Episode · The Book Review · 2021-09-17
Colson Whitehead on The Book Review: books mentioned (Sep 2021)
Colson Whitehead on 'Harlem Shuffle'
Pamela Paul recommended The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki, and discussed Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, The Magician by Colm Tóibín, The Master by Colm Tóibín, and Between the Woods and the Water by Patrick Leigh Fermor. Alexandra Alter discussed No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood, The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, and The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.. Greg Cowles recommended A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor. John Williams recommended Latecomers by Anita Brookner. Also mentioned: Reflections of a nonpolitical man by Thomas Mann.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Harlem Shuffle
Harlem Shuffle is a 2021 novel by Colson Whitehead that follows Ray Carney, a furniture salesman in 1960s Harlem navigating a double life involving low-level crime and heists.
Discussed“Coulson White had joins us now from Manhattan his latest novel is Harlem Shuffle”
Where to get it
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The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical fiction novel that reimagines the antebellum South by turning the secret network of abolitionist routes into a literal subterranean railway system utilized by an enslaved woman named Cora seeking freedom.
Discussed“I guess you would call it historical the Underground Railroad of course you jump around in time”
Where to get it
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The Nickel Boys
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel depicting the brutal abuses suffered by teenage boys at a reform school in the Jim Crow-era American South.
Discussed“with the nickel boys you are into the 20th century”
Where to get it
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The Magician
The Magician by Colm Tóibín is a historical fiction novel that offers a novelized chronicle of the life of the celebrated German author Thomas Mann.
Discussed“colum toyan joins us from Los Angeles his new novel is called the magician”
Where to get it
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The Master
The Master is a 2004 biographical novel by Colm Tóibín that imagines several years in the complex life and inner world of acclaimed author Henry James.
Discussed“one of your earlier novels although you've written other novels since then which was The Master about about Henry James”
Where to get it
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Reflections of a nonpolitical man
Critiqued“where he wrote a I think a ridiculously bad book called reflections of a nonpolitical man”
Where to get it
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No One Is Talking About This
No Is Not Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood is a critically acclaimed debut novel that explores internet culture, modern digital existence, and profound personal tragedy.
Discussed“Patricia Lockwood is nominated for no one is talking about this her novel which is a bit of a meta commentary on the internet”
Where to get it
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The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
The Love Songs of W.E.B.
Discussed“fan Jeffers for the love songs of web de boys it's her debut and it's already gotten a tremendous reception”
Where to get it
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The Prophets
The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
Discussed“there's another debut by Robert Jones Jr called the prophets and this is a love story about two black enslaved men”
Where to get it
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A Time of Gifts
A Time of Gifts is a celebrated travel memoir by Patrick Leigh Fermor that recounts his youthful walking journey across Europe from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople in the 1930s.
Recommended“the name of this book that I'm reading is a time of gifts”
Where to get it
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Between the Woods and the Water
Discussed“and I also only read the middle volume of this series between the woods and the water”
Where to get it
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Latecomers
Latecomers by Anita Brookner is a 1988 novel that explores themes of displacement, friendship, and the immigrant experience through the lives of two men in London.
Recommended“this is a 1988 novel called late comers that I read probably three or so years ago”
Where to get it
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The Makioka Sisters
The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki is a sweeping classic Japanese novel that chronicles the elegant and traditional lives of four daughters belonging to an affluent Osaka merchant family as they navigate the changing social landscape of the years leading up to the Second World War.
Recommended“I recently read a novel called The makioka Sisters by junichiro tanizaki”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (10) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“when Noble Hustle came out and I think it's a superb book it's my book about the World Series of Poker”
“some of my characters like pepper who was a seasoned criminal in the Harlem Shuffle who's seen it all”
“but I'm now doing a second book about Carney in the 1970s”
“which is where the book this novel The Magician was launched because the German government now owns that building”
“for example Richard Powers who is shortlisted for bewilderment”
“he was also shortlisted ed for the overstory”
“Maggie shipstead is nominated for a great circle”
“he is nominated for Cloud Cuckoo Land”
“I think a two-time national book award finalist is nominated for Matrix which is her novel that's set in a Nery in France”
“and Jason M for hell of a book which I have to confess I haven't read but based on the description I'm intrigued”