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Every book N.K. Jemisin recommended on podcasts
N.K. Jemisin appeared on The Book Review podcast to discuss multiverses, revolution, and the thematic elements of cities in literature. As part of her recommendations for the audience, Jemisin highlighted Hiromu Arakawa's manga Fullmetal Alchemist, praising its ability to explore and skewer complex socio-political systems. She also recommended Genevieve Valentine's post-apocalyptic novel Mechanique, which she was rereading, and Jane Jacobs's classic non-fiction work The Death and Life of Great American Cities, noting its systemic examination of urban functionality. Beyond her direct recommendations, Jemisin discussed her own writing process and reading habits. She mentioned reading Kristin Cashore's complex young adult fantasy novel Graceling, and discussed how her own travels to cities like San Francisco inspired her novel The City We Became. Additionally, she reflected on how external political events, specifically the presidency of Donald Trump, affected the timeline and writing process of her subsequent novel, The World We Make.
Books recommended by N.K. Jemisin
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Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa is a celebrated Japanese manga series following two young brothers who use alchemy in their quest to restore their bodies after a catastrophic failed attempt to resurrect their deceased mother.
Recommended“Full Metal Alchemist by homu arakawa if I'm not mangling her name um Full Metal Alchemist is great at sort of exploring and skewering systems”
Where to get it
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The Death and Life of Great American Cities
The Death and Life of Great American Cities is a foundational 1961 non-fiction book by Jane Jacobs that offers a systemic critique of mid-century urban renewal policies and examines how healthy urban neighborhoods actually function.
Recommended“I've been rereading uh Jane Jacobs the death and life of American cities which is non-fiction it's a systemic look at how cities function”
Where to get it
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Mechanique
Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine is a fantasy and science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic world.
Recommended“I've been rereading a friend of mine's novel but also just a very good novel called mechanique by Genevie Valentine it is a story set in a post-apocalyptic World”
Where to get it
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Graceling
Graceling is a fantasy young adult novel by Kristin Cashore that follows a young woman gifted with a lethal grace in a world where certain individuals possess extreme, supernatural talents.
Discussed“I'm reading a fairly complicated ya novel right now that has a lot of fantasy Elements by chrisen Kure and her first Trilogy the Graceling Trilogy”
Where to get it
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The City We Became
Discussed“when I first visited San Francisco probably 20 years ago my immediate sense was oh I could live here this is the kind of city where I'd be comfortable... and you know my impressions of cities were the inspiration for the city boo became”
Where to get it
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The World We Make
Discussed“the hilarity is that uh this book the world we make probably would have been written a couple of years earlier if not for Trump”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'Gorbachev: His Life and Times' | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 1 |
| N.K. Jemisin on Multiverses, Revolution and the ‘Soul’ of Cities | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 7 |