Episode · The Book Review · 2018-01-19
Books mentioned on Off the Charts
Gilbert Cruz discussed Green by Sam Graham-Felsen and Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson, and read Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward for a book club. John Williams recommended Angel by Elizabeth Taylor. Lauren Christensen discussed The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani. Also mentioned: Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff, The Plot Against America by Philip Roth, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Green
Green by Sam Graham-Felsen is a compelling debut novel that explores race, friendship, and politics through the eyes of a young campaign volunteer in 2008.
Discussed“Sam Graham Felson will be here to discuss his debut novel green Alexander alter will give us an update from the literary World”
Where to get it
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Fire and Fury
Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury is an explosive investigative look inside the Donald Trump White House that generated massive controversy and public debate upon its release.
Discussed“so there's been some interesting updates on Michael Wolf's book fire and fury which is continuing to sell like crazy”
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.
Discussed“it's coming back for a second season in April and there's also going to be adaptations coming of Philip Roth's novel The plot against America that was broken in the New York Times book review”
Where to get it
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Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a classic dystopian novel depicting a future American society where books are outlawed and firemen burn any that are discovered.
Discussed“another dystopian adaptation I'm looking forward to is Fahrenheit 451 which was of course um Ray Bradbury's novel which was published in 1953 and it presents this future America where books are outlawed and burned and so that is being adapted by HBO and the trailer is already out”
Where to get it
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Sing, Unburied, Sing
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward is a powerful Mississippi-set novel that functions simultaneously as a raw road trip narrative and a haunting ghost story.
Book club“so this is really a participatory book club and we're super excited to announce the first author on the book club on the first book Choice which is Jasmine Wards sing unburied sing”
Where to get it
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Angel
Angel by Elizabeth Taylor is a compelling novel by a celebrated British writer, presented in an edition published by New York Review Books.
Recommended“she's a British novelist who nyrb has put out several books of her work this one is from I believe 1957 it's called Angel and it's the first one of hers I've read and I'm really loving it”
Where to get it
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The Perfect Nanny
The Perfect Nanny is a chilling psychological suspense novel by Lela Slimani that explores the dark dynamics between a seemingly ideal nanny and the family who employs her, ultimately culminating in tragedy.
Discussed“yes uh so to to turn to uh fiction I picked up I have to confess that when I first received the galley of the perfect Nanny by Leila slamman I I didn't think much of it”
Where to get it
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Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson is a comprehensive biographical work detailing the multifaceted life, scientific experiments, political career, and business acumen of one of America's founding fathers.
Discussed“so that's on my list too but I I have to finish first the book that I'm reading which is Walter isaacson's biography of Ben Franklin Benjamin Franklin at American life”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“we're seeing a number of additional dystopia novels being adapted for TV this year the handmaids tale by Margaret Atwood was so successful in its first season”
“her second novel Salvage the bones won the national book award in 2011”
“and she has also written a memoir very moving Memoir called Men We reaped about the death of her brother and four other young African-American men in Mississippi”
“I've read Gordon Wood's you know history of the American Revolution I read Ron chau's Hamilton and I'm reading this”