What did the words “the pursuit of happiness” and “we the people” mean then, and what do they mean now?
Joseph Ellis, an American history scholar and author of bestselling books about George Washington, John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. All his books converged to inform us about the founding of our country and the founding of a continent-wide democracy.
Says Roxanne, “Professor Ellis has earned a Pulitzer, a national book award, and has brilliantly navigated the tricky balance of producing books of scholarly standards with widespread, enthusiastic, appreciative readership. He now brings these considerable skills to his new book, American Dialogue: The Founders and Us, which for the first time Mr. Ellis supplies our founding history to the present time, addressing critical issues like race, equality, the law, and global reach.”
Books in this episode:
American Dialogue: The Founders and Us by Joseph Ellis
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
American Slavery, American Freedom by Edmund S. Morgan
The Strange Career of Jim Crow by C. Vann Woodward
This episode is brought to you by care/of. For 25 percent off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins , visit takecareof.com and enter the promo code BOOK.
What to read next? What to read at all? This is the dilemma of all readers, whether they are reading one or 200 books a year. James Mustich’s 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List includes many of the classics you might expect like Plato and Proust and covers fiction, poetry, science and science fiction, memoir, travel, biography, children’s books, history, and more.
Mustich who began his career in book-selling 40 years ago recently joined Roxanne in the Just the Right Book studios to talk about the book that has been called “the ultimate literary bucket-list” by the Washington Post.
Says Roxanne, “There've been lots of lists and books put together about what to read over the years, but none have done as charming and genre defying job as (James Mustich)..”
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
The Tale of the Genji by Lady Murasaki
An Infamous Army by Georgette Heyer
A Thousand Place to See Before You by Patricia Schultz
The Finland Station by Edmund Wilson
Growth & Form by D’arcy Wentworth Thompson
Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
Fear and Loathing in Las by Hunter S. Thompson Vegas
Eloise by Kay Thompson
The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon
Odyssey by Homer
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban
Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban
Turtle Diary by Russell Hoban
Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
Middlemarch by George Elliot
Memoir Mass for the Dead by William Gibson
Neuromancer by William Gibson
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
In our crazy-busy world, finding time to read is not always easy. Thankfully, audiobooks offer a handy way to dive into your favorite bestseller while you commute, exercise or even cook!
Robin Whitten, the founder and editor of AudioFile Magazine started the magazine in 1992 to give listeners more information about the gratification of audiobooks. She recently joined Roxanne to talk about some of the best audio books of 2018!
Audiobooks in this episode:
Circe by Madeline Miller, read by Perdita Weeks
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, read by Dion Graham
Becoming by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama
Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston, Deborah G. Plant [Ed.], read by Robin Miles
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith, read by Robert Glenister
The Long-Lost Home by Maryrose Wood, read by Fiona Hardingham
And make sure to check out AudioFile's NEW podcast, Behind the Mic With AudioFile Magazine
Take a time-traveling, fiercely independent, brave British nurse, the Scottish highland, a handsome, courageous, redheaded Scottish warrior, passionate love, conflicted love with two husbands, incredibly exciting history and dozens of riveting characters and you have a genre-defying series encompassing historical fiction, science-fiction, romance, fantasy, and of course time-travel.
Bestselling author Diana Gabaldon recently joined Roxanne to talk about her wildly popular Outlander book series which holds the #2 spot on the list of America’s best-loved works of fiction by PBS’ Great American Read. The eight-book series has sold over 35 million copies and has been adapted into a hit TV show now in its fourth season.
Diana, who spent the early part of her career earning a BS in Zoology, an MS in Marine Biology and a Ph. D in Quantitative Behavioral Ecology told Roxanne how she knew at age eight that she would be novelist.
Says Roxanne, “…you’ll be amazed to hear how one moves from that background to one of the bestselling authors in the world, and a (book) series that is the origin of a TV series that propelled her books right back onto the New York Times best-seller list 23 years after the books were first published.”
Books in this episode:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
This episode of Just the Right Book is brought to you by The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford. For the entire month of November, listeners can get 30% off of The Gift That I Can Give with code JTRB. Visit store.faithgateway.com and apply the code at checkout to redeem your offer!
This episode is also sponsored by Warby Parker. To get started with a free home try-on just go to warbyparker.com/book and find your perfect pair of glasses today!
Outlander is a STARZ original series based on the wildly popular collection of books by Diana Gabaldon.
While the hit television adaptation is just four episodes into its fourth season, Gabaldon is just about wrapped on her ninth novel! The New York Times bestselling author recently spoke to Roxanne about the success of the TV time-travel romance, it's actors, and whether the show will ever get ahead of the books.
Stay tuned for Roxanne's full conversation with Diana Gabaldon on the next episode of Just the Right Book!
Tana French's latest novel, The Witch Elm is her first departure from her bestselling Dublin Murder Squad series, of which there are six.
The story follows Toby, a young Irish man of privilege who's luck seemingly runs out. After being beaten and left disabled, Toby returns to his family's ancestral home to take care of his dying uncle. The novel takes a turn when a human skull is found in the trunk of an elm tree in the garden. As detectives close in, Toby is forced to face the possibility that his past may not be what he always believed.
Says Roxanne, "Mix in good family dysfunction, unreliable narrators, the loss of belief that your good luck is forever and a jaw dropping final 40 pages, and you have all the perfect ingredients in Tana French's hands for an exquisite book."
The former theatrical actress who has been called “incandescent” by Stephen King and “absolutely mesmerizing” by Gillian Flynn recently joined Roxanne to talk about her latest mystery, her love of unreliable narrators, archaeology, luck, and whether she ever considers going back to acting.
Books in this episode:
The Witch Elm by Tana French
On Writing by Stephen King
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
The Spinning Heart by Donel Ryan
True Grit by Charles Portis
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This episode of Just the Right Book is brought to you by The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford. For the entire month of November, listeners can get 30% off of The Gift That I Can Give with code JTRB. Visit store.faithgateway.com and apply the code at checkout to redeem your offer!
"The Witch Elm" by best-selling author and theatrical actress Tana French has been called "extraordinary" by the "King of Horror" Stephen King.
Tana spoke to Roxanne about her latest novel and gushed about King's recent and rare book review for The New York Times.
Tune in next week to hear Roxanne's full interview with Tana French!
If you haven't read Lisa Brennan-Job’s memoir “Small Fry” yet, you will likely hear about it because Lisa's father was Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple.
But this is not a biography of Steve Jobs. Rather, it is a portrait of growing up in California in the eighties and one woman's quest to understand her family, her place in that family and her place in the world.
The outline of her story is relatively well known. Mr. Jobs fathered her at 23, then denied paternity despite a DNA match and gave little in financial or emotional support until later in her life. Surrounded by complicated relationships Lisa spends much of her childhood and adolescence seeking love and acceptance. Despite her challenges, you get a picture of a resilient, adaptable woman who emerges navigating her own way. The first-time author recently joined Roxanne to share her story first hand and unedited.
The New York Times called Brennan Jobs “a gifted writer” and Kirkus Reviews says, Brennan-Jobs “skillfully and poignantly navigates her formative years revealing the emotional wounds that parents can often inflict on their children.”
Says Roxanne “Small Fry is not about settling scores or being vindictive. It is a poignant story of a journey that, in another writer's hands, could have become something self centered. But with her unsentimental honesty, her wry humor and her literary grace, Brennan-Jobs succeeds in making a difficult story her own.”
Books in this episode:
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard
This Boys Life by Tobias Wolff
The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
This episode of Just the Right Book is brought to you by The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford. For the entire month of November, listeners can get 30% off of The Gift That I Can Give with code JTRB. Visit store.faithgateway.com and apply the code at checkout to redeem your offer!
From classic 19th Century love stories to modern day memoirs, Roxanne reads your fan mail and shares your favorite stories!
Books in this episode:
Listen to the Marriage by John Jay Osborn Jr.
Jane Erye by Charlotte Bronte
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
2018 marks 200 years since the birth of Frederick Douglass, and we now have the first major biography of Douglass in a quarter century.
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by prize-winning historian and Yale Professor David Blight is based on nearly a lifetime of research as well as letters and private documentation to which no biographer has previously had access. It’s this revealing collection that helped shed new light on Douglass, particularly in the latter third of his life.
Professor Blight recently sat down with Roxanne to discuss the book the New York Times Book Review called "cinematic and deeply engaging" about how Douglass escaped slavery, then went from a boy trading bread for spelling lessons to one of the most significant figures in American history. Blight also discusses Douglass' wife of 44 years and what the political activist would think of the state of racism in the country today.
Books in this episode:
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David Blight
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
The Bible
This episode of Just the Right Book is brought to you by The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford. For the entire month of November, listeners can get 30% off of The Gift That I Can Give with code JTRB. Visit store.faithgateway.com and apply the code at checkout to redeem your offer!
On a special election edition of JTRB Bookmarks, we welcomed back Lissa Muscatine, owner of the renowned Politics & Prose in Washington, DC to give us the scoop on what books we should be paying attention to the weekend before the election.
Don't forget to hit your local bookstore before you hit the polls to vote!!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger by Rebecca Traister
Rage Become Her: The Power of Women's Anger by Soraya Chemaly
We Can't Breathe by Jabari Asim
The Complete Federalist Papers
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics by Donna Brazile and Yolanda Caraway
Frederick Douglas: A Prophet of Freedom by David Blight
The Trump Administration and International Law by Harold Hongju Koh
We Fed an Island: The True Story of Feeding Puerto Rico One Meal at a Time by Jose Andres
If you’re trying to fill your holiday wish list with amazing titles, look no further! Our very own Roxanne Coady recently hosted a live event with Penguin Random House publishing powerhouses Michael Kindness, Jennifer Black and author, Matthew Dicks.
The event, which took place at the Mandell JCC in Hartford, Connecticut, was titled “Buzz About Books” and Just the Right Book Podcast was there every step of the way!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
An American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
There There by Tommy Orange
The Mars Room: A Novel by Rachel Kushner
Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Reading With Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship by Michelle Kuo
The Class: A Life-Changing Teacher, His World-Changing Kids, and the Most Inventive Classroom in America by Heather Won Tesoriero
Circle by Madeline Miller
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The Silence of the Girls: A Novel by Pat Barker
The Song of Achilles: A Novel by Madeline Miller
Waiting For Eden by Elliot Ackerman
Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling by Mathew Dicks
On the Shortness of Life by Lucius Seneca
An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan
Educated by Tara Westover
I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Heart
God, if You're Not Up There, I'm F*cked: Tales of Stand-Up, Saturday Night Live and Other Mind-Altering Mayhem by Darrell Hammond
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Jane Sherron De Hart
Abridged Classics: Brief Summaries of Books You Were Supposed to Read but Probably Didn't by John Atkinson
How To Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life by Frank Lipman, MD
Thirst by Scott Harrison
The Seeds of Life by Edward Dolnik
Washington's Spies by Alexander Rose
Ann Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Anne Frank
The Order of The Day by Eric Vuillard
Listen to the Marriage by John J. Osborn
His Favorites by Kate Walbert
White Houses by Amy Bloom
Small Country by Gael Faye
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novick
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami
American Dialogue by Joseph J. Ellis
American Journal: Fifty Poems of Our Time by Tracy K. Smith
Dot Journaling by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
How Fascism Works by Jason Stanley
The Water Will Come by Jeff Goodell
West by Carys Davies
In Praise of Wasting Time by Alan Lightman
Whether you crave a hair-raising whodunit, a frightening family-friendly novel, or the book that inspired Netflix's hottest spine-chilling series, we've got you covered!
We enlisted the help of David Canfield, Book Critic and Reporter for EW to get you in the mood for Halloween!
What are some of your favorite spooky reads? Write to us at info@justtherightbook.com or reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
Melmoth by Sarah Perry
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Small Spaces Katherine Arden
The Witch Elm: A Novel by Tana French
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Read David's interview with Tana French here!
Check out David's website here!
Entertainment Weekly is known for bringing you exclusive behind the scenes access to your favorite heavyweights across the entertainment industry. The weekly mag is your one stop shop for all the latest news about TV shows, movies, music
We were honored to welcome back David Canfield, Book Critic and Reporter for Entertainment Weekly to give us the scoop on what to read this Fall!
Read David's review of Friday Black Here!
Read David's review of The Great Believers Here!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
The Friend: A Novel by Sigrid Nunez
Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson
There There by Tommy Orange
Milkman: A Novel by Anna Burns
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
The Lake on Fire by Rosellen Brown
Before and After: A Novel by Rosellen Brown
Everything Under: A Novel by Daisy Johnson
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
West by Caryn Davies
Family Trust: A Novel by Kathy Wang
Harry Potter (8 book series) by J.K. Rowling
The Mere Wife: A Novel by Maria Dahvana Headley
Autumn days beg for pumpkin, apple cider and of course books! There are an increasing number of book-to-film adaptations. Roxanne recommends reading these books before you hit the cinema this Fall!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (film out now)
Tweak by Nic Sheff & Beautiful Boy by David Sheff (film "Beautiful Boy" out now)
Wild Life by Richard Ford (film out Oct. 19th)
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin (film out Nov. 12th
Previously released films
A Wrinkle in Time
Crazy Rich Asians
Bel Canto by Anne Patchett
Jason Stanley stopped by the Just the Right Book studios last year to discuss his book How Propaganda Works and how language influences the way we think and reason about public issues.
In his new book How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them, the philosopher and Yale professor warns about the dangers of normalizing fascist politics.
This episode is brought to you by care/of. For 25 percent off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins , visit takecareof.com and enter the promo code BOOK.
This episode was originally released March 2017.
The National Book Foundation recently revealed the 24 finalists for the 2018 National Book Awards!
Roxanne highlights some of her favorite titles from the longlist which feature five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. The competitive category of Translated Literature hasn't been awarded since 1983.
The 2018 National Book Awards Winners will be announced on November 14th.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart
Wobble by Rae Armantrout
Trick by Domenico Starnone
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
There There by Tommy Orange
Call Them by Their True Names: American Crises by Rebecca Solnit
One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy by Carol Anderson
Brothers of the Gun: A Memoir of the Syrian War by Marwan Hisham and Molly Crabapple
Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh
What is your reaction when you hear of a marriage breaking up? Are you shocked or did you know it was coming? In John Jay Osborne Jr.'s new novel, Listen to the Marriage we are introduced to a couple who seemed to be destined for divorce.
Steve's numerous affairs and focus on work have finally pushed his wife Gretchen to take the children and move out, but in a last minute attempt to salvage their union, they begin weekly sessions with Sandy, an unconventional therapist. Told through the therapist's eyes, we see the couple both confront and skirt issues that have torn them apart.
The former screenwriter and legal professor joined Roxanne to talk about his first novel in 37 years, his decade of experience writing in Hollywood, and how his own marriage counseling 35 years ago helped him "understand my wife for the first time".
Books in this episode:
Listen to the Marriage by John Jay Osborn Jr.
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin
Suffering from bad news overload? Well, we have a couple of remedies. One is dancing...and the other is books, of course! Roxanne shares four books that are distracting, witty, and engaging!
"...books offer us a way to learn and think, to make sense of the world, find peace for ourselves, or just offer us the pleasure of a well-written, utterly absorbing story" says Roxanne.
Books in this episode:
His Favorites: A Novel by Kate Walbert
On Writing by Stephen King
Listen to the Marriage by John Jay Osborn
Please Do Not Touch by Murray Moss and Franklin Getchell
"His Favorites" is a testament to the resiliency and strength of women facing society's sexual biases.
Bestselling National Book Award finalist Kate Walbert stopped by the Just the Right Book studios for an in depth interview on her latest book which Roxanne calls "gorgeous, restrained, and powerful."
The 149 page novel is a timely story about a 15 year old girl, a charming and manipulative English teacher, a dark secret and how the protagonist Jo confronts a trauma many years later.
Books in this episode:
His Favorites: A Novel by Kate Walbert
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
This week is Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Across the country there are discussions about schools, libraries, and communities banning books for their incendiary content. They shockingly include books like The Color Purple and A Wrinkle in Time, among many other titles.
Roxanne says "Its important for us to take this time and understand how inappropriate it is to ban books and we need to become engaged if we run into a school or a library or a set of circumstances that's wants to do that..."
What is the book that most surprised you or the book that you think should be banned? Write to us at info@justtherightbookpodcast.com
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’engle
Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury
Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain
Beloved by Toni Morrison
When was the last time you found yourself doing nothing or sitting in quiet contemplation or simply looking out the window? Most of us think nothing of scrolling through social media while talking to a friend on the phone, or answering emails and texts while in a meeting. While this may seem productive and make us feel that we are excellent multi-taskers, it might not be good for us.
Alan Lightman is a physicist, novelist, and essayist who believes we are losing ourselves in the digital network and builds a case that the overload of Information and distraction from technology is making us less productive.
The MIT professor who has been described as the "poet laureate of science writers" joined Roxanne to discuss his latest book In Praise of Wasting Time. Lightman believes we need a mental attitude that values and protects stillness, privacy, solitude, and personal reflection, or at the very least, a half an hour a day to "waste time".
We hope this conversation helps you unplug...but don't put down whatever device you're using to listen to this podcast just yet!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
In Praise of Wasting Time by Alan Lightman
Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine by Alan Lightman
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
The Trial by Kafka Franz
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
From the Tri-state area to the Golden State, Roxanne responds to listener emails from coast to coast!
Please continue to write to us and share your book recommendations! Email us at info@justtherightbookpodcast.com
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
Warlight by Michael Ondaatje
Flowers of the Killer Moon by David Gram
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
Famous Father Girl by Jamie Bernstein
Antarctic Navigation by Elizabeth Arthur
It's been called the "Rotten Tomatoes" of books reviews. We were delighted to welcome Dan Sheehan, the Bookmark's editor at Literary Hub to discuss what books are hot right now, and his debut novel, Restless Souls.
Also in this episode, we welcome back the creator of the popular blog Modern Mrs. Darcy and the podcast What Should I Read Next?, Anne Bogel. Anne spoke to Roxanne about her latest book I'd Rather Be Reading, her experience as a bookseller...for a day, and what books she is currently loving!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
Restless Souls by Dan Sheehan
I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs
The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen
Inheritance: A Memoir of Geneaology, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro
Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell
This Must Be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell
Here's something to talk about at your next book club! BookTrib.com’s new deal with the Girly Book Club sends four books from select publishers to 50 U.S. book clubs every month. BookTrib’s Jim Alkon describes the four titles in the program’s inaugural package.
Books in this episode:
The Mapmaker's Daughter by Katherine Nouri Huges
Eight Goodbyes by Christine Brae
The Drum That Beats Within Us by Mike Bond
Darling Girl by Terry H. Watkins
BookTrib is a community of readers created by Meryl Moss Media.
Looking for more books to add to your TBR pile?! Here at JTRB Podcast, we are pleased to have such amazing & knowledgeable friends on our show to share what they are reading and loving! During this special episode, we revisit some of our favorite book experts.
Co-founder and President of The Book Report Network, Carol Fitzgerald
Click here to listen to the full episode!
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy
Manhattan Beach (Audio) by Jennifer Egan, Heather Lind (Read by), Vincent Piazza (Read by)
The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison
Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
Disclaimer by Renee Knight
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Suzanne’s Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris by Anne Nelson
Girly Book Club founder, Erin Woodward
Click here to listen to the full episode!
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
R.J. Julia COO, Lori Fazio
Click here to listen to the full episode!
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
The Last Equation of Isaac Severy: A Novel in Clues by Nova Jacobs
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Arts and Culture Reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Ellen Gamerman
Click here to listen to the full episode!
White Houses by Amy Bloom
The Kremlin’s Candidate: A Novel by Jason Matthews
Come Nineveh, Come Tyre: The Presidency of Edward M. Jason by Allen Drury
Sunburn by Laura Lippman
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Want to get more done without sacrificing what you care about most? Last spring Charles Duhigg joined us to talk about his latest book, “Smarter Faster, Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity.” “People often get tied up in being busy, rather than being productive,” says Duhigg.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, Harvard Business School and Yale graduate is also the author of “The Power of Habit,” which has spent over two years on the New York Times best-seller list.
Also in this episode, we hear from Cathy Langer, the director of buying at the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver Colorado for our segment, “What’s on the Front Table.”
This episode was originally released May 2017.
Books in this episode:
Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity By Charles Duhigg
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business By Charles Duhigg
Hiroshima By John Hersey
Red Sky at Morning By Richard Bradford
American War By Omar El Akkad
Trajectory: Stories By Richard Russo
Anything Is Possible By Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton By Elizabeth Strout
Borne By Jeff VanderMeer
Crime and Punishment By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
A Prayer for Owen Meany By John Irving
Our segment, “What’s on the Front Table” features booksellers, owners, and buyers from some of the best indie bookstores in the U.S.!
On a special edition of Just the Right Book Podcast we take you on a cross-country road trip to some of our favorite bookshops from past episodes! Are you ready? Let’s go!!
What is your favorite independent bookstore? Write to us at info@justtherightbookpodcast.com or message us on our Facebook or Twitter page.
Forever Words: The Unknown Poems By Johnny Cash
The Secret History of Twin Peaks By Mark Frost
Listen to the full episode with Andrew Brennan here!
Savage Country by Robert Olmstead
The Origins of Creativity by Edward O. Wilson
Listen to the full episode with Brian Wraight here!
Politics and Prose, Washington, D.C.
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Listen to the full episode with Lissa Muscatine here!
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell
Listen to the full episode with Gael LeLamer here!
Murder By The Book, Houston TX
The Child Finder: A Novel by Renee Denfeld
The Address: A Novel by Fiona Davis
Brazos, Bookstore, Houston, TX
A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre
Listen to the full episode with McKenna Jordan from Murder By The Book & Benjamin Rybeck from Brazos Bookstore here!
Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Listen to the full episode with Casey Coonerty here!
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone by Olivia Laing
Senator John McCain recorded the last chapter of his book, The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights and Other Appreciations earlier this year and all of us at Just the Right Book thought the finest tribute would be to honor the true American patriot in his own words.
Sarah Jessica Parker who is best known for her iconic role as Carrie Bradshaw is also a producer, designer, and now a publisher, recently launching her own imprint, SJP for Hogarth. In a rare and revealing interview, the Sex and the City star opens up to Roxanne on several hot topics. They discuss not only the imprint, but the series’ impact on the role of women in society, the importance of pay equality for working mothers, and recent movements #MeToo and #TimesUp.
Roxanne and SJP were delighted to discover that they had several book interests in common, even swapping book recommendations. Parker says her mother instilled in her the valuable habit of reading at a young age. “You couldn’t leave the house without something to read,” she tells Roxanne. SJP continues the routine to this very day, never walking onto a set without a book.
Sarah Jessica further encourages everyone to pick up a copy of the first book on her imprint, “A Place for Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza, which is the story of a traditional Indian-American family in California torn between traditional and modern values.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
A Place for Us: A Novel by Fatima Farheen Mirza
His Favorites: A Novel by Kate Walbert
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne
Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein by Jamie Bernstein
The World as It Is: A Memoir of The Obama White House by Ben Rhodes
In part two of Roxanne’s powerful sit-down with Mark Salter, the two dive further into The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights and Other Appreciations, the latest collaboration between Senator John McCain and his longtime aide, speechwriter and friend, Mark.
Salter shares his first-hand story of McCain's 2008 run for president, including his VP choice, and we hear Senator McCain himself read the last chapter of the memoir.
Mark Salter is the author, with John McCain, of several books, including Faith of My Fathers and their latest, The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights and Other Appreciations. Mark served as Senator McCain’s Chief of Staff, and is often described as McCain's adviser, confidant and alter ego.
Salter recently joined Roxanne for an intimate conversation in the historic town of Castine, Maine to discuss his thoughts on the Trump presidency, foreign policy, his latest collaborative memoir with the Arizona Republican, and more.
Roxanne says, "...We are given a front seat perspective on the most critical issues of our time... and the story of a man, restless, idealistic, heroic, patriotic, and fiercely committed to our country and its citizens."
In Part 2 of this exclusive conversation, Mark Salter shares his first-hand story of McCain’s 2008 run for president. Plus, we hear Senator McCain himself read the last chapter of the memoir. Check it out here!
This summer we have been introduced to a bunch of new and exciting literary voices and with the dog days finally winding down there's a handful you won't want to miss!
We are delighted to welcome David Canfield, Book Critic and Reporter at Entertainment Weekly to share some of his favorite debuts. Chances are at least one of them will wind up being a author you choose to follow for many years to come.
Books in the episode:
There There: A Novel by Tommy Orange
The Incendiaries: A Novel by R.O. Kwan
From the Corner of the Oval: A Memoir by Beck Dorey-Stein
Cherry: A Novel by Nico Walker
Fruit of the Drunken Tree: A Novel by Ingrid Rojas Contreras
This episode was originally released in April 2017. Look for a NEW episode of JTRB Podcast next week!
Book podcasting legends, Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman from “Books on the Nightstand” joined Roxanne in the “Just the Right Book” studios last Spring to chat about books they are reading. They also give more than a dozen recommendations for your TBR list!
Books in this episode:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas By John Boyne
The Hearts Invisible Furies By John Boyne
Endurance By Scott Kelly
Exit West By Mosin Hamid
The Underground Railroad By Colson Whitehead
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House By John Mechum
American War By Omar El Akkad
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley By Hannah Tinti
The Good Thief By Hannah Tinti
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit By Michael Finkel
50 Days of Solitude By Doris Gumbach
Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship By Michelle Kuo
Standard Deviation By Katherine Heiny
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. By Judy Blume
Hang on to that sunscreen, summer's not over yet! Whether you are planning an end of summer getaway, or need ideas on where to go, Buzzfeed's Books Newsletter Editor, Ciera Velarde has five books to inspire your next vacay!
More books that make you want to book a trip ASAP!
Books in this episode:
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir by Kristin Newman
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Great Alone: A Novel by Kristin Hannah
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri
No Baggage: A Tale of Love and Wandering by Clara Bensen
“What is the book that changed your life?” That is the question Roxanne loves to ask all of our guests. “The stories are often poignant, personal or funny”, says Roxanne “and inevitably they become a list of books that you are dying to read.”
On a special edition of Just the Right Book Podcast, we take a look back at some of our favorite stories from past episodes. Looking for a new book recommendation? We have 17 suggestions for you to choose from!
What is the book that changed your life? Write to us at info@justtherightbookpodcast.com or message us on our Facebook or Twitter page.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Aleph-Bet Story Book by Deborah Pessin
The Power of Their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem by Deborah Meier
The Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
The World Book Encyclopedia
Notes from No Man’s Land: American Essays by Eula Biss
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Pippi Longstalking by Astrid Lindgren
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck
The Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett
Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference by William Macaskill
Grab your backpack, pencils, and books, it's time to head back to school!
We enlisted elementary school librarian and Book Riot contributor Ashlie Swicker to help you and your family get ready for the new school year!
Check out Ashlie's website Be Your Own Lady and follow her on Twitter & Instagram!
Books in this episode:
Mae's First Day of School by Kate Berube
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers
School's First Day of School by Adam Rex
Romance is one of the most successful genres in publishing despite often being overlooked by both the mainstream media and the publishing world.
Jaime Green is a writer, editor and teacher who has has written about books for Slate, Vulture, Thrillist, BuzzFeed and many others. She now joins The Gray Lady as the new romance columnist for The New York Times Book Review.
Roxanne says "Jamie's column shows that romance novels can be smart and fun and explores how they fit into today's world culturally and politically."
So, whether you favor Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy or prefer the modern day rom-com hunk, you are sure to find the perfect romance recommendation in Jaime's new column!
Books in this episode:
Captive Audience: On Love and Reality TV by Lucas Mann
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Notes from No Man's Land: American Essays by Eula Biss
Monday July 30th is National Paperback Book Day! We are thrilled to welcome back Anne Bogel, the creator of the popular blog Modern Mrs. Darcy and the host of one of our favorite book podcasts, What Should I Read Next?.
Anne gives us five great choices for your purse, beach bag, briefcase, or nightstand.
Books in this episode:
Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Hum If You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais
The Confusion of Languages by Siobhan Fallon
The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve
Reese Witherspoon has a reputation for celebrating women's stories through "Reese's Book Club x Hello Sunshine" so its no surprise that the Legally Blonde actress has optioned Gail Honeyman's novel for the big screen.
The first-time author opens up to Roxanne about how a milestone birthday inspired her to pursue her dream which led to her multi-award winning book "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" about loneliness and the importance of human connection.
Roxanne says that Gail "...finds a way to balance the light and the dark while being utterly hilarious."
From Singapore to New England, Roxanne reads listener emails from around the globe! Our fans have amazing taste in books and we are thrilled to share some of your picks!
Please continue to write to us and share your book recommendations! Email us at info@justtherightbookpodcast.com !
Books in this episode:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering American on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Frequent guest, Penguin Random House sales rep and former Books on the Nightstand host, Michael Kindness is back to share some of his favorite reads just in time for your summer vacation!
Roxanne says Michael “…has a special place in my heart and R.J. Julia’s and has not only a wide range of reading interests but he’s particularly adept at describing books in a way that makes you want to read them.”
Get even more book talk from Michael Kindness by listening to to Ep 9, Ep 20, Ep 32 & Ep 46 of Just the Right Book Podcast.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, please visit RJ Julia Booksellers
Bonfire: A Novel by Krysten Ritter
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City by Mona Hanna-Attisha
The Gunners: A Novel by Rebecca Kaufman
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Real Friends by Shannon Hale
The Hunting Accident: A True Story of Crime and Poetry by David L. Carlson and Landis Blair
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small
Providence: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes
You: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes
Jason Pellegrini's latest sci-fi page turner, “Booth,” tells the story of a death row inmate as he reflects on his life on the day of his execution. The Long Island native who beat out 23 other independent authors to become the winner of JTRB’s previous indie author poll also discusses his decision to self-publish, and his admiration for Stephen King.
Other books in this episode:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The Never Enders by Michael Sonbert
Everyone has a story to tell. Whether it’s lunch with your co-workers, conversations with friends and family or a romantic date, telling stories helps us be honest with ourselves as well as make a deeper connection with others.
Internationally bestselling author, storyteller, podcaster, and 36-time Moth StorySLAM champion, Matthew Dicks recently stopped by our studios to share his numerous tips and tools to help us all become storytellers with his new book “Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling.”
The elementary school teacher also recounts the first time he took the Moth stage, how he later turned a traumatic event into a cathartic storytelling experience, and even gives us some pointers on how to organize our time better, which is the focus of his next non-fiction book.
Pick up a copy of Storyworthy!
Book-to-movie adaptations are bigger than ever in 2018! We are thrilled to welcome back Cristina Arreola, Senior Books Editor at Bustle to give us the scoop on which books to read before they hit the big screen!
Follow Cristina on Twitter!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Crazy, Rich, Asians by Kevin Kwan
Where'd You Go Bernadette: A Novel by Maria Semple
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Wondering what to read while the sun is out and the days are long? Roxanne has you covered with twenty-two hand-picked reads from biographies and self-help books to deliciously disturbing novels, beach reads and more!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World by Jeff Goodell
Grant by Ron Chernow
How Hard Can It Be? by Allison Pearson
Dot Journaling―A Practical Guide: How to Start and Keep the Planner, To-Do List, and Diary That’ll Actually Help You Get Your Life Together by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giodarno
Real Friends by Shannon Hale
How to Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life by Frank M.D. Lipman
Tangerine: A Novel by Christine Mangan
The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations by John McCain and Mark Salter
Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Educated by Tara Westover
The Female Persuasion: A Novel by Meg Wolitzer
Calypso by David Sedaris
Abridged Classics: Brief Summaries of Books You Were Supposed to Read but Probably Didn’t by John Atkinson
I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell
Making Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead- My Life Story by Cecile Richards
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman
Whether you’re hitting the beach or a BBQ, pick up one of these three books this Independence Day! We enlisted the help of friend, author, and storyteller Matthew Dicks to recommend some titles that celebrate the birth of our nation.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership by James Comey
The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations by John McCain and Mark Salter
Drunken Fireworks (audio only) by Stephen King
We’re more willing to talk about sex than money. New York Times correspondent John Schwartz discusses our discomfort with financial planning in his new book, “This is the Year I put My Financial Life in Order.”
Schwartz (who didn’t have a will until age 58) covers everything from wills and retirement to investments, and more, making this book a must-read for anyone who has put off managing money or establishing a financial future. As Roxanne notes, “John’s willingness to share his family's financial foibles and his path through financial planning is a gift to the rest of us.”
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia.
This is the Year I Put My Financial Life in Order by John Schwartz
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The World Book Encyclopedia
It happens to most of us one time or another. But how do you snap out of the dreaded reading slump? We enlisted the help of Just the Right Book regular Michael Kindness to give us some tips and recommendations.
Books in this episode:
The Oracle Year by Charles Soule
Dictionary Stories: Short Fictions and Other Findings by Jez Burrows
Allison Pearson's latest book, “How Hard Can It Be” has already been optioned for TV by the producer of HBO’s hit series “Big Little Lies.”
The book’s prequel, “I Don't Know How She Does It” sold over 4 million copies and inspired a film starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
Roxanne recently sat down with the bestselling author to discuss her hilarious new book, raising children, and how stay-at-home moms can transition back into the work place.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia.
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Pippi Longstalking by Astrid Lindgren
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Just in time for Father's Day, we hear about bestselling author (and father of four) Michael Chabon's Father's Day plans.
Still need a gift for dad? Pick up a copy of Chabon's new book "Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces".
Pulitzer prize-winning, best-selling author Michael Chabon joined us for a conversation about his new book of essays called Pop's: Fatherhood in Pieces.
Roxanne says “there is no shortage of books exploring the world of motherhood, the good, the bad, and the ugly, but there aren't enough books exploring the world of fatherhood. Along comes Michael Chabon with seven essays that beautifully explore the meaning, the magic, and the mysteries of fatherhood.”
Also, in this episode, we hear some of our listeners’ book recommendations.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia.
Pop's: Fatherhood in Pieces by Michael Chabon
The Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan
The Cuckoo's Calling by J.K. Rowling
Stiff by Mary Roach
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Hellhound on his Trail by Hampton Sides
11/22/63 by Stephen King
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
In Harms Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton
Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
June is Audiobook Appreciation Month so we enlisted the help of Sharifah Williams from Book Riot to help pick out your next audiobook for those long summer drives!
To purchase any of the audiobooks in this episode just go to Libro.fm or R.J. Julia.
Where'd you Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
We are Never Meeting in Real Life: Essays by Samantha Irby
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Their Eyes Are Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Joanne Lipman, the bestselling author of the book, “That's What She Said: What Men Need to Know (and Women Need to Tell them) About Working Together” brings her impressive experience as deputy editor at the Wall Street Journal, and editor-in-chief at USA Today to the seemingly age-old conversation of gender equality in the workplace and how men can join that conversation to close that gap.
Roxanne says, “rather than telling women to man up or demonizing men, she approaches the topic by defining the problem in a fresh way and most importantly articulating some strategies and new ways of thinking for both men and women that just might have us moving forward.”
Also in this episode, some book recommendations from Book Riot Associate Editor and fellow podcaster, Sharifah Williams.
Listen to Book Riot's podcast SFF Yeah!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia.
That's What She Said: What Men Need to Know (and Women Need to Tell them) About Working Together by Joanne Lipman
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Mem by Bethany C. Morrow
The Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett
We are giving away a $100 gift card to "Just the Right Book" subscription service. It's like having your own personal bookseller! You just go to Instagram.com/justtherightbookpodcast to enter to win!
Books about the LGBTQ community that reflect their lives and experiences as chosen by the expert staff of RJ Julia.
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia.
Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager
Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann
The House of Impossible Beauties: A Novel by Joseph Cassara
All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell
No birth certificates, no school, no doctors, no registered existence, and abuse at the hands of one of her brothers. Westover’s first book “Educated” describes how she escaped a traumatic childhood to graduate from Brigham Young, Harvard, and Cambridge University with a PhD.
Also in this episode, Roxanne discusses some of her favorite memoirs and some of yours!
To purchase any of the books in this episode, just go to R.J. Julia.
Educated by Tara Westover
Fifty Days of Solitude by Doris Grumbach
Personal History by Katharine Graham
Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead-My Life Story by Cecile Richards
Running in the Family Michael Ondaatje
With a Daughter's Eye: Memoir of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson by Mary Catherine Bateson
Where is the Mango Princess: A Journey Back from Brain Injury by Cathy Crimmins
The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandra Marzano-Lesnevich
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi and Abraham Verghese
After the Eclipse: A Mother's Murder, A Daughter's Search by Sarah Perry
H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald
The Red Parts: Autobiography of a Trial by Maggie Nelson
Roxanne shares 6 of her favorite beach reads to help you kick off your Memorial Day weekend in our first Bookmarks episode of the new season!
Whether its a classic beach read, a political thriller or a short story collection, we've got you covered! "I think about it as this sort of unfettered time to read" says Roxanne.
To purchase any of the books recommended by Roxanne, just go to R.J. Julia.
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper
The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn
West by Carys Davies
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
Last Stories by William Trevor
We start our second season with two-time National Book Award finalist Rachel Kushner. Her new book, “The Mars Room” tells the story of Romy Hall who was serving two consecutive life sentences plus six years at the Stanville Women's Correction Facility in California’s Central Valley.
Roxanne says that the book “informs our understanding of prison life in a woman's correctional facility in thrilling and ironic detail” and “helps us ponder a society that gives rise to these inevitabilities, disappointments, and injustices.”
Also in this episode, we welcome back Lissa Muscatine, the owner of Politics & Prose in Washington DC for our segment “What’s on The Front Table.”
Books in this episode:
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
To purchase any of the books recommended by Lissa Muscatine, just go to Politics & Prose.
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost and Found by Gilbert King
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman
Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright
Make Trouble by Cecile Richards
Something Wonderful by Todd S. Purdum
The Wine Lover's Daughter: A Memoir by Anne Fadiman
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Happiness: A Novel by Aminatta Forma
Losing Mum and Pup: A Memoir by Christopher Buckley
Sharp by Michelle Dean
Educated by Tara Westover
Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog by Dave Barry
The President Is Missing: A Novel by James Patterson and Bill Clinton
There Will Be No Miracles Here: A Memoir by Casey Gerald
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Luvvie Ajayi dished on meeting Oprah, moving to the US from Nigeria, and raising awareness of HIV/AIDS among women in our inaugural episode!
The comic phenom and award winning author's first book I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual became an instant New York Times best seller!
Also in this episode, we debuted our very first installment of “What’s on the Front Table” with Lissa Muscatine, former speech writer for Hillary Clinton and owner of the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C.
Books in this episode:
I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual By Luvvie Ajayi
The Broke Diaries: The Completely True and Hilarious Misadventures of a Good Girl Gone Broke By Angela Nissel
We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Hillbilly Elegy By J.D. Vance
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right By Arlie Russell Hochschild
The Fight to Vote By Michael Waldman
Swing Time By Zadie Smith
Amy Dickinson chats about finding love at middle-age, the heartbreak of caring for an ailing parent at the end of life and moving back to her hometown of Freeville, NY.
The nationally syndicated advice columnist's book, “Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Coming Home” is out in paperback now!
Books in this episode:
Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Coming Home by Amy Dickinson
John Grisham revealed just how close he came to ending his writing career when the mega-bestselling author joined us last summer to promote the crime fiction thriller, Camino Island. (now out in paperback)
“If this book doesn’t work, I’m quitting this,” said the former attorney about The Firm, his first major success.
Books in this episode:
Camino Island by John Grisham
The Firm by John Grisham
Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout gives us the scoop on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series based on her book Olive Kitteridge and shares her thoughts on Frances McDormand as the title character. We celebrate the paperback release of her renowned novel Anything is Possible.
Roxanne also talks to super-fan, Kim Nelson-Layman, who got a special surprise when she heard who else was on the phone!
Books in this episode:
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
Check out Kim Nelson-Layman’s Blog!
Daphne Merkin opens up about her battles with depression and offers advice on supporting loved ones struggling with the disease as we welcome the paperback release of her acclaimed memoir.
This is a fascinating conversation with the novelist and critic you won't want to miss.
Books mentioned in this episode:
This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin
Just in time for the paperback release of The Late Show introducing Det. Renée Ballard, a driven young detective trying to prove herself in the LAPD, we reflect on the best-selling author Michael Connelly's discussion with Roxanne at an exclusive live event.
The wonderfully entertaining former crime reporter dished on what's it like being the Executive Producer of the hit TV series, Bosch, inspired by one of his famous characters. Connelly also talked about jazz, how he chose writing over engineering, and of course, his brand-new book series.
Books in this episode:
The Late Show by Michael Connelly
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
In part two of Roxanne’s sit-down with James Forman Jr., the two dive further into James’ first book Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America.
Forman tells us his first-hand story of the criminal justice system from his experience as a public defender and shares his incredulity over his results of Harvard’s Implicit Association Test in this season finale.
Help Us Shape Season 2 & Take Our 5-Minute Listener Survey!
Books in this episode:
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Power of Their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem by Deborah Meier
The Wall Street Journal says, “If we are going to have a national conversation about race in the United States, a book like [James Forman Jr.'s] Locking Up Our Own ought to set the tone."
The Yale Law School professor, former public defender, and charter school founder brings his experience to the complex minefield topic of race and incarceration in his first book, Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America.
James and Roxanne explored the intricacies of political activism and the role it plays today. They also discuss the current gun debate, the decriminalization of marijuana, and James’ father, the civil rights leader James Forman Sr.
Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of our conversation with James Forman Jr.
Business Insider recently asked a group of Harvard Professors which included Nobel laureates, scientists, economists, and Pulitzer Prize winners to share the single book they think students should read in 2018.
Roxanne tells us, "I love lists because it reminds me of what I should pay attention to."
Harvard Recommended Books:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Internationalists by Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Joseph E. Aoun
She flipped the notion of parenting on end with her last book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Now she takes her latest shot and claims the way we act is destroying the world.
Her latest book, Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations offers a bold new remedy for reversing foreign policy failures and overcoming our own destructive political tribalism at home.
R J. Julia was lucky enough to host the Yale Law School professor and as Roxanne puts it, “she is never one to shy from provocative points of view”.
Books in this episode:
Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations by Amy Chua
Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama’s “deeply personal” memoir, Becoming drops this Fall!
Roxanne also discusses country music legend Dolly Parton’s non-profit, Imagination Library which just celebrated a huge milestone!
Also, stay tuned for a sneak peek into our next episode featuring Amy Chua where she discusses her latest book, Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations.
Read about Michelle Obama's first memoir, Becoming!
Read about Dolly's non-profit, Imagination Library!
Our guest Yascha Mounk’s new book, "The People Vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom is in Danger and How to Save It" is “a provocative must read,” according to Roxanne. Roxanne and Yascha will explore how we got to where we are and what we can do about it.
Yascha, the Executive Director at the Tony Blair Institute, lectures at Harvard and write The Good Fight column at Slate as well as hosts a podcast by the same name.
This is an important show you won’t want to miss.
Check out Yascha Mounk’s The Good Fight Podcast here!
From fairy princesses to books about family relationships, immigration and more, Harper's Bazaar has something for everyone's March Reading Madness!
Check Out Harper's "18 New Books You Need to Read in March!"
Julia Samuel’s first book Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, And Surviving is organized by the type of loss; losing a parent, losing a child, and confronting your own death.
Is the way which someone grieves different by the loss or is it more defined by who they are?
Samuel is a psychotherapist specializing in grief who spent the last 25 years working with bereaved families. She recently joined Roxanne at RJ Julia to talk about grief as a process that's unique to every person, but universal in the need to be experienced and discussed.
Roxanne says, “I think the point that permeates throughout the book is the need to confront pain as part of the grieving process.”
Roxanne recently sat down with author and friend Amy Bloom to talk about her new book White Houses, inspired by one of the most intimate relationships in history between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok. Listen to Amy read an excerpt from her latest bio-fiction in this week's episode.
Also, stay tuned for a sneak peek into our next episode featuring Julia Samuel where she discusses her latest book Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving.
Author A.J. Jacobs recently discovered that he was related to President Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Donald Trump!
Jacob’s latest book, “It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree” was born out of this one email: "You don't know me, but I'm your eighth cousin. And we have over 80,000 relatives of yours in our database." The journalist and contributing writer for Esquire who is best known for writing about his lifestyle experiments shares how he chronicled his three-year journey to help build the biggest family tree in history.
The number of people who have had their DNA analyzed with home genealogy kits like AncestryDNA more than doubled during 2017 and now exceeds 12 million.
We also speak to Gael LeLamer, Book Buyer at Books & Books in Miami who shares what is on their front table and the books the changed her life.
Books in this episode:
“It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree” by A.J. Jacobs
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell
The Third Hotel by Laura Van Den Berg
The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara
Paris is Burning by Lucas Hilderbrand
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo by Irving Stone
Stuart Little by E.B. White
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference by William Macaskill
Jimmy Kimmel will be hosting The Oscars again this year and we are thrilled to see so many book-based movies nominated!
Also, stay tuned for a sneak peek of our conversation with author A.J. Jacobs talking about “It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree” which will be out later this week.
The 90th Oscars telecast on Sunday, March 4, 2018, will now begin at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST
The Books Adapted into This Year's Oscar Contenders:
Call Me by Your Name, adapted from André Aciman's novel of the same name: best picture; actor in a leading role (Timothée Chalamet); original song; and adapted screenplay (James Ivory).
Darkest Hour, based on the book Darkest Hour: How Churchill Brought England Back from the Brink by Anthony McCarten, who also wrote the screenplay: best picture; actor in a leading role (Gary Oldman); and cinematography (Bruno Delbonne).
Mudbound, adapted from the novel of the same name by Hillary Jordan: actress in a supporting role (Mary J. Blige); cinematography (Rachel Morrison); and adapted screenplay.
All the Money in the World, based on Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty by John Pearson: actor in a supporting role (Christopher Plummer).
The Disaster Artist, adapted from the book The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell: adapted screenplay (Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber).
Molly's Game, adapted from the book Molly's Game: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World by Molly Bloom: adapted screenplay (Aaron Sorkin).
The Breadwinner, adapted from the children's novel of the same name by Deborah Ellis: animated feature film.
Ferdinand, based on the children's book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson: animated feature film.
The Boss Baby, based on Marla Frazee's picture book of the same name: animated feature
Bustle is a website geared towards Millennial women delivering everything you need to know, see, and read right now. In this episode, Senior Books Editor Cristina Arreola talks to Roxanne about everything from BookCon to Broadway and their shared love of Cheryl Strayed.
Also in this episode, we hear from New York Times best-selling author and friend of the show Amy Bloom who was at RJ Julia recently to launch her new novel White Houses. The bio-fiction which USA Today called "irresistibly audacious" is inspired by one of the most intriguing relationships in history- between Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok.
Check out Amy Bloom's official website
Books in this episode:
White Houses by Amy Bloom
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison
Feel Free: Essays by Zadie Smith
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, and contributing writer for Esquire and is best known for writing about his lifestyle experiments. His latest book
"It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World's Family Tree" chronicles Jacobs's three-year journey to help build the biggest family tree in history.
You can hear Roxanne’s full interview with A.J. next week on Just the Right Book but for this week’s Bookmarks episode we decided to give you a special look inside the book with an excerpt of “It's All Relative” read by A.J. Jacobs himself.
Later this week, you can hear Connecticut author Amy Bloom talk about her latest book "White Houses." Stay tuned for a sneak peek in this week's Bookmarks.
We have heard these kind of stories a million times. I’m not understood. He doesn’t listen. She spends too much money. I think I married the wrong person. How could she betray me?
Are these midlife crises? Are they fatal flaws or are they a rough patch? On this week's episode we meet Daphne De Marneffe, the author of "The Rough Patch: Marriage and the Art of Living Together." She takes us through some of the major stressors of marriage like money and sex, and offers tips for couples who might be going through rough patches or want to avoid them.
Daphne is a licensed clinical psychologist offering psychotherapy to couples and individuals. She has a Bachelors degree from Harvard and a PhD in clinical psychology. As Roxanne puts it: "Her book provides, with courage and compassion, one of the best discussions, enlightenment and thought on marriage that I have read."
Also in this episode, we hear from the patrons of RJ Julia who share what's on their nightstand.
Books in this episode:
The Rough Patch: Marriage and the Art of Living Together by Daphne De Marneffe
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani
The Daughter's Almanac by Katharine Whitcomb
Attachment by John Bowlby
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
Water Works by Tanya Karen Gough
It's Valentines Day and of course we think books are the perfect gift! So, for our first Bookmark Roxanne recommends some of the best books to read about love.
Also in today's Bookmarks, we give you a sneak peek at this week's interview with Daphne De Marneffe, the author or "The Rough Patch."
Books in this episode:
The Lover by Marguerite Duras
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Hourglass: Time, Memory Marriage by Dani Shapiro
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
I Wrote This Book Because I love You: Essays by Tim Kreider
My Foolish Heart: A Pop-Up Book of Love by Nick Bantock
What to Do When Jane Knows Dick about Dating: If He Wants You, You Will Know It by Laura J. Wellington
Matchmaker, Matchmaker find me a book… Nicole Lamy is a writer, book critic and literary matchmaker for the The New York Times' Match Book column which runs online on Tuesdays and every other Sunday in the Book Review. Nicole connects readers with book suggestions based on their questions, their tastes, their literary needs, and desires. The former Boston Globe editor and TV writer joined Just the Right Book to talk book recommendations, the most outrageous letter that she has ever received, and the books that changed her life.
And stay tuned after Roxanne’s conversation with Nicole to hear a recent live event with author Min Jin Lee. Her book “Pachinko” was nominated for the 2017 National Book Award for fiction and made The New York Times “10 Best Books of 2017.” Lee also talked about her “hysterical shyness”, how she has read The Bible six times, and even the merits of kimchi. The event hosted by RJ Julia was moderated by the ladies of the “Book Cougars Podcast.”
Books in this episode:
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton
Thank You Octopus by Darren Farrell
Masterpiece by Elise Broach
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) recently announced its 30 finalists in six categories––autobiography, biography, criticism, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry––for the outstanding books of 2017. The awards will be presented on March 15, 2018 at the New School in New York City.
In this week's Tidbits Roxanne talks about these awards and a couple of her favorites! Plus, we give you a sneak peek at next week's episode with Nicole Lamy from The New York Times.
Thank you to all our listeners who voted and helped us rename Tidbits. A newly-named bite-sized episode is coming next week!
Looking for a good book to curl up with this winter? We've got you covered! In this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast Roxanne is joined by Ellen Gamerman, the Arts and Culture reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Ellen takes us inside the Journal and shares some winter reads and even talks Oscars.
Also, in this episode Roxanne speaks to author, journalist, and Rolling Stone contributor Jeff Goodell about his latest book, The Water Will Come. Goodell, who has covered climate change for fifteen years, has previously written five books on topics such as the coal industry, Geoengineering and even a memoir about growing up in Silicon Valley.
We have certainly heard the doomsday scenarios of the impact of climate change, the warming ocean, the melting glaciers, and the rising sea levels. We have witnessed destruction by hurricanes like Sandy, Irma, Harvey and Maria. Yet most of us only have a vague understanding of what is causing it or how quickly and how destructively it’ll all happen.
Twelve Books to Read This Winter by Ellen Gamerman
Six More Books to Read This Winter by Ellen Gamerman
Books in this episode:
The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World by Jeff Goodell
The Kremlin's Candidate by Jason Matthews
Come Nineveh, Come Tyre: The Presidency of Edward M. Jason by Allen Drury
White Houses by Amy Bloom
Sunburn by Laura Lippman
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Author, journalist, and Rolling Stone contributor Jeff Goodell's latest book “The Water Will Come” details how oceanside places are becoming more and more vulnerable to rising seas.
You can hear Roxanne's full interview with Jeff next week on Just the Right Book but for this week’s Tidbits episode we decided to give you a special look inside the book with an excerpt of “The Water Will Come” read by Jeff himself.
Albert Einstein was once the most famous person on the planet. Today his work remains integral to scientific study, to the physics of our world, and to the way we conceptualize our very existence. His quotes on all subjects litter the walls of college dorms and university classrooms but there is one quote that is unlike any other, a letter in response to a grieving father that had just lost his son.
In Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul, Rabbi Naomi Levy dives into the mystery of what prompted one of the greatest scientific minds in history to write so eloquently about the human condition and what it says about our own interconnectedness. Rabbi Levy joined Just the Right Book Podcast to take us on this journey of discovering other dimensions of Einstein and the backstory of this grieving father.
As Roxanne puts it, "What it really does is help us think about what that space is that some people have found with religion, some people look for in various versions of spirituality and she does a great job of helping us think about this notion of the soul in a wider way."
Also in this episode, we hear what some of the folks in New Haven are reading.
Books in this episode:
Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul by Naomi Levy
Man's Search for Ultimate Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing Exposed and Explained by the World's Two by Al Ries, Jack Trout
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Walking to Listen: 4,000 Miles Across America, One Story at a Time by Andrew Forsthoefel
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Truthers by Geoffrey Girard
In this week's Tidbits episode Just the Right Book Podcast takes you inside a young adult author panel hosted by RJ Julia for E. Lockhart, Julie Buxbaum, Kara Thomas, Jennifer E. Smith, and Ann Brashares. Look for more from this panel in an upcoming episode of Just the Right Book Podcast.
Also in today's Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week's episode with Rabbi Naomi Levy who spoke to Roxanne about her book Einstein and the Rabbi, an exploration of the meaning and purpose of the soul, inspired by the famous correspondence between Albert Einstein and a grieving rabbi.
Former Books on The Nightstand host, "rep extraordinaire" and frequent guest Michael Kindness is back to add to your winter reading list!
Also in this episode, Roxanne speaks to author and former New York City prosecutor Linda Fairstein, the writer of Ninteen internationally best-selling Alex Cooper novels.
Fairstein stopped by Just the Right Book Podcast to chat about her kids book Digging for Trouble, the second book in her Devlin Quick Mysteries. The story follows twelve-year-old supersleuth Devlin Quick as she heads to Montana to dig out dinosaur bones, but instead discovers a mystery.
So what inspired Linda to write about dinosaurs besides her love for New York City's Museum of Natural History? She explains learning that "Montana, Wyoming, and up through Alberta Canada has the largest dinosaur fossil deposits in America because there was once an inland sea there."
Linda was also the former chief of Sex Crimes Unit of the District Attorney's Office in Manhattan for over two decades. Roxanne couldn't resist getting her take on the flood of sexual harassment and abuse allegations that have consumed the news over the last few months. Could a book on the subject be next for the bestselling author?
Books in this episode:
Digging For Trouble by Linda Fairstein
Deadfall by Linda Fairstein
Obama: An Intimate Portrait by Pete Souza
Grant by Ron Chernow
Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
Baking with Kafka by Tom Gauld
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls
Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book by Dan Harris
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? This is the premise of Chloe Benjamin's second novel The Immortalists, which was hailed "2018's First Must-Read" by Entertainment Weekly.
Just the Right Book Podcast caught up with the self-proclaimed "midwest convert" right before her book tour and she dished on an array of topics including religion, ballet, magic and her latest novel which may be coming to the small screen. Benjamin even tells Roxanne whether she would choose to know the date of her death if she could.
And stay tuned after the conversation with Chloe to hear the latest book recommendations from Lori Fazio, the COO of RJ Julia in Madison, CT.
Books in this episode:
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
The Last Equation of Isaac Severy: A Novel in Clues by Nova Jacobs
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff
Chloe Benjamin's second book, The Immortalists is one of the most anticipated books of 2018. In this week's Tidbits episode we give you a special look inside the book with an excerpt read by Chloe herself!
And tune in next week to Just the Right Book Podcast to hear Roxanne's full interview with Chloe Benjamin.
Pamela Paul is the editor of The New York Times Book Review and oversees books coverage at The New York Times. She is also a journalist, host of the Book Review Podcast and an author of an array of books on subjects ranging from pornography and starter marriages, to parenting. Her latest book, My Life With Bob, is about the life of an obsessive reader.
In this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast, Pamela gives us a rare look at the inner workings of The New York Times and her meteoric rise to becoming the editor of The New York Times Book Review. Paul also chats with Roxanne about the newspaper's prestigious list, The 10 Best Books of 2017.
And stay tuned after Roxanne's conversation with Pamela Paul to hear what patrons of RJ Julia have on their New Years Reading Resolutions List.
Books in this episode:
Autumn by Ali Smith
Exit West by Moshin Hamid
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Power by Naomi Alderman
The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World - And Us by Richard O. Prum
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Grant by Ron Chernow
Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman Jr.
Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser
Priestdaddy: A Memoir by Patricia Lockwood
A Journey of One's Own: Uncommon Advice for the Independent Woman Traveler by Thalia Zepatos
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
To The Bright Edge of The World by Eowyn Ivey
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Quotes for Nasty Women: Empowering Wisdom for Women Who Break The Rules by Linda Picone
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The House of Niccolo by Dorothy Dunnett
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machada
Such Small Hands by Andres Barba
The Saboteur by Andrew Gross
Belgravia by Julian Fellowes
In today's Tidbits Episode Roxanne gives us some of her favorite "New Year, New You" book picks.
Also in today's Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week's episode with Pamela Paul, the editor of The New York Times Book Review and author of My Life With Bob.
Books in this episode:
Silence: in the Age of Noise by Erling Kagge
Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard
Gratitude by Oliver Sacks
The Naturalist's Notebook: An Observation Guide and 5-Year Calendar-Journal for Tracking Changes in the Natural World Around You by Nathanial T. Wheelwright, Bern Heinrich
Ann Patchett is the co-owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville and the author of seven novels. In 2012, Time Magazine named her as one of their 100 Most Influential People in the World.
In this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast we revisit one of our most popular episodes with the The Bel Canto author who joined Roxanne last winter from her home in Nashville. They discussed many things including her life as a bookseller, her book Commonwealth, and this years' Man Booker Prize-winner, George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo.
Books in this episode:
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
In today's Tidbits episode Roxanne talks about some of her favorite books of 2017!
Also in today’s Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week’s episode with Ann Patchett, when we re-visit one of our most popular conversations!
Books in this episode:
Exit West by Moshin Hamid
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Grant by Ron Chernow
Listen to Ep 47 with "Grant" author Ron Chernow here!
Jacques Pepin is a world-renowned chef, a former columnist for the New York Times and the author of more than two dozen cookbooks. For this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast, we revisit one of our favorite episodes with the internationally recognized French chef and author just in time for the holidays!
Last December the world’s most famous cooking teacher stopped by RJ Julia to share HIS best holiday cooking tips and you’ll never believe what he tells Roxanne about his own cooking mistakes!
Check out Jacques NEW book, A Grandfather's Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey
More books by Jacques Pepin:
Jacques Pepin: Heart & Soul in the Kitchen
The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen
Jacques Pepin's New Complete Techniques
Essential Pepin: More Than 700 All-Time Favorites from My Life in Food
Jacques Pepin Fast Food My Way
Jacques Pepin More Fast Food My Way
Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook
Jacques Pepin's Simple and Healthy Cooking
This episode is sponsored by BarkBox. To get a free month of BarkBox when you subscribe to a 6 or 12-month plan, just go to www.barkbox.com/bookpodcast.
In today's Tidbits episode Roxanne read one of her favorite poems from Mary Oliver's collection, A Thousand Mornings: Poems.
Also in today’s Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week’s episode with world-renowned chef Jacques Pepin, when we re-visit one of our favorite episodes just in time for the holiday season!
Pick up Jacques NEW book, A Grandfather's Lessons: In the Kitchen With Shorey
Today
By Mary Oliver
Today I’m flying low and I’m
not saying a word.
I’m letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.
The world goes on as it must,
the bees in the garden rumbling a little,
the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.
And so forth.
But I’m taking the day off.
Quiet as a feather.
I hardly move though really I’m traveling
a terrific distance.
Stillness. One of the doors
into the temple.
Here at Just the Right Book Podcast we believe that books are the perfect gift for any occasion! So, we enlisted the help of two of our esteemed experts to help you find the perfect book for everyone on your list.
Miriam Sontz, the CEO of the legendary Powell’s Books and Andrew Brennan, the head book buyer for RJ Julia join Roxanne in browsing the bookshelves to give us their favorite picks for this holiday season!
JTRB Podcast’s 2017 Holiday Gift Guide:
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather & Kirschner
A Legacy of Spies by John Le Carre
Eternal Life by Dara Horn
Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Exit West by Moshin Hamid
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Moshin Hamid
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Wise Trees by Diane Cook and Len Jenshel
The Blinds by Adam Sternbergh
Monograph by Chris Ware
The Book of Cheese: The Essential Guide to Discovering Cheeses You'll Love by Liz Thorpe
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner... Life: Recipes and Adventures from My Home Kitchen by Missy Robbins
Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016 by Annie Leibovitz
Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine by Joe Hagan
Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
In today's Tidbits Episode we hear author and Mad Men creator read a passage from his debut novel, Heather the Totality.
Listen to Roxanne's full interview with Matthew here!
And next week on Just the Right Book Podcast, we hear from Miriam Sontz, the CEO of Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon and Andrew Brennan, the head book buyer at RJ Julia who will help you find the perfect book for everyone on your holiday list!
Alice Hoffman is the New York Times bestselling author of Practical Magic, which inspired the cult-classic film by the same name starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
In this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast, the New York native joins Roxanne to discuss witches, feminism, family secrets, and her latest book, The Rules of Magic. The book which is set in New York City in the sixties is a prequel to Practical Magic and was picked by Reese Witherspoon for her October 2017 Book Club read. The actress and book lover described the story as “full of magic, love, family, heartbreak and redemption.”
When asked what attracted her to witches and magic, Hoffman reveals how she grew up reading fairy tales, folk tales and myths. "What you read as a child influences who you become as a writer and who you become as a person. For me, it's not a choice. Magic and literature are just wound together...braided together...they exist together. I always feel like realism is the new kid on the block and that literature is magic."
And stay tuned after Roxanne's conversation with Alice Hoffman to hear from Anne Bogel, the host of the popular book podcast What Should I Read Next? and the creator of the blog Modern Mrs. Darcy.
Books in this episode:
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Burning Girl by Claire Messud
The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish
The Ninth Hour by Alice Dermott
Tell Me a Riddle by Tillie Olsen
Epilogue: A Memoir by Anne Roiphe
Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything by Anne Bogel
This Must be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell
The Riders by Tim Winton
Nothing Remains the Same: Rereading and Remembering by Wendy Lesser
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process by John McPhee
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck
In today's Tidbits episode we hear author and former prosecutor Linda Fairstein read a passage from her latest book for ages 9-12 called Digging For Trouble. You can hear Roxanne's full conversation with Linda later on this month.
Also in today's Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at this week's episode with author Alice Hoffman who spoke to Roxanne about her new book, The Rules of Magic, a prequel to Practical Magic which inspired a movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
Thank you to all the wonderful independent authors who submitted their books to us in November. Our poll is now officially open, which means you can visit bookpodcast.com/poll and vote for your favorite independent author and their book.
Authors, we encourage you to share the poll with friends, family, and readers to boost your chance of winning. The poll closes on December 15th, after which we'll announce the winner who will receive a special shout-out on our show.
Visit bookpodcast.com/poll to vote now.
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!
The heroic story of Suzanne Spaak, who risked everything and gave her life to save hundreds of Jewish children from deportation from Nazi-occupied Paris to Auschwitz is one of many untold stories of the Holocaust. This week's episode of Just the Right Book welcomes author Anne Nelson who tells Spaak's story in her latest book, Suzanne's Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris.
The Yale University alum consults with many of the leading US foundations including Gates, Rockefeller, and Carnegie on international media conflict and human rights, was a war correspondent in Latin America and reported from Eastern Europe and Asia for the New York Times, LA Times, BBC, NPR, and PBS.
Nelson has now set her considerable wide-ranging skills on a story of extraordinary courage in the face of evil. She has resurrected from obscurity the life of Suzanne Spaak, a wealthy Brussels-born woman who used her prominent status in Nazi-occupied Paris to rescue, shelter, and support Jewish children that were orphaned or left behind after their parents were deported to the concentration camps of Europe. Roxanne says, "In Miss Nelson's hand this story of courage is a page-turner filled with fascinating detailed research on the state of terror that existed in Nazi-occupied Paris, the espionage, and the extraordinary bravery of some and the astounding complicity with evil of many."
Also in this episode, some fantastic book recommendations from co-founder and president of The Book Report Network, Carol Fitzgerald.
Books in this episode:
Suzanne’s Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris by Anne Nelson
Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy
Manhattan Beach (Audio) by Jennifer Egan, Heather Lind (Read by), Vincent Piazza (Read by)
The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison
Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
Disclaimer by Renee Knight
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah
A Trace of Footprints by Ruth Wolff
Next week, Roxanne will be speaking with 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. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Matthew, please write to us at info@justtherightbookpodcast.com, our Facebook page or Tweet us!
If we use your question, you will win a gift certificate to the Just the Right Book subscription service, which is a personalized book of the month program. You won't even have to worry about what you are going to read next because a group of genius booksellers choose for you!
In today's Tidbits episode, Roxanne recommends a kids book that's also perfect for pet lovers of all ages. Plus, a timeless tale of terror for adults which Roxanne calls "brilliant in every way."
We are really interested in hearing what you think is the perfect Halloween book! Post your recommendations on our Facebook page or Tweet us!
Also in today’s Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week’s interview with author Anne Nelson, who spoke to Roxanne about her new book, Suzanne's Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris.
Books in this episode:
Pug & Pig Trick-Or-Treat by Sue Lowell Gallion, Joyce Wan (Illustrator)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
Why do certain moments influence us so strongly? In this week's episode of Just the Right Book Podcast, we speak to Dan Heath, one half of the dynamic writing team which includes his brother Chip Heath. Dan explains how their latest book, The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact is about defining the moments that bring special meaning to our lives and the importance of creating them.
The Heath brothers' latest collaboration demonstrates how to apply The Power of Moments in many areas of life including: business, marriage, education, healthcare and hospitality. Dan shares a few of the stories from the book including one of his favorites about a Los Angeles hotel called the Magic Castle. Here, you can order up free popsicles for delivery poolside using a red phone by the pool known as the "Popsicle Hotline." The frozen treats are even brought out on a silver tray by someone wearing white gloves. The Magic Castle may look like an average motel painted bright yellow but the staffers realize that guests will forgive a lot of "average" as long as there are certain moments worth cherishing.
And also in this episode, we to hear from Justin Souther from Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina for our segment, "What's on the Front Table."
Books in this episode:
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath, Dan Heath
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath, Dan Heath
Decisive: How to Make Better Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath, Dan Heath
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath, Dan Heath
The Life You Can Save: How to Do Your Part to End World Poverty by Peter Singer
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte
In the Distance by Hernan Diaz
Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction by Grady Hendrix
The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G.K. Chesterson
In today's Tidbits episode, we hear Claire Messud read a passage from her latest book, The Burning Girl. Roxanne describes the novel as "a fascinating look at friendships between young girls and how they arc over time."
Also in today's Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week's interview with novelist Dan Heath, who spoke to Roxanne about his new book, The Power of Moments.
Listen to the full interview with Claire Messud here
You may know Cheryl Strayed from her #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Wild, which inspired the blockbuster film starring Reese Witherspoon or from one of her other bestsellers, Tiny Beautiful Things or Brave Enough.
The Portland resident, who's popular advice column Dear Sugar inspired the podcast Dear Sugars is also the co-author of The Sweet Spot advice column in the New York Times Thursday Styles section. Strayed stopped by Just the Right Book Podcast to talk about that famous hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, her career as an advice columnist and how curiosity at a young age set the tone for her life journey. “As a child, I was very probing,” she tells Roxanne. “In fact, my mother would say I could ask each adult only three questions, because she knew I would never stop. I always paid careful attention to people’s emotional realities.”
Stay tuned after the interview with Cheryl to hear what is on the front table at RJ Julia in Madison, Connecticut.
Books in this episode:
Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Savage Country by Robert Olmstead
The Origins of Creativity by Edward O. Wilson
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty
A Legacy of Spies by John Le Carre
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Additional authors in this episode:
Raymond Carver, Alice Munro, Mary Gaitskill & William Trevor.
The National Book Foundation recently revealed the 20 finalists for the 2017 National Book Awards. In today's Tidbits episode, Roxanne highlights some of her favorite titles from the four categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people’s literature. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 15th in New York.
See the complete list of nominees here
Books in this episode:
Dark at the Crossing by Elliot Ackerman
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia by Masha Gessen
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
In the Language of My Captor by Shane McCrae
Ron Chernow is the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, historian, and journalist who wrote the biography which became the inspiration for the record-breaking, hip-hop Broadway musical Hamilton.
In this week’s episode of Just the Right Book, Chernow joins Roxanne to talk about his latest expository biography on Ulysses S. Grant. In Grant, the author paints the former president as a flawed man, yet great general and president. Chernow reveals that after getting thrown out of the Army for drinking on payday, Grant must beg his father for a menial job selling leather goods while working below his two younger brothers. Once the Civil War begins, Grant is called to duty and through his merits is vaulted to the top commander of the Union army.
“My job as a biographer is to probe the ‘silences,’ what the subject doesn’t want to talk about,” says Chernow, referring to Grant’s own military memoirs in which “there is not a single syllable about his drinking problem…or his terrible poverty.”
Stay tuned after the interview with Ron Chernow to hear what is currently on Roxanne's nightstand.
Books in this episode:
Grant by Ron Chernow
Abraham Lincoln: A Biography by Lord Charnwood
Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Michael Kindness "always has his finger on the pulse of what we should be reading," says Roxanne. Just the Right Book Podcast welcomes back Penguin Random House sales rep and former Books on the Nightstand host, Michael Kindness, who shares the print and audio books that he is loving right now. Roxanne and Michael also get into a discussion about the recent controversy surrounding an early draft of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in which Charlie Bucket was black.
Get even more book talk from Michael Kindness and listen to Ep 9, Ep 20 & Ep 32 of Just the Right Book Podcast.
Follow Michael Kindness on Twitter
Books in this episode:
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
Artemis by Andy Weir
The Martian by Andy Weir
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
The Ice Storm by Rick Moody
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Audio Books in this episode:
Charlotte's Web 50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition (Compact Disc) by E.B. White, E.B. White (read by)
The BFG by Roald Dahl, David Walliams (read by)
House of Names by Colm Toibin, Juliet Stevenson (read by), Charlie Anson (read by)
The Changeling by Victor D. Lavalle
This week is Banned Books Week. Typically, across the country there are discussions about schools, libraries, and communities banning books for their incendiary content. They shockingly include books like Harry Potter and To Kill a Mockingbird, among other inexplicable titles.
In today's Tidbits episode, Roxanne talks about a different spin on Banned Books Week and how she is encouraging us to pick up a book that we would not normally read. Lissa Muscatine of Politics & Prose joins Roxanne in the discussion.
Also in today’s Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week’s interview with special guest, Michael Kindness.
Click here to read Roxanne's letter
Books in this episode:
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Dark Money by Jane Mayer
Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein
It comes as no surprise that novelist Claire Messud discovered her life's calling at such a young age. "It was one of those things I announced when I was a kid. My parents gave me a typewriter for my sixth birthday because I had already said that I wanted to be a writer," says Messud.
The New York Times best-selling author of The Emperor's Children joins Just the Right Book to discuss her latest novel, The Burning Girl, which explores the unraveling of two adolescent girls' friendship as they set out on a dangerous journey. Roxanne describes Claire as "one of the finest storytellers today about women's friendships."
And also in this episode, we hear from Casey Coonerty, the owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz for our segment "What's on the Front Table."
Immigration Project Recommended Reading List
Immigration Project Recommended Reading: Kids
Artful Reading Benches in celebration of our 50th anniversary
Books in this episode:
The Burning Girl by Claire Messud
Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Enrique's Journey: The True Story of a Boy Determined to Reunite with His Mother by Sonia Nazario
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History of Immigrant New York by Tyler Anbinder
Exit West by Moshin Hamid
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Autumn by Ali Smith
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy
In today's Tidbits episode, we hear Daniel Handler read a passage from his latest book, All the Dirty Parts. "You are going to want to read this book because it does have all the dirty parts and gives you an idea of what its like to be a teenage boy utterly obsessed with sex," says Roxanne. Daniel Handler is also the author of A Series of Unfortunate Events, the thirteen-volume sequence he wrote under the pen name, Lemony Snicket.
Also in today's Tidbits, we give you a sneak peek at next week's interview with novelist Claire Messud, who spoke to Roxanne about her new book, The Burning Girl.
Nicole Krauss is an award-winning, best-selling author, was on the New Yorker's list of "20 Under 40" and her latest novel Forest Dark, about the personal transformation of two seemingly disparate individuals, has been called "elegant, provocative and mesmerizing."
The History of Love author who Roxanne calls "provocatively philosophical, fiercely intelligent and poetic," came straight to Just the Right Book on the day of her debut to talk about her new book, which has been called "a brilliant novel" by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Phillip Roth.
Make sure to stay tuned after the interview with Nicole for a special installment of What's On the Front Table with Lissa Muscatine, one of the owners of the renowned Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC. Muscatine, a former speechwriter for Hillary Clinton also tells Roxanne about her recent interview with Clinton when the former Secretary of State kicked off her fifteen-city tour at Politics and Prose to promote her new book, What Happened.
And only for Just the Right Book Podcast listeners, we are giving away a copy of Nicole's new book, Forest Dark. Visit our Facebook page at Facebook.com/bookpodcast and check out the post at the top with details on how to enter to win!
Click here to watch Lissa Muscatine's interview with Hillary Clinton
Books in this episode:
Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The Aleph-Bet Story Book by Deborah Pessin
Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear... and Why by Sady Doyle
What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
A Legacy of Spies by John Le Carre
Glass Houses by Louise Penny
Al Franken, Giant of the State by Al Franken
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
In today's Tidbits episode, Roxanne tells us about about a group of "book women" who rode 100 to 120 miles a week on their own horses or mules to deliver reading material to Kentucky’s isolated mountain communities in the 1940's.
The Pack Horse Library initiative was part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), created to help lift America out of the Great Depression.
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
You might know Daniel Handler as the award-winning author of A Series of Unfortunate Events, the thirteen-volume sequence he wrote under the pen name, Lemony Snicket. The San Francisco native took time out of his multi-city tour to chat with Just the Right Book Podcast about his latest book, All the Dirty Parts, which details the erotic impulses of a teenage boy.
Roxanne and Daniel cover a range of topics including talking to your kids about sexuality, pornography's contribution to our culture, and how the book has stirred up controversy. "Publishing houses just felt like it was not something that could be presented for young people," says Handler.
And stay tuned after the interview with Daniel for a special sneak peek of books coming out in 2018, straight from the renowned Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont.
This episode of Just the Right Book Podcast is sponsored by Hello Fresh. When you visit hellofresh.com and use the promo code "bookpodcast30", you'll save $30 off your first week of deliveries.
Books in this episode:
All the Dirty Parts: A Novel by Daniel Handler
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
Dear Cyborgs by Eugene Lim
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
Escape Artist: Memoir of a Visionary Artist on Death Row by William A. Noguera
Mem by Bethany C. Morrow
Tangerine by Christine Mangan
The Last Wave by Gillian Best
Barkskins by Annie Proulx
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Lesson Before Dying by Earnest J. Gaines
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Hurricane Harvey was the strongest storm to make landfall in the United States since Charley in 2004. On a very special episode of Just the Right Book Podcast, we speak to two independent bookstores in Houston impacted by the storm.
McKenna Jordan from Murder By The Book and Benjamin Rybeck from Brazos Bookstore tell Roxanne how they are recovering and lending aid in the after-math of Harvey. "They need to come in and get that semblance of normalcy...come to their favorite bookstore and get a new book to read as a distraction," says McKenna of her customers.
This episode is sponsored by BarkBox. To get a free month of BarkBox when you subscribe to a 6 or 12-month plan, just go to www.barkbox.com/bookpodcast.
Books in this episode:
The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld
The Address by Fiona Davis
The Sadness by Benjamin Rybeck
A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre
Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson
Train Dreams: A Novella by Denis Johnson
Where to donate to Harvey Victims:
One of the questions that Roxanne loves to ask all of our guests is "What is the book that changed your life?" "The stories are often poignant, personal or funny", says Roxanne "and inevitably they become a list of books that you are dying to read."
On a special edition of Just the Right Book Podcast, we take a look back at some of our favorite stories from the past forty episodes. Looking to start a new book this Labor Day weekend? We have 25 suggestions for you to choose from!
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
Books in this episode:
The Broke Diaries: The Completely True and Hilarious Misadventures of a Good Girl Gone Broke by Angela Nissel
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
The Corrections by Jonathan Frazen
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders By Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Exodus by Leon Uris
Ulysses by James Joyce
The Wasp Factory By Iain Banks
Dreamtigers By Jorge Luis Borges
Marie Curie by Lola M. Schaefer, Wyatt Schaefer, Gail Saunders-Smith (Editor)
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
The Hundred-Foot Journey By Richard C. Morais
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Summer of '42 by Herman Raucher
A Series of Unfortunate Events Box: The Complete Wreck (Books 1-13) by Lemony Snicket
It Starts with Food by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Flowers in the Attic Saga: Flowers in the Attic/Petals on the Wind/If There Be Thorns/Seeds of Yesterday; Garden of Shadows by V.C. Andrews
Nuyorican Poetry: An Anthology of Puerto Rican Words and Feelings edited by Miguel Algarin & Miguel Pinero
Best-selling author Michael Connelly recently celebrated his thirtieth book, The Late Show at an exclusive live event with our very own Roxanne Coady.
The former crime reporter dished on being the Executive Producer of the hit TV series, Bosch (now in its fourth season), inspired by one of his famous characters. Connelly also talked about jazz, how he chose writing over engineering, and of course, his brand-new book series introducing LAPD Detective Renee Ballard.
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
Books in this episode:
The Late Show by Michael Connelly
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of 32 novels that have been translated into 24 languages. RJ Julia recently had the distinct pleasure of hosting a live event for Luanne's second young adult novel, The Beautiful Lost, which drew many interesting questions from the audience. The Connecticut native spoke about mental health, her jump into the YA arena, and more in this intimate bookstore chat.
Stay tuned after Luanne to hear some of Roxanne's Out of This World science and sci-fi book recommendations perfect for celebrating the upcoming solar eclipse.
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and would be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Books in this episode:
The Secret Language of Sisters by Luanne Rice
The Beautiful Lost by Luanne Rice
The Map That Leads to You by J.P. Monninger
Totality: The Great American Eclipses of 2017 and 2024 by Mark Littmann and Fred Espenak
Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey Kluger
Hello, Is This Planet Earth?: My View from the International Space Station by Tim Peake
Otherworlds: Visions of Our Solar System by Michael Benson
In a career that spans almost five decades, Dean Koontz has plenty to be thankful for, including fourteen novels that reached the number one spot on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list. The Pennsylvania native, who has sold over 450 million copies of his books came straight to Just the Right Book to dish on his latest novel, The Silent Corner, which kicks off a new series starring Jane Hawk, a young FBI agent gone rogue.
In a rare and revealing interview, Koontz discusses his writing process, what his wife thinks of his books and his relationship with his alcoholic father. "In a way, my father gave me my work ethic, by being an example of the other side of all of that," says Koontz.
Stay tuned after our interview with Dean to hear Roxanne's summer recommendations for kids and young adults.
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and would be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Books in this episode:
The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Intellectuals: From Marx and Tolstoy to Sartre and Chomsky by Paul Johnson
Art: A New History by Paul Johnson
For Kids & Young Adults
Hello, World! Solar System by Jill McDonald
Astronaut Handbook by Meghan McCarthy
Mars One by Jonathan Maberry
Master-Pieces: Flip and Flop 10 Great Works by Will Lach
Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
Edible Numbers: Count, Learn, Eat by Jennifer Vogel Bass
When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems For All Seasons by Julie Fogliano
Fairy Garden Handbook by Liza Gardner Walsh
Maisy's Sailboat by Lucy Cousins
Voyage by Billy Collins
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
DK Findout! Pirates by E.T. Fox
The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Summer's not over yet! Whether you are looking for a beach read, memoir, thriller, biography, or non-fiction book, we've got you covered! Roxanne gives her summer book recommendations during a very special luncheon at the Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club in Branford, Connecticut.
Following Roxanne's speech, stay tuned for a behind the scenes interview with Clay Smith, the Editor-In-Chief of the renowned, Kirkus Reviews and now host of the new literary podcast Fully Booked.
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We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and would be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Books in this episode:
You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen
You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships by Deborah Tannen
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Victoria: The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird
Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro
This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin
Where the Light Gets in: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again by Kimberly Williams-Paisley
The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn
The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly
The Late Show by Michael Connelly
How Propaganda Works by Jason Stanley
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
One of Roxanne's favorite authors, Elizabeth Strout joins Just the Right Book Podcast to talk about her latest novel, Anything is Possible. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author also gives us the scoop on the Emmy Award-winning HBO series, Olive Kitteridge (based on Strout's book of the same name) and shares her thoughts on Frances McDormand as the title character. "You read Strout, really for the same reason you listen to a requiem: to experience the beauty in sadness," says Jennifer Senior of the New York Times.
We also talk to our first JTRB book club winner, Kim Nelson-Layman, who got a special surprise when she heard who else was on the phone with Roxanne.
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We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Books in this episode:
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
Check out Kim Nelson-Layman's Blog!
Colm Toibin is the bestselling, award-winning author of seven novels, including The Master and Brooklyn. The Irish-born author joins Just the Right Book Podcast to talk about his new novel, House of Names, a retelling of the Greek myth of Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, and their children.
And later in this episode, we hear from Miriam Sontz, CEO of the famous Powell's Books in Portland Oregon for a special installment of "What's on the Front Table."
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We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Books in this episode:
House of Names by Colm Toibin
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone by Olivia Laing
Marie Curie by Lola M. Schaefer, Wyatt Schaefer, Gail Saunders-Smith (Editor)
Scott Turow is the author of ten bestselling works of fiction, which have sold over thirty million copies world-wide and have been translated into more than forty languages.
The Chicago native took the stage in a live event presented by RJ Julia and New Haven Legal Assistance Association to discuss his latest war-crime mystery, "Testimony". Turow also tells us how Harrison Ford was cast for the role of Rusty Sabich in the box office winning thriller, "Presumed Innocent".
And stay tuned after the interview with Scott Turow to hear what is currently on Roxanne's nightstand.
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Books in this episode:
Testimony by Scott Turow
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow
The Late Show by Michael Connelly
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Deborah Tannen is a mega bestselling author and renowned Georgetown linguist. Her previous book, You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation, was on the NY Times Bestseller List for four years, and as Roxanne puts it, "has become the bible for the differences in the way in which girls and women and boys and men converse."
Tannen joins Just the Right Book to discuss her new book, You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships, guiding us to understand the conversational ingredients and behavior that bond or break our friendships with women.
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Books in this episode:
You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen
You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships by Deborah Tannen
A Connecticut Yankee in King Author's Court by Mark Twain
Poem in this episode:
Some People by Rachel Field
Isn’t it strange some people make
You feel so tired inside,
Your thoughts begin to shrivel up
Like leaves all brown and dried!
But when you’re with some other ones,
It’s stranger still to find
Your thoughts as thick as fireflies
All shiny in your mind!
Michael Kindness is a sales rep for Penguin Random House, the former host of the popular podcast, Books on the Nightstand, and of course, a friend of the show. The "hand-seller to booksellers" returns to Just the Right Book Podcast to help add to your summer book pile! Michael and Roxanne also talked about some indie bookstores that you should visit this summer, or anytime.
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Get even more book talk from Michael Kindness and listen to Ep 9 & Ep 20 of Just the Right Book Podcast.
Follow Michael Kindness on Twitter
Books in this episode:
The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
Chemistry by Weike Wang
Shadow Man by Alan Drew
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
House of Names (Compact Disc) by Colm Toibin, Juliet Stevenson (Read by), Charlie Anson (Read by)
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Bookstores in this episode:
Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville, NC
The Montague Bookmill in Montague, MA
The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, CA
Prairie Lights in Iowa City, IA
Book People in Austin, TX
Phoenix Books in Essex, Burlington, Rutland & Chester, VT
Powell's Books in Portland, OR
John Grisham recently sat down with Roxanne in a rare and candid interview as part of his first book tour in twenty-five years! The bestselling author chose RJ Julia for the second stop of his thirteen-city tour to promote his latest book, Camino Island.
"If this book doesn't work, I'm quitting this." says Grisham of The Firm, the book that changed his life. The former lawyer also talks book-selling, about his work with the Innocence Project, and even reveals which books are in the works to become TV series.
Later in this episode, we hit the Yale campus to see what students are looking forward to reading this summer.
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We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
John Grisham's Podcast: Book Tour with John Grisham
Books in this episode:
Camino Island by John Grisham
The Firm by John Grisham
Grace and the Fever by Zan Romanoff
Startup: A Novel by Doree Shafrir
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Heat and Light by Jennifer Haigh
Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
A “luminous novel” set in corrupt, war-torn, violent Pakistan guides us through a story of love, hope and beauty by a recently widowed Muslim architect and her Christian neighbors. That’s the latest story line from author Nadeem Aslam, who joins Just the Right Book Podcast to talk about his fifth novel, The Golden Legend. Aslam was born in Pakistan, fled to the UK with his family as a teenager and published his first short story at 13.
And later in this episode, we hear from Mary Williams, General Manager for Skylight Books in Los Angeles, who gives us some recommendations for the Dads and Grads in your life!
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Books in this episode:
The Golden Legend by Nadeem Aslam
The Wasted Vigil by Nadeem Aslam
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Nothing Remains the Same: Rereading and Remembering by Wendy Lesser
1984 by George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray D. Bradbury
Men Without Women: Stories by Haruki Murakami
Are You Anybody?: A Memoir by Jeffrey Tambor
No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump's Shock Politic's and Winning the World We Need by Naomi Klein
Books for Grads:
Make Trouble by John Waters
The Little Book of Life Hacks: How to Make Your Life Happier, Healthier and More Beautiful by Yumi Sakugawa
Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk: And Other Truths about Being Creative by Danielle Krysa
The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander, Benjamin Zander
Books for Dads:
Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris
My Dad Used to Be So Cool by Keith Negley
The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks about his new memoir, Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court, and his decades-long friendship with UCLA coach and mentor John Wooden.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer took the stage in a live event hosted by Read to Grow and RJ Julia and Just the Right Book Podcast was there every step of the way.
After the conversation, with sportscaster Dan Patrick, Adbul-Jabbar answers questions from the audience, including one young fan's question on who Kareem's favorite teammate was and why.
Later in this episode, we hear from patrons of RJ Julia on what's on their nightstand.
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
We’re trying to get a better demographic handle on the people like yourself who listen to Just The Right Book Podcast. Just go to our website, www.BookPodcast.com, and click on the “Listener Survey,” it should take you about 30 seconds and be most helpful to us. Thank you in advance for this!
Books in this episode:
Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
Heartbreak Hotel by Jonathan Kellerman
The Force by Don Winslow
This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare by Gabourey Sidibe
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Beren and Luthien by J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien
Like Family by Paolo Giordano
Michael Pietsch is the CEO of Hachette Book Group which comprises eight publishing divisions. In a career spanning forty years, Michael has edited or published books by acclaimed writers including J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, Stephenie Meyer, and Keith Richards, just to name a few.
The Harvard alum joins Just the Right Book to give us the real deal behind book publishing. Pietsch discusses his career as a publisher, his love of music, the book that changed his life and gives us the scoop on how to get a book published.
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Books in this episode:
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Lucky by Alice Sebold
Life by Keith Richards
Prufrock: And other Observations by T.S. Eliot
In today's Tidbits episode, Roxanne talks about poetry and reads a selection from one of her favorite books, A Child's Anthology of Poetry. Also in this episode, Roxanne answers a listener's question about the Pulitzer prize-winning bestseller, Underground Railroad.
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Books in this episode:
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
A Child's Anthology of Poetry Edited by Elizabeth Hauge Sword
Sick by Shel Silverstein
“I cannot go to school today”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry.
I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox.
And there’s one more – that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue,
It might be the instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke.
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in.
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My toes are cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There’s a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is …
What? What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is ………….. Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”
Novelist and television writer Sarah Dunn may be the creator and executive producer of the hit ABC sitcom, American Housewife, but it's her latest novel, The Arrangement that has everyone buzzing.
The novel, which Roxanne called "absolutely delicious," tells the story of a couple that embarks on an open marriage while raising a special-needs son.
The Arrangement has been called "this summer's must-read" by Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell, but as Sarah warns, "Do not try this at home."
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Books in this episode:
The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and author of "The Power of Habit," which has spent over two years on the New York Times best-seller list.
The Harvard Business School and Yale graduate, recently joined Just the Right Book Podcast to talk about his latest book, "Smarter Faster, Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity." "People often get tied up in being busy, rather than being productive," says Duhigg. His book explores how to get more done without sacrificing what we care about most.
Also in this episode, we hear from Cathy Langer, the director of buying for the Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver Colorado for our segment, "What's on the Front Table."
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Books in this episode:
Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity By Charles Duhigg
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business By Charles Duhigg
Hiroshima By John Hersey
Red Sky at Morning By Richard Bradford
American War By Omar El Akkad
Trajectory: Stories By Richard Russo
Anything Is Possible By Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton By Elizabeth Strout
Borne By Jeff VanderMeer
Crime and Punishment By Fyodor Dostoyevsky
A Prayer for Owen Meany By John Irving
Just the Right Book Podcast is celebrating Mother's Day with one of Roxanne's favorite Mother's Day poems. In this very special Tidbit, Roxanne reads The Lanyard by Billy Collins.
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The Lanyard by Billy Collins
The other day I was ricocheting slowly
off the blue walls of this room,
moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,
when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary
where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.
No cookie nibbled by a French novelist
could send one into the past more suddenly-
a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp
by a deep Adirondack lake
learning how to braid long thin plastic strips
into a lanyard, a gift for my mother.
I had never seen anyone use a lanyard
or wear one, if that's what you did with them,
but that did not keep me from crossing
strand over strand again and again
until I had made a boxy
red and white lanyard for my mother.
She gave me life and milk from her breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard.
She nursed me in many a sick room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-clothes on my forehead,
and then led me out into the air light
and taught me to walk and swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Here are thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a little help from a counselor.
Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth,
and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,
and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.
And here, I wish to say to her now,
is a smaller gift - not the worn truth
that you can never repay your mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took
the two-toned lanyard from my hand,
I was as sure as a boy could be
that this useless, worthless thing I wove
out of boredom would be enough to make us even.
More poetry by Billy Collins:
The Rain in Portugal: Poems by Billy Collins
Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins
Horoscopes for the Dead by Billy Collins
Ballistics by Billy Collins
The Trouble with Poetry: And Other Poems by Billy Collins
Nine Horses: Poems by Billy Collins
Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins
Just the Right Book Podcast is thrilled to launch our very first Tidbits episode. These shorter episodes will feature just one or two thoughts or events that we think will be fun to hear about!
Just the Right Book Podcast recently had a launch party at RJ Julia's and our producer talked with guests about what they are reading, what brought them out to the party, and what they thought of our podcast so far.
Also in today's Tidbits, Roxanne announces the start of JTRB's Book Club. Every month, Roxanne will give YOU, our listeners, a book to read and then one listener will get the opportunity to join Roxanne on a future episode of Just the Right Book Podcast to chat about the book. To participate and be entered for a chance to win, just Tweet or Facebook post about Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout using the hashtag #JTRBpodcast.
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about Just the Right Book Podcast
Books in this episode:
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
The Gods of Tango by Carolina De Robertis
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti
Dodgers by Bill Beverly
Between Them: Remembering My Parents by Richard Ford
Truevine: Two Brothers, a Kidnapping, and a Mother's Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South by Beth Macy
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Call It Sleep by Henry Roth
The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing And Choice are Undermining Education by Diane Ravitch
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplan
RJ Julia recently hosted an event for one of their favorite authors, Dani Shapiro and Just the Right Book Podcast was there every step of the way. The best-selling novelist and memoirist caught up with Roxanne prior to the event to discuss her latest memoir, "Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage." The book, says Roxanne, is an "exquisite jewel" that you will want to read whether you are thinking of marriage, newly married, or have been married for a long time. Shapiro describes the joys and challenges of matrimonial life as, "Just that sense of what it is to go through life together... the all of it, the beauty and the terror.
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Books in this episode:
Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro
Devotion by Dani Shapiro
Slow Motion: A Memoir of a Life Rescued by Tragedy by Dani Shapiro
Just the Right Book Podcast welcomes back it's resident Renaissance Man Matthew Dicks. The best-selling author, story-teller, teacher, and blogger recently sat down with Roxanne to chat about his top book picks, audio books and even a few musical memoirs.
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Books in this episode:
The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs By Matthew Dicks
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend By Matthew Dicks
A Man Called Ove By Fredrik Backman
A Gentleman in Moscow By Amor Towles
Rules of Civility By Amor Towles
Born to Run By Bruce Springsteen
Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink By Elvis Costello
Life By Keith Richards, James Fox
Lincoln in the Bardo By George Saunders
Harry Potter 1-7 Audio Collection By J.K. Rowling, Jim Dale
You Are Here: An Owner's Manual for Dangerous Minds By Jenny Lawson
Exit West By Moshin Hamid
Veteran rock journalist Tom Doyle has interviewed Paul McCartney, U2, Madonna, Ringo Starr, David Bowie and many more. Doyle joined Just the Right Book from across the pond in England to talk about his newest biography, Captain Fantastic: Elton John's Stellar Trip Through the ‘70s, based on his one-on-one interviews with the legendary superstar. The book chronicles Elton’s career in the 1970s, covering hit after hit, his close professional relationships, and even his struggle with sexuality. Doyle also shares the behind-the-scenes on what it’s like to profile music legends like Paul McCartney and Keith Richards and the time he spent with Amy Winehouse in her last days.
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Books in this episode:
Captain Fantastic: Elton John's Stellar Trip Through the 70's By Tom Doyle
The Wasp Factory By Iain Banks
Songs in this episode:
Runaway Train by Elton John
Rocket Man by Elton John
Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting by Elton John
Albums in this episode:
A Single Man by Elton John
Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
Band On the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings
Yewande Omotoso's follow up to her award winning, South African-published novel "Bom Boy," has been called "radiant" by Publisher's Weekly and "a female take on Grumpy Old Men" by O Magazine. In her American debut, "The Woman Next Door," the Barbados-born novelist tells the story of two successful women- one black, one white- and how these sworn enemies eventually discover common ground in a post-apartheid Cape Town suburb. Hear Omotoso talk about the book Roxanne is calling "one hell of a read" and how she is still a practicing architect in this week's episode of "Just the Right Book."
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Books in this episode:
The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso
Bom Boy by Yewande Omotoso
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
You probably know Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Annie Banks in the popular Father of the Bride movies, from one of her many TV roles or as the wife of country music star, Brad Paisley. The NY Times bestselling author of "Where the Light Gets in: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again" opens up to Roxanne (who lost her own mother, Viola Ohlbaum just days prior to recording this interview) on a special episode of "Just the Right Book." Kimberly documents her mother’s rare form of dementia and tracks her family’s actions and emotions through the process and her death last year. “My mother didn’t want us to talk about her illness; she wanted it to be the family secret,” says Williams-Paisley. While she wanted to honor her mother’s wishes and “protect her pride, it was a mistake and I regret it. By keeping it secret, we missed out on a lot of resources we could have been using.” The book, says Roxanne, “does a brilliant job of normalizing a situation that many people find hard to think of as normal.”
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For More Information on Alzheimer's & Dementia visit the Alzheimer's Association website
Books in this episode:
Where the Light Gets in: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again by Kimberly Williams-Paisley
In Lieu of Flowers: A Conversation for the Living by Nancy Howard Cobb
Book podcasting legends, Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman from "Books on the Nightstand" recently joined Roxanne in the "Just the Right Book" studios to chat about books they are reading. They also give more than a dozen recommendations for your TBR list. Find out which book Roxanne is calling "the book to read this Spring" in this must-listen episode!
Be sure to like us on Facebook and join our mailing list to hear more news about “Just the Right Book Podcast.”
Books in this episode:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas By John Boyne
The Hearts Invisible Furies By John Boyne
Endurance By Scott Kelly
Exit West By Mosin Hamid
The Underground Railroad By Colson Whitehead
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House By John Mechum
American War By Omar El Akkad
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley By Hannah Tinti
The Good Thief By Hannah Tinti
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit By Michael Finkel
50 Days of Solitude By Doris Gumbach
Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship By Michelle Kuo
Standard Deviation By Katherine Heiny
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. By Judy Blume
Ann Patchett is the co-owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville and the author of seven novels. In 2012, Time Magazine named her as one of their 100 Most Influential People in the World. The Bel Canto author recently joined "Just the Right Book" from her home in Nashville to talk about being a bookseller and about her most personal novel to date, Commonwealth. “My father was dying as I was writing this novel,” Ann tells Roxanne. “I knew he’d hate this book, but I knew I was writing it because he was never going to read it.” The specific actions of the characters are not the same, but the emotions are. “As my mother would say, ‘None of it happened, and all of it is true.’”
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Books in this episode:
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Author, professor, philosopher, Jason Stanley stopped by the Just the Right Book studios to talk propaganda, how it works and how language influences the way we think and reason about public issues. The "How Propaganda Works" author holds a PhD from MIT, has taught philosophy at Cornell, University of Michigan and Rutgers, and is now a professor of philosophy at Yale University. Also in this episode, Roxanne gives us some of her favorite picks from the National Book Critics Circle Awards.
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Books in this episode:
How Propaganda Works by Jason Stanley
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Soujourner Truth
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
You probably know Amy Dickinson from the nationally syndicated advice column "Ask Amy", which is carried in over 150 newspapers and read by an estimated 22 million readers daily! She is also a best-selling author and featured panelist on NPR's popular comedy quiz show "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me." Amy's new book "Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Coming Home", picks up where her New York Times best-selling memoir, "The Mighty Queens of Freeville" left off. She recently joined "Just the Right Book" to chat about finding love at middle-age, the heartbreak of caring for an ailing parent at the end of life and of course her moving back to her hometown of Freeville, NY.
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Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Coming Home by Amy Dickinson
The Strand Book Store is New York City's legendary home of "18 miles" of new, used and rare books. This episode features a special installment of our segment, "What's on the Front Table." The Strand's head buyer, Carson Moss, joined Just the Right Book from their East Village location to give Roxanne the scoop on the rumored quiz every prospective employee must take and what's on their front table. Also in this episode, Roxanne shares some of her book recommendations in her segment "What You Need to Know."
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Books in this episode:
Ulysses By James Joyce
Dreamtigers By Jorge Luis Borges
Shadowbahn By Steve Erickson
Norse Mythology By Neil Gaiman
Langdon Clay: Cars: New York City 1974-1976 By Langdon Clay (photographer)
Animals By Ingela P. Arrhenius
Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty By Dorothy Roberts
We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Long Drop By Denise Mina
The Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution
The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer
City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History of Immigrant New York by Tyler Anbinder
March by John Lewis
How Propaganda Works by Jason Stanley
Sady Doyle is an award-winning writer and journalist who's work has appeared in The Guardian, Slate, Buzzfeed, The Atlantic, just to name a few. The Brooklyn resident and founder of the feminist blog Tiger Beatdown joined Roxanne to talk about her latest book "Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear...and Why.” In her interview, Sady talks about Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Hillary Clinton, Marilyn Monroe and even Mary Wollstonecraft. Later in the episode, Just the Right Book hits the streets of the Big Apple to find out what people are reading in NYC.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear…and Why By Sady Doyle
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Daphne Merkin is a novelist, critic, contributor to the New York Times, Elle and Tablet Magazine. As Roxanne puts it, Daphne "can write about pocket-books and lipstick and then sound like she has a PhD in Philosophy." The New York native recently opened up to Roxanne about her long-awaited memoir, This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression and offers her advice for supporting loved ones who are struggling with depression.
Books mentioned in this episode:
This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin
Lindsey Lee Johnson's debut novel, "The Most Dangerous Place on Earth" tells the story of a group of students as they maneuver through the social politics of their high school. "Just the Right Book" recently caught up with the former high school teacher to talk all about the book the New York Times called "an alarming, compelling, and coolly funny debut novel." Lindsey also dishes on her NEXT novel and why her friends call her "cheerleader Lindsey." Also in this episode, we hear from renowned media scholar and MIT professor Sherry Turkle on her book "Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age."
Books in this episode:
The Most Dangerous Place on Earth by Lindsey Lee Johnson
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle
Jo Malone is known around the world for her iconic brand of fragrances and now as the founder and Creative Director of her brand-new fragrance brand, Jo Loves. The "English scent maverick" recently opened up to Roxanne in a heart-felt interview about her inspiring success story, her brave battle with breast cancer and her new memoir, My Story. Also in this episode, a brand-new installment of "What's on the Front Table" with Harvard Book Store General Manager, Carole Horne.
Jo Malone: My Story By Jo Malone
The Hundred-Foot Journey By Richard C. Morais
Drunks: An American History By Christopher Finan
Oz: The Complete Hardcover Collection 5 Volume Set By L. Frank Baum
Little Women By Louisa May Alcott
Darwin By Adrian Desmond
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales By Oliver Sacks
Beloved By Toni Morrison
The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America By Ibram X. Kendi
A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women's Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870 By Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
March (Trilogy Slipcase Set) By John Lewis
Kindred By Octavia Butler
Maus: A Survivor's Tale By Art Speigelman
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood By Marjane Satrapi
The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story By Douglas Preston
Krazy: George Herriman, a Life in Black and White By Michael Tisserand
You've probably heard Rebecca Schinsky hosting the popular podcast "Book Riot- "The Podcast" with Jeff O'Neal or know her from her other popular Book Riot show "All the Books" with Liberty Hardy. As the executive director of product and e-commerce for Riot New Media Group, Rebecca has her finger on the pulse of the literary world and teamed up with Roxanne to give YOU the books to add to your TBR list in 2017. Plus, you'll hear what books the readers in our offices are looking forward to this year.
Books in this episode:
A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
A Separation by Katie Kitamura
This Close to Happy: A Reckoning with Depression by Daphne Merkin
When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
South and West: From a Notebook by Joan Didion
Endurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Outline by Rachel Cusk
Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales
The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island by Linda Greenlaw
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea by Gary Kinder
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami
Dr. Gina Barreca is a women's humorist, author, writer, speaker and professor at UConn. Her latest book, "If You Lean In, Will Men Just Look Down Your Blouse?: Questions and Thoughts for Loud, Smart Women in Turbulent Times" is a collection of fun, feminist-infused essays. The feminist humor maven stopped by "Just the Right Book" right before the Women's Marches to chat with Roxanne about the women empowerment books that we all need to read.
Gina's site: http://ginabarreca.com/
Books in this episode:
"If You Lean In, Will Men Just Look Down Your Blouse?": Questions and Thoughts for Loud, Smart Women in Turbulent Times By Gina Barreca
The Second Sex By Simone De Beauvoir
The Golden Notebook By Doris Lessing
Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo By Mary Douglas
How Institutions Think By Mary Douglas
The Powers of the Weak By Elizabeth Janeway
We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman By Robert K. Massie
Cleopatra: A Life By Stacy Schiff
Personal History By Katharine Graham
She By H. Rider Haggard
My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind By Scott Stossel
Pretty Is By Maggie Mitchell
In Praise of Folly By Desiderius Erasmus
Michael Kindness set the gold standard for book podcasts as the former host of the popular show "Books on the Nightstand" and is the "hand-seller to book-sellers" for Penguin Random House. Michael joined Roxanne in the studio to talk about being a sales rep for the publishing powerhouse and shares his recommendations to help YOU kick 2017 off right! Also in this episode, more from our interview with Just the Right Book's FIRST guest, Amy Bloom. Plus, rate & review us on Itunes to be entered to win the book of your choice from today's episode!
Sadly, "Books on the Nightstand" has ended but you can listen (or re-listen) to all the episodes here: http://booksonthenightstand.com/
Follow Michael Kindness on Twitter
Books in this episode:
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Gilded Cage by Vic James
Moonglow by Michael Chabon
The Inkblots: Hermann Rorschach, his Iconic Test, and the Power of Seeing by Damion Searls
Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness and Family Secrets by Luke Dittrich
Little Sweet Potato by Amy Bloom
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom
Deirdre Bair is a national book award winner and has given us Five award-winning biographies. RJ Julia recently held an event for the literary biographer who told Roxanne how she came to write the first complete biography of legendary gangster Al Capone. Also in this episode, we chat with guests of RJ Julia and ask them what they are reading. Plus, we find out what's on Roxanne's nightstand.
Books in this episode:
Al Capone: His Life, Legacy, and Legend by Deirdre Bair
Ulysses by James Joyce
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin
The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure
House of Thieves by Charles Belfoure
All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani
Calling it Quits: Late Life Divorce and Starting Over by Deirdre Bair
The Sympathizer: A Novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Books in this episode:
Truevine: Two Brothers, a Kidnapping, and a Mother's Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South by Beth Macy
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Matthew Dicks is the ultimate Renaissance Man. An internationally bestselling author, elementary school teacher, blogger and podcaster, just to name a few...The rock opera writing story-teller took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with Roxanne and bring YOU their top book recommendations.
Matthew’s Blog: http://www.matthewdicks.com/
Books in this episode:
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend By Matthew Dicks
Nutshell By Ian McEwan
If You Lean In, Will Men Just Look Down Your Blouse?": Questions and Thoughts for Loud, Smart Women in Turbulent Times By Gina Barreca
Messy: The Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives By Tim Harford
Today Will Be Different By Maria Semple
The Nix By Nathan Hill
My Name Is Lucy Barton By Elizabeth Strout
You'll Grow Out of It By Jessi Klein
Born to Run By Bruce Springsteen
Upstream: Selected Essays By Mary Oliver
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders By Vincent Bugliosi, Curt Gentry
Jacques Pepin is a world-renowned chef, a former columnist for the New York Times and the author of more than two dozen cookbooks. The world's most famous cooking teacher stopped by RJ Julia to share HIS best holiday cooking tips and you'll never believe what he tells Roxanne about his own cooking mistakes. Also in this episode, hear some of Roxanne's picks for the best books of 2016.
Books in this episode:
Jacques Pepin: Heart & Soul in the Kitchen By Jacques Pepin
The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen By Jacques Pepin
A French Chef Cooks at Home By Jacques Pepin
Cuisine Economique By Jacques Pepin
Short-Cut Cook: Make Simple Meals with Surprisingly Little Effort By Jacques Pepin
Jacques Pepin’s The Art of Cooking By Jacques Pepin
Jacques Pepin: Fast Food My Way By Jacques Pepin
Jacques Pepin: More Fast Food My Way By Jacques Pepin
La Methode: An Illustrated Guide to the Fundamental Techniques of Cooking By Jacques Pepin
The Underground Railroad By Colson Whitehead
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City By Matthew Desmond
The Association of Small Bombs By Karan Mahajan
In the Darkroom By Susan Faludi
Do Not Say We Have Nothing By Madeline Thien
Nutshell By Ian McEwan
Upstream: Selected Essays By Mary Oliver
Maria Semple stops by Just the Right Book to chat about her new best-selling comic novel, "Today Will Be Different." The screenwriter-turned-author tells Roxanne why her daughter calls her "mad mommy" and dishes on the rumored A-list actress who might play one of her characters in a movie. Also in this episode, some books Roxanne is loving right now.
THE CORRECTIONS BY JONATHAN FRAZEN
THE RED CAR BY MARCY DEMANSKY
CITIZEN VINCE BY JESS WALTER
DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY BY BILL CLEGG
FATES AND FURIES BY LAUREN GROFF
A CHILD’S ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY BY ELIZABETH HAUGE SWORD
Liberty Hardy, one half of the dynamic duo that makes up the popular Book Riot podcast, "All the Books" is teaming up with Roxanne Coady to help you choose the best books for everyone on your holiday list! The vivacious velocireader also gives Roxanne her best tips and tricks of the podcast trade in this must-hear episode.
Bunnicula By Deborah Howe and James Howe
The One-in-a-Million Boy By Monica Wood
Crooked Heart By Lissa Evans
Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders By Julianna Baggott
Do Not Say We Have Nothing By Madeline Thien
Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders By Dylan Thuras, Ella Morton and Joshua Foer
Dorie's Cookies By Dorie Greenspan
Phoebe and Her Unicorn By Dana Simpson
10,000 Things You Need to Know: The Big Book of Lists
Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy By Heather Ann Thompson
The Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters By Laura Thompson
Jellicoe Road By Melina Marchetta
Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil By Melina Marchetta
http://bookriot.com/listen/shows/allthebooks/
https://twitter.com/MissLiberty?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
James Patterson may hold the Guinness world record for the most #1 New York Times best-sellers, but it's his latest passion project that has him buzzing. The New York native came straight to Just the Right Book to tell Roxanne all about the latest books on his children's imprint Jimmy Patterson. Also in this episode, another installment of "What's on the Front Table" with RJ Julia's Head Book Buyer, Andrew Brennan.
Give Please a Chance By Bill O’Reilly and James Patterson
Word of Mouse By James Patterson
Forever Words: The Unknown Poems By Johnny Cash
At Home in the World: Stories and Essential Teachings from a Monk's Life By Thich Nhat Hahn
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate Discoveries from a Secret World By Peter Wohlleben
Going Once: 250 Years of Culture, Taste and Collecting at Christie's
The Secret History of Twin Peaks By Mark Frost
Luvvie Ajayi, author of "I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual" counts Oprah, Bono and Shonda Rhimes among her biggest fans. The comic phenom opens up to Roxanne about meeting the top media queens in the biz, moving to the US from Nigeria and how she is helping raise women's awareness for HIV/AIDS. Also in this episode, our very first installment of "What's on the Front Table," a segment about that coveted spot right in front of independent bookstores. Lissa Muscatine, former speech writer for Hillary Clinton and current owner of the Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC tells Roxanne what's on their front table.
I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual By Luvvie Ajayi
The Broke Diaries: The Completely True and Hilarious Misadventures of a Good Girl Gone Broke By Angela Nissel
We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Hillbilly Elegy By J.D. Vance
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right By Arlie Russell Hochschild
The Fight to Vote By Michael Waldman
Swing Time By Zadie Smith
Luvvie's blog: http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/
Luvvie's foundation: http://www.theredpumpproject.org/
Award-winning author Amy Bloom interviews Roxanne Coady, owner of the famous independent bookstore RJ Julia in Madison, CT for the introductory episode of Just the Right Book. The "Lucky Us" author gets Roxanne to dish on everything from her childhood, to her latest venture hosting a new literary podcast and of course, books...