Episode · The Book Review · 2026-07-24
Books mentioned on Let’s Talk About the Best Books of the Year (So Far)
Gilbert Cruz recommended Whistler by Ann Patchett, Transcription by Ben Lerner, London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, Days of Love and Rage by Anand Gopal, American Han by Lisa Lee, and A Sudden Flicker of Light by David Thomson, and discussed Bel Canto by Ann Patchett and others, State of wonder by Ann Patchett, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, and Modern Lovers by Emma Straub. Joumana Khatib recommended The Keeper by Tana French and Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young by Zayd Ayers Dohrn, and discussed The Searcher by Tana French and The Hunter by Tana French. MJ Franklin recommended Kin by Tayari Jones and Fear and Fury by Heather Ann Thompson, and discussed An American Marriage by Tayari Jones and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Whistler
Whistler by Ann Patchett is a poignant novel that follows a fifty-something English teacher whose life intersects with her former stepfather at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Recommended“I'm going to start however with a book that we've only mentioned once or twice. A book called Whistler, thank you, by Ann Patchett.”
Where to get it
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Bel Canto
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is a critically acclaimed, high-drama novel known for its sophisticated premise and emotional resonance.
Discussed“Like she started with these very high concept or maybe not high concept but high drama books like um Bel Canto.”
Where to get it
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State of wonder
Discussed“Bel Canto and State of Wonder. And now she is in a phase in which the stories are very personal or delicate.”
Where to get it
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Tom Lake
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is a contemporary novel that follows a mother recounting her past romance with a famous actor to her daughters while the family isolates together on a Michigan cherry farm during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussed“I'm thinking of Tom Lake, her last book as well. Loved Tom Lake.”
Where to get it
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Transcription
Transcription by Ben Lerner is a slim, intellectual novel spanning roughly 120 pages that explores complex ideas through a sharp narrative style.
Recommended“And the one that I want to talk about next, one of my favorite books of the year, is so slim. Like 120 pages. It is, you guessed it, Transcription by Ben Lerner.”
Where to get it
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The Keeper
The Keeper by Tana French is a suspenseful mystery novel that delivers a thrilling narrative experience.
Recommended“I have a book that is also a swerve from transcription. This is The Keeper by Tana French.”
Where to get it
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The Searcher
The Searcher by Tana French is a compelling mystery novel set in rural Western Ireland where a retired Chicago police detective purchases a rundown cottage in hopes of finding peace and quiet, only to become entangled in a local disappearance.
Discussed“He was debuted in Tana's 2020 book called The Searcher, and then soon after came The Hunter, which is the middle volume, and now we're at The Keeper.”
Where to get it
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The Hunter
The Hunter is a contemporary mystery novel by Tana French that is set in the same fictional Irish town as her previous book, The Searcher.
Discussed“The Searcher, and then soon after came The Hunter, which is the middle volume, and now we're at The Keeper.”
Where to get it
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Kin
Kin by Tayari Jones is an engaging novel that has earned enthusiastic praise from critics and readers alike.
Recommended“I have a book that I've been stumping for hard this year, and that book is Kin by T Ari Jones.”
Where to get it
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An American Marriage
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is an acclaimed contemporary novel that explores the devastating impact of a wrongful conviction on a newlywed couple in the American South.
Discussed“So, Kin is T Ari Jones' latest. You may remember T Ari Jones from her book An American Marriage.”
Where to get it
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Modern Lovers
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub is a contemporary novel that follows a tight-knit circle of former college friends navigating middle age, changing family dynamics, and the shifting realities of their adult lives.
Discussed“Years and years ago I was talking to the author Emma Straub about her book Modern Lovers at the time and that's also about like a group of friends”
Where to get it
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Fear and Fury
Fear and Fury by Heather Ann Thompson is a compelling non-fiction exploration examining the 1980s Bernie Goetz subway shootings, the broader social context of the Reagan era, and the rising tide of racial tensions during that period.
Recommended“So that is Fear and Fury by Heather Ann Thompson.”
Where to get it
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Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young
Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young by Zayd Ayers Dohrn is a poignant memoir written by the son of former Weathermen radicals, exploring the complex legacy of growing up amidst extreme political activism and underground life.
Recommended“This is called Dangerous Dirty Violent and Young by Zayd Ayers Dorne.”
Where to get it
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London Falling
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe is a true-crime narrative and investigative work by the acclaimed New Yorker reporter.
Recommended“This is London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick Radden Keefe is back.”
Where to get it
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Days of Love and Rage
Days of Love and Rage is a work of narrative reportage by Anand Gopal that offers a detailed portrait of the Syrian revolution.
Recommended“This is Days of Love and Rage by Anand Gopal.”
Where to get it
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American Han
American Han by Lisa Lee is a captivating debut novel that explores complex themes of identity, culture, and belonging.
Recommended“Okay, I love I love American Haunt by Lisa Lee. Can confirm.”
Where to get it
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A Sudden Flicker of Light
A Sudden Flicker of Light by David Thomson is an inventive and revisionist history of cinema written by a renowned film critic.
Recommended“I'm going to talk about David Thomson. He has written a book titled A Sudden Flicker of Light, a revisionist history of movies.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“One of them is a title that MJ just hosted a book club episode about that is Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.”