Episode · The Book Review · 2024-07-18
Books mentioned on Great Books from The First Half of 2023
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Lone Women
Lone Women is a historical horror novel by Victor LaValle that follows a woman escaping her past with a heavy trunk in early twentieth-century Montana.
Recommended“two of the books I've most enjoyed this year have been the wager by David Gran and lone women by Victor Laval”
Where to get it
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Los Náufragos Del Wager / the Wager
The Wager by David Grann is a gripping historical non-fiction book that recounts the harrowing shipwreck of a British vessel off the coast of Patagonia and the subsequent mutiny and sensational court martial that followed.
Discussed“one of them is one I mentioned very briefly in my intro which was the wager by David Gran”
Where to get it
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Spare
Spare by Prince Harry is a high-profile royal memoir detailing the Duke of Sussex's life, family conflicts, and exit from the monarchy.
Discussed“it started off with what is still one of the big book stories this year which was the publication of spare by Prince Harry”
Where to get it
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I Have Some Questions for You
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai is a gripping novel that blends a boarding school setting with true crime obsession, memory, and a quest for justice.
Recommended“I think the first one I would mention on the fiction side is Rebecca makai's new book it's called I have some questions for you”
Where to get it
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Pineapple Street
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson is a contemporary novel about the fortunes, romantic entanglements, and family dynamics of an affluent family residing in Brooklyn Heights.
Discussed“I would say the first big novel to to bring in the wave of Summer books was probably pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson”
Where to get it
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Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld is a witty and observant novel that follows a comedy show writer who unexpectedly finds herself falling for a charismatic guest host.
Recommended“which kind of leads me to another book I wanted to talk about which is romantic comedy by Curtis sittenfeld”
Where to get it
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You Could Make This Place Beautiful
Discussed“you could make this place beautiful yes that is Maggie Smith's Memoir”
Where to get it
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Master Slave Husband Wife
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo is a work of narrative nonfiction by an independent scholar detailing a historic escape.
Recommended“the one I want to talk about is Master Slave husband wife by Ilan wo who's an independent scholar”
Where to get it
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Hello Beautiful
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano is an acclaimed contemporary novel that explores complex family dynamics, Sisterhood, and emotional resilience.
Recommended“I would love to recommend Hello Beautiful by an napalitano which received a wonderful glowing review in the book review”
Where to get it
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Enter Ghost
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad is a critically acclaimed contemporary novel that follows characters staging a production of Hamlet in Palestine and the West Bank.
Recommended“so I landed on enter ghost by Isabella hammad this is her second novel”
Where to get it
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Y/N
Y/N by Esther Yi is a contemporary novel that explores obsession, fandom, and desire through the lens of a narrator captivated by a major K-pop star.
Recommended“my book recommendation is y/n by Esther E and this book is so good that it is hard to believe it's a debut novel”
Where to get it
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My search for Warren Harding
My Search for Warren Harding by Robert Plunket is a satirical novel that follows an eccentric graduate student's obsessive quest to uncover the private life of the former United States president.
Recommended“I recommend my search for Warren Harding by Robert plunket first published in the 80s cult classic”
Where to get it
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In Memoriam
Alice Winn's novel In Memoriam explores a poignant and complicated friendship set against the turbulent backdrop of the First World War.
Recommended“I recommend in Memorial by Alice win it is both this very heart-wrenching love story and also a devastating War Story”
Where to get it
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Don't look at me like that
Don't Look at Me Like That by Diana Athill is a poignant novel exploring complex relationships, personal freedom, and emotional vulnerability.
Recommended“I would recommend Diana aills don't look at me like that which has just been re-released by New York Review of Books”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (10) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“it was ghost written by Jr minger the author of The Tender bar which was a memoir”
“and Rebecca McKai is the author of The Great Believers that was chosen as a best book by the book review a couple years back”
“and those of you who know Curtis sittenfeld probably know her from prep and from American Wife and from rodom her book about Hillary Clinton”
“and those of you who know Curtis sittenfeld probably know her from prep and from American Wife and from rodom her book about Hillary Clinton”
“and those of you who know Curtis sittenfeld probably know her from prep and from American Wife and from rodom her book about Hillary Clinton”
“David Gran is the top-notch narrative non-fiction writer for the New Yorker who's known for killers of the flower Moon”
“I should say that there have been other biographies of King and I and I think I'm really fond of Taylor Branch's epic 3 volume history of the civil rights movement and the first volume of that parting the waters has always been one of my favorite books”
“I really love diving into a big fat book about somebody I think I know everything about and I had that experience a few years ago with Sylvia pla when I was reading her 700 Page biography called red comet”
“I don't know if you remember she it's been more than 10 years since her previous novel which won the book or The Luminaries”
“I Loved Her First book which was called the Parisian it was this big historical novel set in Palestine”