Are you stuck in a reading rut? The Book Case makes the case for books outside of your usual genre. Wander the aisles of your local bookstore with Kate and Charlie Gibson and meet fascinating characters who will open your appetite to new categories while deepening your hunger for books. This weekly series will journey cover to cover through the literary world, featuring interviews with best-selling authors, tastemakers, and independent bookstore owners. New episodes post every Thursday.
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This is a special episode dedicated the art of spoken word poetry. One of our listeners wrote to us mentioning the name of Rudy Francisco and from there we fell down the rabbit hole of spoken word and slam poetry. We talk to Rudy and two other greats of the art, Bianca Phipps and Neil Hilborn. They are going to perform one work each and we will round it out with a conversation with Sam Van Cook. Sam is a founder of Button Poetry that represents and publishes so many of these great artists. Trust us, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Helium by Rudy Francisco
Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky by Rudy Francisco
Crown Noble by Bianca Phipps
The Future by Neil Hilborn
About Time by Neil Hilborn
Mill, Railways and General Castings by Sam Van Cook
Watch their poems online:
Hide and Seek by Rudy Francisco
Almosts by Bianca Phipps
OCD by Neil Hilborn
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Dr. Fei-Fei Li Explains AI
Thursday, August 29, 2024 • Duration 33:21
Dr. Fei-Fei Li is one of the most important scientists of our time. Her book, The Worlds I See, chronicles her pioneering efforts in Artificial Intelligence. Does AI scare you? Us too. But read this book and listen to this episode. The book is not just the compelling story of Dr. Li herself, who immigrated as a girl speaking no English but who understands physics like Michael Jordan plays basketball. She is now a worldwide authority on AI and its development. Second, if you are scared of AI, this book explains it and the issues surrounding it both with beauty and with hope. She believes AI is the next step in our evolution, but that it MUST be rooted in humanity. What does that mean? Tune in and find out.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
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Joseph Kanon Conjures WWII Shanghai
Thursday, June 27, 2024 • Duration 34:25
Do you like a good spy novel? Do you love le Carré and Graham Greene? Then we hope, with great sincerity, that you are reading the work of Joseph Kanon. His latest, Shanghai, centers around the city’s lesser known freewheeling WWII history and some of the lawless people who escaped the war to be there. Tune in to find out why he is fascinated by spy novels, and what he calls “spy adjacent novels”, that capture such rich moments in history.
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Shanghai by Joseph Kanon
The Good German by Joseph Kanon
Istanbul Passage by Joseph Kanon
Los Alamos by Joseph Kanon
The Prodigal Spy by Joseph Kanon
The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon
Leaving Berlin by Joseph Kanon
Defectors by Joseph Kanon
Alibi by Joseph Kanon
The Accomplice by Joseph Kanon
The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Barry
Winter Work by Dan Fesperman
The Cover Wife by Dan Fesperman
Safe Houses by Dan Fesperman
The Letter Writer by Dan Fesperman
Unmanned by Dan Fesperman
The Double Game by Dan Fesperman
Layover in Dubai by Dan Fesperman
The Arms Maker of Berlin by Dan Fesperman
The Prisoner of Guantanamo by Dan Fesperman
The Warlord's Son by Dan Fesperman
The Small Boat of Great Sorrows by Dan Fesperman
Lie in the Dark by Dan Fesperman
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Elizabeth Strout Hears her Characters' Voices
Thursday, September 22, 2022 • Duration 40:18
Elizabeth Strout is our guest this week, and our conversation couldn’t be more timely. First, her novel, Oh William! has just been short listed for the Booker Prize - perhaps the most prestigious award for a writer of literary fiction. And second, her latest novel in the Lucy Barton series has just been published - Lucy by the Sea. For those who love her writing, and we are among her greatest admirers, you know that Lucy by the Sea represents a continuation of the series that includes Oh William! The book allows us to see the chaos of the last years through Lucy's eyes, and it's a tumultuous, beautiful journey. The independent bookstore this week is Tattered Cover and we talk to Jeremy Patlen, their head buyer.
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
This is Happiness by Niall Williams
The Collected Stories of William Trevor
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Pigeon Feathers and Other Stories by John Updike
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro
Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Upgrade by Blake Crouch
Just Kids by Patti Smith
We are the Light by Matthew Quick
Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer
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Sue Miller Examines Marriage, Intimately
Thursday, September 15, 2022 • Duration 41:35
Sue Miller is one of America’s finest and most admired authors. From the time of her first published novel in 1986, (The Good Mother), to her most recent, (Monogamy), Sue has developed a legion of devoted readers. Her plots often involve major events, but her greatest skill is the intimate understanding she has of her characters. She knows their head and their heart, or maybe it is that they know hers. How she writes, how she develops those characters, and what they mean to her are all subjects of our conversation. Sue Miller is one of our finest practitioners of literary fiction. We feel honored to have her in The Book Case.
This week, we also talk to the host of “Moms Don’t Have Time to Read," Zibby Owens. She invited us on her podcast, so we returned the invitation.
Books mentioned in this podcast:
The Good Mother by Sue Miller
Family Pictures by Sue Miller
While I Was Gone by Sue Miller
Inventing the Abbotts and Other Stories by Sue Miller
Monogomy by Sue Miller
The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller
The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller
The Arsonist by Sue Miller
The Distinguished Guest by Sue Miller
The World Below by Sue Miller
The Story of My Father: A Memoir by Sue Miller
Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller
For Love by Sue Miller
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Short Stories of Leo Tolstoy by Leo Tolstoy
Slow Motion: A Memoir of a Life Rescued by Tragedy by Dani Shapiro
Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro
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Nahid Shahalimi Gathers the Voices of Afghan Women
Thursday, September 8, 2022 • Duration 36:13
It was just a year ago that the U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan. On that date, Nahid Shahalimi, an Afghan female writer living in Germany, realized that she needed to hurry to record the stories of prominent Afghan women who soon would try to escape their country, or stay and risk death. She did so, and compiled their stories in “We Are Still Here.” The world’s attention has turned to the crisis in Ukraine, but Afghanistan is still there and should not be forgotten, particularly the stories of women oppressed by the Taliban. This week, a conversation with Nahid Shahalimi, as she writes, “Listen to these women. See them. See their commitment to freedom and to their rights."
Books mentioned in this podcast:
We are Still Here edited by Nahid Shahalimi
The Book of Life by Jidda Krishnamurti
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi
The Secret Sky: A Novel of Forbidden Love in Afghanistan by Atia Abawi
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi
When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi
One Half from the East by Nadia Hashimi
The Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi
The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
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Stuart Gibbs Takes Kids on Wild Journeys
Thursday, September 1, 2022 • Duration 35:13
Stuart Gibbs is this week’s guest and begins what we intend to be a periodic look at children's’ literature, or in the parlance of the day, “kids’ books”. Stuart has five different series of kids’s books in print - all successful, each aimed at the middle grades. His latest Spy School book is just out. Kate and I (grown-up who like to believe) loved it, as did our 12-year-old grandson and nephew, Lang (but then Stuart is his favorite author). To be a successful author of kids’ books we believe you have to be a good writer as well as a bit of a kid yourself. Stuart checks both boxes.
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Moon Base Alpha Series by Stuart Gibbs
Once Upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs
Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs
Spy School Series by Stuart Gibbs
FunJungle Series by Stuart Gibbs
Charlie Thorne Series by Stuart Gibbs
The Last Musketeer Series by Stuart Gibbs
Poached by Stuart Gibbs
Encyclopedia Brown Series Donald J. Sobol
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe
Superfudge by Judy Blume
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
The BFG by Roald Dahl
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David Koepp Writes Thrillers Differently These Days
Thursday, August 25, 2022 • Duration 42:52
Our author this week is David Koepp. You may not realize it, but you’ve been exposed to David’s writing. Probably many times. Did you see the first two Jurassic Park movies? Spider-Man? Indiana Jones? Mission Impossible? David has worked on the screenplays of some of the most successful movies ever. Indeed, movies he has written have sold almost $2.5 billion in tickets. He also writes novels. “Aurora” is his latest. It’s an enjoyable, and even thought-provoking read. Why write novels when you’re so successful with screen plays? How do the disciplines differ? Which is more rewarding? All good questions. We ask them.
Our independent bookstore this week is Interabang Books in Dallas, Texas.
Books Mentioned in the Podcast:
Cold Storage by David Koepp
Aurora by David Koepp
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
That’s Good! That’s Bad! by Margery Cuyler
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
A Queen to the Rescue: The Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah by Nancy Churnin
A Girl Named Carrie: The Visionary Who Created Neiman Marcus and Set the Standard for Fashion by Jerrie Marcus Smith
River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
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Sidik Fofana Steps Out of the Classroom
Thursday, August 18, 2022 • Duration 44:51
Sidik Fofana has written “Stories from the Tenants Downstairs.” This is his first novel and very much worth a reader’s time. His book is eight interrelated short stories written by residents of a fictional tenement in New York City in a neighborhood going through gentrification. You root for his characters. You identify with their aspirations. But for each of them it is so tough to realize their dreams. For each of them it is so tough to negotiate the realities of every day life. And Sidik knows from whence he writes—for years he has been a New York City public school teacher. Many of his stories, he tells us, come from his kids. “Stories from the Tenants Downstairs” is an excellent book. One small warning—a couple of the stories are written with the voice of the street, but were that not the case, it would not be as authentic. And every inch of this book is authentic. Our independent book store this week is Women and Children First in Chicago—we talk with one of its owners, Lynn Mooney.
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fafana
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
The Broken Earth Trilogy N.K. Jemisin
“Harlem” by Langston Hughes from The Collected Works of Langston Hughes
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
The Odyssey by Homer
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Native Son by Richard Wright
Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews
Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Johnson
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
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Jenny Lawson is Broken (In the Best Possible Way)
Thursday, August 11, 2022 • Duration 42:07
Jenny Lawson is a funny writer, but that label doesn’t tell the whole story. In her three books, her "parenthetical ramblings" are hilarious glimpses into her razor sharp wit that keep you laughing long after you put the book down. At the same time, Jenny Lawson deals with deep depression that has her also writing about her struggles - sometimes just to stay alive. She writes of the “monster” that at times takes over her mind. That mind works in wonderous ways - not always helpful to her own well being - but wonderous just the same. Our bookstore this week? Well that’s Jenny Lawson’s too. We talk to Elizabeth Jordon, the general manager of Jenny Lawson’s bookstore, Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio.
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Twice 22 by Ray Bradbury
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Hurricane Girl by Marcy Dermansky
Florida Woman by Deb Rogers
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
There, There by Tommy Orange
A Visitation of Spirits by Randall Kenan
Stories From the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana
The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine
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