Episode · The Book Review · 2018-01-26
Books mentioned on Twilight's Last Gleaming?
David Frum discussed What's the Matter with Kansas? by Thomas Frank. Pamela Paul discussed Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff. John Williams discussed The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, and criticized The Golden Bowl by Henry James. Greg Cowles recommended Bluebird, bluebird by Attica Locke. Tina Jordan recommended The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani, and discussed Personal history by Katharine Graham and A Good Life by Ben Bradlee and others. Also mentioned: Just like us by Helen Thorpe.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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What's the Matter with Kansas?
What's the Matter with Kansas? by Thomas Frank is a penetrating political analysis that investigates why working-class voters in conservative heartlands frequently support political platforms and economic policies that appear to run counter to their own financial self-interest.
Discussed“it's like a a version of that old Thomas Frank book what's the matter with Kansas”
Where to get it
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Fire and Fury
Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury is an explosive investigative look inside the Donald Trump White House that generated massive controversy and public debate upon its release.
Discussed“because in fire and fury michael wolf suggests strongly that he didn't ever expect necessarily even want to become president”
Where to get it
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Just like us
Discussed“so in my first book just like us I was writing about four young women whose families had come from Mexico”
Where to get it
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The Portrait of a Lady
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James is a classic 1881 novel following the spirited young American heiress Isabel Archer as she navigates European society, independence, and a disastrous marriage.
Discussed“yep I am reading Henry James's the portrait of a lady um which people have probably heard of”
Where to get it
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The Golden Bowl
The Golden Bowl by Henry James is a complex, late-period psychological novel that explores betrayal, marriage, and moral ambiguity among a small circle of wealthy Americans in Europe.
Critiqued“I had a similar early negative Henry James experience with the Golden Bowl in college which I think I I read read like chapter of um before casting it aside”
Where to get it
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Bluebird, bluebird
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke is a gripping mystery novel set in the rural landscape of East Texas.
Recommended“but I'm reading Atta Lock's bluebird bluebird it is a mystery um it is part of a series of mysteries that she's writing all set in East Texas”
Where to get it
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Personal history
Discussed“so I'm reading Katherine Graham's personal history I went to see the post I guess two weeks ago”
Where to get it
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A Good Life
A Good Life is a memoir by Ben Bradlee, Jr.
Discussed“as listeners may recall Ben Bradley's book a good life I think it was last year as a kind of CounterPoint”
Where to get it
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The Perfect Nanny
The Perfect Nanny is a chilling psychological suspense novel by Lela Slimani that explores the dark dynamics between a seemingly ideal nanny and the family who employs her, ultimately culminating in tragedy.
Recommended“Lauren Christensen our colleague talked about it last week on the podcast the perfect Nanny by Leela slimani”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (15) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“David from argues yes in his new book trumpocracy the corruption of the American Republic”
“Helen Thorp will be here to discuss her new book the newcomers”
“the book again is trumpocracy the corruption of the American Republic”
“she is the author of soldier girls and just like us it is written for the Times magazine as well as other places”
“she is the author of soldier girls and just like us it is written for the Times magazine as well as other places”
“her new book is called the newcomers finding Refuge friendship and hope in an American classroom”
“the principal said I read your first book just like us”
“Helen Thorp is the author of the newcomers finding Refuge friendship and hope in an American classroom”
“so fire and fury of course is still at number one for the third week in a row”
“at number two former New York Times Reporter David K Johnston has his new book it's even worse than you think”
“it's interesting because that's sort of the same approach as David fromm's trumpocracy which debuts at number six where he's saying like let's let's stop focusing on the character of President Trump and actually look at the actions”
“and then at number five Together We rise by the women's March organizers and con Nast”
“at number seven how democracies die which our critic Jennifer salai reviewed in the paper last week together with trumpocracy”
“at number 11 Neil Ferguson's the square and the tower again not totally political but it's about Network Theory”
“and then at number 12 when they call you a terrorist by Patrice Khan colors and Asha bandel also very much of our moment about black lives matter”