Books on the Nightstand discussion
What do you want us to talk/write about?
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Trish
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Jul 24, 2011 06:52AM
I liked the author interview--McEwan is one of my favorites, after all. I guess there are other podcasts wtih author interviews, but I don't get a chance to listen to them often. But I do agree with Melissa about the fact there does seem be be extraordinary interest among BOTNS listeners for "inside the publishing industry" news. I noticed it at the BOTNS retreat in April as well. There would be a real spike in interest when discussing how books are chosen, edited, published.
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Trish wrote: "I liked the author interview--McEwan is one of my favorites, after all. I guess there are other podcasts wtih author interviews, but I don't get a chance to listen to them often. But I do agree wit..."I saw the film version of Atonement(part of it anyway)the other day.I wonder what people here think of it.The impression I get is that many of the people I listen to downplay screenwriters and film and TV versions of their favorite books and book treatments on film in general.ger
Nice idea to have a discussion of screen adaptions of books and my opinion that screenwriters are poo pooed by other "legit" authors.For instance,some of the best authors were successful screen writers while others were dismal failures and some of the best written films were not based on books.Does anyone feel that there is a prejudice by book writers against screenwriters and the other way around.Ger
Anna wrote: "I loved "The Outsiders" by SE Hinton when I was young and regretted re reading it - It just wasn't as powerful and meaningful any more - But I did re read the book "Seal Morning" - I think it was by Rowena Farre and I loved it just as much as when Id read it as a youngster - so I guess it depends a lot on the book really?? "I think it does depend on the book. I recently re-read "The Trumpet of the Swan" by E.B. White, a real favorite from my childhood. It is still a lovely story and brought back all of the warm feelings I had toward the book as a child.
Heather wrote: I recently re-read "The Trumpet of the Swan" by E.B. White, a real favorite from my childhood. It is still a lovely story and brought back all of the warm feelings I had toward the book as a child."I also recently reread this and Charlotte's Web (on audio, old recordings read by the author), and enjoyed them both so much. I too have great memories of these books. I was listening to the end of Charlotte's Web on my drive from work, and hoped no one in other cars noticed I was crying.
Louise wrote: "Hi I keep hearing how little translated fiction Americans generally read, and was wondering, if you could do a couple of theme episodes about translated fiction.
Like great French/European/Icela..."
This would be a great topic.
I think a discussion of your favorite science fiction and fantasy books would be fun. The genre has gotten so popular, it would be fun to see what you both have to say, as well as what fans of the show have to say, especially about the evolution of the genre.think a disc
I think this a great idea! I am really into Scandinavian lit, and it's hard to find good stuff. I loved Out Stealing Horses and of course the Millennium trilogy but am craving more.Louise wrote: "Hi
I keep hearing how little translated fiction Americans generally read, and was wondering, if you could do a couple of theme episodes about translated fiction.
Like great French/European/Icela..."
you should check out Lene Kaaberbol - when her first crime novel is released in the U.S. in the fall, or Jussi Adler-Olsen or Sjón or Johan Theorin. They are some of the best available in translation I think.
Is there a name for books that are written with each character give his perspective of events either before they happen or after they happen? I just read Mudbound by Hillary Jordan.The book opens with a burial.Then the author takes us back and each chapter is from a diffent persons perspective building up to this event.I love this style and would like to read more.I like not having every piece of story spoonfeed to me. I want the author to trust their reader can get the essence and emotion of story without having to have everything spelled out. I find it puts me in the story easier.Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Djdee wrote: "Is there a name for books that are written with each character give his perspective of events either before they happen or after they happen? I just read Mudbound by Hillary Jordan.The book opens w..."Hi I just finished reading songs of the hump back whale by jodi picoult it's one of her earlier novels and it's written in the same way you've described above .. I enjoyed it for a straight forward quick read and I also enjoyed this style ....
The Help by Katherine Stockett is written like this too & I loved it!
I don't think it's been covered before on the podcast, but if it has please point me in the right direction.I hear more and more people talking about Magical Realism but if I'm honest I don't really understand what it is and how it's different from sci-fi and fantasy. I'd love to know more about it and have some examples of good books that fall into this genre
Thanks :)
Kirsty wrote: "I don't think it's been covered before on the podcast, but if it has please point me in the right direction.I hear more and more people talking about Magical Realism but if I'm honest I don't rea..."
To me, magical realism can almost be like a folk tale... magical things happening in everyday life. For example, in The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, the main character can tell what's happening in people's lives by eating food they've prepared. Her mother bakes her a birthday cake when she is a child, and she realizes while eating the cake that her mother is having an affair. Otherwise, the story takes place in a very real time and place.
For some people, I think magical realism is jarring- you think you're reading something realistic, and then boom, something happens, and you don't know if you should take it at face value, if it's metaphorical, or what.
I would put The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue in this category & maybe also The Time Traveller's Wife, as normal life is going on in the books, but there is also a thread of the magical running through then. I'd recommend both books to you.
One of the defining characteristics of Magical Realism is that the magical or supernatural events are woven seamlessly into everyday (realistic) life. The author may be describing a poor farmer who is contemplating a lice-ridden blanket lying in a barn fragrant with manure, and the farmer will not think it out of the ordinary that the horse who has never spoken before, tells him the best method of killing the lice. The horse and farmer may never speak again, but will always have a special connection.In a fantasy novel, the author will describe the race of talking horses, how they came to be oppressed by man, and how they are getting ready to conquer civilization once again.
In a science-fiction novel, the farmer will contact the government, who will detain the horse and discover that he is actually an alien emissary from another planet.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is the best known of the Magical Realists.
Melissa wrote: "One of the defining characteristics of Magical Realism is that the magical or supernatural events are woven seamlessly into everyday (realistic) life. The author may be describing a poor farmer who..."Very very well put! Love this description!
Another one that I read recently, Like Water for Chocolate, also had many elements of magical realism.
Hi Ann and Michael,I've been meaning to write, call, email a segment suggestion and have finally remembered to do it! I loved the call out for summer reading goals from listeners, but I tend to be outdoors and not reading in the summer. Winter is my reading time, and every fall I set out and decide what book I want to read. They are usually books that have been on my nightstand that I've been wanting to read for a long time. One year it was "Gone with the Wind," another year, "Atlas Shrugged," and one crazy year it was "A Suitable Boy" (1,300 pages, which took me until April!). So I would love it if you do this again in January. Thank you for the consideration! :-))
Apologies if I missed an episode covering this, but I'd love to hear your thoughts (as well as those of your listeners) on starting a successful book club!Thanks!
Thanks everyone for your explanations, it definitely makes more sense now! Callie, I just got The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, so maybe I'll get it even more once I''ve read that. Like Water for Chocolate is also on my TBR list.Sarah, I have The Time Travellers wife also. I haven't heard of the Keith Donoghue book but will check it out.
Melissa, that's a great explanation! Thanks! I have read Of Love and Other Demons, but I only shelved it under Magical Realism because others had and I didn't really understand it. I read it a while ago, so maybe I should try again.
Would still love to hear a podcast about it though :)
I second the idea of a magical realism-themed podcast! (though I think Melissa just gave one of the most accessible definitions of the genre I've seen- thanks!) An idea, and here I will insert the standard disclaimer of "sorry if you've already done this or someone else suggested this already": I would love to hear how other people handle rereading. I'm always forging ahead with new stuff and when I get the impulse to reread a favorite (right now I'm trying to resist rereading Jane Eyre), I feel guilty with my massive TBR pile staring at me. Do you guys set aside a month to reread? Or maybe pick a couple of ones to reread a year? Or do you keep moving ahead and don't have the impulse to look back? I'm curious as to how everyone handles the guilt or if this is just a cruel mind game I'm playing on myself.
This may dovetail nicely into the discussion above on what happens when you are let down in a reread
Awesome idea about the re-read, Frankie! I try not to reread things, unless they are my favorite classics, but sometimes the second time around, they do disappoint. There are several books I'd love to reread, but I have too many books on my nightstand! :-)
Just thought of another Magical Realism title that I forgot to mention- Galore, by Michael Crummey. I really loved this one.
Callie wrote: "Just thought of another Magical Realism title that I forgot to mention- Galore, by Michael Crummey. I really loved this one."I just picked that up at the Borders super sale! Can't wait to dive in
This probably wouldn't be enough of a topic for an entire episode, but maybe you could squeeze it in when you need a filler. I know you both deal with books for a living and have to read a lot. I'm blown away by how quickly some of the readers get through a book and am wondering how much time they devote to reading and do they have families and responsibilities outside of their work lives. Is reading their only extracurricular activity? Do they set aside chunks of time to read? Do they have a system? Are they speed readers? Are there some tricks I don't know about? I am in a book club and always try to read the selected book ahead of time so that I can read whatever else I have when I want. Maybe I watch too much trashy TV when I should be reading. Just curious about how others manage their stacks and time.
I have two suggestions and, since I haven't been able to read this entire thread, my apologies if it's already been mentioned.1) Literary Security Blankets: Basically about books you return to or carry with you and read for comfort during times of stress. What titles are they and have they changed over the years. Or maybe I'm the only one who does this
2) (I said two, then realized I had one more...) Book Particularities: About favorite book formats and what about them makes them a favorite. For example, I only buy trade paperbacks, never mass market and the only author I'll buy in hardcover is William Gibson. Again, maybe I'm the only one who is like this.
3) Genre-Switchers: The most recent example I can think of is William Gibson who, while known for being a science-fiction writer, has set his last three books in the present day. Oddly enough his books are still shelved in the science-fiction section of brick-and-mortar stores.
Those are all the suggestions I had. I'm off to settle down with Zero History...which is my literary security blanket.
Melissa wrote: "I recently purchased two books from the used book store. They are both new hardcovers, "Homer and Langley," by E.L. Doctorow and "Gone Tomorrow" by Lee Child. Neither looked to be used, but both ar..."This reminded me...the thing I missed the most when I moved to a different part of town was the large box of advance copies of books that someone who lived down the street would put in front of their door every few months or so. I never found out who did it or why they put them out, but for someone who reads as much as I do, it was heaven.
Mod
I used to put out leftover advance reading copies on the street on recycling day, knowing my neighbors would take what they wanted before recycling took the rest. Then I found that one of my neighbors was selling them to a used book store, so I had to stop.
I once had a woman (a stranger, who I guess lived somewhere in my neighborhood, but maybe not) knock on my door and ask if I had any books. She said that she had read all that she'd taken from the box and didn't want to spend her hard-earned money on books when she knew she could get them free from me. I politely said I didn't have any at the time. She then handed me a card and asked me to call her when I had more. Uh, I don't think so!
Billiestamps wrote: "This probably wouldn't be enough of a topic for an entire episode, but maybe you could squeeze it in when you need a filler. I know you both deal with books for a living and have to read a lot. I'm blown away by how quickly some of the readers get through a book and am wondering how much time they devote to reading and do they have families and responsibilities outside of their work lives. Is reading their only extracurricular activity? Do they set aside chunks of time to read? Do they have a system? Are they speed readers? Are there some tricks I don't know about? I am in a book club and always try to read the selected book ahead of time so that I can read whatever else I have when I want. Maybe I watch too much trashy TV when I should be reading. Just curious about how others manage their stacks and time. "
I have a full time job, am married and, have a child; but I don't watch television. Also, I have a job which requires vetting a large amount of reading material which in turn helps my reading speed when it comes to personal book selections. Basically, the more you read, the more you read: The practice of reading helps you gather momentum to read more and faster. But you should also know that I'm what they call an "indifferent houekeeper!" :-/
I have a full time job, am married and, have a child; but I don't watch television. Also, I have a job which requires vetting a large amount of reading material which in turn helps my reading speed when it comes to personal book selections. Basically, the more you read, the more you read: The practice of reading helps you gather momentum to read more and faster. But you should also know that I'm what they call an "indifferent houekeeper!" :-/
Ann & Michael,I started listening to Books on the Nightstand a few months ago and love your podcast! I read constantly, and you've helped me expand my reading genres and categories. I read mostly fiction, but have tried some of the short story collections and nonfiction you've recommended and really liked them! I recently started working as a bookseller, so a broader range of book knowledge is huge. I have enjoy everything you recommend, and I also find that I recognize a lot more books on the shelves. I just finished catching up on all your old episodes. I look forward to my itunes downloading a new episode every week! That being said, I was wondering if you could recommend other book podcasts that you enjoy listening to. There are so many on itunes, but it can be hard to know which ones are worth listening to. You mentioned Bookrageous at one point, and I have started listening to their podcasts. Any other suggestions for me?
Thanks,
Anna
A discussion on adults reading Young Adult fiction (I find the YA stuff as good, if not better than Adult fiction at times) and maybe something if the Harry Potter books influenced the rise in YA fiction available.
How about my book??? That I wrote.
This is going to get deleted, isn't it...
This is going to get deleted, isn't it...
Melissa wrote: "A discussion on adults reading Young Adult fiction (I find the YA stuff as good, if not better than Adult fiction at times) and maybe something if the Harry Potter books influenced the rise in YA f..."I second that suggestion.
Anna wrote: "Ann & Michael,I started listening to Books on the Nightstand a few months ago and love your podcast! I read constantly, and you've helped me expand my reading genres and categories. I read mostly ..."
Hi Anna,
There's a thread already about other bookish podcasts. You can find it here
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...
Welcome to the group!
Tracey
Sean wrote: "How about my book??? That I wrote.This is going to get deleted, isn't it..."
I've flagged this as spam... grrr
Melissa wrote: "A discussion on adults reading Young Adult fiction (I find the YA stuff as good, if not better than Adult fiction at times) and maybe something if the Harry Potter books influenced the rise in YA f..."Melissa, I agree, I love YA and am always looking for more suggestions that aren't just the vampire/other paranormal stuff!
Melissa wrote: "A discussion on adults reading Young Adult fiction (I find the YA stuff as good, if not better than Adult fiction at times) and maybe something if the Harry Potter books influenced the rise in YA f..."I like this idea too. As a adult lover of YA, I have a theory about why YA is so popular with adults. It's because the writing has to be so good that it grabs you from page 1 or teens won't stick with it. Our national ADD is to blame or thank depending on how you look at it.
Hi everyone. I just joined the nightstand group today. I'd like to recommnd a read by Rose Anderson. Look for Dreamscape. I wont give any spoliers but the ending was not what i expected but it was perfect and it blew me away. I read a lot. Only awesome story crafting can take me by surprise like this book did. If your mind and perception are ready to be bent, I recommend this author and look forward to Ms Anderson's next masterpiece. I hope it comes out soon.
Finished One Dayand really enjoyed it. Also finished up In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin and enjoyed much of the book but was not a fan of one of the people that he followed pretty closely so those parts got a bit tedious for me. After hearing all the raves I have started The Sisters Brothers. I love westerns so hopefully this will not disappoint. Also scratching the noir itch with Saturday's Child
We need more fun polls in the goodreads group! :-)
Louise wrote: "We need more fun polls in the goodreads group! :-)"Hey,I am a fun Pole.Actually half Polish.Ger
I would like to find out what a "voice" is. I have been hearing about the "voice" of the book and other such things.I think Mike and ANN should do a show on the Voice.ger
Mod
I'd love to hear more about the process and even some of the outakes. It must have been hysterical to hear them both trying to figure out the title of the book they talked about in episode #146.
Michael and Ann, I love your delivery, it's professional without sounding stiff. I always find something new to read and learn something from your podcasts.
Yes, you did a good job of editing out the weed whacker...I didn't hear a thing. The interaction of Michael and Ann reminds me very much of a radio duo here in Phoenix, Beth and Bill, that I listened to for many years. Since discovering BOTNS, I have listened to many other podcasts also and none can compare with content or delivery.
The new recomendation engine is very cool on goodreads.
Mod
We do have plans for an episode on the "hows" of our recording process etc. Not too technical, but enough people have asked.
Kevin wrote: "The new recomendation engine is very cool on goodreads."I just checked it out....much better than Amazon's in my opinion.
Carol wrote: "Ann & Michael often mention the editing they do before publishing their podcasts for listening by all their fans. It's hard to believe that they make errors or bloopers as the finished product is s..."
Agreed! I consider the quality of the BOTNS podcast on par with those from corporate media outlets like NPR and the BBC. I have to say I felt a bit offended for you with the caller's comments in #146, but you both handled it graciously.
Agreed! I consider the quality of the BOTNS podcast on par with those from corporate media outlets like NPR and the BBC. I have to say I felt a bit offended for you with the caller's comments in #146, but you both handled it graciously.
Suzanne wrote: "Carol wrote: "Ann & Michael often mention the editing they do before publishing their podcasts for listening by all their fans. It's hard to believe that they make errors or bloopers as the finishe..."Yes, me too....I had never noticed any sentences ending with a upturn like a question mark. As long as we are comparing with other podcasts, I find Diane Rehms (NPR) voice too gravelly, although I think she is a good interviewer and the Bookrageous people sound too juvenile and there is lots of mic noise.
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