Episode · The Book Review · 2025-11-21
Books mentioned on Welcome to Literary Award Season
MJ Franklin discussed James by Percival L. Everett and Audition by Katie M. Kitamura, and read We Do Not Part by Han Kang for a book club. Emily Eakin discussed The economy of prestige by James F. English, The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller, The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad, Patricia Smith Performs Always in the Head and Selected Poems by Patricia Smith, The Intentions of Thunder by Patricia Smith, and We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and others. Joumana Khatib discussed Milkman by Anna Burns. Dave Kim recommended The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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James
James by Percival L.
Discussed“I do think that James is a total exception in the sense of being commercially viable, obviously worthy. It just hits so many marks”
Where to get it
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The economy of prestige
Discussed“James English who's an English professor I think at U Penn, wrote a book called The Prestige Economy about awards about 15 years ago and it's really great.”
Where to get it
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Milkman
Milkman by Anna Burns is a formally inventive, stream-of-consciousness novel set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, following a young woman harassed by an older, powerful paramilitary figure known as the milkman.
Discussed“I remember like Milkman, the Anna Burns novel only which I love. This came out of maybe 10 years ago.”
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.
Book club“I actually did that for our We Do Not Part conversation, our book club conversation earlier in the year”
Where to get it
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The Land in Winter
Discussed“Well, The Land in Winter is a kind of old-fashioned psychological novel beautifully precise.”
Where to get it
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The Rest of Our Lives
The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits is a compelling contemporary novel that explores complex human emotions and relationships through sharp prose.
Recommended“I really enjoyed The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Lerner Kovic.”
Where to get it
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Audition
Audition by Katie Kitamura is a compelling and deeply psychological contemporary novel that explores identity, performance, human relationships, and the subtle tensions underlying everyday social interactions.
Discussed“Can I tell you one book that I was really surprised by how popular it was and that is Audition by Katie Kitamura.”
Where to get it
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The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)
Discussed“So in fiction Rabih Alameddine won for his novel The True Story of Raja the Gullible and his mother.”
Where to get it
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One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad is a powerful, award-winning book of nonfiction that confronts urgent contemporary political realities, moral compromises, and historical reckonings.
Discussed“In non-fiction Omar El Akkad won for One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.”
Where to get it
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Patricia Smith Performs Always in the Head and Selected Poems
Discussed“The poetry prize went to Patricia Smith for The Intentions of Thunder New and Selected Poems.”
Where to get it
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The Intentions of Thunder
Discussed“The poetry prize went to Patricia Smith for The Intentions of Thunder New and Selected Poems.”
Where to get it
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We Are Green and Trembling
Discussed“In translated literature Gabriela Cabezón Cámara and her translator Robin Myers won for We Are Green and Trembling.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“We were spoiled by that and Martyr too, I think maybe.”
“Some book that nobody's ever heard of called Paco's Story won that year.”
“This is for Beloved by the way.”
“I realize we haven't mentioned Flashlight by Susan Choi. That was another finalist.”