Books on the Nightstand discussion
What do you want us to talk/write about?
Melissa wrote: "Ann wrote: "Ha! Finally, we are ahead of you on something :) Woof!"In the interest of fairness, if you do a podcast on dog books, you need to do a podcast on cat books. I loved the Cat Who... my..."
I do love the Cat Who books, especially the ones written in the 60s. Very groovy :)
I love dogs but my mommy and daddy never got one for me.Still won't.
ger
Name three writers from your state and one book from each.Good call in possibility.Ger
Gerald wrote: "Name three writers from your state and one book from each.Good call in possibility.Ger"What a great idea! I love that. My mind's already whirling with possibilities. (I'm from Mississippi - wealth of writers to draw from!)
Mod
Linda wrote: "Wow! How to narrow that down from the home of James Thurber, Toni Morrison, Sherwood Anderson, Erma Bombeck, Dan Chaon, Zane Grey, Louis Bromfield, Rita Dove...just to name a few"Well that's the problem with the idea because some states have hundreds and some like mine,Delaware might take some time to find.Delaware BTW does have some authors.ger
Hello! I stumbled across an ipad app called Subtext. It's basically a community inside a book. (I have no connection with the site.) That's the best way I can think of describing it. While you are reading a book, you can see other comments people have added in the margins, or you can add your own comment. I'm reading the Steve Jobs bio right now, and there are, for example, lots of helpful links to relevant sites, videos, etc. including the original Mac 1984 commercial, as well as some useful discussions. I'm finding the discussions much more useful than visiting a blog while or after I'm reading a book.They also apparently sell books with 'extras' including additional commentary by the author, but I haven't downloaded those yet.
It strikes me that this is what books would be like if they were invented last year :)
It might be interesting to look more into the changing format of the book... this is the most interesting new twist I've come across recently.
Cheers,
Wil
Linda wrote: "Wow! How to narrow that down from the home of James Thurber, Toni Morrison, Sherwood Anderson, Erma Bombeck, Dan Chaon, Zane Grey, Louis Bromfield, Rita Dove...just to name a few"You must be from Ohio
I'm sure there are more from Arizona than I'm aware of. The ones that immediately come to mind are J.A. Jance, Stephenie Meyer and Cheyenne McCray. Laurie Notaro used to live here but she defected to Eugene, Oregon.
Janet wrote: "Laurie Notaro used to live here but she defected to Eugene, Oregon."
Hah! I'm from Oregon! So now my list has *two* authors!
Laurie Notaro
Kate Wilheim
Hah! I'm from Oregon! So now my list has *two* authors!
Laurie Notaro
Kate Wilheim
Mod
..."
Bingo!
Hah! I'm from Oregon! So now my list has *two* authors!Laurie Notaro
Kate Wilheim
Hey, no fair! Give her back! I love Laurie. I saw her at Changing Hands bookstore recently and she is so very funny and down to earth. One of her books has a segment where she writes about living in South Phoenix across the street from a pedophile...it made me laugh until tears ran down my face. Maybe you have to live here to really appreciate that segment because this is a city where you never really see or get to know your neighbors and that whole thing plays into the sketch.
Whenever I get together with my bookish friends we end up talking about forgotten or hidden gems; lesser known works that really struck a chord with us and became some of our favorite books. Bestsellers and classics need not apply.I think it would be fascinating to hear the books Ann and Michael would suggest that we may not ever come across otherwise. In fact, I'd like to hear from the well-read fans of the podcast, too.
i like that idea William. i certainly do not feel well-read once i see some the listeners lists of suggestions or books they have tackled in the past. i'm still at base camp!
Mod
On another podcast I listen to about books, they talked about books that are guilty pleasures. I hadn't really thought about it ... but there are books I read that I don't really share with my usual reading buddies (current example is Last Werewolf ). At the same time, some books I read I want EVERYONE to know I'm reading, like War and Peace. Maybe this says more about me than about anything else. Do other readers have those books that they enjoy but really don't want to share that fact? Does everyone have some guilty pleasure in their reading choices?
Absolutely, I just commented in another thread that I don't often tell people that I'm an adult reader of YA. I'd rather let them think I'm a YA librarian or I mumble something about buying it for my niece. I've also been known to enjoy the odd paranormal romance or chick-lit book. I definitely consider myself an eclectic reader and some books should be read for sheer enjoyment and don't need to be anything more than entertainment.
Ann wrote: "yes! Actually, that's part of a bigger project we've been contemplating for 2012. (like we don't have enough projects...). An episode about that would dovetail nicely. In the meantime, read Stoner ..."That's the second Stoner recommendation I've seen in the last 3 days... I think I may be sold.
Mod
.But, I realize that I am a reading snob. The only reason that I admit that I read Danielle Steele is because a friend brought a "care package" to me of books when I had broken my leg and was housebound for 4 months. (Not that I needed any books...). I read everything that he brought me which included the Steele. But he also brought mysteries by John Spencer Hill and Iain Pears.
I do admit that I read the newest Mary Higgins Clark each April even though I think she is way past her prime.
I swear, I will never admit to reading a romance novel. I tell people, I live it, I don't have to read about it.
I love your podcast. One idea I was wondering about for a future episode is "tips on how to read faster while still being able to retain the material". I read slower than I'd like, and since there are so many books I want to read (most are BOTNS suggestions), I really want to increase my speed. Michael has commented on this too on the podcast, so I wondered if others might be interested.My only tip is to use a bookmark to mark my place as my eyes move along the page. I recently purchased a special "Reading Focus" card designed for kids or adults with learning disabilities. It has a little window that you can use to help focus your eyes as you read.
Does anyone else have any tips?
Thanks!
I am interested in the tips for reading faster.many years ago I got the idea that I could no longer read and I was losing my concentration while reading.Anybody else?That's one reason I turned to reading HPB.
Part of me wants to read faster to get through more books but part of me knows that when I find an outstanding read, I want to savor every word. So maybe what we need is more quality and less quantity. I don't have a loss of concentration but I am easily distracted and my near vision is not what it used to be, which affects my ability to read for long periods of time.
I thought it might be nice to talk about books that have had tremendous impact on popular culture.
Are we getting a BotNS Holiday shopping guide this year? I love that episode!
that does sound like a good episode!
How about an episode on the books that were National Book Award finalists....or an episode about award winning literature in general.I'll have to go back and listen to the holiday shopping guide episode...I must've missed that one.
Janet, now I'm worried that I made it up, and I can't seem to be able to get to booksonthenightstand.com... if I made it up, then I apologize! :)
There was an episode called Book Elves at Work...maybe that was it. And it looks like they did do the National Book Awards topic last year...maybe we can look forward to a 2011 version of both of those.
Mod
The downloadable holiday gift guide will be posted on booksonthenightstand.com on Thanksgiving night.
OK, looking through, I was thinking of both the episodes where you go through the gift guide (eps 55 and 57, among others) and episodes where you talk about what you're hoping to unwrap (ep 19). I also really liked last year's Book Elves episode (ep 106)!I also had an idea for myself- I'm going to put all of the old Christmas episodes on a playlist and listen to them in the car while I'm out shopping for gifts- they are both seasonally appropriate and book-related!
Janet wrote: "There was an episode called Book Elves at Work...maybe that was it. And it looks like they did do the National Book Awards topic last year...maybe we can look forward to a 2011 version of both of ..."I need book recommendations for a paperback title to send a soldier in Afghanistan on his second tour. I imagine he would like sci-fi or spy stories but don't know for sure. Any ideas from Book Elves or anybody else?
Mod
I participate in a program called Operation Paperback where you fulfill book requests for servicemen and -women. Lately, there have been many, many requests for A GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin (and others in the series as well). Others request thrillers and mysteries and name specifically Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben and Dennis Lehane.
I know it's a generalization, but it seems that apart from a few requests for business titles or religious-oriented fiction and nonfiction, everything else seems to be thrillers and sci-fi/fantasy, so I don't think you're off the mark.
Ann, as you know I run George's fan group. I am sure I could get some significant donations for something like that.
Mod
Hello Ann and Michael- How about an episode dedicated to Latin American Literature?
i like that idea angela. there are some great authors that are well-established and others that are up and coming.i have a question ann and michael. the music you use on the show, is it an original piece or borrowed?
thanks!
Angela wrote: "Hello Ann and Michael- How about an episode dedicated to Latin American Literature?"This would be a great topic.
Mod
Elizabeth: the music on the podcast was from a free music site for podcasters.
Opening: In My Bunkbed by Lejune
http://lejeune.bandcamp.com/track/in-...
Music between segments: Funkyyy by Osnoff -- can no longer find this song online anymore. :(
Wondering if you guys like the music, or if it's time for a change.
I do know that music can be highly personal. I was recently thrown off when The Readers podcast started using music that happened to be the exact same music used in another podcast that I also follow, about a completely different topic. It was a very odd moment.
i personally like the music. i like that bass.as far as latino authors go, i will make a list of recommendations.
Mod
Love the idea about Latin American Lit. As far as the music, please don't change! The NY Times Book Review podcast has changed their music between segments and I really miss the old pieces. Thanks for doing such a great job, Ann and Michael!! (P.S. Started listening to the Readers on your recommendation, but I haven't had a lot of time, so far, I am really enjoying them!)
RE: L.A. Lit, here are five authors to consider... Benjamin Alire Saenz (Poetry: Elegies in Blue, Dark & Perfect Angels, Calendar of Dust; Novels: Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood, The House of Forgetting, Carry Me Like Water, Flowers for the Broken)
Julia Alvarez (In the Time of the Butterflies, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, Yo!, In the Name of Salome, A Cafecito Story, Saving the World + nonfiction, poetry and children's books)
Jorge Amado (Gabriela, Clove & Cinnamon, Dona Flor & Her Two Husbands, Home is the Sailor, Jubiaba, Pen Sword Camisole, Sea of Death)
Mario Acevedo (The Nymphos of Rocky Flats and the rest of his P.I. Felix Gomez series)
Isabel Allende (novels/memoirs and her YA/children's work)
FYI: Jorge Amado is Brazilian, but his work can be found in translation--the others are all in the US and write in English
How about a podcast regarding books about cats? Or animals in general, other than dogs, since you've already done that.Thanks so much for the holiday gift guide!
Could anyone recommend an author (or book) writing from a child character's point-of-view in an authentic and engaging way?
If you're looking for books for adults that have child characters, I found Room to be pretty authentic. There's also the Flavia De Luce books by Alan Bradley that Michael has recommended. Those are the only ones I can think of right now... I haven't read too many books from the child's point of view, so I'd also be interested to see what people can recommend.
Mod
Speaking of characters, I would like to see a show about books that have especially strong or interesting fictional characters. I find it hard to remain engaged with any work of fiction that doesn't have really well drawn characters. For me, The Night Circuswas a perfect example of this. The book had a wonderful premise and interesting plot but I just couldn't visualize or care about the characters.
Books on the Nightstand
Books mentioned in this topic
The Looking-Glass Sisters (other topics)Leviathan Wakes (other topics)
The Glass Room (other topics)
The Invisible Bridge (other topics)
Ancillary Justice (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Annie Dillard (other topics)Lia Purpura (other topics)
Joni Tevis (other topics)
Athol Dickson (other topics)
Mark Helprin (other topics)
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In the interest of fairness, if you do a podcast on dog books, you need to do a podcast on cat books. I loved the Cat Who... mysteries, Dewey, Homer's Odyssey, even the Harry Dresden series has Mister, the cat.