Episode · The Book Review · 2020-03-13
Michael Lewis & Tana French on The Book Review: books mentioned (Mar 2020)
From the Archive: Michael Lewis and Tana French
Gilbert Cruz discussed The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis, Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers by Tom Wolfe and others, The Witch Elm by Tana French, and In the Woods by Tana French. Michael Lewis discussed The big short by Michael Lewis. Tana French recommended Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Jennifer Szalai discussed The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Dwight Garner discussed Godsend by John Wray. Pamela Paul discussed Melmoth by Sarah Perry.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Fifth Risk
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis is an accessible exploration of the critical, often unseen functions performed by the federal civil service and government agencies.
Discussed“here he is in an episode from October 12th 2018 talking about the fifth risk”
Where to get it
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The big short
The Big Short by Michael Lewis is a non-fiction book examining the accumulation of risk and the bursting of the housing bubble that led to the 2008 financial crisis.
Discussed“you know I had a selection problem that reminded me a bit of the selection problem I had with the big short in The Big Short there was a pool of kind of 15 Wall Street guys”
Where to get it
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Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers
Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers by Tom Wolfe is a classic work of New Journalism that examines cultural politics, class dynamics, and social posturing through sharp, satirical observation.
Discussed“um you dedicated this book in memory of Tom Wolf the lead writer why he meant the world to me pulling radical Chic off my father's shelf when I was maybe 12 or 13”
Where to get it
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The Witch Elm
The Witch Elm by Tana French is a suspenseful psychological mystery novel exploring memory, trauma, and family dynamics following a young man who returns to his ancestral home.
Discussed“here she is talking about her latest novel a book I thoroughly enjoyed the witch”
Where to get it
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In the Woods
In the Woods by Tana French is a psychological mystery novel that follows a Dublin detective haunted by his own forgotten childhood trauma while investigating the murder of a young girl.
Discussed“in particular because one of my very astute colleagues here was just doing a rereading of your first novel in the woods from 2007”
Where to get it
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Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is a widely celebrated epic Western novel that follows former Texas Rangers on a cattle drive from the border of Texas to Montana.
Recommended“I have just finished reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurry which is a an amazing book”
Where to get it
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The Library Book
The Library Book by Susan Orlean is a compelling non-fiction narrative that investigates the devastating 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library while exploring the broader historical and cultural significance of public libraries in modern society.
Discussed“so I read the library book by Susan orene”
Where to get it
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Godsend
Godsend by John Wray is an immersive and gripping contemporary novel that explores complex themes of identity, radicalization, and human displacement through a compelling narrative lens.
Discussed“I I I read a novel this week by uh youngish writer now named John Ray w a y his new one is called godsend and it's about”
Where to get it
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Melmoth
Melmoth is a dark and haunting gothic novel by Sarah Perry that reimagines the classic legend of the wandering witness to human sin and historical atrocities.
Discussed“this week I picked up a book that's you know more commercial it's called melmoth by Sarah Perry who wrote a book called the Essex serpent”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“so there was the Orchid Thief there was ronon I think she wrote a book about what people do on Saturday night”
“it's called melmoth by Sarah Perry who wrote a book called the Essex serpent which came out I think last year or the year before and it was it was a hit”