Episode · The Book Review · 2024-07-18
Books mentioned on Lawrence Wright on Researching a (Fictional) Pandemic
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The End of October
Lawrence Wright’s novel The End of October explores a catastrophic global pandemic and its profound societal consequences.
Discussed“I don't know how you did that Larry but the book is the end of October”
Where to get it
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The Road
The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a bleak, post-apocalyptic masterpiece that follows a father and his young son walking through a burned, ash-covered America trying to survive against starvation and roaming bands of cannibals while holding onto their humanity.
Discussed“you've said that the director Ridley Scott asked you a question after reading cormack McCarthy's the road and that that was your inspiration”
Where to get it
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The Looming Tower
Lawrence Wright's meticulously researched non-fiction book The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 provides a comprehensive and chilling investigation into the origins of modern Islamic terrorism.
Discussed“in your non-fiction as a reader it it feels like you think a lot about pacing of your narrative and the looming Tower”
Where to get it
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Man of my time
Dalia Sofer's novel Man of My Time was discussed in depth on The Book Review in July 2024 during the episode titled Lawrence Wright on Researching a Fictional Pandemic.
Recommended“the title again is man of my time by Delia suur and it's review this week on the cover of the book”
Where to get it
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The Septembers of Shiraz
Discussed“your first novel The septembers of Shiraz took place in the immediate aftermath of the re Evolution and as you just said you're talking in this novel that you know things have changed a lot in the subsequent 35 years”
Where to get it
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The Mothers
The Mothers is a compelling debut novel by Brit Bennett that explores friendship, community, and difficult choices within a contemporary Black church congregation in Southern California.
Discussed“I'm very excited about Brit Bennett's new novel I loved her debut novel the mothers so I'm excited to read her next book”
Where to get it
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The Vanishing Half
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a compelling contemporary novel that examines family, racial identity, and the choices that shape our lives through the lives of twin sisters who choose to live in very different worlds.
Recommended“it's called The Vanishing half and it's coming out June 2nd so not so far away”
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“actually it's fall but I just got word yesterday that there is a new ton of French coming this fall coming October her first book since the witch Elm which was a standalone”
Where to get it
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Keep the river on your right
Keep the River on Your Right is a memoir by Tobias Schneebaum that chronicles his extraordinary and harrowing experiences living among indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon.
Recommended“and I read keep the river on your right by Tobias sneal”
Where to get it
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Until the End of Time
Until the End of Time by Brian Greene applies the principles of theoretical physics to humanity's most profound existential questions regarding the origin and meaning of existence.
Recommended“Brian greens until the end of time”
Where to get it
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The elegant universe
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene is a bestselling popular science book that offers a clear and accessible introduction to string theory and the fundamental nature of spacetime.
Discussed“green you may remember is he's the Columbia physicist who U first made a name for himself more than 20 years ago for the general public as an advocate for string theory with his book The Elegant universe”
Where to get it
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The thirst
Jo Nesbos novel The Thirst was featured prominently on The Book Review during the July 2024 episode titled Lawrence Wright on Researching a Fictional Pandemic.
Recommended“and I read ybos The Thirst all right”
Where to get it
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The Snowman
The Snowman is a gripping crime thriller by Jo Nesbø that follows detective Harry Hole as he investigates a chilling series of murders.
Discussed“the first ybo that I read I am calling him yo you're right it is good um the first yo NBO that I read was the Snowman a few years ago while traveling in Germany and that was another Harry Hole mystery”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“God save Texas going clear about Scientology the looming Tower and now a new book called the end of October”
“God save Texas going clear about Scientology the looming Tower and now a new book called the end of October”
“God save Texas going clear about Scientology the looming Tower and now a new book called the end of October”
“there have been great very sad flu novels they came like swallows comes to mind by William Maxwell and many other ways in which you could explore this”