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Every book Barbara Kingsolver recommended on podcasts
Barbara Kingsolver appeared on The Ezra Klein Show to discuss regional identity, her literary inspirations, and the complex realities of Appalachia. During the conversation, Kingsolver reflected on the creative genesis of her novel Demon Copperhead, revealing that the ghost in the room and the ultimate key to unlocking her narrative was Charles Dickens and his classic novel David Copperhead. She explained how she took Dickens's work as a direct template and laid her own book right over it because the structural framework worked so exceptionally well. Kingsolver also discussed Bobbie Ann Mason's short story collection Shiloh and Other Stories, recalling how someone gave it to her during a major year in the literary world, which inspired her to embrace her own Kentucky voice. Shifting to contemporary journalism and social crises, Kingsolver brought up Beth Macy's book Dopesick to praise its fantastic, in-depth reporting on Purdue Pharma, the legal battles, the DEA, and the broader devastating story of the opioid epidemic. She followed this by recommending Macy's follow-up book, Raising Lazarus, praising it as a great piece of journalism that explores where society currently stands with the ongoing epidemic. Finally, rounding out her closing reading suggestions, Kingsolver recommended Pod by Laline Paull, highlighting its unique premise as a novel set entirely in the ocean while clarifying that it is not science fiction.
Books recommended by Barbara Kingsolver
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David Copperfield
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens is a classic 1850 semi-autobiographical novel that follows the emotional and professional maturation of its titular hero from an impoverished childhood to adulthood.
Discussed“The ghost in the room here is Charles Dickens because I owe him everything with respect to this book Charles Dickens is the key I finally found to the door of that house of this novel”
Where to get it
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Dopesick
Dopesick by Beth Macy is a harrowing chronicle of the opioid epidemic and the pharmaceutical companies that fueled addiction in America.
Recommended“Purdue Pharma the attorneys and the DEA and all of that big story has broken and it's been told beautifully by a handful of journalists have done a great job of cracking and telling us that story Beth Macy among them with her fantastic book dope sick”
Where to get it
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Pod
Pod by Laline Paull is a novel set entirely within the ocean environment.
Recommended“it's called pod by lalene Paul and it's set entirely in the ocean it's not Science Fiction”
Where to get it
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Raising Lazarus
Raising Lazarus by Beth Macy is a deeply reported piece of investigative journalism that examines the ongoing American opioid epidemic and the heroic community efforts combating it.
Recommended“I recommend Beth Macy's follow-up to Dope Sick which is called raising Lazarus it's a great piece of Journalism on where we are now with this epidemic”
Where to get it
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Shiloh
Discussed“someone actually gave me Bobby Ann Mason's short Story collection Shiloh and Other Stories which was a very big book that year in the world she's from Kentucky”
Where to get it
Books Barbara Kingsolver wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Kingsolver Thinks Urban Liberals Have It All Wrong on Appalachia | The Ezra Klein Show | 2023-07-21 | 6 |
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and she told the story and that was The Bean Trees it was the first fiction I wrote that was successful because I had decided to own myself my Appalachian background”
“and I will say here as the disclaimer I always make you do not have to read David Copperfield before or after you read demon Copperhead”