May 25

BOTNS Books Podcast #79: When the Buzz Gets Loud Enough

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:10 — 15.6MB)

In this episode we announce a special event for April 2011, and discuss the phenomenon of hearing about a previously unknown book several times within a few days. In segment 3 Michael tells us about the graphic novel Sweet Tooth by Jeff Lemire, and Ann recommends The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.

Mark Your Calendars

Announcing the first Books on the Nightstand Weekend Retreat! On April 8, 9 and 10, 2011, we’ll be gathering at the Inn at Manchester in Manchester Center, VT and we hope many of you can join us! We still have a lot of details to nail down and things to plan for the weekend, so there will be much more to come, but we wanted to get dates to you all so you can start planning! We’ve set up a dedicated folder over at our Goodreads Group. That will be your destination for discussion on lodging, events, travel plans and more, though we’ll give occasional updates on the podcast as well.

When is the Buzz Loud Enough? (7:03)

Books on the Nightstand listener Hope called all the way from Australia to tell us about The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, a book that Ann then heard about on the Sword and Laser podcast and in the news when it won a Nebula Award. I had a similar experience with Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth. Two people recommended it to me in the span of week and it took that second recommendation to make me stop and learn more about the book – which ended up being something I really want to read! We’d love to know your thoughts on this topic; how many times do you need to hear about a book before you take notice?

Two Books We Can’t Wait for You to Read (16:16)

I’m back in graphic novel mode, recommending Sweet Tooth, a book that is both written and drawn by Jeff Lemire. It’s been called “Bambi meets The Road,” which, believe it or not, is a remarkably apt description. Ann tells us about The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, which is the story of Rose Edelstein, a 9-year-old girl who can taste, in food, the emotions of the person who prepared her meal.

Don’t forget, you still have a few days to vote on my and Ann’s Summer Reading!

  • http://matthewdicks.com Matthew Dicks

    Thrilled about the retreat! A chance to get away and talk books! And I think my wife might be more excited than me, and she doesn’t even listen to the podcast. Great idea, guys!

  • http://matthewdicks.com Matthew Dicks

    Thrilled about the retreat! A chance to get away and talk books! And I think my wife might be more excited than me, and she doesn’t even listen to the podcast. Great idea, guys!

  • http://carolinebyline.blogspot.com caroline starr rose

    I’ve heard 3-7 mentions are necessary for a person to pick up a book.

  • http://carolinebyline.blogspot.com caroline starr rose

    I’ve heard 3-7 mentions are necessary for a person to pick up a book.

  • Hope

    I only need one mention from a trusted source to send a book to my tbr pile, and right to the top in some cases. For a source to make it to ‘trusted’ status, it probably takes 5 solid direct hits to make the grade.

    Just finished ‘ship breaker’ also by paolo bacigalupi- a YA novel set in the same world as ‘the windup girl’ and possibly even better. Where has this author been all my life?

  • Hope

    I only need one mention from a trusted source to send a book to my tbr pile, and right to the top in some cases. For a source to make it to ‘trusted’ status, it probably takes 5 solid direct hits to make the grade.

    Just finished ‘ship breaker’ also by paolo bacigalupi- a YA novel set in the same world as ‘the windup girl’ and possibly even better. Where has this author been all my life?

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

    Matthew: Hooray! I hope that you and your lovely wife can join us!

    Caroline: That sounds about right to me. I hadn’t thought about the “weight” of a recommendation, as Hope points out below.

    Hope: Stop adding to my TBR pile, would you? Now I’m wondering if I should go for “Ship Breaker” instead of The Windup Girl.

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

    Matthew: Hooray! I hope that you and your lovely wife can join us!

    Caroline: That sounds about right to me. I hadn’t thought about the “weight” of a recommendation, as Hope points out below.

    Hope: Stop adding to my TBR pile, would you? Now I’m wondering if I should go for “Ship Breaker” instead of The Windup Girl.

  • http://matthewdicks.com Matthew Dicks

    Already have the in-laws lined up for babysitting, Ann. We’ll be there!

  • http://matthewdicks.com Matthew Dicks

    Already have the in-laws lined up for babysitting, Ann. We’ll be there!

  • Hope

    Ship breaker is shorter (I think)- but really, read them both. Especially if you found ‘after the flood’/'oryx &crake’ interesting.

  • Hope

    Ship breaker is shorter (I think)- but really, read them both. Especially if you found ‘after the flood’/'oryx &crake’ interesting.

  • Vanessa

    I have several factors that go into deciding when something will make it into my “top ten on deck” books or even be moved to the front of the line. I usually go by the following point system.

    1. Recommended by my dad or best friend – both avid readers with shared taste (+3)
    2. Mentioned on Books on the Nightstand (+3)
    3. Interesting, unique and creative story line that particularly intrigues me (+3)
    4. Recommended by a friend that hardly ever reads (+2)
    5. The latest from one of my top 5 favorite authors (+2)
    5. Repeatedly seen out on the display tables of my independent bookstore (+1)
    6. On the bargain table (-1)
    7. Over 500 pages, unless it’s Harry Potter or Ayn Rand (-2)
    8. Books in a series, too much commitment (just made an exception for the hunger games and i’m glad I did – I’m in love!)(-2)
    9. Mass Market Fiction (-3)
    10. Topics that have been done before in excess (-3)

    Usually, if a book can score a 7 or an 8. It will make it to the top ten. A 9 or above and it’s in my hands or on my ipod within 24 hours.

    Great episode guys! I listen every week!
    p.s.: i am SO in for that retreat.

  • Vanessa

    I have several factors that go into deciding when something will make it into my “top ten on deck” books or even be moved to the front of the line. I usually go by the following point system.

    1. Recommended by my dad or best friend – both avid readers with shared taste (+3)
    2. Mentioned on Books on the Nightstand (+3)
    3. Interesting, unique and creative story line that particularly intrigues me (+3)
    4. Recommended by a friend that hardly ever reads (+2)
    5. The latest from one of my top 5 favorite authors (+2)
    5. Repeatedly seen out on the display tables of my independent bookstore (+1)
    6. On the bargain table (-1)
    7. Over 500 pages, unless it’s Harry Potter or Ayn Rand (-2)
    8. Books in a series, too much commitment (just made an exception for the hunger games and i’m glad I did – I’m in love!)(-2)
    9. Mass Market Fiction (-3)
    10. Topics that have been done before in excess (-3)

    Usually, if a book can score a 7 or an 8. It will make it to the top ten. A 9 or above and it’s in my hands or on my ipod within 24 hours.

    Great episode guys! I listen every week!
    p.s.: i am SO in for that retreat.

  • Dotan Dvir

    I am jealous! Enjoy your retreat.

    I have to say that my credit card is developing a dislike for your site as every visit in your lovely blog adds more books to my list of “to do”.

    Thanks a lot for your great blog,
    Dotan

  • Dotan Dvir

    I am jealous! Enjoy your retreat.

    I have to say that my credit card is developing a dislike for your site as every visit in your lovely blog adds more books to my list of “to do”.

    Thanks a lot for your great blog,
    Dotan

  • Tanya

    Oh YAY! If I bring my copy of SOMETHING MISSING will you autograph it for me?

  • Tanya

    Oh YAY! If I bring my copy of SOMETHING MISSING will you autograph it for me?

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

    Awww, Dotan, please don’t hold your credit card bill against us! Think of it this way: at least we are recommending books that you will (hopefully) enjoy, instead of taking your chances and risking your money on less enjoyable books!

    Does that help?

    Thanks so much for your very kind words!

    Ann

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

    I am in awe of your methodology. Speechless.

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

    Awww, Dotan, please don’t hold your credit card bill against us! Think of it this way: at least we are recommending books that you will (hopefully) enjoy, instead of taking your chances and risking your money on less enjoyable books!

    Does that help?

    Thanks so much for your very kind words!

    Ann

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

    I am in awe of your methodology. Speechless.

  • http://matthewdicks.com Matthew Dicks

    Of course! I’d be honored!

  • http://matthewdicks.com Matthew Dicks

    Of course! I’d be honored!

  • http://www.happykreg.com Craig West

    I just finished The Windup Girl. Amazing book. Thanks for helping Hope recommend it to me.

    You guys do an incredible job with this podcast. I love it.

    Craig

  • http://www.happykreg.com Craig West

    I just finished The Windup Girl. Amazing book. Thanks for helping Hope recommend it to me.

    You guys do an incredible job with this podcast. I love it.

    Craig

  • http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/ Melissa W.

    For me, it is a combination of things. When I hear the book mentioned on your podcast, or whatever podcast I am listening to, I usually go to either Goodreads or to the ChaptersIndigo or the Amazon websites and see what people are say about the book. Sometimes, depending on the book and depending on the description, I will either buy the book or see if I can borrow the book right away.

    As much as I would love to go to the retreat, I hope everybody who goes has fun :)

  • http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/ Melissa W.

    For me, it is a combination of things. When I hear the book mentioned on your podcast, or whatever podcast I am listening to, I usually go to either Goodreads or to the ChaptersIndigo or the Amazon websites and see what people are say about the book. Sometimes, depending on the book and depending on the description, I will either buy the book or see if I can borrow the book right away.

    As much as I would love to go to the retreat, I hope everybody who goes has fun :)

  • http://booksonthenightstand.com/2010/06/spend-the-weekend-with-book-on-the-nightstand.html Spend the weekend with Book on the Nightstand | Books on the Nightstand

    [...] told you a bit about the Books on the Nightstand retreat in an earlier podcast. Now, it’s a reality! Early interest has been phenomenal, thank you so much!! Honestly, when [...]

preload preload preload