discusses his latest book, ‘My Friends’, and Christopher Bollen talks about his novel ‘Havoc’. Plus: Georgina Godwin shares her recommended reading for the season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 303 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 Knitting in Passing In my Travels KAL News Ask Me Anything On a Happy Note Quote of the Week   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Gabriella's Unicorn Pattern: Shy Little Unicorn by Ana Paula Rimoli Hook: C (2.75 mm) Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (white), Knit Picks Brava Worsted (cotton candy & various solids) Ravelry Project Page Total for Stash Dash: 116 meters   Sum-Sum-Summertime socks Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock in the colorway Sum-Sum-Summertime Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry) Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page About the Colorway- thinner stripes- 2 colors of aqua, lime green, pink and an orange/peachy yellow. CC mini in lime Total for Stash Dash: 293.3 meters   Stash Dash Total for this episode: 8,715.2 meters   On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Hot pink spinning Fiber: Mountain Vewe Coopworths Fiber in hot pink (no specific colorway name)- three 4oz bumps Ravelry Project Page Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise. Progress: ~1/2 way through first bump. 1st bobbin full and the second is started I've now spun in July and August so I've only missed 2 months so far this year.   Log Cabin Blanket Pattern: Log Cabin Square by Julie Harrison. Free crochet pattern available on Ravelry. Video tutorial available on the Little Woollie Makes YouTube Channel Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Minis (mostly from Advent calendars 2023 & 2024) Hook: I (5.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Inspired by Rachel (treehousefiberarts on Instagram) and Sue & Chelsea (Legacy Fiber Artz on Instagram). Check out the Floss Toss Ravelry Group for details on their Scrappy Blanket CAL. Ends December 21st (but you don't have to finish. 2 prize drawings will be done). My color placement is inspired by this project/pattern available on Ravelry.     From the Armchair   Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. Amazon Affiliate Link. My Friends by Fredrik Backman. 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   I shared a story about a little girl in the nail salon who asked her mom if they could come talk to me because she wants to learn to knit.   In My Travels Travel packing tips Packing cubes- here's an Amazon affiliate link to the set I purchased 6 years ago and still love! I always pack some clothes pins/ metal or wood that I use for snacks/drink mix pouches and/or to keep curtains closed in hotel. I have a standard packing list in Evernote that I customize for each trip. It saves so much time and frustration. Pack a travel power strip- to keep all of those chraging cords in one place (also less likely to leave one behind) Knitting project approach At least 2 socks/stockinette hats for waiting, sitting etc. A project that occupies my brain and makes a long flight go by easier. Queue the audiobooks & download podcasts   KAL News   Splash Pad Final Winners were announced!   Pigskin Party '25 Sponsor Sign Up is Open- click here for details Key Dates: Registration starting Thursday August 20, 2025 KAL Starts- Thursday September 4, 2025 KAL Ends- Monday February 9, 2026 Form Teams- starting Monday August 25, 2025 Virtual Kick Off- Friday September 5 & Saturday September 6   Ask Me Anything   Tune in to hear the answers to these questions: Pat- loonyhiker asked: I know you have probably told this before, but I'd love to hear how you and your honey met. I also would love to hear how your parents met. (bonus audio of my parents talking about this by the pool in 2017) Sandy, sjh801 asked:  Favorite children's book? Both as a child and now as an adult. Children's Book (purely for sentimental reasons): Walk Rabbit Walk by Colin McNaughton. Amazon Affiliate Link. Hardcover available for ~$20 & paperback for around $7 Adult book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Amazon Affiliate Link.John Lee does the audiobooks for what is now this series of books. Book 1 of 5 now in this series. I love them all. Dianne, woohoogirl asks: Do you have a Dream project that you'd really like to make that you just haven't made the time, or plans, for yet? The Traveler by Andrea Mowry ($9 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & the Drea Renee Knits website). This may be my favorite version:a handspun Traveler knit by Emily Curtis. Check out her Instagram post. Click here for a post about the handspun yarn Carrie, Gooberdawn asks: Do you have a project you have created that you feel most proud of? If so, which one and why? ETA: it doesn't have to be yarn-related. Laura, LauraKnitsPA asks: What is one book you would read over and over, and one movie you would watch over and over? Book- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Amazon Affiliate Link Movie: You've Got Mail Dani, stitchintime82-  Any updates on designing? I've enjoyed your patterns and am wondering if you have any plans to make more patterns.   On a Happy Note I was able to get my Apple watch to charge again after I thought it was dead. Oikos yogurt shake/drinks with 23g of protein. My friend Nathan had a heart and kidney transplant just over 1 year ago. He's still learning to walk again after ECMO caused major nerve damage in his legs- and we just went to see the musical he directed. Sometimes this world feels so dark right now but this made me incredibly happy. The night we had tickets for the show, we lost power, so we made it a full date night and went for dinner too. A visit from my cousin Gayle. We enjoyed a great pool day on Sunday and dinner in our town Monday night followed by a walk along the harbor. Gayle chose Mom's Trickle shawl as the item she wanted of hers. I took a photo of her and Google photos turned it into a pop-out. Trickle Shawl- Ravelry | LoveCrafts I gifted Gayle the pair of Stranger Things 2 socks from DVD as an early birthday gift and she sent me a cute photo of her wearing them the next morning. Great customer service from an Etsy maker to order pins. I had fun putting together photos Millie, Teaghan and Rhiannon asked me to take a couple weekends ago at the pool of them jumping off the diving board and making their bodies into the shape of the letters of the alphabet. Fun memories!   Quote of the Week “It's not hotels and nightclubs I crave, or even spectacular beaches -- it's isolation and solitude, time away from the human world and a chance to measure life on a different kind of yardstick.” ― Peter S. Adler   ------ Thank you for tuning in. Remember show notes for this episode can be found at www.downcellarstudio.com/# If you have a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts, I'd greatly appreciate it. I can be found on Ravelry as BostonJen and I'd love it if you came over to join our lively and engaged Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group. Check me out on Instagram at BostonJen1 if you want to see what I'm up to between episodes. Check out my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel Email me at downcellarstudio@gmail.com   For website: 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.  

In this episode, we discuss a recent NSTA blog post on Rethinking Science Assessment in the Age of AI (https://www.nsta.org/blog/rethinking-science-assessment-age-ai). Things that bring us joy this week: My Friends by Fredrik Backman (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/My-Friends/Fredrik-Backman/9781982112820) Lift Hydrofoils (https://liftfoils.com/) Intro/Outro Music: Notice of Eviction by Legally Blind (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Legally_Blind)

Send us a textJuly's featured read was My Friends by Fredrik Backman. Here are our spoiler free thoughts and feelings!

The Friendship Tour Book Club is back — and you're invited! In this quick bonus episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know about our next gathering:

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Leslie Fine dive into the latest novel by the talented Swedish novelist Fredrik Backman. Golden Voice narrator Marin Ireland grandly performs this story of art, friendship, and what it means to be a teen. Ireland replicates the snarky tone of Louisa, who has just released herself from foster care to go see the work of art that is the fulcrum of the plot. Backman has created indelible characters and laugh-out-loud moments. Ireland is simply splendid. Read our review of the audiobook at our website Published by Simon & Schuster Audio Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website Support for Behind the Mic comes from Hachette Audio and NIGHT WATCHER, by Daphne Woolsoncroft (of the Going West podcast), who read an audio-exclusive author's note before the stunning dual-narration by Will Collyer and Helen Laser. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 What happens when a rigid devotion to rules, order, and perfection replaces our ability to feel, connect, and live? In this episode, we explore two moving character studies from Fredrik Backman's novels A Man Called Ove and Britt-Marie Was Here. Through Ove and Britt-Marie—both fictional but deeply familiar—we see the beauty, heartbreak, and potential of the obsessive-compulsive personality. These stories show what can go wrong when emotional life is outsourced or buried—and what can go right when we begin to reclaim it. From tragic emotional isolation to unexpected transformation, this conversation offers insight, humor, and hope for anyone trying to loosen the grip of perfectionism. 

Oh, Fredrik! You have done it once again.  Listen, as we tell you all the things we loved about My Friends by Fredrik Backman.  He is such an amazing word smith. The way he magically weaves a story will leave you wanting more.  At least it does for us.  How about you?  Let us know what you thought.    

Nothing beats a good book, especially at the cottage, by the pool — or even quietly at home with the kids away at camp. We ask two professional book lovers to share their tips for the best books of the summer, from beach reads and blockbusters to novels from Canada's finest.Ann Shea, from Mill Street Books in Almonte, Ont., chose One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes, How to Survive a Bear Attack by Claire Cameron, The Mind Mappers by Eric Andrew-Gee and My Friends by Fredrik Backman.Cassidy Tooley, from Mosaic Books in Kelowna, B.C., chose Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick, The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad, The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.Have you read any of these books already? Hit play to hear the conversation and find out why our book lovers think you should!

Summary: Muahaha! Cower in fear, dear listeners, as Holly and Devin discuss villains… who need a paycheck too. Whether you've worked in Corporate America or just like to imagine hell as an office building, these books will be a home run.  Topics Discussed: The Dagger (3:26): Holly discussed Sign Here by Claudia Lux, a satirical exploration of morality and corporate offices following Peyote Trip, a caseworker in the Deals Department of the fifth floor of Hell. Responsible for securing soups by making deals with humans desperate enough to sign away their afterlives, Peyote is on the cusp of a promotion. If he can sign up one more member of the Harrison family he'll get a “Complete Set” - five souls from the same lineage. Holly's key takeaways were: Hell's depiction as a monotonous office environment serves as a critique of bureaucratic inefficiencies and the dehumanizing aspects of corporate life.​ Peyote's journey reflects a deeper quest for self-understanding and the possibility of redemption, even within the confines of Hell. The novel explores the gray areas of morality, questioning the binary notions of good and evil through its characters' choices and motivations.​ The Harrison family's dynamics highlight the impact of generational secrets and the lengths individuals go to protect or escape their lineage.​  For Holly, the premise of the story was stronger than the execution. While it was entertaining throughout, the two storylines of Peyote in Helly and the Harrison Family on Earth don't come together as strongly and clearly as they could have.  The Heart (13:20): Devin discussed Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, a BookTok-sourced Romantasy following Evie Sage, a young woman lying in the magical kingdom of Rennedawn who is in desperate need of a job. After an unfortunate firing and a spell of bad luck, she stumbles into a chance encounter with The Villain and ends up hired as his personal assistant. While yes, there are body parts swinging from the ceiling, his castle runs much like any business and Evie can handle the paperwork. Devin's key takeaways were: This novel highlights a recent publishing trend of storylines and authors becoming popular on social media sites like TikTok before they are published, then being signed by publishing companies to ride the wave of their popularity. Pros include increased diversity and a resurgence of popularity of reading in the zeitgeist, but Holly and Devin review cons like rushed editing and expected tropes as well.  Maehrer explores the idea that even villains deserve loyalty, empathy, and maybe even a decent lunch break. It's a workplace comedy... if the workplace had torture chambers. The absurdity of running an evil empire like an office is what makes the “villainous job” theme shine. Capitalism meets chaos magic. While not spicy at all, there are romantic elements to the story. The push-pull between danger and attraction for Evie and The Villain is delicious, especially when the boss could literally smite someone - but instead just broods silently when Evie talks to another guy. Hot On the Shelf (35:54): Holly: My Friends by Fredrik Backman Devin: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming What's Making Our Hearts Race (41:47): Holly: The Last of Us Season 2 on HBO Max Devin: Volunteering in her local community   Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com   If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

May is supposed to be the calm before June's opinion storm in SCOTUS-land, but not in Trump's America. Melissa, Kate, and Leah kick off the show with the latest news, including Stephen Miller's habeas suspension fantasies and the president's blatant disregard of the emoluments clause when it comes to free jumbo jets. Then, the hosts are joined by professor Elora Mukherjee of Columbia Law School to break down last week's oral arguments in the Court's blockbuster birthright citizenship case. Hosts' favorite things:Kate: Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age, Amanda Hess; Harvard Paid $27 for a Copy of Magna Carta. Surprise! It's an Original, Stephen Castle (NYT)Leah: My Friends, Fredrik Backman; Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on All Rise News; Melissa: Weight Watchers Got One Thing Very Right, Jennifer Rubin (NYT); This Is Big: How the Founder of Weight Watchers Changed the World -- And Me, Marisa Meltzer; Forever (Netflix) Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 5/31 – Washington DC6/12 – NYC10/4 – ChicagoLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes Follow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: shifting our perspectives and bookish friends stepping up Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we are bossing some more TBRs The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:23 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 5:36 - Our Current Reads 5:47 - My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Kaytee) 8:16 - Anxious People by Fredrik Backman 8:21 - Beartown by Fredrik Backman 10:16 - Night Film by Marisha Pessl (Meredith) 15:23 - The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (Kaytee) 20:29 - The Big Four by Agatha Christie (Meredith) 22:38 - Poirot by Mark Aldridge 24:28 - The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie 26:00 - Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (Kaytee) 26:38 - Pride by Ibi Zoboi  31:05 - The Beast and the Bookseller by Eva Devon (Meredith) 35:15 - The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare 36:42 - Boss My TBR From DactylJD 38:19 - Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall 39:42 - The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz 39:45 - Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan 39:48 - Real Americans by Rachel Khong 39:51 - Belle Green by Alexandra Lapierre 39:55 - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton From Terri Melton 44:42 - Hyde by Craig Russell 44:43 - The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett 44:49 - Falling by T.J. Newman  45:02 - Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London 45:04 - Blood Sisters by Vanessa Lillie 45:07 - To Shape A Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose 45:11 - A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher 49:05 - Meet Us At The Fountain 49:12 - I wish for us to try new things. (Kaytee) 51:32 - I wish to press Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore. (Meredith) 51:38 - Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore   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 a new indie to the rotation - Dog Eared Books in Ames, Iowa. 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 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!

In this episode, we get excited about two new books: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune and My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman. Then Dave talks about the stellar winners of the 2025 Pen America Awards. Links One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Read an excerpt from One Golden Summer Love is Like Peanuts by Betty Bates on Internet Archive Every Summer After by Carley Fortune My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman Beartown: A Novel by Fredrik Backman A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman Anxious People by Frederik Backman American Writers Museum Level Up: Writers & Gamers exhibit Online Exhibits at the American Writers Museum Get Lit Happy Hours and the Grown Up Book Fair on 13 May. Transcript of this episode. The Library of Lost Time is a Strong Sense of Place Production! https://strongsenseofplace.com Join our FREE Substack to get our (awesome) newsletter and join in chats with other people who love books and travel. Do you enjoy our show? Do you want to make friends with other (lovely) listeners? Please support our work on Patreon. Every little bit helps us keep the show going and makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside - https://www.patreon.com/strongsenseofplace As always, you can find us at: Our site Instagram Substack Patreon Parts of the Strong Sense of Place podcast are produced in udio! Some effects are provided by soundly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on From the Front Porch, it's another New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia are sharing 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 528) or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: Annie's books: Poetry is Not a Luxury by Anonymous (5/6) My Friends by Fredrik Backman (5/6) Sleep by Honor Jones (5/13) Olivia's books: Billions to Burn by Taylor Banks (5/6) The Language of the Birds by K.A. Merson (5/13) The Ascent by Allison Buccola (5/20) Erin's books: The Names by Florence Knapp (5/6) Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (5/13) The Love Haters by Katherine Center (5/20) 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 Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.  Olivia is reading King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby.  Erin is listening to The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Host Jason Blitman sits down with bestselling author Fredrik Backman (My Friends) to discuss his love of films, why he could win a Taylor Swift lyric competition, and the exact moment he recalls where his humor originated. Fredrik shares why he doesn't call himself an "author," how he's struggled with confidence, and much more. Jason is then joined by Guest Gay Reader Erika J. Simpson (This is Your Mother), who discusses her recent reading, while Jason explains why experiencing her memoir was particularly unique.Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, Anxious People, The Winners, My Friends, as well as two novellas and one work of nonfiction. His books are published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. Connect with him on Facebook and X @BackmanLand and on Instagram @Backmansk.Erika J. Simpson is a Southern girl living in Denver, Colorado, with her partner and their black cat. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Kentucky and is the recipient of the 2021 MFA Award in Nonfiction. Her essay “If You Ever Find Yourself” was published in Roxane Gay's The Audacity and featured in Best American Essays 2022, edited by Alexander Chee. This Is Your Mother is her debut memoir, and she also writes fiction for the page and screen.SUBSTACK!https://gaysreading.substack.com/ BOOK CLUB!Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.http://aardvarkbookclub.com WATCH!https://youtube.com/@gaysreading FOLLOW!Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanBluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanCONTACT!hello@gaysreading.com

In Ep. 194, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Sarah head back to the year 2017 in the book world with this second annual special retrospective episode!  They share big bookish highlights for that year, including book news, award winners, and what was going on in the world outside of reading. They also talk about how their own 2017 reading shook out, including their favorite 2017 releases.  Plus, a quick run-down 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. The book stories and trends that dominated 2017. How similar 2017 and 2025 are. The 2017 books that have had staying power.⁠ Was this as dismal a year in books as Sarah remembers? Sarah's and Catherine's personal 2017 reading stats.⁠ Listener-submitted favorites from 2017.⁠ Bookish Time Capsule (2017) [2:12] The World Beyond Books No books mentioned in this segment. The Book Industry Wonder by R. J. Palacio (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [9:59] Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:04] A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[10:40] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:44] Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:08] My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:18] The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:03] If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:13] We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:23] Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:46] Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:48] The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:50] Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:57] Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:03] James by Percival Everett (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:04] Bookish Headlines and Trends Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:41] A Promised Land by Barack Obama (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:43] The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama (2006) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:48] My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [23:04] The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:31] Big Books and Award Winners of 2017 A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:01] Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:06] The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:21] Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:27] The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:48] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:09] The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:39] Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [29:23] Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:40] Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:31] Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:09] Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:51] Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:16] Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:41] Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:32] Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:38] Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:09] The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:52] What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:56] Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:21] The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:45] Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [38:04] The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, 3) by N. K. Jemisin (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:30]  Our Top Books of 2017 The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:46] Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:20] Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:22] Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:02] If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:16] Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolitio (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:23] The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:36] This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:38] Trophy Son by Douglas Brunt (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:48] White Fur by Jardine Libaire (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:05] Final Girls by Riley Sager (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:38] Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:44] Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:46] Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:49] The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:10] Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (1995) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:15] Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:19] The Heirs by Susan Rieger (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:34] The Takedown by Corrie Wang (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:53] Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:01] Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:09] Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [48:17] Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:28] The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:33] Listeners' Top Books of 2017 Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:33] Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:51] The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:03] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[50:07] Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:13] Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:15] The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:18] The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:24] This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:25] Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:27]

It's National Library Week! We've packed the week with programs and a new episode of the podcast. Listen in to catch up on the latest news that affects your library and libraries across the country. Sarat Rogers joins us as our local person of interest today to introduce herself and gives us a sneak peek of the Town Egg Hunt.  Thank you for your support this week and always! Amy's Book Recommendations Books I Read Recently That I Enjoyed: The Safekeep by Yael Van de Wouden (Booker Prize 2024 shortlisted) The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Once There Were Wolves and Migrations) Upon A Starlit Tide by Kell Woods The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger   New Books I'm Looking Forward to Reading: The Sirens by Emilia Hart (Weyward) Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Americanah, We Should All Be Feminists) Heartwood by Amity Gage Snowglobe by Soyoung Park   Upcoming Books I'm Looking Forward to Reading: My Friends by Fredrik Backman 5/6/25 Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins (American Dirt) 5/15/25 We All Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough 5/20/25      

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: reading retreats, one finished and one scheduled Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we boss some more TBRs The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:16 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 7:18 - Our Current Reads 7:32 - Finders Keepers by Stephen King (Meredith) 9:37 - Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King 10:24 - Holly by Stephen King 12:17 - The Stand by Stephen King 12:18 - The Shining by Stephen King 12:55 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Kaytee) 17:24 - Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World by Mark Aldridge (Meredith) 20:46 - Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton (Kaytee) 24:54 - Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (Meredith) 28:58 - Mrs. March by Virginia Feito 29:30 - The Lost Library by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead (Kaytee) 31:08 - CR Season 5: Episode 25 31:10 - The Candymakers by Wendy Mass 31:12 - CR Season 3: Episode 41 31:14 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead 31:27 - Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead 33:08 - Boss My TBR From Emily 33:45 - Sweep by Jonathan Auxier 33:48 - My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman 33:52 - Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty 33:54 - S by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst 33:58 - Vicious by V.E. Schwab 34:18 - The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune 34:20 - A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab 34:23 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 34:25 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 34:27 - The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall 36:38 - Schuler Books From Bethany 40:38 - Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd (releases April 8, 2025) 40:42 - The Last Party by Claire Mackintosh 40:45 - Out by Natsuo Kirino 40:47 - Baby X by Kira Peikoff 40:50 - The Stolen Child by Ann Hood 41:03 - Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray 41:09 - The Wedding People by Alison Espach 41:12- The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker 44:55 - The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker 45:17 - Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer 45:47 - I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger 46:17 - Virgil Wander by Leif Enger 47:30 - Meet Us At The Fountain 48:25 - I wish people would utilize our website for the plethora of things it offers. (Meredith) 49:46 - The Candymakers by Wendy Mass 49:49 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead 50:17 - I wish for a “find all and replace” option for books. (Kaytee) 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. March's IPL comes to you from our tried and true partner, An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA. 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 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!

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: relying on books when sick and bookish themed parties Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: bookishness that we are thankful for The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:29 - Ad For Ourselves 1:53 - Currently Reading Patreon 8:19 - Fabled Bookshop 9:13 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 11:33 - Currently Reading Patreon 12:42 - Our Current Reads 13:03 - The Ruins by Scott Smith (Meredith) 14:15 - 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered by Sadie Hartmann 17:55 - The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill (Kaytee) 18:01 - Commonplace Books 19:40 - Betty by Tiffany McDaniel 21:09 - Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (Meredith) 26:56 - Bonk by Mary Roach (Kaytee) 29:43 - Gulp by Mary Roach 31:01 - The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey (Meredith) 36:12 - Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross (Kaytee) 36:27 - Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross 36:35 - Fairyloot 38:51 - All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 39:51 - The Rook by Daniel O'Malley 39:52 - Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley 40:26 - Bookishness We Are Thankful For 41:47 - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 41:56 - Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh 42:17 - Are You There? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume 43:52 - Matilda by Roald Dahl 44:00 - The Witches by Roald Dahl 44:01 - The Twits by Roald Dahl 44:02 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 45:27 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 45:35 - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 47:05 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 48:16 - Lobizona by Romina Garber Russell 51:56 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 52:18 - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 52:56 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 53:30 - Cinder by Marissa Meyer 54:26 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 56:04 - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 56:09 - Meet Us At The Fountain 56:13 - I wish you would consider the new airpod 4s as a gift to yourself this year. (Meredith) 56:16 - AirPods 4 1:01:36 - I wish to press Mr. Dickens and his Carol by Samantha Silva. (Kaytee) 1:01:37 - Mr. Dickens and his Carol by Samantha Silva  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. December's IPL is a recap of the 2024 year!  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 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!

October Book Club is here! It's time to share our feelings about Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. We covered our reading experience, the real-life stories that inspired the book, side characters we loved, and if we enjoyed the controversial epilogue, and more!    If you liked this book, you may like Anxious People by Fredrik Backman!   Obsessions Olivia: Andrew Garfield (shoutout to his Chicken Shop Date) Becca: Viviaia Maryjanes in black   What we read this week Olivia: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern   This Month's Book Club Pick - Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Cozy Earth -  cozyearth.com/badonpaper and use code BOP for an exclusive discount of up to 40% off! Prose - get 50% off your first haircare subscription order at prose.com/bop. Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.  

What is the evolutionary purpose of laughter? What's the difference between Swedish depression and American depression? And why aren't aliens interested in abducting Mike?  SOURCES:Jennifer Aaker, professor of marketing at Stanford University.Judd Apatow, film director, screenwriter, and comedian.Fredrik Backman, author.Naomi Bagdonas, lecturer in management at Stanford University.James Corden, actor, comedian, and former late-night television host.Dick Costolo, former C.E.O. of Twitter.Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University.Jimmy Fallon, comedian and late-night television host.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.Jimmy Kimmel, comedian and late-night television host.Larry LaPrise, 20th-century American singer-songwriter.Jerry Seinfeld, comedian, actor, and writer. RESOURCES:"Fredrik Backman on Creative Anxiety and Procrastination," by Fredrik Backman (Simon & Schuster Centennial Celebration, 2024)."The Relative Importance of Joke and Audience Characteristics in Eliciting Amusement," by Hannes Rosenbusch, Anthony M. Evans, and Marcel Zeelenberg (Psychological Science, 2022)."The 100-Million-Year Origin Story of Laughter and Humor," by Dean Russell (Endless Thread, 2022).Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.), by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas (2021)."What Makes Things Funny? An Integrative Review of the Antecedents of Laughter and Amusement," by Caleb Warren, Adam Barsky, and A. Peter McGraw (Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2020).Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy, by Judd Apatow (2015).How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie (1936). EXTRAS:"Can A.I. Take a Joke?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023)."The Comedian-Ophthalmologist Will See You Now," by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).There's Something About Mary, film (1998).