If you were born in 1997 you were four when 9/11 happened, 11 when the economy crashed in 2008, 15 when a black teenager named Trayvon Martin was murdered and his killer went free. In 2014 you were 17 when Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson Missouri, and 19 when Donald Trump was elected President.
Dr. Beverly Tatum's 1997 book on race relations, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria has become a modern classic found in many classrooms. In this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast, the former Spelman College president joins Roxanne for a live event at Wesleyan RJ Julia to talk about the 20th anniversary edition of her time-honored book and how race relations has evolved in the past two decades.
Talking about twenty-year old adults today, Tatum says "94% of them will say they have witnessed instances of bias, seeing someone treated unfairly because of their group membership. And yet only 20% of that 94% will say that they are comfortable talking about bias instances. So for that reason, I describe them as not color blind, but color silent."
And stay tuned after our conversation with Dr. Beverly Tatum to hear Roxanne's chat with Girly Book Club founder, Erin Woodward who's book club has over 60,000 members in 12 countries!
Books in this episode:
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
The Nix by Nathan Hill
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Strange Fits of Passion by Anita Shreve
One Day Closer: A Mother's Quest to Bring Her Kidnapped Daughter Home by Lorinda Stewart
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
This episode of Just the Right Book Podcast is sponsored by HelloFresh. When you visit hellofresh.com and use the promo code “bookpodcast30”, you’ll save $30 off your first week of deliveries.
In this week's Tidbits episode, you'll hear the three books Roxanne picked up recently and can't stop raving about!
Also in today’s Tidbits we give you a sneak peek at this week’s conversation with Dr. Beverly Tatum, who joined Roxanne at an event hosted by the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore to talk about the 20th anniversary edition of her book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?
Books in this episode:
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in 40 Questions by Valeria Luiselli
A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” This quote by Albert Camus was the inspiration for Chilean-American author, Isabel Allende’s latest book, In the Midst of Winter.
Allende, who’s novels include “The House of the Spirits” and “City of the Beasts,” joined our Roxanne Coady at a live event hosted by RJ Julia to chat about her latest work, a mad-cap caper that brings together Evelyn, a young undocumented Guatemalan woman, Lucia, a 62 year old exile from Chile and Richard, a 60 year old human rights scholar. Roxanne explains, “along the way we learn about the Injustice of immigration laws, human trafficking, the terror of militants, yet all imbued with stories of resilience, friendship and love.”
Isabel and Roxanne cover many topics including, how her grandparents impacted her life growing up, democracy in Chile after 17 years of dictatorship and finding “mature love” in her 70s. Talking about her new love, Allende says “he is moving to my house in December with his clothes and a bike That’s all I accept in the house.”
And in case you missed it, Roxanne gives you the titles of the 2017 National Book Award winners!
Books in this episode:
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway
Half-Light: Collected Poems 1965-2016 by Frank Bidart
The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia by Masha Gessen
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Calling all independent authors!
We want to help get the word out about independently published books and give you a chance to have Roxanne talk about your book on our show. Please pick one of the books you've authored, then send us an email at info@justtherightbookpodcast.com by November 30th. Include your full name, the book title, an enticing description, and your website and/or social media links.
Starting December 1st, we'll put up a poll on our website listing all the book submissions we received. The book with the most votes will receive a detailed shout-out from Roxanne on our show. Once the poll goes up, be sure to share the link with friends, family, and your readers to encourage them to vote and boost your chances of winning.
Thanks in advance for your participation and for listening to Just the Right Book Podcast. Good luck, independent authors!
If you are pondering what to cook or bring this Thanksgiving, Roxanne gives her favorite cookbook recommendations in today's Tidbits episode.
Also in today’s Tidbits we give you a sneak peek at next week’s interview with Chilean-American novelist Isabel Allende, who spoke to Roxanne about her latest book, In the Midst of Winter.
Books in this episode:
3-Ingredient Cocktails: An Opinionated Guide to the Most Enduring Drinks in the Cocktail Canon by Robert Simonson
A Grandfather’s Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey by Jacques Pepin
Sweet: Desserts from London's Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi & Helen Goh
The Book of Cheese: The Essential Guide to Discovering Cheeses You'll Love by Liz Thorpe
Graces: Prayers and Poems for Everyday Meals and Special Occasions by June Cotner
Christopher Kimball's Milk Street: The New Home Cooking by Christopher Kimball
Whether you are creating your own bookish wish list, looking to get a jump on your holiday gifts, or just looking for a fantastic read, our literary experts have you covered!
Our very own Roxanne Coady recently had the pleasure of hosting a live event with Penguin Random House publishing powerhouses Michael Kindness, Jennifer Black and author, Matthew Dicks. The event, which took place at the JCC in West Hartford, Connecticut, was titled "Buzz About Books" and Just the Right Book Podcast was there every step of the way!
Stay tuned after the events to hear what folks are reading, straight from the New York Public Library in New York City.
Books in this episode:
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart
Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O'Keeffe by Dawm Tripp
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships by Deborah Tannen
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper
Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly
Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe by Mike Massimino
The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn
The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's a Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford
The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever by Mark Frost
Dinner at the Center of the Earth by Nathan Englander
Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss
Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul by Naomi Levy
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Underground Airlines by Ben Winters
Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life: Essays by Samantha Irby Neverwhere (Audio) by Neil Gaiman
Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
Chemistry by Weike Wang
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin
Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro
A Grandfather's Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey by Jacques Pepin
Dying: A Memoir by Corey Taylor
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Behold the Dreamers (Oprah's Book Club) by Imbolo Mbue
If This Isn't Nice, What Is?: Advice to the Young: The Graduation Speeches by Kurt Vonnegut
Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke
Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites by Deb Perelman
The Whites by Richard Price
Fermat's Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem by Amir D. Azcel
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition by Susan McCutcheon
How well does "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner know the famous characters of the hit drama series?
In this week's TidBits episode, the screenwriter-turned author takes Just the Right Book Podcast's "Mad-Men Rapid-Fire Quiz!"
Hear Matthew Weiner talk about his debut novel "Heather, the Totality" in Ep. 51
Variety has called Mad Men "The Last Great Drama of TV's Golden Age." What you might not know if that the hit drama series was rejected "by everyone" before making it's AMC debut in 2007. The cable network's first drama series went on to win four Golden Globes and fifteen Emmy Awards before its final episode aired in 2015.
In this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast, Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner joins Roxanne in New York City to dish on his debut book, Heather The Totality. The 138 page work which Weiner refers to as "novel concentrate" explores the intertwining lives of a privileged Manhattan couple, their beautiful daughter Heather, and a sociopathic stalker. The screenwriter-turned-author also talks about his upcoming TV series The Romanoffs and the books that have changed his life.
Stay tuned after the interview with Matthew to hear some great recommendations on books to distract you. Whether they end "happily ever after" or are just fun, you'll want to check out these entertaining titles!
Books in this episode:
Heather, the Totality by Matthew Weiner
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Irresistible Blueberry Bake Shop by Mary Simies
Rules of Love and Grammer by Mary Simies
House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
Britt-Marie Was Here by Frederick Backman
The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
The Lights of Paris by Eleanor Brown
Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Goodnight June by Sarah Jio
The Spellman Files: A Novel by Lisa Lutz
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Set by Alexander McCall Smith
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Ella Enchanted by Gail CarsonLevine
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Tricky Twenty-Two: Romance Mystery (a Stephanie Plum Novel) by Janet Evanovich - Unofficial & Independent Summary & Analysis (Paperback)
An intimate New York City Wedding in the Rare Books Room of the Strand Bookstore? A pop-up bookshop for children and teenagers opens in the South Bronx?
In this week's Tidbits episode, Roxanne shares two pieces of news straight from the Big Apple! Plus, we tell you how to be a part of next week's episode and win a prize!
Articles in this episode:
An Intimate New York City Wedding at Strand Bookstore
Boogie Down Books: Pop-up Opens in the Bronx
You still have a chance to submit your questions for Matthew Weiner, the creator of the AMC hit drama series Mad Men and the author of the soon-to-be released book, Heather the Totality. Roxanne will be speaking to Matthew next week and if she uses your question, you win a prize!
Send your questions to info@justtherightbookpodcast.com, or write to us on Facebook or Twitter by Monday November 6th for a chance to win a gift certificate to the Just the Right Book subscription service, a personalized book of the month program founded by Roxanne Coady. You won’t have to worry about what you are going to read next because a group of genius booksellers choose for you!