Episode · The Book Review · 2024-12-13
Books mentioned on Our Book Critics On Their Year in Reading
Gilbert Cruz recommended You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue and others, and discussed Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte. Jennifer Szalai discussed All Fours by Miranda July and Free and Equal by Daniel Chandler. Dwight Garner recommended The Year That Broke America by Andrew Rice, Miss May Does Not Exist by Carrie Courogen, and Private Citizens by Tony Tulathimutte and others. Alexandra Jacobs discussed Christopher Isherwood Inside Out by Katherine Bucknell, My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr, Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino, The Grapes of Wrath - An Opera in 3 Acts by Ricky Ian Gordon and others, and Seeing Through by Ricky Ian Gordon.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
Intermezzo
Intermezzo is a contemporary novel by Sally Rooney that explores grief, complex family dynamics, and romantic entanglements through the lives of two estranged brothers.
Discussed“one of the books that you were big on this year I I don't know that you called it out in your piece but I did want to briefly touch on it was intermetzo by Sally Rooney as you recall”
Where to get it
-
All Fours
Miranda July's novel All Fours explores relationships, midlife, and identity in a deeply unconventional way.
Discussed“I read all fours by Miranda July and I think I think it was a rental a car rental agency”
Where to get it
-
You Dreamed of Empires
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer, is an imaginative historical novel offering an alternative perspective on the Spanish conquest of Mexico by reframing the historical encounter as a chaotic, high-stakes heist carried out by fortunate thugs.
Recommended“Dwight you did write early on about another one of our top 10 books of the year and I think it was your piece that really put it on a a ton of our Radars which was you dreamed of Empires which was a book by Alvaro enri that we all just love so much”
Where to get it
-
The Year That Broke America
The Year That Broke America by Andrew Rice is a nonfiction work by the New York Magazine writer focusing on the year 2000 as the foundation for subsequent political and social developments.
Recommended“I can't discuss when the clock broke without speaking up for the year that broke America by Andrew rice the New York Magazine writer which is about the year 2000 and how it was the foundation for everything that followed”
Where to get it
-
Christopher Isherwood Inside Out
Discussed“Brad G is the perfect person to write this biography”
Where to get it
-
Miss May Does Not Exist
Miss May Does Not Exist by Carrie Courogen is a biographical exploration of the life and career of the groundbreaking filmmaker, comedian, and writer Elaine May.
Recommended“and this was a book called Miss May does not exist the life and work of Elaine May Hollywood's hidden genius”
Where to get it
-
My Beloved Monster
Discussed“and Pressly before he died Caleb Carr published a memoir a Meir about his a Meir which I got into the my fi my proudest accomplishment this year is that neologism is now in The Archives of the New York Times”
Where to get it
-
Rejection
Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte is a sharp, contemporary collection of short stories that delves deeply into modern isolation, internet subcultures, and the psychological weight of rejection.
Discussed“so we'll go from my beloved monster Caleb Carr's Memoir about his cat to a book about different kinds of monsters which is rejection a book by Tony Tuli amoodi”
Where to get it
-
Private Citizens
Private Citizens by Tony Tulathimutte is a contemporary satirical novel that follows the messy, interconnected lives of several young San Franciscans navigating technology, ambition, and existential dread in the Bay Area.
Recommended“Jen actually first turned me on to his work because I had not read his first novel remind me the title private citizens private citizens and I've since read it and it's terrific”
Where to get it
-
Beautyland
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino is a whimsical and poignant contemporary novel about an alien intelligence sent to Earth in the guise of a human girl in the 1970s, who navigates the complexities of human existence while communicating with her home planet through a fax machine.
Discussed“are you going to say Beautyland I want to ask you about Beauty Land”
Where to get it
-
Free and Equal
Discussed“I don't know if I'd call them disagreements but at least Lively discussions about the book itself was free and equal a Manifesto for a just Society by Daniel Chandler”
Where to get it
-
The Grapes of Wrath - An Opera in 3 Acts
Discussed“Ricky Ian Gordon the composer also came out from behind some kind of veil to write his Memoir seeing through a Chronicle of sex drugs and Opera”
Where to get it
-
Seeing Through
Discussed“Ricky Ian Gordon the composer also came out from behind some kind of veil to write his Memoir seeing through a Chronicle of sex drugs and Opera”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“he and several other editors will be discussing the book small things like these by CL Keegan”