Episode · The Book Review · 2018-10-12
Michael Lewis & Tana French on The Book Review: books mentioned (Oct 2018)
Michael Lewis and Tana French on Their Latest Books
Michael Lewis discussed The big short by Michael Lewis and Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers by Tom Wolfe and others. Pamela Paul discussed In the Woods by Tana French. Tana French recommended Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Alexandra Alter discussed Florida by Lauren Groff, The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, The friend by Sigrid Nunez, Where the dead sit talking by Brandon Hobson, The Indian world of George Washington by Colin G. Calloway, The new Negro by Jeffrey C. Stewart, Heartland by Sarah Smarsh, American Eden by Victoria Johnson, We the corporations by Adam Winkler, The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor, The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M. T. Anderson and others, The journey of little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis, American sonnets for my past and future assassin by Terrance Hayes, Wobble by Rae Armantrout, Indecency by Justin Phillip Reed, Eye level by Jenny Xie, and Ghost of by Diana Khoi Nguyen. Jennifer Szalai discussed The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. Dwight Garner discussed Godsend by John Wray and Terrorist by John Updike. Parul Sehgal discussed The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry and Melmoth by Sarah Perry.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
The big short
The Big Short by Michael Lewis is a non-fiction book examining the accumulation of risk and the bursting of the housing bubble that led to the 2008 financial crisis.
Discussed“you know I had a selection problem that reminded me a bit of the selection problem I had with a big short in The Big Short”
Where to get it
-
Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers
Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers by Tom Wolfe is a classic work of New Journalism that examines cultural politics, class dynamics, and social posturing through sharp, satirical observation.
Discussed“he meant the world to me pulling radical Chic off my father's shelf when I was maybe 12 or 13 and reading it”
Where to get it
-
In the Woods
In the Woods by Tana French is a psychological mystery novel that follows a Dublin detective haunted by his own forgotten childhood trauma while investigating the murder of a young girl.
Discussed“one of my very astute colleagues here was just doing a rereading of your first novel in the woods from 2007”
Where to get it
-
Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is a widely celebrated epic Western novel that follows former Texas Rangers on a cattle drive from the border of Texas to Montana.
Recommended“I have just finished reading Lonesome Dove by Larry mcmurrey which is a an amazing book”
Where to get it
-
Florida
Florida is a striking collection of interconnected stories and essays by Lauren Groff that explores environmental anxiety, domestic isolation, and the complex landscape of the American South.
Discussed“Lauren grath was nominated for Florida”
Where to get it
-
The Great Believers
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is a powerful, emotionally devastating novel that chronicles the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis on the arts community in 1980s Chicago alongside a parallel storyline in modern-day Paris.
Discussed“Rebecca Makai is shortlisted for the great Believers”
Where to get it
-
The friend
Why people recommend it: The Friend by Sigrid Nunez is an acclaimed, award-winning novel that explores profound themes including suicide, grief, and the deep bond between a grieving writer and a very lovable Great Dane.
Discussed“Sig Nunes for a friend which was a very well regarded novel”
Where to get it
-
Where the dead sit talking
Discussed“and Brandon Hobson for where the dead sit talking which is by Soho press”
Where to get it
-
The Indian world of George Washington
Discussed“Colin callaways the Indian world of George Washington was one of them for nonfiction”
Where to get it
-
The new Negro
Jeffrey C.
Discussed“and Jeffrey Stewart's the new negro the life of Elaine lock was also shortlisted for non-fiction”
Where to get it
-
Heartland
Heartland by Sarah Smarsh is a powerful memoir detailing the author's experiences growing up in poverty and working hard in the American Midwest.
Discussed“Sarah smarland which was her Memoir which many people are comparing to JD Vance”
Where to get it
-
American Eden
Discussed“Victoria Johnson's non-fiction book American Eden David hosac botany and Medicine inressa”
Where to get it
-
We the corporations
Adam Winkler's non-fiction work We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights offers a comprehensive historical look at the long view of corporate rights in America.
Discussed“and another livite book Adam Winkler's we the corporations how American businesses W their Civil Rights was shortlisted as well”
Where to get it
-
The Poet X
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is a celebrated young adult novel in verse that follows a Dominican-American teenager in Harlem who uses slam poetry to understand her world and find her voice.
Discussed“That novel is the poet X by Elizabeth ASO”
Where to get it
-
Hey, Kiddo
Discussed“the short list also included a graphic Memoir hey kiddo by Jarrett kosasa which we wrote about”
Where to get it
-
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
Discussed“and the other shortlisted books for young people's literature included Leslie Connor's the truth As Told by Mason butle”
Where to get it
-
The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
Discussed“and the assassination of brang wayin spurge which I love that title by Mt Anderson and Eugene yelin”
Where to get it
-
The journey of little Charlie
Discussed“and the journey of little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis”
Where to get it
-
American sonnets for my past and future assassin
American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin is a powerful and formally inventive poetry collection by Terrance Hayes that confronts the political and social realities of contemporary America.
Discussed“Terrence Hayes made the cut for American Sunnet from a past and future assassin which was a a fantastic collection”
Where to get it
-
Wobble
Discussed“Ray Arman Trout's wobble by which was published by Wesleyan University press was a finalist”
Where to get it
-
Indecency
Indecency by Justin Phillip Reed is a striking and critically acclaimed poetry collection that interrogates systemic oppression, desire, and the intersections of race and gender in contemporary American society.
Discussed“Justin Philip Reeds indecency from Coffee House Press was a finalist”
Where to get it
-
Ghost of
Discussed“and finally Diana Co nen her collection ghost of which was published by omnid Don publishing was a finalist”
Where to get it
-
The Orchid Thief
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean is a non-fiction narrative exploring the eccentric world of orchid poachers and the fascinating obsession surrounding rare flowers in Florida.
Discussed“so there was the Orchid Thief there was rentin I think she wrote a book about what people do on Saturday night”
Where to get it
-
Godsend
Godsend by John Wray is an immersive and gripping contemporary novel that explores complex themes of identity, radicalization, and human displacement through a compelling narrative lens.
Discussed“I I read a novel this week by uh youngish writer now named John Ray w a y this new one is called godsend”
Where to get it
-
Terrorist
Discussed“a famously maligned book about about 911 about terrorism as John upc's novel terrorism which frankly I don't think is quite as bad”
Where to get it
-
The Essex Serpent
Discussed“it's called melmoth by Sarah Perry who wrote a book called the Essex serpent which came out I think last year”
Where to get it
-
Melmoth
Melmoth is a dark and haunting gothic novel by Sarah Perry that reimagines the classic legend of the wandering witness to human sin and historical atrocities.
Discussed“it's called melmoth by Sarah Perry who wrote a book called the Essex serpent”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (6) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Michael Lewis makes a strong case in his new book and he'll be here to talk about it the fifth risk”
“she'll join us from Dublin to talk about her new novel The Witch Elm”
“I have read my books before for audio books not in the last few but you know in the liars poker that kind of thing”
“the book is called the fifth Risk by Michael Lewis”
“T of French joins us now her new book is called the witch Elm”
“the book again is called the witch Elm by T French”