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Every book Thomas Mallon recommended on podcasts
Thomas Mallon appeared as a guest on The Book Review, where he discussed his own historical novels alongside the broader career and works of novelist Jonathan Franzen. Mallon reflected on his novel Henry and Clara, noting that writing about the Civil War felt comparatively straightforward because the further back a writer goes, the less the reader inherently knows, creating a shared space of discovery. He also mentioned his novel Dewey Defeats Truman while discussing historical research, memory, and the challenge of writing about eras outside his own living memory. Shifting to the work of Jonathan Franzen, Mallon analyzed major novels such as The Corrections, Freedom, Purity, and Crossroads. He explored Franzen's breakthrough into widespread public awareness, his famous dispute with Oprah Winfrey's book club, and how Franzen drew upon personal experiences from his youth in a church group while writing Crossroads. Through these discussions, Mallon offered a thoughtful examination of historical fiction writing and contemporary American literature.
Books recommended by Thomas Mallon
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Crossroads
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen is an expansive contemporary novel that delves into the intricate dynamics of a suburban Chicago family and their church group during the turbulent social landscape of the early 1970s.
Discussed“tried to review this new novel in the context of these big books from the corrections on the corrections Freedom Purity and now Crossroads the books that people have really I think been aware of”
Where to get it
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Dewey defeats Truman
Discussed“that was the novel I wrote before Dewey defeats Truman which was set in the late 40s and I didn't have any living memory of the Truman years”
Where to get it
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Freedom
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is a sweeping contemporary novel that chronicles the domestic struggles, marital disillusionment, and political anxieties of a middle-class American family.
Discussed“tried to review this new novel in the context of these big books from the corrections on the corrections Freedom Purity and now Crossroads the books that people have really I think been aware of”
Where to get it
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Henry and Clara
Discussed“I actually found that to be the opposite If Only from a reader's point of view because the further you go back the less the reader knows as well as the writer knows and in some ways I found it easier to write about the Civil War in an old novel of mine called Henry and clar”
Where to get it
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The Corrections
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen is a sweeping, critically acclaimed novel that explores the complex dynamics of an American family at the turn of the twenty-first century, ultimately propelling the author to massive mainstream prominence.
Discussed“and I think he first came to people's awareness most people's awareness about 20 years ago with the corrections and particularly because of his little dust up with Oprah Winfrey”
Where to get it
Books Thomas Mallon wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Class in ‘Dreyer’s English’ | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 3 |
| Thomas Mallon on the Career of Jonathan Franzen | The Book Review | 2024-07-18 | 8 |
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“there was a book called Watergate set obvious ly during the Nixon years finale which was set during Reagan's time”
“there was a book called Watergate set obvious ly during the Nixon years finale which was set during Reagan's time”