Episode · The Book Review · 2018-09-21
Esi Edugyan on The Book Review: books mentioned
Esi Edugyan on Her Booker-Shortlisted 'Washington Black'
Pamela Paul recommended The language of kindness by Christie Watson, and discussed Underbug by Lisa Margonelli, Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, Dreaming of Elsewhere by Esi Edugyan and others, Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward, and Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff. Greg Cowles recommended On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan, and discussed The best American essays of the century by Joyce Carol Oates, Fifty Best American Short Stories by Martha Foley and others, and The best American nonrequired reading, 2003 by Dave Eggers and others. Tina Jordan recommended Faithful Place by Tana French. John Williams recommended Shyness and Dignity by Dag Solstad and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Underbug
Underbug by Lisa Margonelli is a fascinating and obsessive work of narrative nonfiction that delves deeply into the complex world of termites, science, and technology.
Discussed“she joins us to talk about her new book underbug”
Where to get it
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Washington Black
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan is a critically acclaimed historical novel that chronicles the extraordinary escape and global odyssey of an enslaved boy from a Barbados sugar plantation in the nineteenth century.
Discussed“ASA Duan joins us now from British Columbia her new book is called Washington black”
Where to get it
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Dreaming of Elsewhere
Discussed“in between the novel half blood blues and this novel you did write your first non-fiction book dreaming of Elsewhere observations at home”
Where to get it
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The best American essays of the century
Discussed“so we've got best American essays and best American short stories”
Where to get it
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Fifty Best American Short Stories
Discussed“so we've got best American essays and best American short stories”
Where to get it
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The best American nonrequired reading, 2003
Discussed“initiated this best American non-required reading and ology every year which is still assembled with a guest editor but a panel of high school students going through and picking kind of the stuff that spoke to them over the previous year”
Where to get it
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On Chesil Beach
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan is a concise, powerful novel examining the awkwardness, societal expectations, and communication barriers surrounding a young couple on their wedding night in 1960s Britain.
Recommended“I thought that it it reminded me a little bit of the um Ian mcan's um chessel Beach which is you know just an argument between two people who really you know like each other”
Where to get it
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Faithful Place
Faithful Place by Tana French is a dark and atmospheric psychological mystery novel that follows an undercover detective forced to confront ghosts from his past when a cold case hits close to home.
Recommended“whatever I missed this book it's called faithful place and it's not a standalone”
Where to get it
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Shyness and Dignity
Shyness and Dignity is a novel by renowned Norwegian writer Dag Solstad that examines intellectual life, societal expectations, and personal crisis through the lens of a middle-aged teacher.
Recommended“it's 150 Pages exactly called shyness and dignity by the Norwegian writer dog Sola s o l St a d”
Where to get it
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Fear: Trump in the White House
Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward is a bestselling investigative work examining the inner workings, chaos, and decision-making processes of the Donald Trump administration.
Discussed“given the subject of democracy of this later trip I decided to bring along a copy of Bob Woodward's fear”
Where to get it
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Fire and Fury
Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury is an explosive investigative look inside the Donald Trump White House that generated massive controversy and public debate upon its release.
Discussed“I did find with fire and fury that it was actually worth it to read the book itself”
Where to get it
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The language of kindness
The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story is a bestselling memoir by Christie Watson that chronicles her two decades working on the front lines of the healthcare system.
Recommended“it's called the language of kindness and she was a nurse for 20 years before she became a full-time writer”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“in between the novel half blood blues and this novel you did write your first non-fiction book”
“Greg you've got something other than ulyses I do”
“in the same way that studs Turles working is fascinating and that it's a window into a world that I really didn't know anything about”