Books and the City

Latest Episodes:

“I Would Not Jump Ron’s Bones” Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

We’re kicking things off today with some nostalgia-fueled fictional book crushes, thanks to a wonderful fishbowl question from one of our fan club members. So tune in to find out whose bones we would jump if given the chance (we’re pretty sure Emily submitted this question, a classic Samantha move). Last thing: if you’re a Samantha or Carrie level member of our fan club, don’t forget you can leave us a voicemail - we might listen to it LIVE on an upcoming ep! Read on for buy links, and join the fan club here: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. Shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Visit our website at www.booksandthecitypod.com to make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, and as always, please drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com to share any and all of your other bookish thoughts. WE LOVE YOU, thank you so much for listening!------------->

Emily just read: Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience by Anuradha Bhagwati (16:21-35:15)
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Unbecoming/Anuradha-Bhagwati/9781501162558
Up next for Emily: Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton

Libby just read: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki (35:20-46:17)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626722590
Up next for Libby: Real Life by Brandon Taylor

Kayla just read: The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan (46:18-56:08)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-unraveling-of-cassidy-holmes-elissa-r-sloan
Up next for Kayla: When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Becky just read: The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli (56:09-1:09:08)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-night-portrait-laura-morelli
Up next for Becky: The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Bethany C. Morrow Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

If you’ve spent any time on Bookstagram this summer, you’ve probably seen the stunning and unmissable cover for Bethany C. Morrow’s debut YA novel, A Song Below Water. The book tells the story of two sister-friends in an alternate-reality Portland, OR, where only Black girls are sirens and therefore must keep their songs a secret because of racist fear around them. Emily and Becky were lucky enough to sit down with Bethany for an amazing conversation about this powerful novel. Tune in to hear Bethany talk all about her inspiration and how her sociology background informs her writing, why Portland was such a crucial setting for this particular book, and the importance of Black sisterhood in Bethany’s own life and in terms of broader representation. Plus, some nerdy science talk and a deep-dive into the mythical creatures that Bethany includes in the novel (and why!) You’re going to walk away from this interview *needing* to read this book, so find the buy links below! And please feel free to drop us a line about this interview or whatever’s on your mind at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250315328

Bethany just finished reading: Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

Bethany is currently reading: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Find Bethany online! Website:https://www.bethanycmorrow.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCMorrow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcmorrow/

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos

We Are All Samantha In Quarantine Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

Happy Labor Day! Books and the City is so excited to kick off this episode speaking to the hilarious founder of the very hilarious @Samantha_in_quarantine Instagram page that you should all be following if you're not already! In the interview, we cover everything from the secret world of American Girl dolls on Insta (#agig), to Susanna's inspiration for the page, to the coping mechanisms that are key to staying sane in quarantine. Then, of course, we're talking about books. We have a nice range today, from classic Russian lit to historical fiction, YA fantasy to a memoir/nonfiction hybrid. And one friendly reminder: this is your LAST WEEK to order merch from our exclusive end-of-summer launch! Get it before it’s gone at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch-store!] Read on for buy links, and join the fan club here: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. Shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Visit our website at www.booksandthecitypod.com to make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, and as always, please drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com to share any and all of your other bookish thoughts, and thank you so much for listening!------------->

Kayla just read: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (27:45-41:50)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/red-queen-victoria-aveyard
Up next for Kayla: Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Libby just read: How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (41:51-54:55)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564299/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi/
Up next for Libby: Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

Becky just read: Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie (54:56-1:03:45) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623487/fifty-words-for-rain-by-asha-lemmie/
Up next for Becky: The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli

Emily just read: The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (1:03:46-1:24:01)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/531360/the-master-and-margarita-by-mikhail-bulgakov-a-newly-revised-translation-by-richard-pevear-and-larissa-volokhonsky-introduction-by-richard-pevear-foreword-by-boris-fishman/9780143108276/
Up next for Emily: The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Baby! Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

We are getting SPICY right away by diving into a wild fishbowl question that was probably meant to divide us. Find out which host we’d all choose to get trapped in a bookstore with until the end of time! And also what we’d do while trapped in said bookstore, and which bookstore we’d prefer to be stuck in. Then we get into some incredible book talk, including some witchy fall titles along with a contemporary rom-com and translated literary fiction. And don’t forget our new MERCH, which is available to the general public as of last Friday. Get it before it’s gone at https://www.booksandthecitypod.com/merch-store! Read on for buy links, and join the fan club here: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. Shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Visit our website at www.booksandthecitypod.com to make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, and as always, please drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com to share any and all of your other bookish thoughts, and thank you so much for listening!------------->

Becky just read: A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers (15:24-27:18) https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/constance-sayers/a-witch-in-time/9780316493604/
Up next for Becky: The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Emily just read: Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (27:18-38:40)
https://groveatlantic.com/book/convenience-store-woman/
Up next for Emily: Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch

Libby just read: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (38:40-55:12)
https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/the-raven-cycle-1-the-raven-boys-9780545424936.html
Up next for Libby: Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith

Kayla just read: You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria (55:12-1:04:05)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/you-had-me-at-hola-alexis-daria
Up next for Kayla: They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

Becky and Kayla are so excited to sit down with acclaimed authors, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke on today’s episode! Liz and Lisa have co-authored seven books with each other, and this interview touches on their really cool origin story (they’ve known each other since they were 14 years old!) along with their fascinating, remote writing process. The ladies also pass along some wisdom about how to maintain a strong, long term friendship over the course of a long professional relationship. As always, this interview stays spoiler-free, but Liz and Lisa get into some of the finer points of How to Save a Life, their research process, some of Dom’s personality traits, and their stances on time loops. You can find the buy links below, and please feel free to drop us a line about this interview or whatever’s on your mind at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

How to Save a Life by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke: https://www.amazon.com/How-Save-Life-Liz-Fenton/dp/1542005094

Liz just finished reading: Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

Liz is currently reading: He Started It by Samantha Downing

Up next for Liz: How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Lisa just finished reading: Frankly in Love by David Yoon

Lisa is currently reading: Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

Find Liz & Lisa online! Website: https://www.lizandlisa.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizFentonandLisaSteinke, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thissielomas/

Listen to Kayla discuss How to Save a Life here: https://anchor.fm/booksandthecitypod/episodes/Books-About-Choices--But-No-One-Gave-Emily-the-Memo-eh9ibu

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

A 17-Year-Old Book Club Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

We are so excited to talk to another co-hosts mother on today’s episode: Libby’s mom, AKA Connie! She’s been part of the same book club for quite some time, and she’s joining us today to tell us the secret to making a book club last, her favorite reading drink, and her favorite child! Just kidding, she loves them all equally. We’re also chatting tattoos - whether we love them, have them, want them. Libby’s mom, famously anti-tattoo, weighs in. Then, we’re sharing some quick Fan Club announcements along with our eternal gratitude for all of our fan’s support. You are all incredible and we’ve been crying happy tears all week since we launched the Pateron. Finally, we’re diving into our recent reads - so many good ones this time around, get ready to add to your TBR. Read on for buy links, and check out our website for info on our new MERCH! If you’re a member of the Fan Club, you can access the merch now; otherwise, it will be available Friday of this week! Learn more at http://booksandthecitypod.com/merch! You can join the fan club here: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod. Shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Visit our website at www.booksandthecitypod.com to make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, and as always, please drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com to share any and all of your other bookish thoughts------------->

Kayla just read: The Night Swim by Megan Goldin (24:29-32:08)
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250219688
Up next for Kayla: His and Hers by Alice Feeney

Libby just read: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (32:09-46:57)
https://groveatlantic.com/book/girl-woman-other/
Up next for Libby: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Emily just read: Tangerine by Christine Mangan (46:58-56:55)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/tangerine-christine-mangan
Up next for Emily: A Tale for the Time Being Ruth Ozeki

Becky just read: With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo (56:56-1:03:14) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/with-the-fire-on-high-elizabeth-acevedo
Up next for Becky: Fifty Words For Rain by Asha Lemmie

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Elisabeth Thomas Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

We are so excited to speak to debut author, Elisabeth Thomas, about her novel, Catherine House, in today’s special author interview episode! Emily and Becky got to sit down with Elisabeth to hear all about what inspired this rich, Gothic-infused novel that both hosts enjoyed reading so much. Stay tuned to hear all about Elisabeth’s inspiration, including how her time attending Yale shaped this genre-bending, speculative book. Plus, the challenges of writing about “plasm,” who she might cast if the book headed to the big screen, and some invaluable pro-tips for anyone who’s ever been intimidated to step into an art museum. And stick around for a tiny sneak peek at what Elisabeth is working on next! Spoiler alert: it sounds amazing. You can find the buy links below, and please feel free to drop us a line about this interview or whatever’s on your mind! We are at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------>

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/catherine-house-elisabeth-thomas?variant=32207285288994

Elisabeth Thomas just finished reading: Sphinx by Anne F. Garréta

More information about the Oulipo genre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oulipo

Find Elisabeth Thomas online! Twitter: https://twitter.com/lissiethomas, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thissielomas/

Listen to Becky discuss Catherine House here: https://anchor.fm/booksandthecitypod/episodes/Is-Anyone-Still-There-edsko4

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

“I'm Not A Normal Girl, I’m A Strawberry Girl.” Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

Books and the City is SO EXCITED to (finally) announce our big news, which we've been teasing for weeks now: we have a fan club!!! We launched our Patreon to newsletter subscribers this past Friday, so stay tuned to hear about all the amazing perks you get access to if you decide you'd like to support the podcast! Including but not limited to: the *highly* sought-after Books and the City wine glass. Fun fact, this is also our 21st episode, so we're chatting 21st birthday memories before we dive into some fantastic books. This episode brings you a steamy contemporary rom-com, translated literary fiction, mind-bending science fiction, aaaaand (drumroll for the nostalgia): Stephanie Meyer's latest addition to the Twilight series! is it 2010 or 2020, I am not sure. Read on for buy links, and click for info on merch that we're launching along with the Fan Club Patreon: http://booksandthecitypod.com/merch! And learn more about joining our fan club here: https://www.patreon.com/booksandthecitypod! You can shop all the books we’ve discussed on this episode and past episodes at bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity. Visit our website at www.booksandthecitypod.com to make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, where we’ll continue releasing any and all BATC-news! And as always, please drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com for any of your other bookish thoughts------------->

Emily just read: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (20:15-30:43)
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/take-a-hint-dani-brown-talia-hibbert
Up next for Emily: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Libby just read: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (30:44-49:24)
https://www.europaeditions.com/book/9781609450786/my-brilliant-friend
Up next for Libby: Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker

Becky just read: MEM by Bethany C. Morrow (49:25-59:06) https://www.unnamedpress.com/books/book?title=MEM
Up next for Becky: Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis

Kayla just read: Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer (59:07-1:15:32)
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/stephenie-meyer/midnight-sun/9780316592253/
Up next for Kayla: The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R Sloan

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

Cheers to Twenty Episodes! Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

We’re a little misty-eyed for today’s release because it’s officially our TWENTIETH full length episode!!! It’s sad that we couldn’t record it in person but don’t worry, we’re still celebrating virtually by reflecting on some of our favorite memories thus far. Then, stay tuned to hear us talk about something other than books for once! We’re all discussing first, last, and favorite concerts before jumping into our book talk. This week, we cover a couple buzzy literary fiction novels and some wonderful (and steamy) historical fiction. Thank you as always for listening, and for sticking with us through our next twenty episodes, and beyond. Read on for buy links, and check out bookshop.org/shop/booksandthecity to shop the books we’ve discussed on this episode, and all past episodes! Visit our website at www.booksandthecitypod.com to make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter, where we’ll be releasing some exciting news very soon! And as always, please drop us a line at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com for any other bookish thoughts------------->

Libby just read: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (23:51-37:54)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576782/the-vanishing-half-by-brit-bennett/
Up next for Libby: Intimations by Zadie Smith

Becky just read: Brontë’s Mistress by FInola Austin (37:55-49:48) https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Brontes-Mistress/Finola-Austin/9781982137236
Up next for Becky: The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson

Emily just read: Patsy by Niole Dennis-Benn (49:49-1:03:37) https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631495632
Up next for Emily: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Kayla just read: The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey (1:03:38-1:15:44)
https://www.amazon.com/Beantown-Girls-Jane-Healey/dp/1542044529
Up next for Kayla: Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Fiona Davis Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

If you’ve listened to even one episode of Books and the City, then you’ll probably know that not one but two of our hosts are HUGE historical fiction fans. So suffice it to say that Becky and Kayla were beyond excited to speak with the “reigning queen of New York City historical fiction,” Fiona Davis! Fiona talks to us about where she gets inspiration for her many NYC-based books, which often center on historical landmarks and famous buildings in the City. The girls also get Fiona’s take on the unexpected timeliness of The Lions of Fifth Avenue, her differing research process for the book’s characters vs. its setting, and how Fiona’s past as a Broadway actress has impacted her writing. Please enjoy this fantastically rich author interview that will definitely have you missing some of these quintessential New York haunts during our strange quarantine times. As always, buy links are below! And please feel free to drop us a line about this interview, Fiona’s books, or anything else you'd like to tell us at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com. ------------------------> The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600309/the-lions-of-fifth-avenue-by-fiona-davis/ Attend one of Fiona Davis’s virtual events!: http://www.fionadavis.net/events-1 Fiona Davis is reading: The Two Mrs. Carlyles by Suzanne Rindell Up Next for Fiona: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

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