Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:34 — 37.0MB)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

We were so very honored when Jennifer Entwistle and Vicki Hendrickson invited Books on the Nightstand to be part of the Newburyport (MA) Literary Festival! It was a wonderful day full of author talks and book signings. Our live Books on the Nightstand session took place in a stunningly gorgeous old church, with a crowd of about 75 people in attendance — intimidating to be sure.  Jennifer moderated our discussion and did a fantastic job! And since technology was on our side, we were able to record the episode, presented here. It runs about an hour, including a Q&A session at the end.

Ann, Michael, and moderator extraordinaire, Jennifer Entwistle

As we begin the discussion, technology takes center stage: we talk about the history of Books on the Nightstand, how technology and social networking are changing the publishing industry. Then we move on to discussing online book discussion, which morphs into our ideas of what makes a good “book group book.”

Michael and I each talk about some of our favorite recommendations for book clubs:

• Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant
• Looking for a Love Story by Louise Schagfer
• I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali
• Any Human Heart by William Boyd
• Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan
• Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
• Pictures at an Exhibition by Sarah Houghteling
• The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
• The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes
  

  All of these seats had people in them!

First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist Church, Newburyport, MA

Then, it’s a live version of “Two Books We Can’t Wait For You To Read”:  Michael talks about The Handbook for Lig

htning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone, a novel about two people who come together through their individual experiences of being struck by lightning.  Ann tells about The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller, which is a powerful, thought-provoking novel about living and grieving in the wake of tragedy.

Lastly, some questions from the audience, which we attempt to answer. Please note that the audience members’ questions cannot be heard on the podcast recording, but we’ve tried to repeat the question so that it’s clear.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Book Blogs:

• Boston Bibliophile
• The Book Lady’s Blog
• The Northshire Bookstore Blog

Books Podcasts:

• The Christian Science Monitor Podcast
• The New York Times Book Review Podcast
• NPR Books Podcast
• Sword and Laser

NetGalley – Based in Newburyport, MA, this company works with publishers to make electronic advanced reading copies available to the media and book reviewers

Random House Readers Circle Author Chats – lists authors that are willing to call in to a book group discussion

Vintage/Anchor Reading Group Center – lists authors that are willing to call in to a book group discussion