Books & Whatnot

12/19/2024

We’re celebrating December with Emma and Sam Kaas of the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, Vermont — and a rundown of our favorite books of the year. 😀📚

This month's indie booksellers are Emma and Sam Kaas, owners of The Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, Vermont. We talk with them about December releases and good gift ideas. And Suzanne and Beth reveal their favorite books of the year.

11/04/2024

Our November episode features Harley Hamilton, owner of Red Fern Booksellers in Salina, Kansas. Check out some titles he’s looking forward to. 😀❤️📚

In this episode we visit with Harley Hamilton, owner of Red Fern Booksellers in Salina, Kansas, about new releases he's excited about.

10/02/2024

Just dropped: The October episode of the Books & Whatnot podcast, in which Beth Golay and I chat about what we've been reading lately. We also talk with Kelly Justice of Fountain Bookstore, Inc. in Richmond, Virginia, about some weird and wonderful upcoming titles.

This month's indie bookseller is Kelly Justice, owner of Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia. We'll talk with her about October releases and other titles she's excited about.

09/13/2024

I've read four of the 10 titles on the fiction longlist and have two others (Creation Lake and My Friends) on my shelf and ready to go. Will try to pick up both short story collections as well. No huge surprises here except... ALL FOURS?! Clearly I was in the minority on that one. 🤣 Who do you think will win? My money is on Percival Everett.

The ten contenders for the National Book Award for Fiction

08/19/2024

This week's book review for KMUW: "Hum" by Helen Phillips is a wild ride through a near-future dystopia, where smart robots combine near-human emotion with a relentless barrage of advertising.

Author Helen Phillips says plot points in her latest novel, "Hum," are just slightly exaggerated versions of recent facts or statistics. And that's precisely what makes it so terrifying.

08/05/2024

Here's my review of what could very likely be my favorite book of the year: "All the Colors of the Dark" by Chris Whitaker. It's a stunning, intense story that looks at the effects of trauma and the power of love. READ IT! (Although, one side note: Whitaker's writing style is a little different, almost poetic, and certainly not for everyone. If you really hate the first couple chapters, it might not be the book for you.)

At about 600 pages, Chris Whitaker's new novel, "All the Colors of the Dark," takes its time to paint detailed characters and a complex story over 25 years. But its dramatic plot and micro-chapters move the story along at a lightning pace.

08/05/2024

In this episode, Beth & Suzanne chat about the New York Times 100 Books of the 21st Century (so far), they talk about what they've been reading, and more. They also take a trip to Council Grove, Kansas, to visit with Jennifer Kassebaum, owner of Flint Hills Books, about August releases.

06/03/2024

Our latest edition of Books & Whatnot features a new standing segment, in which we ask independent booksellers to tell us what upcoming releases they're excited about. For June, we spoke with Javier Ramirez at Exile in Bookville.

KMUW's Beth Golay & Suzanne Perez are back after a 3 month unintentional break, and they're joined by the folks at Exile in Bookville to talk about books coming out in June.

03/29/2024

This weird, brilliant novel seals the deal: My new favorite genre is WTF. 🤣 (Many thanks to David Mallmann of W.W. Norton & Co. and the 2024 Tournament of Books bracket for inspiring me to pick it up despite its insane premise.) If you liked "Nightbitch" and/or "Shark Heart," definitely check this one out.

03/18/2024

This week's book review for KMUW: A crisp, fiercely written novel about teenage girl boxers.

Book reviewer Suzanne Perez says "Headshot" by Rita Bullwinkel is a one-of-a-kind reading experience — crisp, lyrical, almost poetic.

12/28/2023

With the year coming to an end Beth Golay and Suzanne Perez thought it was a perfect time to reflect on their 2023 reading goals and launch some new goals for 2024.
Also, stay on the lookout for more information on the 2024 challenge!
https://www.kmuw.org/podcast/books-whatnot/2023-12-28/cue-the-orchestral-music

12/22/2023

It was incredibly difficult narrowing down my 10 favorite books of 2023. These are books I read this year, not necessarily ones published this year. They are, in no particular order:

* “Strange Sally Diamond” by Liz Nugent
* “Heating & Cooling” by Beth Ann Fennelly
* “One Woman Show” by Christine Coulson
* “How to Sell a Haunted House” by Grady Hendrix
* “Shark Heart” by Emily Habeck
* “Mary Jane” by Jessica Anya Blau
* “The Whispers” by Ashley Audrain
* “Chain-Gang All-Stars” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
* “The Light Pirate” by Lily Brooks-Dalton
* “Big Swiss” by Jen Beagin

Honorable mentions (also five-star books): “Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways,” “Finding Me,” “Hello Beautiful,” “The Rachel Incident,” and “Demon Copperhead”

What were your faves of the year? 😀📚

12/18/2023

Hearty congratulations to Sarah Bagby and her staff at Watermark Books & Cafe. Book Riot says your quarterly book subscription service is one of the best! 😃❤📚

With the holiday gifting season upon us, gift one of the best bookish subscriptions for 2023 to your loved ones!

12/18/2023

This week’s book review for KMUW: Ariel Lawhon’s “The Frozen River” is a fascinating look at a real-life 18th-century midwife.

Book reviewer Suzanne Perez says "The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon is a gripping look at the life of a real-life 18th-century midwife.