Episode · The Book Review · 2025-01-10
Books mentioned on The Books We’re Excited About in Early 2025
Joumana Khatib recommended Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood, Glyph by Ali Smith, The Colony by Annika Norlin, Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Antidote by Karen Russell, and Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, and discussed True Grit by Charles Portis, Norwood by Charles Portis, The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton and others, and Playworld by Adam Ross. Gilbert Cruz recommended The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami, We Do Not Part by Han Kang, Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor, Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon, The Crash by Freida McFadden, and Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn, and discussed Conclave by Robert Harris, Learning from Silence by Pico Iyer, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, Hope by Pope Francis and others, Source Code by Bill Gates, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and Next to Heaven by James Frey.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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True Grit
True Grit by Charles Portis is a classic American novel following the fierce young Mattie Ross as she hires a one-eyed U.S.
Discussed“so a lot of what I read is coming out this year so I'm not going to necessarily mention it but I did read True Grit by Charles pis”
Where to get it
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Norwood
Norwood by Charles Portis is a slender, humorous novel following an ex-marine named Norwood Pratt on a strange mission to New York City commissioned by a shady character.
Discussed“I'd only read Norwood and I loved it”
Where to get it
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The Luminaries
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton is a sprawling, critically acclaimed historical novel set in New Zealand during the 1866 Gold Rush, a work that famously earned the author the prestigious Booker Prize in 2013.
Discussed“and I started The Luminaries by Eleanor katton who won the booker prize for it”
Where to get it
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Conclave
Conclave by Robert Harris is a compelling thriller that takes readers deep inside the secretive, high-stakes political maneuvering of the Vatican as cardinals gather to elect a new pope.
Discussed“I read conclave which is a book that has been made into a movie”
Where to get it
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Stone Yard Devotional
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood is a novel that explores isolation, faith, and reflection.
Recommended“this is stoneyard devotional by Charlotte Wood”
Where to get it
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Learning from Silence
Learning from Silence by Pico Iyer is a reflective memoir chronicling the author's decades-long visits to a Benedictine hermitage in Big Sur, California, in search of inner peace and contemplation.
Discussed“there's a book that I think by this point will have just come out called a flame learning from Silence”
Where to get it
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Glyph
Glyph by Ali Smith is a contemporary novel that captures the complexities of the modern sociopolitical landscape.
Recommended“so this is glyph”
Where to get it
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The Dream Hotel
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami is a near-future thriller exploring themes of surveillance, predictive security, and societal control.
Recommended“it's a book called The Dream hotel by Leila Lami”
Where to get it
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The Colony
The Colony by Annika Norlin is a novel translated from Swedish that examines themes of burnout and escaping modern life by retreating into the woods.
Recommended“so this is the colony by anak Norland”
Where to get it
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We Do Not Part
We Do Not Part by Han Kang is a deeply moving novel by the Nobel laureate that explores historical trauma, grief, and the enduring human connections forged through dark periods of history.
Recommended“and it is we do not part by Hong Kong”
Where to get it
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Playworld
Playworld is an intricate, immersive novel by Adam Ross set against the backdrop of New York City, exploring modern relationships, family dynamics, and psychological depth.
Discussed“so this is Playworld by Adam Ross”
Where to get it
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Death of the Author
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor is a science fiction work exploring complex speculative themes.
Recommended“this comes out January 14th and it's called death of the author by NTI okoror”
Where to get it
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Dream Count
Dream Count is a work of fiction by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Recommended“so this is called dream count”
Where to get it
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Jesus Wept
Jesus Wept by Philip Shenon is an investigative nonfiction book exploring the modern Catholic Church through the lens of seven popes.
Recommended“I'm also equally curious however in reading a book that comes out later later this winter which is called Jesus wept seven popes and the battle for the soul of the Catholic church”
Where to get it
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The Antidote
The Antidote by Karen Russell is a sweeping novel set during the Dust Bowl that explores historical hardship and human resilience.
Recommended“I'm going to talk about the antidote by Karen Russell which is a novel coming out in March”
Where to get it
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Source Code
Source Code by Bill Gates is a memoir by the technology pioneer detailing his early life, intellectual development, and the formative experiences that shaped his career.
Discussed“this is called Source Code by Bill Gates”
Where to get it
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Great Big Beautiful Life
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry is a contemporary romance novel by a prominent author widely regarded as a major figure in the romance genre.
Recommended“we have a new romance from Emily Henry coming in April called Great Big Beautiful Life”
Where to get it
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Sunrise on the Reaping
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian novel set within the expanding universe of The Hunger Games, offering readers a return to the brutal society of Panem.
Discussed“Suzanne Collins has a new Hunger Games book coming out it's called sunrise on the reaping”
Where to get it
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The Crash
The Crash by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller featuring suspenseful twists, domestic tension, and the signature pacing characteristic of the bestselling author's work.
Recommended“I have the crash by Freda mcfaden”
Where to get it
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Kills Well with Others
Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn is a historical mystery novel that follows clever sleuths and intricate plotting in a richly detailed period setting.
Recommended“Deanna Rayborn has a new book coming out kills well with others at the beginning of March”
Where to get it
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Next to Heaven
Next to Heaven is a novel written by James Frey.
Discussed“so James fry is coming back with a novel called Next To Heaven which is a an anti-marriage plot set in New Bethlehem Connecticut”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (26) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“she also wrote Burnham Wood”
“it's the followup to Fourth wing and iron flame”
“it's the followup to Fourth wing and iron flame”
“God I was hooked on red wall”
“this apparently has been a huge hit in Sweden which is not something I've said since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
“her book The vegetarian which is probably if you know any of her books”
“she is known as the author of Americana and we should all be feminists”
“she is known as the author of Americana and we should all be feminists”
“and you may knowem Henry for her romance's funny story and happy place”
“and you may knowem Henry for her romance's funny story and happy place”
“Book Lovers it was very Charming”
“so they're the first three the trilogy Hunger Games Catching Fire mocking jay”
“so they're the first three the trilogy Hunger Games Catching Fire mocking jay”
“so they're the first three the trilogy Hunger Games Catching Fire mocking jay”
“then a couple years ago she wrote a prequel The Ballad of song birds and snakes”
“this is for people who like tress exercise by Susan Choy”
“or asymmetry by Lisa Halliday”
“it's the follow-up to killers of a certain age”
“Ron Chau the author of Hamilton”
“and it's about Mark Twain the author of the book that inspired James by persal Everett”
“the Emperor of gladness by ocean Wang Spence by Allison beell the great graphic novelist and speak to me of home by Janine cumins”
“the Emperor of gladness by ocean Wang Spence by Allison beell the great graphic novelist and speak to me of home by Janine cumins”
“she is the author of American dirt which is the embattled novel of I don't know five six years ago”
“Taylor Jenkins Reed very well-known best-selling author has a book called atmosphere sa a the Thriller writer has a book called King of ashes”
“and then V Schwab the author of The Invisible life of Addy laroo has a new book coming out”
“and then V Schwab the author of The Invisible life of Addy laroo has a new book coming out called bury our bones in the midnight soil and that takes us through June”