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Every book Tana French recommended on podcasts
Tana French appeared on The Book Review to discuss her literary career, specific titles, and the works that shaped her as a writer. Throughout her podcast appearances, French revealed herself to be an insightful novelist deeply attuned to the mechanics of suspense and setting. She detailed the atmospheric backdrop of her books The Searcher and The Hunter, explaining how the fictional town of AR Mel provides the stage for her characters seeking peace that ultimately eludes them. When discussing the broader literary landscape, French shared several key recommendations and formative influences. She enthusiastically recommended Larry McMurtry's novel Lonesome Dove, which she had recently finished and described as an amazing book. Additionally, she named Richard Adams's Watership Down as her most-reread and favorite comfort book, noting that she first encountered it at age seven and firmly rejecting the notion that it is merely a children's story. French also cited Dennis Lehane's Mystic River as an absolute formative influence, praising it not only as a gripping mystery but also as a wonderful social history. Through these discussions, French showcased a deep appreciation for immersive storytelling, complex character dynamics, and rich narrative histories that resonate long after the final page.
Books recommended by Tana French
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Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is a sweeping epic western novel that follows former Texas Rangers on an ambitious cattle drive from the Rio Grande to Montana.
Recommended“I have just finished reading Lonesome Dove by Larry mcmurrey which is a an amazing book”
Where to get it
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Watership Down
Watership Down by Richard Adams is a classic survival adventure novel that follows a small band of rabbits fleeing the destruction of their warren in search of a safe new home.
Recommended“I think weirdly the book that I have reread most times is definitely Watership Down by Richard Adams because I read it the first time I would have been I think seven and I don't think it's a kids book at all”
Where to get it
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Mystic river
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane is a gripping psychological crime novel about three childhood friends in Boston whose lives are violently upended by the murder of one of their daughters.
Discussed“like if you take Dennis Lan he's another one Mystic River was another of those books that was absolutely formative because it is a ripping mystery but it's a wonderful social history”
Where to get it
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The Hunter
The Hunter is a contemporary mystery novel by Tana French that is set in the same fictional Irish town as her previous book, The Searcher.
Discussed“The Hunter is set in the same imaginary town of AR Mel where the Searcher was but this time cow Hooper who moved there from the US and when he retired as a police detective and was looking for a little bit of peace and quiet which he didn't get”
Where to get it
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The Searcher
The Searcher by Tana French is a compelling mystery novel set in rural Western Ireland where a retired Chicago police detective purchases a rundown cottage in hopes of finding peace and quiet, only to become entangled in a local disappearance.
Discussed“The Hunter is set in the same imaginary town of AR Mel where the Searcher was but this time cow Hooper who moved there from the US and when he retired as a police detective and was looking for a little bit of peace and quiet which he didn't get”
Where to get it
Books Tana French wrote
- The Witch Elm
- Broken Harbor
- In the Woods
- The Hunter
- The Searcher
- Faithful Place
- The Keeper
- The Secret Place
- The Trespasser
- The Likeness
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Lewis and Tana French on Their Latest Books | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 1 |
| From the Archive: Michael Lewis and Tana French | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 1 |
| Talking to Tana French About Her New Series | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 4 |