Aug 19

Ann recently attended Podcamp Boston where she met several of our listeners:

Ann also connected with two other podcasters: Guido Stein who runs It’s a Purl, Man, a knitting podcast, and Kristin Brandt from Manic Mommies. The Mommies run a yearly Escape, a getaway for moms, and that got Ann thinking: What if we had a Books on the Nightstand Reading Retreat? Maybe at a cozy inn somewhere in New England? Let us know your thoughts and maybe we’ll start planning for next year!

Ann came home from Podcamp and created the Books on the Nightstand Mobile Site. Simply point your web-enabled phone to m.booksonthenightstand.com. There you’ll find links for blog posts, podcasts and one-button dialing of our voice-mail number. We think it will be great for checking out the books we’ve talked about while your in the bookstore.

My friend April sent me an email asking for help coming up with a list of books that should be in every American home. She moved to New Zealand a few years ago and is finally moving all of her books. She wants to make sure the American Canon is represented in her library down under. Ann immediately came up with The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone with the Wind. I, of course, thought of Moby Dick, the book I’m reading for the Beowulf on the Beach Reading Challenge. What about you? What books would you suggest to April? She’s looking for books beyond fiction as well. You can leave suggestions here in the comments, email them to us or join the discussions on our Goodreads or Facebook groups.

Next, we discuss books we loved in hardcover last year, that are now in paperback (click on the covers below to see the original blog post or podcast where we discussed the hardcover, in case you want more information):

Ann:

mercy boat i see you everywhere

Michael:

tethered 19thwife goodthief

Two books we can’t wait for you to read: I geek out over Batman: Hush, which is a fantastic Batman story for fan or non-fan alike. The art is phenomenal and it’s now available in a new one-volume trade paperback.

batman hush gate at stairs

Ann raves about A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore, her first novel since 1994’s Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?. Moore is primarily known as a short story writer, but Ann loves this new novel and says it’s her favorite book of 2009 so far.

__________________________

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:
A Mercy by Toni Morrison, Vintage trade paperback
The Boat by Nam Le, Vintage trade paperback
I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass, Vintage trade paperback
Tethered by Amy MacKinnon, Three Rivers Press trade paperback
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff, Random House trade paperback
The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti, Dial Press trade paperback
Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, DC Comics trade paperback
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore, Knopf hardcover
(all information is for the U.S. editions).
  • Suzanne

    I would so be up for a reading retreat. Sign me up!

  • Suzanne

    I would so be up for a reading retreat. Sign me up!

  • Heather Elia

    I agree with Suzanne… I would definitely be interested in a BOTNS reading retreat. (I nominate Vermont as an ideal location.) As long as it wasn’t outrageously expensive, I would totally be up for it.

  • Heather Elia

    I agree with Suzanne… I would definitely be interested in a BOTNS reading retreat. (I nominate Vermont as an ideal location.) As long as it wasn’t outrageously expensive, I would totally be up for it.

  • Tanya

    I’m sure you said and covered a number of items in this week’s podcast, but to be honest, I can’t get past a possible BOTN Retreat! I LOVE the idea and I would be willing to fly and drive in for it!

  • Tanya

    I’m sure you said and covered a number of items in this week’s podcast, but to be honest, I can’t get past a possible BOTN Retreat! I LOVE the idea and I would be willing to fly and drive in for it!

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Oh, guys, I’m so excited that some of you want a retreat. I think we can do it in a small way for the first year and then everyone will be jealous and want to make it even bigger the next year ;)

    I will continue to scheme and hopefully we can come up with something fun and affordable and convenient. Thanks!

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Oh, guys, I’m so excited that some of you want a retreat. I think we can do it in a small way for the first year and then everyone will be jealous and want to make it even bigger the next year ;)

    I will continue to scheme and hopefully we can come up with something fun and affordable and convenient. Thanks!

  • S A

    For your friend’s “American” Library I would suggest “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane and “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger

  • S A

    For your friend’s “American” Library I would suggest “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Crane and “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger

  • http://stringplay.blogspot.com Sonja Poor

    Enjoyed the podcast as usual. For your friend, I thought of “The Right Stuff” by Tom Wolfe and “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. Seems like there should be some Mark Twain, but I like “Little Women” better.

  • http://stringplay.blogspot.com Sonja Poor

    Enjoyed the podcast as usual. For your friend, I thought of “The Right Stuff” by Tom Wolfe and “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott. Seems like there should be some Mark Twain, but I like “Little Women” better.

  • S A

    I’ve thought of few more books for April’s “American” library.
    “My Antonia” by Willa Cather,
    “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote,
    “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and either (if not both) “The Scarlet Letter” or “The House of the Seven Gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

    She might also consider “Sister Carrie” by Theodore Dreiser. It’s wordy but quite “American.” A rags to riches story about a “fallen” woman.

  • S A

    I’ve thought of few more books for April’s “American” library.
    “My Antonia” by Willa Cather,
    “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote,
    “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and either (if not both) “The Scarlet Letter” or “The House of the Seven Gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

    She might also consider “Sister Carrie” by Theodore Dreiser. It’s wordy but quite “American.” A rags to riches story about a “fallen” woman.

  • http://opinioespessoais.blogspot.com Leonardo Souza

    Hi Ann and Michael!

    I was just listening to the podcast as usual when I heard my name been mentioned! You have no idea how excited I was to find myself been mentioned on my favorite podcast! :) It is really an honor.

    Also, I LOVE the idea of a BOTNS reading retreat! And I’m completely sure my wife will love it too (she is as much of a bookworm as I am). I guess I’ll have to do the same as Michael mentioned and find a sitter so that we both can go.

    Last, since podcast #39 when Ann mentioned Invisible Mountain by Carolina de Robertis (about three generations of women in Uruguay), I wanted to suggest that you do a podcast on classic books in other countries (similar to your friends’ list of “books that should be in every American home”).

    My suggestion for Brazil would be “Dom Casmurro” by Machado de Assis. It’s one of the most classic Brazilian books (every kid has to read at school) and even though it was first published in 1899, Machado’s style still captivates readers in this brilliant story about jealousy.

    In fact, I love this book so much that now I think I should publish a post on my blog just talking about it. :)

    Thank you for your amazing podcast. It is always a pleasure to listen to it.

    Best,
    Leo

  • http://opinioespessoais.blogspot.com Leonardo Souza

    Hi Ann and Michael!

    I was just listening to the podcast as usual when I heard my name been mentioned! You have no idea how excited I was to find myself been mentioned on my favorite podcast! :) It is really an honor.

    Also, I LOVE the idea of a BOTNS reading retreat! And I’m completely sure my wife will love it too (she is as much of a bookworm as I am). I guess I’ll have to do the same as Michael mentioned and find a sitter so that we both can go.

    Last, since podcast #39 when Ann mentioned Invisible Mountain by Carolina de Robertis (about three generations of women in Uruguay), I wanted to suggest that you do a podcast on classic books in other countries (similar to your friends’ list of “books that should be in every American home”).

    My suggestion for Brazil would be “Dom Casmurro” by Machado de Assis. It’s one of the most classic Brazilian books (every kid has to read at school) and even though it was first published in 1899, Machado’s style still captivates readers in this brilliant story about jealousy.

    In fact, I love this book so much that now I think I should publish a post on my blog just talking about it. :)

    Thank you for your amazing podcast. It is always a pleasure to listen to it.

    Best,
    Leo

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Leo, that is a fantastic idea for a podcast episode — though I wonder if our listeners would forgive us for butchering names and places in other languages :)

    We’ll add it to the list of episode ideas, and do some more research. It’s an excellent idea.

    Again, it was a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry I was never able to connect with your wife (I looked for someone in a hat, but came up empty). I hope to meet her at our retreat :)

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Leo, that is a fantastic idea for a podcast episode — though I wonder if our listeners would forgive us for butchering names and places in other languages :)

    We’ll add it to the list of episode ideas, and do some more research. It’s an excellent idea.

    Again, it was a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry I was never able to connect with your wife (I looked for someone in a hat, but came up empty). I hope to meet her at our retreat :)

  • Andrea Serra

    So many great suggestions from listeners. I would definitely second the Mark Twain suggestion–probably Huck Finn. And for some poetry, Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman.

  • Andrea Serra

    So many great suggestions from listeners. I would definitely second the Mark Twain suggestion–probably Huck Finn. And for some poetry, Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman.

  • http://mominsanity.wordpress.com Melissa

    I love the Manic Mommies and was so excited this morning when I heard you mention them Anne!

    I too think a retreat would be nice. Maybe October in the White Mountains of New Hampshire or in Vermont? I prefer the White Mountains…Lincoln, Littleton, Franconia all have nice places!!

  • http://mominsanity.wordpress.com Melissa

    I love the Manic Mommies and was so excited this morning when I heard you mention them Anne!

    I too think a retreat would be nice. Maybe October in the White Mountains of New Hampshire or in Vermont? I prefer the White Mountains…Lincoln, Littleton, Franconia all have nice places!!

  • Carla Wilson

    I would love a “BOTNS” retreat and am crossing my fingers for more word on the plans to make it happen…Its so nice to be a part of a community of book lovers like myself. Thanks for continuing to put out such great blogs and podcasts, it makes my day :)

  • Carla Wilson

    I would love a “BOTNS” retreat and am crossing my fingers for more word on the plans to make it happen…Its so nice to be a part of a community of book lovers like myself. Thanks for continuing to put out such great blogs and podcasts, it makes my day :)

  • http://longleggedfly.etsy.com Hope

    Just paused the podcast to throw out the American authors who came to mind first for me (and that as it happens, I as an expat down under do keep, in paper format, on my shelves)- First I thought of was Philip Roth, then Kurt Vonnegut, then David Foster Wallace. Someone already said Updike, right? And of course the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, a complete set :-)

  • http://longleggedfly.etsy.com Hope

    Just paused the podcast to throw out the American authors who came to mind first for me (and that as it happens, I as an expat down under do keep, in paper format, on my shelves)- First I thought of was Philip Roth, then Kurt Vonnegut, then David Foster Wallace. Someone already said Updike, right? And of course the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, a complete set :-)

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Melissa and Carla – yay! See you in New England! :)

    Hope – Laura Ingalls Wilder is a brilliant suggestion!

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Ann Kingman

    Melissa and Carla – yay! See you in New England! :)

    Hope – Laura Ingalls Wilder is a brilliant suggestion!

  • http://www.meexia.com/bookie/2010/01/short-saturday-carver-moore-and-chekhov/ Short Saturday: Carver, Moore, and Chekhov | Books of Mee

    [...] a big-shot in shorties world. She also just released a new novel titled A Gate at the Stairs which Ann Kingman raved about a while [...]

  • http://www.articledirectoryhq.com/article13603.html Beverly Pim

    I just found this site recently when a buddy of mine recommended it to me. I’ve been an avid reader ever since.

  • http://www.articledirectoryhq.com/article13603.html Beverly Pim

    I just found this site recently when a buddy of mine recommended it to me. I’ve been an avid reader ever since.

  • http://vigra.tadacip-usa.info/site_map.html Jenlpype

    NiksFrof say: And I have faced it.

    _____________
    lavetra
    Ohio
    3

  • http://vigra.tadacip-usa.info/site_map.html Jenlpype

    NiksFrof say: And I have faced it.

    _____________
    lavetra
    Ohio
    3

preload preload preload