Episode · The Book Review · 2019-12-20
Books mentioned on Times Critics Talk About Their Year-End Lists
Dwight Garner discussed Trust Exercise by Susan Choi and others, The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell, and Normal People by Sally Rooney. Pamela Paul discussed The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom, Night Boat To Tangier by Kevin Barry, Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann, Anniversaries by Uwe Johnson, Solitary by Albert Woodfox, Black Radical by Kerri K. Greenidge, American Carnage by Tim Alberta, and Richard Nixon : the life by John A. Farrell. Jennifer Szalai recommended The Hidden History of Burma by Thant Myint-U, and discussed Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham, How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr, and Poems by the author of “Paul Ferroll” [i.e. Caroline Clive]. Including a new edition of IX Poems by V, with former and recent additions by Caroline CLIVE and others. Parul Sehgal recommended Women Talking by Miriam Toews. Greg Cowles discussed Thelonious Monk by Robin D.G. Kelley and others. Andrew Lavallée discussed The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada. John Williams discussed Belladonna by Daša Drndić.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Trust Exercise
Susan Choi's novel Trust Exercise is a complex narrative that explores a high-pressure performing arts high school while constantly upending reader expectations through startling structural shifts.
Discussed“one of them was Susan Choice trust exercise exes trust exercise”
Where to get it
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The Old Drift
The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell is an ambitious, multi-generational debut novel tracing the history of Zambia through interconnected families.
Discussed“and the other one was the old drift by namw surel”
Where to get it
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Normal People
Normal People by Sally Rooney is a bestselling contemporary novel that chronicles the complex, evolving relationship between two Irish teenagers, Marianne and Connell, as they navigate class differences and university life.
Discussed“I think it was the new Sally Rooney novel normal people”
Where to get it
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The Yellow House
The Yellow House by Sarah M.
Discussed“and all three of the those books made your list as well as two books that were on the book review editors list the top 10 list nightboat to Tangier and the yellow house”
Where to get it
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Night Boat To Tangier
Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry is a darkly humorous and atmospheric novel that follows two aging, weary Irish gangsters as they wait in a Spanish ferry port for news of a missing daughter.
Discussed“and all three of the those books made your list as well as two books that were on the book review editors list the top 10 list nightboat to Tangier and the yellow house”
Where to get it
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Midnight in Chernobyl
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham is a gripping historical account documenting the untold story of the world's greatest nuclear disaster.
Discussed“I thought the Chernobyl book by Adam Higginbotham I thought was fantastic... so this is midnight in ch midnight in Chernobyl”
Where to get it
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How to Hide an Empire
How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr is a sweeping historical account that examines the overseas territories and greater expanse of the United States.
Discussed“another book was how to hide an Empire by Daniel imir”
Where to get it
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Poems by the author of “Paul Ferroll” [i.e. Caroline Clive]. Including a new edition of IX Poems by V, with former and recent additions
Discussed“and so that was another one you know the Caroline forche book about her time in El Salvador you know quite stunning”
Where to get it
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Ducks, Newburyport
Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann is a massive, highly experimental stream-of-consciousness novel told almost entirely through a single, sprawling sentence spanning roughly one thousand pages.
Discussed“parl two of your best books were more than a thousand pages... ducks Newberry Port by Lucy Elman and anniversaries by U Johnson”
Where to get it
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Anniversaries
Discussed“parl two of your best books were more than a thousand pages... ducks Newberry Port by Lucy Elman and anniversaries by U Johnson”
Where to get it
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Solitary
Discussed“Unbroken by four decades in solitary confinement my story of transition and hope by Albert woodfox and Leslie George”
Where to get it
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Black Radical
Discussed“one you reviewed quite recently black radical The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter by Carrie greenage”
Where to get it
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American Carnage
American Carnage by Tim Alberta is an investigative political work that chronicles the transformation of the Republican Party during the Trump era and the profound ideological shifts within American conservatism.
Discussed“I remember when you reviewed This Book American Carnage by Tim Alberta your review was so persuasive”
Where to get it
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Women Talking
Women Talking by Miriam Toews is a compelling novel inspired by real-life events in an isolated Mennonite community where women grapple with systemic abuse and decide their collective future.
Recommended“parl I think for me it would be women talking by Miriam Taves”
Where to get it
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The Hidden History of Burma
The Hidden History of Burma by Thant Myint-U is a critical examination of the political, social, and ethnic complexities shaping modern Myanmar.
Recommended“this is exactly the kind of question that I I I'm I'm loathed to answer but I will say there was a book that I reviewed actually another one that I reviewed fairly recently by taunt minu called the hidden history of Burma”
Where to get it
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Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin D.G.
Discussed“I'm reading a biography of Thelonius Monk it's by Robin DG Kelly”
Where to get it
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Richard Nixon : the life
Richard Nixon: The Life by John A.
Discussed“I have finally finished John frell's biography of Richard Nixon”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“we'll be welcoming Cheryl buan and my colleague Nick Kristoff to talk about their new book tight RPP Americans reaching for hope”