Person
Every book Jumana Khatib recommended on podcasts
Jumana Khatib appeared on The Book Review to discuss notable book releases, literary award seasons, and compelling contemporary literature. As an astute observer of the literary landscape, Khatib engaged with a diverse array of fiction and non-fiction across multiple episodes. She recommended Ben Lerner's novel Transcription, characterizing the author as exceptionally intellectual, and praised Suzy Hansen's nonfiction book Life Itself, emphasizing the author's extensive experience as an international correspondent based in Turkey. Khatib also recommended Carissa Véliz's Prophecy for its brilliant philosophical conceit regarding algorithms, artificial intelligence, and power. During discussions on upcoming spring releases and notable fiction, she mentioned Maria Semple's novel Go Gentle and recommended Susie Boyt's Loved and Missed as an exceptional read. Furthermore, Khatib shared that she was currently reading Norman Rush's novel Mating and reflected on the impact of literary prizes by highlighting Anna Burns's novel Milkman as a memorable discovery from award seasons. Her discussions underscored a broad appreciation for intellectual prose, investigative reporting, and sharp contemporary storytelling.
Books recommended by Jumana Khatib
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Loved and Missed
Loved and Missed is a poignant contemporary novel by Susie Boyt that explores complex family dynamics, grief, and the unconventional bonds of motherhood.
Recommended“I am very excited to talk to you about loved and missed by Susie boy this is something if you like the beasting”
Where to get it
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From Life Itself
From Life Itself by Suzy Hansen is a compelling work of nonfiction that explores the complex political and social landscape of Turkey through deeply reported investigations into a single neighborhood in Istanbul over a span of ten years.
Recommended“This is from Life Itself by Suzy Hansen. I think she is just like an all-star international correspondent. She's been based in Turkey for I think over a decade at this point.”
Where to get it
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Go Gentle
Maria Semple's novel Go Gentle arrives as a highly anticipated contemporary release from an acclaimed author best known for her previous popular fiction.
Recommended“Maria Semple, who is best known as the author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette, has a new novel coming out called Go Gentle.”
Where to get it
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Mating
Mating by Norman Rush is a sprawling, intellectually ambitious novel following a brilliant female American anthropologist in Botswana as she navigates an intellectual and romantic entanglement with a utopian community leader.
Recommended“so I am now going to Norman Rush's meeting oh boy yes”
Where to get it
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Prophecy
Prophecy by Carissa Véliz is a thought-provoking exploration of prediction, power, and the future, tracing themes from ancient oracles to modern artificial intelligence.
Recommended“This is called Prophecy. Oh, here we go. Prediction, power, and the fight for the future from ancient oracles to AI by Carissa Veliz. And I think this is a brilliant conceit for a book.”
Where to get it
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Transcription
Transcription by Ben Lerner is a slim, intellectual novel spanning roughly 120 pages that explores complex ideas through a sharp narrative style.
Recommended“So, this is Transcription by Ben Lerner. Ben is the author of Leaving the Atocha Station, The Topeka School, 10:04. Uh he's very brainy and intellectual.”
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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My Friends
Discussed“so I'm so glad to be here to alleviate this guilt that is my friends by hhm matar”
Where to get it
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The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt is a critically acclaimed and inventive novel that follows a single mother raising a precocious young boy in Tokyo as he becomes obsessed with Akira Kurosawa's film.
Discussed“well there is still a threat of a severe illness in this book that I'm reading and dedicated listeners of the book review podcast will remember that I am reading tremendously out ofd books between the secret history and The Last Samurai”
Where to get it
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The Secret History
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a gripping psychological thriller that follows a tightly knit group of classics students at an elite Vermont college who become morally corrupted after committing murder.
Discussed“well there is still a threat of a severe illness in this book that I'm reading and dedicated listeners of the book review podcast will remember that I am reading tremendously out ofd books between the secret history and The Last Samurai”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Books We Are Looking Forward to This Spring | The Book Review | 2026-04-03 | 4 |
| Welcome to Literary Award Season | The Book Review | 2025-11-21 | 1 |
| Stanley Tucci on His Year in Eating and a Look at the National Book Awards | The Book Review | 2024-10-11 | 1 |
| 10 Best Books of 2023 | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 2 |
| Diana Goetsch on ‘This Body I Wore’ | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 3 |
Other mentions (7: passing, ad reads, own books)
“So, this is Transcription by Ben Lerner. Ben is the author of Leaving the Atocha Station, The Topeka School, 10:04.”
“So, this is Transcription by Ben Lerner. Ben is the author of Leaving the Atocha Station, The Topeka School, 10:04.”
“So, this is Transcription by Ben Lerner. Ben is the author of Leaving the Atocha Station, The Topeka School, 10:04.”
“This is from Life Itself by Suzy Hansen. I think she is just like an all-star international correspondent. She's based in Turkey for I think over a decade at this point. And her last book, Notes on a Foreign Country, was a Pulitzer finalist.”
“You know, one of my favorite books by him is The Snakehead. That's the one I haven't read. Yeah, he's he's like a another must-read for me.”
“I have John of John by Douglas Stuart. You might recognize that name because he is also the Booker Prize winning author of Shuggie Bain.”
“Maria Semple, who is best known as the author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette, has a new novel coming out called Go Gentle.”