Books on the Nightstand, Episode 23 (18:25)
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Today’s podcast is a bit of a mishmash. We are both in the middle of a heavy schedule of bookstore meetings, to help booksellers decide what books to carry this summer. In segment 1, we tell you a little bit about that process.
Then we each talk about a book that was outside of our normal reading categories, and that we loved. Surely you have at least one or two of those, right? Please tell us about them in the comments (or better yet, call our voicemail line and leave a message that we can play on the show. Just call (206) 350-2068 and wait for the beep).
Michael tells us about Ice Time by Jay Atkinson, a story of high-school hockey. (We also learn that Michael was really good at kickball!) And Ann can’t say enough about Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, a fantastic time-travel series that combines history, fantasy, and a hunky red-headed heroes who wears a kilt. Do be sure to check out author Diana Gabaldon’s website, especially if you want a sneak peak at the graphic novel that Diana is working on.
Lastly, as always: 2 Books We Can’t Wait for you to Read. My choice, The Book of Dead Philosophers, is also a bit out of my typical reading categories, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Michael finally gets to tell you about Hands of My Father, a book that he has been talking about incessantly since he read it. Do us all a favor and read it, so that he can move on to another obsession, please (you know I’m just kidding, right, Michael?).
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We encourage you to write down or print out the title information and shop at your local bookstore. Titles link to LibraryThing, a social networking site that allows you to catalog your home library. LibraryThing also links to various online purchasing options. Here are the books from this post:
Ice Time by Jay Atkinson, Three Rivers Press trade paperback
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Bantam mass market and trade paperback
The Book of Dead Philosophers by Simon Critchley, Vintage trade paperback
Hands of My Father by Myron Uhlberg, Bantam hardcover
(all information is for the U.S. editions).
Have a comment, question, or book recommendation? Call our voicemail line and wait for the beep. Tell us if we may play your message on a future podcast.
Hi Ann and Michael,
I enjoyed you talking a little bit about your visits to book stores and the fact that in addition to dealing with the buyers, you also search out the Booksellers on the floor to see what their interests are. I can’t tell you how many times a Bookseller on the floor, has started up a conversation with me out of the blue and then placed a great book in my hands that they love.
Thanks for another cool podcast,
thanks very much Thomas. Booksellers placing just the right book in your hand, or “handselling” as it’s known in the industry, was always one of my favorite parts of being a bookseller. Watch for a guest post early next week that will give you a little more insight into the bookseller’s side of things.
Hi Ann and Michael,
Another great podcast. I have a question about the big chains. Do you talk to booksellers at BN and Borders too, or just independent bookstores?
Thanks,
the newest book in the outlander series is coming out in september and the grapic novel is set in the outlander universe but is a retelling of the first story from another characters perspective. i am SO excited about this series too – i have people at work and in my family reading it and participating in the outlandish voices yahoo group… glad to know you liked it too!