Episode · The Book Review · 2016-11-18
Michael Chabon on The Book Review: books mentioned
Michael Chabon Talks About 'Moonglow'
Gilbert Cruz discussed Moonglow by Michael Chabon and Eleanor Roosevelt by Blanche Wiesen Cook. Michael Chabon discussed Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon, Gentlemen of the road by Michael Chabon, and The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. Pamela Paul discussed Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 3 by Blanche Wiesen Cook. Greg Cowles discussed Night school by Lee Child, The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer, Strangers in their own land by Arlie Russell Hochschild, Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance, and War and turpentine by Stefan Hertmans. John Williams discussed Swing Time by Zadie Smith, White Teeth by Zadie Smith, and NW by Zadie Smith and others, and criticized On Beauty by Zadie Smith.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Moonglow
Moonglow is a novel that blends fact and fiction to explore a family's complex history and secrets against the backdrop of mid-century American life.
Discussed“Michael Shaban explores this and a lot more in his latest novel Moonglow”
Where to get it
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Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt by Blanche Wiesen Cook is a comprehensive biographical work exploring the life and political legacy of one of America's most influential first ladies.
Discussed“Reen cook is here to talk about her biography of elanar Rosevelt”
Where to get it
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Wonder Boys
Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon is a celebrated novel that follows the chaotic life of a blocked, middle-aged creative writing professor struggling to finish his massive second book while dealing with various personal eccentricities.
Discussed“once before with a book and that was with Wonder booys out of nowhere this this family story that I'd heard a few times growing up”
Where to get it
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Gentlemen of the road
Discussed“even the ones that seem least likely to be so you know like a book like um gentleman of the road”
Where to get it
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The Yiddish Policemen's Union
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon is a celebrated alternate history novel that imagines a temporary Jewish settlement established in Sitka, Alaska, during World War II, following the collapse of the Zionist effort in Palestine.
Discussed“you know I wrote an entire 600 plus first draft of the unish policeman's Union that I put aside and started over again”
Where to get it
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Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 3
Eleanor Roosevelt, Volume 3: The War Years by Blanche Wiesen Cook is a comprehensive biographical work detailing the former First Lady's life and political influence during World War II.
Discussed“her biographer blanch cook is here to talk to me now about her new book Elanor Roosevelt the Warriors”
Where to get it
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Night school
Discussed“well there's a new Lee Child novel right at the top of the hard cover bestseller list”
Where to get it
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The Chemist
Discussed“no so uh she now adapts that Twilight model that kind of love triangle set up to a spy Thriller called the chemist that's new at number five”
Where to get it
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Strangers in their own land
Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild is a sociological study that investigates the deep-seated political beliefs and emotional realities of conservative communities in Louisiana through years of immersive fieldwork.
Discussed“her book strangers in their own land which is new number 14 actually came out back in like September”
Where to get it
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Hillbilly Elegy
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D.
Discussed“another book that kind of fits that category but of course has been on the list for a while is uh hillbilly elgy by JD Vance which is holding strong at number three”
Where to get it
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Swing Time
Swing Time by Zadie Smith is an intricate novel that explores themes of race, class, friendship, and cultural identity through the lens of young girls dreaming of becoming tap dancers.
Discussed“well I'm still reading a book that probably will appear on the list shortly which is Zade Smith's new novel swing time”
Where to get it
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White Teeth
White Teeth by Zadie Smith is a vibrant debut novel that explores multicultural contemporary London through the intersecting lives of various immigrant families.
Discussed“my my two favorites are probably white teeth and NW”
Where to get it
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NW
NW is a critically acclaimed contemporary novel by Zadie Smith that follows the intertwined lives and experiences of four individuals growing up together in a diverse section of London.
Discussed“my my two favorites are probably white teeth and NW”
Where to get it
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On Beauty
On Beauty by Zadie Smith is a contemporary novel that explores family dynamics, academic rivalries, cultural identity, and morality against the backdrop of a university town in New England.
Critiqued“um I'm actually not a big fan of on beauty which a lot of people liked”
Where to get it
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War and turpentine
War and Turpentine by Stefan Hertmans is a critically acclaimed Flemish novel that blends family history, art, and the devastating impacts of the First World War through the lens of a grandfather's notebooks.
Discussed“um it it's funny because a few weeks ago I talked on the podcast about this Belgian novel war and turpentine by Stephan Herman's”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Stephanie Meyer of course uh wrote the Twilight series one of your favorites”
“it's like in Jonathan fransen's Freedom there was a bit about a guy who used to be a rock star”