Episode · The Book Review · 2017-03-10
Books mentioned on Points of No Return
Gilbert Cruz discussed EXIT WEST by Moshin Hamid, Divided we stand by Marjorie Julian Spruill, and Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance. Moshin Hamid recommended Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, and discussed The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid. Alexandra Alter discussed The son by Philipp Meyer, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, The book of strange new things by Michel Faber, The Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St Aubyn, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. John Williams discussed Patrimony by Philip Roth. Parul Sehgal recommended Conundrum by Jan Morris. Greg Cowles recommended Running by Cara Hoffman, The Night Ocean by Paul LaFarge, and Ill will by Dan Chaon, and discussed The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro. Pamela Paul discussed The destiny of the republic by Candice Millard.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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EXIT WEST
Exit West is a speculative novel about a young couple fleeing an unnamed city torn apart by civil war through magical doorways that transport them to different countries as refugees.
Discussed“in author M Hamed's latest book Exit West a couple escapes the chaos of their Homeland only to join the ranks of refugees”
Where to get it
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Divided we stand
Discussed“Jillian Thomas dives into the complicated history of the women's rights and family values movements in a review of the new book Divided We Stand”
Where to get it
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The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Discussed“my other novels each have had a a kind of a frame a formal structure a conversation in a bizaar in the case of Lon fundamentalist”
Where to get it
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Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web by E.B.
Recommended“but the truth is I wouldn't be a writer if it wasn't for Charlotte's Web”
Where to get it
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Hillbilly Elegy
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D.
Discussed“I think it's a kind of CounterPoint to JD Vance's Memoir which for many people was sort of right immediately after the election”
Where to get it
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The son
Discussed“the one that I'm looking forward to that's starting in early April is an adaptation of Philip Meyer's epic Western the sun which is premiering on AMC”
Where to get it
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The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale is Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel about a totalitarian society where women's rights are stripped away and a select few are forced into reproductive servitude.
Discussed“some other interesting series that are coming up this spring include the handmaid's tale by Margaret Atwood and of course this is a novel that came out many many years ago in 1985”
Where to get it
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Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty is a gripping domestic suspense novel that explores suburban secrets, complex female friendships, and the hidden violence behind picture-perfect lives.
Discussed“and already on TV for people that want to get started watching is lean Mor Ari's 2014 novel big little lies is now a series on HBO”
Where to get it
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The book of strange new things
The book of strange new things by Michel Faber is a thought-provoking science fiction novel that follows a Christian missionary sent to minister to an extraterrestrial population.
Discussed“so Amazon is apparently in advaned talks to take on this adaptation of the book of strange new things which is a it's this sort of kind of quiet science fiction novel”
Where to get it
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The Patrick Melrose novels
Discussed“and that is an adaptation of Edward St obin's Patrick Melos novels which are incred oh my God that's going to be dark”
Where to get it
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Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn is a psychological thriller about a troubled reporter named Camille Preaker who returns to her hometown to cover the murders of two young girls while battling severe self-destructive habits.
Discussed“and of course um another one that people are really excited about I don't know exactly when it's coming out how far long it is but Gillian Flynn's sharp objects is being adapted”
Where to get it
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Patrimony
Patrimony by Philip Roth is a moving memoir detailing the author's relationship with his aging father and the harrowing experience of watching an 86-year-old parent face declining health.
Discussed“I'm sort of sputtering through this Philip Roth KCK and I'm reading his 1991 Memoir patrony which is the story of his 86-year-old father's declining Health”
Where to get it
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Conundrum
Conundrum by Jan Morris is a celebrated memoir that chronicles the author's pioneering journey as a transgender woman and renowned travel writer.
Recommended“and I reread a book that I think I bet Pamela has read maybe you guys have read to Jan Morris's conundrum”
Where to get it
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The Power Broker
The Power Broker by Robert A.
Discussed“well of course you know my personal reading is still Robert caros uh the power broker about Robert Moses and I will talk about that in a second”
Where to get it
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Running
Running by Cara Hoffman is a novel set against the gritty and volatile backdrop of underground Athens in the 1980s, tracing the lives of young runaways navigating survival and counterculture.
Recommended“one is Cara Hoffman's novel running which is this very atmospheric kind of steamy novel of underground Athens in the 1980s”
Where to get it
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The Night Ocean
The Night Ocean by Paul LaFarge is a complex, multi-layered novel that weaves together the life of H.P.
Recommended“the other two novels that I that I really got a kick out of in recent days for work where Paul lefar is the night ocean which is kind of a a puzzle or Rubik's cube of a novel”
Where to get it
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Ill will
Ill Will is a psychological thriller by Dan Chaon that explores complex mysteries and the dark undercurrents of memory and trauma.
Recommended“and then the last book that I fell into is a book that just grabbed me for plot reasons regular listeners will know that I'm susceptible to Thrillers and and this qualifies although it's very much a literary Thriller is Dan Sha's new book ill will”
Where to get it
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The destiny of the republic
Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard is a riveting narrative history detailing the unexpected presidency, tragic assassination, and subsequent medical mismanagement of James A.
Discussed“I got a little distracted from my regular reading which is Candace mallard's Destiny of the Republic to read exit West by Our Guest this week Mosen Hamed”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (3) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“and uh there a bit of the line the witch and the wardr mess passing through is there”
“and this week she reviews Divided We Stand the battle over women's rights and family values that polarized American politics by Marjorie spru”
“I got a little distracted from my regular reading which is Candace mallard's Destiny of the Republic to read exit West by Our Guest this week Mosen Hamed”