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Every book Raman Alam recommended on podcasts
Raman Alam appeared on The Book Review to discuss a diverse array of literary works, offering enthusiastic recommendations alongside sharp critiques. Alam recommended Rebecca Makkai's novel The Great Believers, noting that he had just finished reading it. For vacation reading, Alam praised Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks, calling it a nerdy yet beautiful book to get lost in. Seeking a tonal shift after reading heavy material, he also recommended Nell Zink's novel Nicotine. In addition to these recommendations, Alam discussed reading Deborah Eisenberg's debut short story collection, Transactions in a Foreign Currency. Not all of his literary encounters were positive, however; Alam offered a strong, negative critique of a reissued biographical work titled Difficult Women by David Plante, characterizing the book as quite atrocious. Through these varied insights, Alam presented a multifaceted view of contemporary and classic fiction.
Books recommended by Raman Alam
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Buddenbrooks
Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann is a sweeping historical novel that chronicles the decline of a prosperous merchant family across four generations in northern Germany.
Recommended“I mean the best book I ever read on vacation was B and Brooks by Thomas M which is like such a nerdy but it's such a beautiful book to get lost in”
Where to get it
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Nicotine
Nicotine is a satirical novel by Nell Zink that explores counterculture, family estrangement, and smoking through the life of a young woman named Penny Baker.
Recommended“I have two more books that I wanted to mention because after reading this big serious book I wanted something really different and so I read novel by Nel zinc called nicotine”
Where to get it
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The Great Believers
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is a powerful, emotionally devastating novel that chronicles the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis on the arts community in 1980s Chicago alongside a parallel storyline in modern-day Paris.
Recommended“I just finished reading the great Believers by Rebecca McKai which came out earlier this month and got a beautiful review in the book review by Michael Cunningham”
Where to get it
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Difficult women
Critiqued“and the other book I was going to talk about is a book called difficult women by David plant and it is a pretty atrocious book it's a it's a reissue of a book”
Where to get it
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Transactions in a foreign currency
Transactions in a foreign currency is the debut short story collection by Deborah Eisenberg, showcasing her sharp wit and remarkable command of narrative voice.
Discussed“and at the same time was reading a book of stories called transactions in a foreign currency which is Deborah eisenberg's first collection”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| An Inside View of Putin | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 4 |
| Interrogating the Change Makers | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 1 |