Episode · The Book Review · 2024-12-03
Books mentioned on The 10 Best Books of 2024
Gilbert Cruz discussed James by Percival L. Everett, You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue and others, Good Material by Dolly Alderton, All Fours by Miranda July, Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides, Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer, Reagan by Max Boot, I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante, and Cold Crematorium by József Debreczeni and others. MJ Franklin recommended Godwin by Joseph O'Neill. Joumana Khatib recommended The Coin by Yasmin Zaher. Dave Kim discussed Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte. Nema Milaninia recommended When the Clock Broke by John Ganz.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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James
James by Percival L.
Discussed“the big winner last night a the national book awards as expected by many was one of the books on our list this was James by pel Everett”
Where to get it
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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.
Discussed“this is you dreamed of Empires by Alvaro enri translated by Natasha Wimer”
Where to get it
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Good Material
Good Material by Dolly Alderton is a sharp and humorous contemporary novel that explores the messy aftermath of a breakup from the perspective of a heartbroken male comedian.
Discussed“let us move to something completely different as different from this book as can possibly be which is good material by Dolly alderton”
Where to get it
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All Fours
Miranda July's novel All Fours explores relationships, midlife, and identity in a deeply unconventional way.
Discussed“this is a book called all fours by Miranda jly”
Where to get it
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Martyr!
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar is a dazzling debut novel about an orphaned young Iranian-American poet in recovery seeking meaning, legacy, and a dramatic exit through art.
Discussed“one of our editors in particular saying martyr by cave Akbar is it it's going to be one that I'm going to nominate and that we're all going to talk about”
Where to get it
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Godwin
Godwin by Joseph O'Neill is a contemporary novel that explores themes of ambition, family, rivalry, and modern life through sharply observed characters and intricate prose.
Recommended“I loved Godwin by Joseph O'Neal”
Where to get it
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The Coin
The Coin by Yasmin Zaher is a contemporary novel that follows a Palestinian woman living in New York City who becomes entangled in a complex web of teaching, materialism, and moral exploration.
Recommended“I keep telling people about the coin by Yasmin sahir”
Where to get it
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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“the book I want to talk about is rejection by Tony tulam Moody”
Where to get it
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The Wide Wide Sea
The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides is a sweeping historical non-fiction work detailing the fateful final voyage of Captain James Cook and the complexities of imperial ambition during first contact.
Discussed“so I'm going to start with a book that I think all of us all four of us were big fans of the wide wide sea Imperial ambition first Contact in the Fateful final voyage of James Cook by Hampton side”
Where to get it
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Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here
Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer is a rigorous and timely historical account that explores the making of the immigration crisis in the United States and Central America.
Discussed“everyone who has gone is here the United States Central America in the making of a crisis by Jonathan Blitzer”
Where to get it
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I Heard Her Call My Name
Discussed“our next book is I heard her call my name A Memoir of transition by Lucy Sant is one that I believe you really took to”
Where to get it
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Cold Crematorium
Discussed“let us move on to our last book which is cold crematorium reporting from the land of aitz by Yousef deeni Nema”
Where to get it
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When the Clock Broke
When the Clock Broke by John Ganz is a work of nonfiction that explores the turbulent political currents and populist movements of the 1990s.
Recommended“a book that I think a lot of us read and were really impressed by was when the clock broke by John Gans”
Where to get it
