Podcast appearances and mentions of Tayari Jones

Delroy Lindo stars as Delta Slim, a gifted and haunted blues musician, in ‘Sinners.' It's a performance that has earned Lindo his first Academy Award nomination. He wants to win, but he says he won't let it define him either way. “I have never taken my marbles and gone home as a result of whatever disappointments, the vicissitudes of the industry.”Also, we hear from novelist Tayari Jones. Her new book ‘Kin' is a story of two motherless girls in 1950s Louisiana who became each other's chosen family. The idea for the book came from her own experience of losing a friend. “When you're friends with someone, you know your name will not be listed in any obituary. But it breaks your heart to lose your friends,” she tells Tonya Mosley. To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Erin and I both adored Kin by Tayari Jones, and we decided to do a whole episode discussing it!  The first 15ish minutes are spoiler free, so if you haven't read it yet, you can listen and decide if the vibes sound right for you.  After that, we get into everything we loved about the characters, the prose, the plotting and the themes! Kin by Tayari Jones Synopsis Vernice and Annie, two motherless daughters raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, have been best friends and neighbors since earliest childhood, but are fated to live starkly different lives. Raised by a fierce aunt determined to give her a stable home in the wake of her mother's death, Vernice leaves Atlanta at eighteen for Spelman College, where she joins a sisterhood of powerfully connected Black women and marries into an affluent family. Annie, abandoned by her dissolute mother as a child, and fixated on the idea of finding her and filling the bottomless hole left by her absence, sets off on a journey that will take her into a world of peril and adversity, as well as love and adventure, and culminate in a battle for her life.   Tayari Jones Oprah Interview Tayari Jones on The Stacks Erin's Interview with ReShanda Tate about With Love From Harlem Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

Today on The Stacks, we're joined by bestselling author Tayari Jones to talk about her newest book, Kin. This novel follows the lifelong friendship between Vernice and Annie, two motherless girls whose paths diverge in adulthood. In our conversation, Tayari shares how Kin was the book she had to write, even though it was not the one she was contracted to write, why she avoided writing a historical novel until now, and how coming home to Atlanta has impacted her as a person and a novelist. The Stacks Book Club pick for March is Paradise by Toni Morrison. We'll be discussing the book with Namwali Serpell on March 25th.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks website: https://www.thestackspodcast.com/2026/3/11/ep-415-tayari-jonesConnect with Tayari: Instagram | Threads | Website | FacebookConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Threads | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Youtube | SubscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Author Tayari Jones talks about how her latest novel, Kin, explores mother-daughter relationships and friendships between women. Jones appears tonight at Houston's Kindred Stories.And we learn about a new exhibit at The Health Museum which explores the science, stories, and human experiences behind the fight against cancer.Watch

Host Greta Johnsen talks to Tayari Jones. Her novel Kin is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for March. It's about two girls grow up in the 50's in Alabama. They each lost their mothers in different ways, and those absences shape the trajectories of both of their lives. Tayari and Greta talk about the power of deep, abiding friendship, the importance of asking for help, and how Tayari stumbled upon writing historical fiction. UPCOMING BOOK CLUB BOOKS:April: Vigil, George SaundersMay: Whidbey, T Kira MaddenJune: Dear Monica Lewinsky, Julia LangbeinJuly: Canon, Paige LewisSHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalShow art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: Book festivals and new book podcast episodes Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: Revisiting the Currently Reading Press List Before We Go: our new segment featuring bookish friend posts and something Kaytee is curious about Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . . :10 Bite Size Intro 2:01 - Currently Reading Press List 3:00 - Bookish Moments of the Week 3:23 - Tucson Festival of Books 3:54 - If you will be at TFOB, email Kaytee at kaytee @ currentlyreadingpodcast . com 5:17 - The Diving In podcast 6:28 - Current Reads 6:36 - Wreck by Catherine Newman (Kaytee) 6:49 - Sandwich by Catherine Newman 9:50 - Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton (Meredith, Blackwell's link) 12:58 - Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips 15:06 - The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande (Kaytee) 15:14 - Kaytee's Instagram @notesonbookmarks 19:09 - Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic by C.M. Nascosta (Meredith) 19:18 - Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta 25:21 - Love and Fury by Samantha Silva (Kaytee) 25:26 - The Novel Neighbor 26:32 - Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva 26:35 - CR Season 1: Episode 18 27:36 - You're Dead To Me podcast 28:46 - The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty (Meredith) 30:16 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 32:39 - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 32:40 - The Princess Bride by William Goldman 34:41 - Revisiting The Currently Reading Press List 34:58 - Currently Reading Press List 38:53 - The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt 39:00 - Pansuit Politics podcast 42:06 - Matilda by Roald Dahl 42:52 - Death at Bishop's Keep by Robin Paige 43:21 - The Guncle by Steven Rowley 43:33 - The Yoga Store Murder by Dan Morse 43:48 - Disney War by James B. Stewart 43:52 - The Course of Love by Alain de Botton 44:08 - Shogun by James Clavell 44:28 - Dataclysm by Christian Rudder 44:39 - The Book of M by Peng Shepherd 44:51 - Life after Life by Kate Atkinson 45:11 - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton 45:20 - The Vintage Teacup Club by Vanessa Greene 45:29 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 45:30 - Scythe by Neal Shusterman 45:36 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 46:03 - My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows 46:04 - My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows 46:09 - The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich 46:11 - The Paper Magician by Charlie Homberg 46:25 - The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber 47:15 - Expecting Better by Emily Oster 47:26 - Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman 50:14 - Before We Go Meredith highlights a bookish friend post 50:54 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion by Beth Brower Kaytee brings something she's curious about 53:00 - Laura Tremaine's Substack 53:15 - 10 Things To Tell You podcast  55:13 - Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser 55:29 - Kin by Tayari Jones 55:37 - Whistler by Ann Patchett 55:51 - Land by Maggie O'Farrell   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 is brought by our lovely friends at 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 | 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!

Tayari Jones is the author of four novels including An American Marriage, which was an Oprah's Book Club Selection and also appeared on Barack Obama's summer reading list as well as his year-end roundup. The novel was awarded the Women's Prize for Fiction Aspen Words Literary Prize and an NAACP Image Award. It has been published in two dozen countries.  Her other works include Leaving Atlanta, Silver Sparrow, and The Untelling. Her new novel is Kin. Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. She is an Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University and the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Creative Writing at Emory University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tayari Jones, author of the 2018 novel An American Marriage, says her next book was supposed to be about gentrification in the American South. But while writing her draft, Jones says she realized the backstory of that project was actually the real story. That's how her new historical fiction novel Kin was born. The book follows two cradle friends who grow up without mothers in Honeysuckle, Louisiana and must navigate life in the Jim Crow South. In today's episode, Jones tells NPR's Ayesha Rascoe about how she tapped into something “older than herself” in order to write this story.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Kin by Tayari Jones examines the complex relationships between mothers, daughters, sisters and friends in the American South. Tayari joined us live at B&N Union Square to talk about Atlanta, Spelman College, tradition, family, friendship, community and more with host Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Kin by Tayari Jones Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones Sula by Toni Morrison Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison Tar Baby by Toni Morrison How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley An American Marriage by Tayari Jones  

Beth Golay speaks with Tayari Jones on her new novel, "Kin," plus James Crossley, owner of Leviathan Bookstore in St. Louis, MO.

In the 1950's, two young women were born poor and motherless in rural Louisiana. From the cradle to adulthood, the two are bonded for life as each searches for love and belonging. “Kin,” the latest novel by author Tayari Jones, is the heartfelt and tender story of their unbreakable bond. It's our March selection for “Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club.” See Tayari Jones live at The Brattle Theatre on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m.! More information here: https://www.harvard.com/event/tayari-jones  Get your tickets now to our Bookmarked: LIVE! event at Lovestruck Books in Cambridge on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m.: https://bit.ly/miasosaUTR

Gina Rogers reviews Kin by Tayari Jones, published by Penguin Random House.

Kin by Tayari Jones - who was the author of a wonderful book called An American Marriage a few years ago, which I loved. In this new one, Vernice and Annie are both motherless, close as sisters, growing up in small town Louisiana during the Jim Crow years. Their lives take them in different directions - Vernice to Atlanta and college, whilst Annie heads to Memphis in constant search of the mother who abandoned her. It's stunningly written, about two Black women navigating the prejudice, misogyny and cruelty of that era and whose bond with each other stands the test of time and distance. Surviving White Island by Kelsey Waghorn. Kelsey was a tour guide on Whakaari White Island and was caught up in the devastating eruption there in 2019, which changed her life forever. This is her account of what happened - the aftermath, injuries, recovery and sheer grit required to get through each day, in a memoir which is both brave and inspirational from a young woman whose future changed in an unimaginable instant. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tayari Jones is one of the country's most gifted writers, and her newest, Kin, is sure to get everyone talking. Beautiful, wrenching and compelling, this is a period piece that takes place in the South around the 1950's and 60's. This is a book that will move you, and almost every sentence is a work of art. Finely crafted, Kin is one of our favorites this year and we were so pleased Tayari agreed to sit with us. We talk to her all about how she pulls off this book, and why it took her so long to get it done.  Join us! Find books mentioned on The Book Case: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode: Kin by Tayari JonesAn American Marriage by Tayari JonesSilver Sparrow by Tayari JonesThe Untelling by Tayari JonesLeaving Atlanta by Tayari JonesBeloved by Toni MorrisonSong of Solomon by Tony Morrison Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new novel from acclaimed writer Tayari Jones follows two friends, bonded together in childhood by the absence of mothers in their lives. But as they get older, one woman goes to Spelman College and finds herself in a new world of Black intellectuals, while the other dedicates herself to searching for her mother. Jones discusses the novel, titled Kin. Jones will be speaking at Barnes & Noble Union Square on February 27 at 6 pm. Cover art courtesy of Knopf

Eight years after her bestseller 'An American Marriage,' Tayari Jones has written a new novel, 'Kin,' set in the Jim Crow South. It follows two girls, Vernice and Annie, who grow up next door to each other without their mothers. That shared wound binds them and carries them through adulthood and across class lines. Jones says the idea for the book came from her own experience of losing a friend — and the particular kind of grief that the world doesn't always recognize. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about female friendship, growing up with civil rights activist parents, and the writing class that changed her life.'Kin' was just selected by Oprah's Book Club. Also, critic David Bianculli gives his take on the latest TV shows.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Tayari Jones and her new novel, which hits shelves today, Kin. Tayari is the author of five novels, including An American Marriage, which was an Oprah's Book Club selection and also appeared on Barack Obama's summer reading list and his year-end roundup. An American Marriage won the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Aspen Words Literary Prize, and an NAACP Image Award and has been published in two dozen countries. Tayari is the C.H. Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With President Trump set to give his State of the Union address on Tuesday, CBS News spoke to the president's supporters in a Republican stronghold in North Carolina about his first year back in office. On immigration, a key component of Mr. Trump's campaign, people were conflicted over the tactics used by ICE. House Majority leader Steve Scalise told "CBS Mornings" Iran isn't done "trying to create a nuclear weapon" amid reports that congressional leaders are expected at the White House Tuesday for a briefing on Iran. Scalise also spoke about President Trump's State of the Union address, saying Mr. Trump will focus on what the administration has done regarding affordability, adding "we have more work to do." Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan spoke to "CBS Mornings" ahead of President Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term. The Democratic senator criticized Mr. Trump on the economy and affordability, saying he isn't focusing on issues that impact average Americans. She also questioned the administration's strategic objective in Iran and said the "Gang of Eight" will be briefed by Secretary Rubio as early as Tuesday. Prosecutors in Kouri Richins' trial alleged the murder of her husband was motivated by his money. The Utah mom is accused of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl four years ago. She later wrote a children's book about grief. Matt Gutman has the latest. Oprah on "CBS Mornings" revealed "Kin" by Tayari Jones as her next book club selection. Kin is about two motherless daughters who have been best friends since early childhood, but their lives take different paths. This is only the tenth time Oprah has picked the same author twice. Jeff Probst, who has hosted "Survivor" since it first aired more than 25 years ago, talks with "CBS Mornings" about how the 50th season is different, fan influence and what to expect with the premiere on Wednesday. Neve Campbell speaks to "CBS Mornings" about reprising her iconic role in the "Scream" franchise. Campbell talks about how the movie connects to a younger generation and her choice to speak out about pay disparity for "Scream 6." Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, who won a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Games, talks about competing with a shoulder injury, having the support of her family in Italy and her future in the sport. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Jason Blitman talks to Oprah's Book Club pick Tayari Jones about Kin, her long-awaited new novel, nearly a decade in the making.Conversation highlights include:

Eight years after her bestseller 'An American Marriage,' Tayari Jones has written a new novel, 'Kin,' set in the Jim Crow South. It follows two girls, Vernice and Annie, who grow up next door to each other without their mothers. That shared wound binds them and carries them through adulthood and across class lines. Jones says the idea for the book came from her own experience of losing a friend — and the particular kind of grief that the world doesn't always recognize. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about female friendship, growing up with civil rights activist parents, and the writing class that changed her life.'Kin' was just selected by Oprah's Book Club. Also, critic David Bianculli gives his take on the latest TV shows.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Where new and noteworthy books begin

Welcome to the Winter 2026 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!   Today, Catherine and Sarah share 16 of their most anticipated books releasing from January through March.   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. Announcement 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)!   One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through either our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both for just $7/mo) is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and Sarah share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available and sign up here for Patreon and here for Substack! Highlights A lightning round of some big releases coming this winter that we're not featuring in today's preview. Catherine chose books by authors she knows and trusts. This year, Sarah dug deep into the publisher's catalog for potential hidden gems. Sarah's books cover literary suspense, literary fiction, brain candy, nonfiction, and a thriller from 2 debut authors and 3 repeat authors. Sarah has already read one of her picks — and it was 4.5 stars! Plus, their #1 picks for winter. Big Winter Releases The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave (January 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:39] The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:43] My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:46] Once and Again by Rebecca Serle (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:49] Crux by Gabriel Tallent (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:53] Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:56] Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh (March 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:00] Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:03] Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (March 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:21]  Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar (January 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:24]  This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman (February 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:28]  Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:31]  Other Books Mentioned I'm Glad My Mother Died by Jennette McCurdy (2022) [3:35]  Winter 2026 Book Preview [6:57] January Catherine's Picks Skylark by Paula McLain (January 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:53] Vigil by George Saunders (January 27)  | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [16:48]  Other Books Mentioned Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (2015) [11:04] When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (2021) [13:12]  Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) [17:39]  February Sarah's Picks Good People by Patmeena Sabit (February 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:59] Royal Spin by Omid Scobie and Robin Benway (February 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:14] Kin by Tayari Jones (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:01]  Catherine's Picks Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:19] More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:05] Other Books Mentioned Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) [9:37]  Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (2023) [9:40]  Real Americans by Rachel Khong (2024) [9:42]  The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) [9:50]  Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (2019) [14:04]  Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand (2020) [14:53]  Endgame by Omid Scobie (2023) [14:57]  Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (2019) [19:20]  An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018) [24:11] Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (2011) [24:13]   Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones (2002) [26:48]  Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen (2018) [29:43]  After Annie by Anna Quindlen (2024) [29:51]  March Sarah's Picks No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:07]  Whidbey by T Kira Madden (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:50] All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[35:31] She Fell Away by Lenore Nash (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:01]  The Complex by Karan Mahajan (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:35]  Catherine's Picks Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:02]  No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes (US Release March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:44] Son of Nobody by Yann Martel (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:11]  How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:15]  Other Books Mentioned A Thousand Naked Strangers by Kevin Hazzard (2016) [30:48]  The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) [33:06]  Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) [33:13]  Shelter by Jung Yun (2016) [35:41]  Medium Rare by A. Natasha Joukovsky (March 3, 2026) [40:39]  Red Widow by Alma Katsu (2021) [41:45]  Red London by Alma Katsu (2023) [41:46]  Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2001) [43:38]  The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel (2016) [46:16]  The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan (2016) [47:17]  Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (2012) [50:04]  Other Links The New Yorker | "The True Margaret," by Karan Mahajan 

Janie Crawford – back in her hometown of Eatonville, Florida – recounts a journey of self-discovery, structured around three marriages. Their Eyes Were Watching God is Zora Neale Hurston's most celebrated work and a classic text of the Harlem Renaissance. In today's Books We've Loved, Andrew Limbong and B.A. Parker, joined by R. Eric Thomas, discuss what makes this novel a coming-of-age story, despite its focus on a woman in her late 30s. And special guest Tayari Jones shares her take on Hurston's relationship to folklore.Eric's Recommendation: ‘Getting Mother's Body' by Suzan-Lori ParksParker's Recommendation: ‘Like Water for Chocolate' by Laura EsquivelAndrew's Recommendation: ‘Tom Lake' by Ann PatchettTo listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What starts as a dismaying story about a wrongful conviction turns into a deep meditation on loyalty, marriage, and independence. Given the subject matter, you might expect a mystery or a courtroom drama. Instead, Jones offers up a moving account of a couple just trying to find a future that will have them.Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.Follow @overduepod on Instagram and BlueskyAdvertise on OverdueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I've found that reading a book isn't enough—you have to wrestle with it. In this episode, I'll show you how Julia Cameron's Morning Pages method can help you process what you read so the ideas actually stay with you. I'll walk through how to use this practice after a reading session and share a book recommendation from Tayari Jones that's worth reflecting on.Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions

In Episode 202, Susie (@NovelVisits) and Sarah explore some of their new favorite Micro Genres. Since starting the Micro Genres series, they've loved taking the opportunity each year to examine and define their tastes in these sub-sub-genres. This year, they have curated a list of 10 all-new Micro Genres, along with notable books for each category. With over 80 books mentioned, this is another year of niching down for 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. Books Told From the Perspective of the Person Left Behind (Sarah) [2:26] Sarah The Wanderers by Meg Howrey (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:39] Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:52] Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:29] Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:31] Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:42] Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:52] Z by Therese Ann Fowler (2013) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:11] The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:19] An American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:26] The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:35] The Wives by Simone Gorrindo (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [5:59] A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:41] Susie Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [7:07] Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:35] The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [7:37] Circe by Madeline Miller (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [7:52] We Begin at the End (Susie) [8:22] Sarah Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:46] Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:16] I'm That Girl by Jordan Chiles (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:20]  Susie The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[10:20] What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[10:49]  Victim by Andrew Boryga (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:48] How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:21]  Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:28]  Other Books Mentioned We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (2021) [8:33]  A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (2025)  [13:54]  Big Business Women (Sarah) [14:34] Sarah Anna Bright is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:29] The Boys' Club by Erica Katz (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:46]  Women Are the Fiercest Creatures by Andrea Dunlop (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:51]  Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:55]  Susie The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[16:30] The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:55]  Other Books Mentioned Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018) [15:34]  Books By Irish Authors Telling Distinctly Irish Stories (Susie) [17:35] Sarah Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:30]  Northern Spy by Flynn Berry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:43]  The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:52]  56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [23:39]  Susie Nesting by Roisín O'Donnell (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [19:39] The Coast Road by Alan Murrin (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:07] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[20:54]  Juno Loves Legs by Karl Geary (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:59] Home Stretch by Graham Norton (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [21:02]  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:50]   Trespasses by Louise Kennedy (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:07]  Other Books Mentioned Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (1996) [19:20]  Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018) [23:16]  Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent (2023) [24:07]  Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent (2013) [24:09]  The Collective “We” Narration (Sarah) [24:33] Sarah The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[25:59]  We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:16]  The Mothers by Britt Bennett (2016)| Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:31]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:56]  Susie The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:38] The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:58]   Other Books Mentioned The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (2012) [25:09]  The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (2025) [25:11]  The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (2020) [27:39]  Torn Between Two Lovers: The Women's Edition (Susie) [29:40] Sarah Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:05]  Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding (1996) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:14]  Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:35] Susie Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:18]  The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:38]  One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:18]  An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:44]  Fiction Modeled on Real-Life Serial Killers or Crimes (Sarah) [33:50] Sarah The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:33]  Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:39]  Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025)| Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:42]   We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:52]  The Girls by Emma Cline (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:00] Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:05] When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:29]  Monday, Monday by Elizabeth Crook (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:39]  Susie Wolf at the Table by Adam Rapp (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:05]  Books with Characters Struggling with Mental Health (Susie) [36:57] Sarah Sociopath by Patric Gagne, PhD (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:24]  Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:58]  Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:13]  Fire Exit by Morgan Talty (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:23]  When I Ran Away by Ilona Bannister (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:28] The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2003) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:36]   Susie Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:56]  More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:06]  Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:43]  My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward by Mark Lukach (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:13]  I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:58] Other Books Mentioned Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy (2023) [42:33]  Dude Thrillers (Sarah) [42:45] Sarah Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:34]  The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:40]  Departure 37 by Scott Carson (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:55]  The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:10]  Red Widow by Alma Katsu (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:27] Red London by Alma Katsu (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:28]   Susie The Holdout by Graham Moore (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:57]  The River by Peter Heller (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:24]  Burn by Peter Heller (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:25]  The Martian by Andy Weir (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:36]  Other Books Mentioned Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [45:41]  All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby (2023) [45:33]  Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby (2020) [46:06]  Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby (2021) [46:13]  Standalone Fantasy Set on Earth (Susie) [46:36] Susie The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:36] Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:39] The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:07] Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:08] Weyward by Emilia Hart (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:28]  The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:32]  Circe by Madeline Miller (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:50]  The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:51]  Other Books Mentioned A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015) [47:03]  Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates (2013) [50:30] 

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 6, 2025 is: festoon • fess-TOON • verb Festoon usually means "to cover or decorate (something) with many small objects, pieces of paper, etc.," or "to appear here and there on the surface of." It can also mean "to hang decorative chains or strips on." // Tiny wildflowers festooned the meadow. // We festooned the halls with ribbons and garland. See the entry > Examples: "The road was lined with ancient trees festooned with Spanish moss." — Tayari Jones, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025 Did you know? The noun festoon first appeared in the 1600s when it was used, as it still is today, to refer to decorative chains or strips hung between two points. (It can also refer to a carved, molded, or painted ornament representing such a chain.) After a century's worth of festoon-adorning, the verb festoon made an entrance, and people began to festoon with their festoons—that is, they draped and adorned with them. The verb form of festoon has since acquired additional, more general senses related not only to decorating, but to appearing on the surface of something, as in "a sweater festooned with unicorns." Perhaps unsurprisingly, this celebratory-sounding and party-associated word traces back (by way of French and Italian) to Latin festa, the plural of festum, meaning "festival."

Tayari Jones and A.M. Homes joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to celebrate 30 Years of the Women's Prize for Fiction and riff on the craft of writing, the importance (and fun) of editing, unlikable characters, literary influences, endings and more with host Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): An American Marriage by Tayari Jones May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes James by Percival Everett Good Girl by Aria Aber

“If my college-age self, reading White Noise, had thought I would one day be discussing word placement with Don DeLillo, I would have had a heart attack,” Deborah Treisman says in this episode. Since those days, in her role as fiction editor at The New Yorker, she has indeed discussed word placement with Don DeLillo, whose stories include “Midnight in Dostoyevsky” and “The Itch.” Treisman has helped bring that kind of story to a wide audience—it's all part of her work at the center of one of the major institutions in the history of American fiction. In this episode, then, we talk about The New Yorker and other forces sustaining short stories. As unruly and unclassifiable as short stories can be, they often live in some august realms: in The New Yorker, for example, or major MFA programs. And elite organizations tend not to do well with unruliness or unclassifiability. But when it comes to short stories, the great achievements of literary institutions have come from the pursuit rather than restriction of short fiction's possibilities. Those possibilities are frequently found far from the publishing industry's hubs: Tayari Jones describes, for instance, how writers can do their best work by leaving the publishing capital of New York City for home, wherever it may be (Atlanta, in her case). Thriving U.S. institutions with a commitment to short stories all rely, in some way, on voices and tendencies beyond those institutions. The New Yorker, says the literary scholar Andrew Kahn, “for a long time has had a very, very diverse and interesting and jumbled-up catalog.” And the writer Justin Taylor says, of MFA programs, “the institutions are not the ivory towers they think they are. They're deeply reflective of the cultures that are producing them.”  Guests: Deborah Treisman, fiction editor at The New Yorker Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage Becca Rothfeld, critic at The Washington Post and author of All Things Are Too Small Justin Taylor, author of Reboot Andrew Kahn, author of The Short Story: A Very Short Introduction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning novelist Tayari Jones speaks on her childhood in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was raised in the midst of the historic civil rights movement, women's liberation, and the tragic Atlanta child murders. She reflects on the role feminism played in her home life and how she learned to love cooking by cooking things she liked. Plus, she tells us about her delectable red velvet cake. Tayari Jones is a writer and novelist. Her 2018 novel An American Marriage won the Women's Prize for Fiction, an NAACP Image Award, and was an Oprah's Book Club selection. She was also a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow for Creative Arts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few weeks ago Kate received an email informing her of a debut author: Diane Oliver. But this debut book stood out because the author had been dead for more than fifty years. Fascinated, we asked for copies...and Diane Oliver's work knocked us out. Her debut collection, Neighbors and Other Stories, is a compendium of her work: insightful, raw, beautiful, intimate, with character's stark and naked humanity jumping off every page. We talk to the writer Tayari Jones, who wrote the book's enthusiastic introduction, as well as Diane's agent, Elise Dillsworth and her publisher, Katie Raissian. How does one release a debut work when the author is long gone? Tune in and find out. Books mentioned in this week's episode: Neighbors and Other Stories by Diane Oliver An American Marriage by Tayari Jones Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood The Color Purple by Alice Walker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chosen, a self-funded TV drama about the life of Christ, has become an international hit with over 100 million views. The creator Dallas Jenkins explains why he wanted to make a bingeable series about Jesus and Priest Lucy Winkett and historian Joan Taylor discuss its impact and significance. The 1970s Soul Funk band Cymande has had a lasting influence on music globally, but they are little known in the UK where they first formed. Director Tim McKenzie Smith explored their music and impact in the new music documentary 'Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande' and he's joined by two of the group's original members, Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio, to talk about it.The American writer Diane Oliver died in the 1960s aged just 22 but her short stories are now inspiring a new generation. Tayari Jones, author of the Woman's Prize-winning An American Marriage, explains why Diane Oliver deserves a place in the in the literary canon alongside Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Olivia Skinner

Unsafe abortion mentions: 3:17-3:31 and 4:02 - 4:24For episode notes, transcripts, and further reading and resources, visit The A Files website. Follow Renee on Instagram and X (Twitter) Follow Regina on Instagram and X (Twitter) Follow The Meteor on all platforms and visit our website to learn more. Everyone loves someone who had an abortion! 

In Episode 160, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and I share the best backlist books we read in 2023. We each discuss our top 5 backlist books from last year, highlight some underrated backlist gems, and review our backlist reading statistics. Devoting an entire episode to backlist reading is something we love doing and we've heard from you that you love it too! 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. Announcement Available Now! To get the backlist reading guide, The Best of the Backlist, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You'll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker. Highlights Catherine had a small uptick in her backlist reading — her most successful segment of books in 2023! Sarah's backlist reading was slightly less successful than last year — maybe marking an unfortunate trend. How Sarah's decreased DNFs for last year impacted her Backlist stats. While Catherine has already read many of Sarah's picks, Sarah has already purchased (but not yet read) many of Catherine's choices! Our Top 5 Backlist Books We Read in 2023 [7:37] Catherine Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:44] True Biz by Sara Nović | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:12] All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:52] The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:58] Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:31] Sarah Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:24] What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:36] Search by Michelle Huneven | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:41] Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:04] The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:55] Other Books Mentioned Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent [10:38] Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent [11:10] The Ensemble by Aja Gabel [23:19] Untamed by Glennon Doyle [31:14] An American Marriage by Tayari Jones [33:22] Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones [36:31] Underrated Backlist Gems [39:54] Catherine Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See by Juliann Garey | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:07]  A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:06] Sarah Something Wild by Hanna Halperin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:12]  The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [51:01] Other Books Mentioned I Could Live Here Forever by Hanna Halperin [45:21] Red Widow by Alma Katsu [54:02] Red London by Alma Katsu [54:03] Other Links Vogue | In Finishing My Book… by Lauren McBrayer

We're back with all new episodes on Jan. 30, 2024. Join us for a wonderfully funny and poignant conversation about life, death, and motherhood with award-winning writer Hilma Wolitzer. Her short stories, most of them originally appearing in magazines in the 1960s and 1970s, were re-discovered by her daughter, bestselling author Meg Wolitzer, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and published last summer in a new collection earning great critical acclaim. Today A Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket has received rave reviews from authors like Elizabeth Strout, Lauren Groff, and Tayari Jones and was named an NPR Best Book of the Year and a New York Times Editors' Choice. Discussed in this episode: Today A Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket by Hilma Wolitzer (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021)Ending by Hilma WolitzerAll That Jazz (1979 film) An Available Man by Hilma WolitzerMeg WolitzerElizabeth StroutLauren GroffTayari JonesGail GodwinLost Ladies of Lit Episode with Anne Zimmerman on M.F.K. FisherMaurice SendakJane AustenAnatole BroyardThe Lost Daughter (2021 film)The Lost Daughter by Elena FerranteThe Ten-Year Nap by Meg WolitzerThe Saturday Evening PostDownton Abbey“Sometimes I Tell Myself” by Hilma WolitzerOther People's Houses by Lore SegalHer First American by Lore SegalSmall Moments by Nancy Huddleston PackerSupport the showFor episodes and show notes, visit: LostLadiesofLit.comDiscuss episodes on our Facebook Forum. Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit. Follow Kim on twitter @kaskew. Sign up for our newsletter: LostLadiesofLit.com Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast

A new 'Craftwork' episode, all about the art of book publicity. My guest is longtime literary publicist Lauren Cerand. Lauren has more than twenty years of experience running her own thriving global communications consultancy, driven by an intensive personal focus on each client's needs and desires, a vast network of relationships, and a well-honed gift for making creative, strategic decisions. She is known for working with authors early on, or at pivotal moments in their careers, including Atticus Lish, Min Jin Lee, and Tayari Jones, and this year, launched and led the inaugural cohort of Get the Word Out for Poets & Writers, a new publicity incubator for debut authors. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Subscribe to Brad Listi's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch Twitter Instagram  TikTok Bluesky Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samira Ahmed speaks to the novelist and author of An American Marriage, Tayari Jones. They speak about her life and career from growing up in Atlanta and taking a stand on ethical issues as a child to developing her voice as a writer, the role that children's author Judy Blume played in her life, and being selected for President Barack Obama's summer reading list and Oprah's Book Club. This discussion first aired on our award-winning podcast, How I Found My Voice, in 2021. We'd love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.  Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.  And if you'd like to get ad-free access to all Intelligence Squared podcasts, including exclusive bonus content, early access to new episodes and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today for just £4.99, or the equivalent in your local currency .  Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you need a couple 5 star books to add to your TBR, then you need to listen to this episode where Sarah and Jayme share what they have been reading lately and if you should be reading it as well.  Let us know if you have read any of these.  Sarah's Shelf: The Wager by David Grann The Moonlight Gardening Club by Rosie Hannigan Dinners with Ruth by Nina Totenberg   Jayme's Shelf: Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See Not So Perfect Strangers by L.S. Stratton Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones 

"I tried to make something that I would have needed. And because that's what I tried to make, I'm hoping readers read something that they need. You know, that's the joy of books, that you come across something that you needed that you didn't even know you needed.In order to make what you make, you have to use what you have. You have to submerge yourself, immerse yourself in what you know, in your own vernacular, in your own tone, in your own belief, in your own way of doing things and telling stories. And that's how the writing can get done."How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University.www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

"An American Marriage" by the talented author Tayari Jones. Set in the American South, this novel takes us on a compelling journey through the lives of Roy and Celestial, a young African-American couple deeply in love and full of dreams for their future. Their world takes a devastating turn when Roy is wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit, shattering their hopes and dreams. As Roy faces a lengthy prison sentence, Celestial is left to navigate the difficult path of love and loyalty amidst a system that threatens to tear them apart. Tayari Jones masterfully weaves a narrative that touches upon racial injustice, class disparities, and the profound impact of incarceration on families and relationships. Through her rich and empathetic storytelling, she captures the raw emotions and inner struggles of her characters, making us reflect on the complexities of human bonds. Join us on this literary voyage as we embark on an analysis of "An American Marriage," unpacking the poignant moments and the pivotal choices that define the lives of its characters.

How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University."I would like for young people to understand just how powerful they are, just how much what they do matters, that they really can make changes that change themselves and change their communities. Change readership, change what a readership can be. Change people's ideas about what a writer might look like, for instance. That we do have agency, that we do have power, that we can make differences."www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.info www.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

"I would like for young people to understand just how powerful they are, just how much what they do matters, that they really can make changes that change themselves and change their communities. Change readership, change what a readership can be. Change people's ideas about what a writer might look like, for instance. That we do have agency, that we do have power, that we can make differences."How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University.www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

"I put this craft book together to create an opportunity for that advice, for those role models, for that access. And I think that what I'm grateful for about this book is that it is the book that I would have wanted back when I was a 19-year-old kid telling people I wish I was a writer. So, I think that's the real crux of the book."How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University.www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University."I put this craft book together to create an opportunity for that advice, for those role models, for that access. And I think that what I'm grateful for about this book is that it is the book that I would have wanted back when I was a 19-year-old kid telling people I wish I was a writer. So, I think that's the real crux of the book."www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.info www.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

"This is a book for anyone who is a student of the craft. More particularly, though, this is a book for younger and newer Black writers in undergraduate and graduate workshops and in absolutely no workshop at all. We hope teachers find these words useful for their students, and we hope students who have yet to find their teachers learn from these thirty-two pieces born out of absolute generosity and hope for the future of Black writing."How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University.www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.infowww.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University."This is a book for anyone who is a student of the craft. More particularly, though, this is a book for younger and newer Black writers in undergraduate and graduate workshops and in absolutely no workshop at all. We hope teachers find these words useful for their students, and we hope students who have yet to find their teachers learn from these thirty-two pieces born out of absolute generosity and hope for the future of Black writing."www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.info www.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

How do you find your voice? As a writer, how do you take what you know and what you believe to share your stories with the world? How do we let young writers know just how powerful they are and that what they do matters?In How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill Pulitzer Prize winning, and National Book Award finalist author Jericho Brown brings together more than 30 acclaimed writers, including the likes of Tayari Jones, Jacqueline Woodson, Natasha Trethewey, among many others, to discuss, dissect, and offer advice and encouragement on the written word. Brown is author of The Tradition, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and he is the winner of the Whiting Award. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection, The Tradition won the Paterson Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His poems have appeared in The Bennington Review, Buzzfeed, Fence, jubilat, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review TIME magazine, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is the director of the Creative Writing Program and a professor at Emory University."And so one of the wonderful things that happen in the book is these writers aren't just writers, they're readers. So when they're talking about the work they love in their essays, they didn't know they were going to be in a book with some of these other people, but they end up discussing the work of other people who are in the book. And because they're doing that, the book ends up creating this web, which I think lets readers know just how intricate the world of influence really is for a writer, and how you get different things from different people along the way."www.jerichobrown.comwww.harpercollins.com/products/how-we-do-it-jericho-browndarlene-taylor?variant=40901184684066www.creativeprocess.info www.oneplanetpodcast.orgIG www.instagram.com/creativeprocesspodcast

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are revisiting the very first Top 10 episode we ever aired. We've grown a lot as podcasters since then and our tastes have changed some, so it was a fun trip down memory lane. We hope this episode stocks your TBRs with books that are ALL backlist now, and easy to grab from the library! As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  We are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). The goal here is to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 3:10 - Currently Reading Patreon 4:12 - Deep Dive: Our Best Books of 2018 5:33 - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 7:03 - The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne 8:56 - The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey 9:39 - Essentialism by Greg McKeown 10:50 -  The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah MacKenzie 11:36 -  The Read-Aloud Revival Podcast 11:47 - CR Season 1: Episode 7 11:53 - American Marriage by Tayari Jones 13:02 - Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown 14:04 - Educated by Tara Westover 14:58 - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls 17:05 - Circe by Madeline Miller 18:02 - CR Season 1: Episode 10 18:52 - Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle 19:59 - Calypso by David Sedaris 21:26 - The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 21:31 - CR Season 1: Episode 3 22:04 - Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman 23:07 - The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz 24:20 - CR Season 1: Episode 18 24:22 - Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 26:11 - Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend 26:19 - Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend 29:04 - The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine 31:15 - Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris 31:20 - The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn 32:12 - Us Against You by Fredrik Backman 32:16 - Beartown by Fredrik Backman 32:24 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 35:07 - Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman 35:08 - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman 40:58 - CR Season 1: Episode 17 Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

Tayari Jones is the author of four novels. She won the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Fine Arts from the Congressional Black Caucus. Her novel An American Marriage was an Oprah's Book Club Selection, and was longlisted for the National Book Award. She won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Fiction. An American Marriage tells the story of Celestial and Roy, a Black middle-class couple living in Atlanta. Their lives are torn apart after Roy is wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit, and the middle of the book takes the form of letters they send each other while he's in prison. In her discussion with Susan, Tayari discusses the letter Celestial sends to Roy to tell him she is leaving him. For more, visit bookexploder.com/episodes/tayari-jones.

Producer Veralyn Williams explores the power of subjective storytelling in the aftermath of her experience working on a particularly harrowing episode. Find more of Veralyn's work at https://www.iamveralyn.com/, learn more about Robin Boylorn here, and Tayari Jones here.