Episode · The Book Review · 2018-04-27
Julian Barnes on The Book Review: books mentioned
Julian Barnes on 'The Only Story'
Pamela Paul discussed The only story by Julian Barnes, God Save Texas by Lawrence Wright, and Educated by Tara Westover. Julian Barnes discussed The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, Levels of Life by Julian Barnes, Bright lights, big city by Jay McInerney, and England, England by Julian Barnes. Alexandra Alter discussed A Higher Loyalty by James Comey and others and I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara and others. John Williams recommended The Bridegroom Was a Dog by Yōko Tawada. Tina Jordan recommended Cost by Roxana Robinson, and discussed This could hurt by Jillian Medoff. Lauren Christensen discussed The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
The only story
The Only Story by Julian Barnes is a poignant novel that explores the lasting impact of a young man's first love and the bittersweet memories that accompany aging.
Discussed“Julian Barnes will be here to talk about his new novel The only story”
Where to get it
-
God Save Texas
God Save Texas by Lawrence Wright is a sweeping, deeply reported narrative journey into the political, cultural, and historical soul of the Lone Star State.
Discussed“Lawrence Wright joins us to talk about his new book God save Texas a journey into the soul of the Lone Star State”
Where to get it
-
The Sense of an Ending
Discussed“this if it ties to any other book perhaps ties to the sense of an ending which was the book two novels ago”
Where to get it
-
Levels of Life
Discussed“but it's interesting too in that with levels of life it was sort of three parts”
Where to get it
-
Bright lights, big city
Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney is a seminal 1980s novel capturing the frantic nightlife and existential angst of a young fact-checker navigating Manhattan.
Discussed“yes indeed indeed the only book I can think of that really really works as a second person narrative is J mck and his Bright Lights big city”
Where to get it
-
England, England
Discussed“well funny enough I predicted it in a novel called England England which I wrote in 1998”
Where to get it
-
A Higher Loyalty
A Higher Loyalty by James Comey is a high-profile political memoir by the former FBI director that chronicles his career in public service, his handling of sensitive investigations, and his interactions with political leaders including Donald Trump.
Discussed“first of all we had the first sales figures come in for James comey's book a higher loyalty”
Where to get it
-
I'll Be Gone in the Dark
I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, completed posthumously with the assistance of Patton Oswalt, is a gripping and meticulous true crime investigation into the horrific crimes and elusive identity of the Golden State Killer.
Discussed“the book is titled all begun in the dark by Michelle mcnamer and it's a true crime story about The Golden State killer”
Where to get it
-
The Bridegroom Was a Dog
The Bridegroom Was a Dog by Yōko Tawada is a concise, sixty-page short story by the acclaimed Japanese writer that explores surreal and transgressive themes.
Recommended“it's a 60 page essentially long short story by a Japanese writer named Yoko toada called the bridegroom was a dog”
Where to get it
-
Cost
Cost by Roxana Robinson is an older novel that delves deeply into the complex dynamics of an American family grappling with addiction and aging.
Recommended“It's an older novel called cost by rexanna Robinson”
Where to get it
-
This could hurt
Discussed“and then I'm reading something much lighter which is Jillian Med off's novel this could hurt which came out this last January”
Where to get it
-
The Corrections
Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections is a sprawling, multi-generational novel that explores the complexities, dysfunction, and shifting fortunes of an American Midwestern family at the turn of the twenty-first century.
Discussed“I picked up Jonathan fransen's the corrections recently”
Where to get it
-
Educated
Educated by Tara Westover is a bestselling memoir that follows the author's remarkable journey growing up in a strict and isolated survivalist family in rural Idaho before eventually escaping to pursue a PhD from Cambridge University.
Discussed“and it's also true of the other book that I recently started reading which is Tara westover's Memoir educated also has been on our bestseller list”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (5) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“that was Julian Barnes reading from his new novel The only story”
“the book again is God saved Texas a journey into the soul of the Lone Star State by Lawrence Wright”
“and there's been anticipation for months on this book but it you know compared to some other bestsellers like Hillary Clinton's Memoir which came out last fall titled what happened”
“it's a 60 page essentially long short story by a Japanese writer named Yoko toada called the bridegroom was a dog... our listeners might remember that last week parl seel one of our critics talked about reviewing Tat's newest novel which is called the Emissary”
“so yeah educated a memoir by terara Westover”