Episode · The Book Review · 2017-02-17
Neil Gaiman on The Book Review: books mentioned
Neil Gaiman's Myths
Neil Gaiman discussed The myths of the Norsemen by Roger Lancelyn Green. Pamela Paul recommended You learn by living by Eleanor Roosevelt, and discussed Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman and others, A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, Heat and light by Jennifer Haigh and others, and Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance. Gilbert Cruz discussed Autumn by Ali Smith, How to Be Both by Ali Smith, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Hatching Twitter by Nick Bilton. Alexandra Alter discussed The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper. Parul Sehgal discussed Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, Goodnight Moon 60th Anniversary Edition by Margaret Wise Brown, The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown, and Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown. John Williams discussed The Plot Against America by Philip Roth and Sabbath's Theater by Philip Roth.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The myths of the Norsemen
Discussed“so the time there was an English writer named Roger leling green and he had done myths of the Norse men and I had a friend who had a copy so I grabbed it read it fell in love with it”
Where to get it
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Norse Mythology
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman is a captivating retelling of classic Scandinavian legends that brings ancient deities like Thor, Odin, and other powerful gods into a vivid, accessible narrative.
Discussed“yes um you have on the cover of the book Thor's hammer was this your choice”
Where to get it
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Autumn
Autumn by Ali Smith is a reflective contemporary novel that captures the shifting political and cultural landscape of Great Britain.
Discussed“Sarah Lyle joins us now as she reviews this week Ali Smith's new novel autumn”
Where to get it
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How to Be Both
How to Be Both by Ali Smith is a structurally inventive and critically acclaimed novel that explores identity, art, and time through two distinct narratives that readers can experience in either order.
Discussed“you profiled Ali Smith last year when her previous book came out how to be both”
Where to get it
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Brave New World
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a classic dystopian science fiction novel that depicts a technologically advanced future society controlled through engineered reproduction, psychological conditioning, and constant superficial pleasure.
Discussed“and one of the books that that is alluded to or discussed is Brave New World how does that come in”
Where to get it
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Hatching Twitter
Hatching Twitter by Nick Bilton provides a dramatic behind-the-scenes account of the conflicts, leadership struggles, and early founding days of the popular social media platform.
Discussed“one more word about the subject of your own book hatching Twitter that was about the sort of dawn of Twitter looking at the company where it is now”
Where to get it
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The Hellfire Club
The Hellfire Club is a political thriller by Jake Tapper set in Washington, DC, during the McCarthy era of 1954.
Discussed“his debut novel it's a political thriller titled the hellfire club which takes place in Washington DC in 1954”
Where to get it
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Harold and the Purple Crayon
Discussed“and you know I'm a big fan of Harold in the Purple Crayon and one my favorite books of all time”
Where to get it
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Goodnight Moon 60th Anniversary Edition
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is a beloved, timeless children's picture book that follows a young bunny bidding a gentle goodnight to every object in the great green room.
Discussed“but the the book that's sort of dominating our Consciousness and bedtime is good night Moon which I never read”
Where to get it
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The Runaway Bunny
Discussed“because Runaway Bunny is kind of diabolical um and that's very distressing book”
Where to get it
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Little Fur Family
Discussed“which ones like not little fur family little fur family”
Where to get it
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The Plot Against America
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth is a prominent alternate history novel that imagines an America turning toward fascism during World War II following the political rise of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh.
Where to get it
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Sabbath's Theater
Sabbath's Theater is a raw, provocative, and darkly comedic novel by Philip Roth that follows the tumultuous life of its aging, grief-stricken, and scandalous protagonist, Mickey Sabbath.
Discussed“so I started Sabbath's Theater which is from 1995 I think and a book that a couple of my friends really love and that I've been meaning to read for a long time”
Where to get it
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You learn by living
You Learn by Living by Eleanor Roosevelt is an insightful collection of reflections and practical wisdom written by the former First Lady in 1960, offering guidance on finding purpose, courage, and maturity.
Recommended“I did finish the Eleanor Roosevelt you learn by living which I highly recommend”
Where to get it
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A short history of nearly everything
A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson is an engaging and accessible popular science journey that breaks down the vast mysteries of the universe, evolution, and human discovery into terms anyone can understand.
Where to get it
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A Walk in the Woods
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is a humorous and reflective travel memoir that chronicles the author's attempt to hike the lengthy and demanding Appalachian Trail.
Discussed“and I then picked up a walk in the woods which was just sitting on my shelf rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail”
Where to get it
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Wild
Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir, Wild, chronicles her grueling 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail as a journey of emotional healing and personal transformation following profound personal loss.
Discussed“it sort of felt like wild did back when Cheryl stres wild which I also resisted because too many people were reading it”
Where to get it
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Heat and light
Heat and Light by Jennifer Haigh is a compelling novel that explores the complex world and contentious issues surrounding hydraulic fracturing.
Discussed“and then at home I started a book that came out last year by Jennifer hay called heat and light which which is about fracking”
Where to get it
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Hillbilly Elegy
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D.
Discussed“and on the non-fiction list Hill Billy elegy remains at the top JD Vance's Memoir”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (14) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“his new book is Norse mythology”
“what's the first post brexit novel it may well be Ali Smith's Autumn”
“Nick Bilton will be here to talk about two new books that try Valley of the Gods and the kingdom of Happiness”
“I'm Pamela Paul Neil Gaiman is here his new book is Norse mythology”
“also bought his his tales of ancient Egypt”
“he did Tales of Troy”
“and this week she writes about ali Smith's new novel Autumn Nick Bilton joins us now”
“and he reviews for us this week two books Valley of the Gods by Alexander wolf and the kingdom of happiness by Amy grth”
“Nick Bilton is a special correspondent for Vanity Fair and the author of hatching Twitter”
“and this week in the book review he writes about two books Alexander Wolf's Valley of the the gods a Silicon Valley story”
“I think a lot of this has to do with a certain book that had Harry Potter in the title even though it was a play”
“so they didn't have you know the sort of Harry Potter and the curse child craze had kind of tailed off at that point”
“so they didn't have you know the sort of Harry Potter and the curse child craze had kind of tailed off at that point”
“what too many other people like Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman no surprise debut is at number one”