We decided to break format this week, and we might do it again at that (it was wonderful).  To ring in the holiday week, we had to spend a little time talking about A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  And we must admit we had never read it until now.  We sit down with Dean Natalie McKnight at Boston University, and Professor Joel Brattin at Worcester Polytechnic. Both top Dickensian scholars in their field, we ask them why this book still universally resonates….hundreds of years later.

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens

The Chimes by Charles Dickens

Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens

The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens

The Battle of Life: A Love Story by Charles Dickens

The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain by Charles Dickens

Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens 

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens

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We know we want to talk to an author if we argue long and lustily about a book’s themes. And Like Mother, Like Mother, the newest by Susan Rieger, has so many themes: how we cannot escape our mothers, the concept of whether women can “have it all”, the debate on nature vs. nurture…and so much more. These are characters that will stay with you long after you have finished, and is a great selection for book clubs out there. Take a break from holiday prep and join us for our conversation with Susan Rieger and with Warwick books in La Jolla California.

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger

The Heirs by Susan Rieger

The Divorce Papers by Susan Rieger

Mosaic of the Mind by Susan Rieger

By the Lake by John McGahern

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

Time of the Child by Niall Williams

Netherland by Joseph O’Neill

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Delia Ephron is a courageous woman. Not only did she lose her husband Jerry, she then faced death in the form of leukemia and a very risky bone marrow transplant all while falling in love with her husband Peter. As if all of this weren’t enough, she wrote an amazing memoir about it, Left on Tenth, and THEN she turned it into a major play on Broadway where hundreds of people could react to her story, live. How did she do it and why? We find out on this week’s Book Case. We also talk to the bookstore Francie and French, and tell you where they got that name.

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron

The Lion is In by Delia Ephron

Heartburn by Delia and Nora Ephron

Siracusa by Delia Ephron

Big City Eyes by Delia Ephron

Hanging Up by Delia Ephron

Sister Mother Husband Dog Etc. by Delia Ephron

The Girl with the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron

Frannie in Pieces by Delia Ephron

Love Lost and What I Wore: A Play by Delia and Nora Ephron

The Time of the Child by Niall Williams

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In this, the second part of our interview with Louise Penny we talk to her about the art of writing, how she stays fresh and what her year looks like as she writes and completes a Gamache mystery. We widen our lens on the art of writing with Louise Penny. Stay with us, you won't want to miss it.

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Still Life by Louise Penny

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

The Hangman by Louise Penny

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

A Better Man by Louise Penny

All the Devils Are Here

The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Rodham Clinton

World of Curiosities by Louise Penny

The Complete Collection of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving

The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson

Solomon Gursky Was Here by Mordecai Richler

Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron

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We read fan comments, and several of you wrote us about Louise Penny.  Charlie has always been a fan (he would want me to say that) but Kate was shamefully new to her work.  But she is now a HUGE fan and has read them all and could not put down The Grey Wolf, Penny’s newest and her 19th Inspector Gamache in the series. Join us for part 1 of a 2 part Book Case podcast with Louise Penny.

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

Still Life by Louise Penny

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny

A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

The Hangman by Louise Penny

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

A Better Man by Louise Penny

All the Devils Are Here

The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Rodham Clinton

World of Curiosities by Louise Penny

The Time of the Child by Niall Williams

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

Monogamy by Sue Miller

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When Niall Williams releases a book, we positively cheer.  His writing feels like coming home to us.  A home full of warm fires, good stories, kind neighbors, strong community and unspoken love.  All of them and more illuminate his latest: The Time of the Child.  We could not recommend this book more.  Buy it.  And then buy it for everyone on your holiday list who loves to read.  And then sit by your holiday fire with all of those folks who read it and listen to this episode of the Book Case.  You will be so glad you did.

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

The Time of the Child by Niall Williams

This is Happiness by Niall Williams 

History of Rain by Niall Williams 

Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams

As it Is in Heaven by Niall Williams

O Come Ye Back to Ireland: Our First Year in County Clare by Niall Williams and Christine Breen

The Fall of Light by Niall Williams

In Kiltumper: A Year in an Irish Garden by Niall Williams and Christine Breen

Boy in the World by Niall Williams

John by Niall Williams

When Summer’s in the Meadow by Niall Williams and Christine Breen

Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett

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We don’t do it often, but we are giving two episodes to one conversation: the Great Ann Patchett talking about the Annotated Bel Canto.  After we wrap our conversation with her we talk to her bookstore, Parnassus and its manager, Cat Bock.  Tune in and find out why we love Ann Patchett so much.  

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Run by Ann Patchett

This is the Story of a Marriage by Ann Patchett

Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Taft by Ann Patchett

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, The Audiobook Version read by Jeremy Irons

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

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Ann Patchett burst on the scene with Bel Canto twenty three years ago. Bel Canto was not her first novel, but many still consider it to be her best (although she disagrees). This week she releases an Annotated Edition of Bel Canto and in it she rereads and notes her triumphs and mistakes on every page. Seriously. A great novel, a great writer making insightful comments on her own writing (in her own handwriting)…if you love reading, writing or Ann Patchett, this is a HUGE treat. In this episode, the first installment of our conversation with Ann, we talk to her about the inspirations behind Bel Canto, and so much of what she thinks she could do better if she wrote it today. Listen and nerd out with us on the writing experience.

Books mentioned in this week’s podcast: 

Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Run by Ann Patchett

This is the Story of a Marriage by Ann Patchett

Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Taft by Ann Patchett

Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand

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Danzy Senna has written a seriously funny and thought provoking book in Colored Television. It will make you laugh, but also make space for anger, pain and frustration as she skewers race, Hollywood, authentic voice, the publishing industry, the Kardashians, navel gazing, philosophy….you name it, there is satire in this book for everyone. Great writing and a great conversation with the author. We are also joined for our fourth writer in residence conversation with J. Ryan Stradal. He tells us why he is working so hard on the first draft of his new novel. Join us. 

Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

Caucasia by Danzy Senna

New People by Danzy Senna

You are Free: Stories by Danzy Senna

Where did you Sleep Last Night by Danzy Senna

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

Colours of the Mountain by Da Chen

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Beloved by Tony Morrison

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal

Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

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Reginald Dwayne Betts is on a mission is to put a curated library in the cell block of every prison in America. A survivor of the system himself, he has obtained a college degree, a law degree from Yale, and a MacArthur Genius grant. Looking to bring hope to America’s most hopeless places, Bates has founded Freedom Reads, an organization that brings free curated library collections to every prison system that agrees to it. His partner in the endeavor, Debbie Leff, also talks to us about what inspired her about this tremendous organization. No one better personifies the power of reading to change a life, so join us for what we believe is an important discussion about the vitality of libraries and the power of books to heal.

Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:

The Circumference of a Prison by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Doggerel by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Felon: Poems by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Redaction by Reginald Dwayne Betts

Bastards of the Reagan Era by Reginald Dwayne Betts

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Paula Hawkins is a master of the mystery, and her new one, The Blue Hour, has one of the best opens and closes to a mystery we have ever read. An author who knows mood and atmosphere, this book will keep you turning the pages long after you told yourself to go to bed. Our bookstore this week is a revisit with one of our favorites, Beacon Hill Books. Join us!

Books mentioned in this week’s podcast:

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

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