Aug 17

BOTNS Books Podcast #90: Sorry we didn’t send a postcard

By Ann Kingman Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:38 — 21.8MB)

Today we bring you a vacation recap, updates on some books we’ve covered in previous podcasts, and a progress report on our summer reading. We’ve also got two books we can’t wait for you to read — these are good, so grab a pen to write them down.

Hi there! We’re back from vacation, with quite the chatty podcast. We missed you all! We’ve both had book-filled vacations, and we tell you a bit about what we did on our break.

Some of our favorite books, back in the news:

We’re thrilled at the shortlist announcement for The Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, awarded by The Center for Fiction. Four of their seven shortlisted titles were featured on Books on the Nightstand. The full list:

Also this week, Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, announced that the Henrietta Lacks Foundation has made its first grant awards to some Henrietta’s descendants. These grants were made possible by donations from Rebecca Skloot and from readers of the book.

A progress report: (11:22)

In segment two, we update you on the progress we’ve made with the summer reading that you’ve assigned us. Michael is reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, and I’m reading Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible. We both are on schedule to finish by Labor Day, as promised. We are making plans for an online discussion where you can call in and join us live. Stay tuned for more details.

Two books we can’t wait for you to read: (21:00)

The TigerToday, segment 3 features two great new works of nonfiction. Ann talks about The Tiger by John Vaillant which will be in bookstores on August 24th. This nonfiction look at a man-eating tiger in Siberia has been known to give readers nightmares, though it just kept me up late because I wanted to keep reading. The author video, below, will make you want to read this book — I guarantee it.

Let's Take the Long Way HomeMichael is loving Let’s take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell, a memoir of one woman’s very important friendship, which he says more than lives up to the tremendous amount of acclaim that it has received. Melissa Klug, longtime friend of Books on the Nightstand, wrote a beautiful review of this book that you should read.

  • http://age30books.blogspot.com Heather J.

    Glad you both enjoyed your vacations! And happy birthday Michael. :)

    My 8-yr-old reluctant reader is really enjoying the graphic novel version of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA – it’s one from that series Ann mentioned that keeps the original language. It’s definitely challenging for him but the illustrations are keeping his attention and helping him understand the text. I highly recommend it!

    I’m thrilled that Ann is enjoying THE POISONWOOD BIBLE since it is one of my favorite books. We do differ a bit on our opinions though – I felt like the daughters’ voices were very distinct and I never had any trouble distinguishing who was narrated each chapter.

    Oh, and I’m starting to see reviews of THE TOWER, THE ZOO, AND THE TORTOISE – I first heard about it on your show and it got my attention, and now it looks like other bloggers are picking up on it.

  • http://age30books.blogspot.com Heather J.

    Glad you both enjoyed your vacations! And happy birthday Michael. :)

    My 8-yr-old reluctant reader is really enjoying the graphic novel version of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA – it’s one from that series Ann mentioned that keeps the original language. It’s definitely challenging for him but the illustrations are keeping his attention and helping him understand the text. I highly recommend it!

    I’m thrilled that Ann is enjoying THE POISONWOOD BIBLE since it is one of my favorite books. We do differ a bit on our opinions though – I felt like the daughters’ voices were very distinct and I never had any trouble distinguishing who was narrated each chapter.

    Oh, and I’m starting to see reviews of THE TOWER, THE ZOO, AND THE TORTOISE – I first heard about it on your show and it got my attention, and now it looks like other bloggers are picking up on it.

  • Wendy Cosin

    I was very excited to hear your review of The Tiger. I loved this book. The suspense was fantastic, but the book is so much more. The sense of the people, the geography, and the time in history was palpable. As you mentioned, I never thought about this part of Russia before. Thanks for the video clip too.

  • Wendy Cosin

    I was very excited to hear your review of The Tiger. I loved this book. The suspense was fantastic, but the book is so much more. The sense of the people, the geography, and the time in history was palpable. As you mentioned, I never thought about this part of Russia before. Thanks for the video clip too.

  • http://www.thepoppypetals.blogspot.com/ Tanya Romero

    The Tiger sounds awesome! I have shown the video clip to several of my friends and we are all excited to read it, thank you! I really enjoy the podcast and am glad you all are back safe and sound from your vacations.

  • http://www.thepoppypetals.blogspot.com/ Tanya Romero

    The Tiger sounds awesome! I have shown the video clip to several of my friends and we are all excited to read it, thank you! I really enjoy the podcast and am glad you all are back safe and sound from your vacations.

  • Elain

    Comment on audio and print.  For at least 10 years I read 90% of books by using both formats.   I read a chapter or so and then start listening I love audio to get voice of characters, sometimes I’m transported to the particular place and I get pronunciations of characters names or situations.   Yes, the audio is slower than I read but narrators have improved significantly over the years.   Then I nearly always read the print for last 50 to 100 pages but it’s as though the narrator is still talking to me.  So sometimes I buy the audio and borrow the book or vice versa.  I’m always a little disappointed when I can’t get both formats.    Because of the way Audible tracks their downloads can be a challenge to find your place but I’m so used to it now doesn’t present as much of a problem and I also keep only one book at a time on my ipod so it won’t inadvertently skip to another book.   I don’t like the fast reading setting on the ipod I savor the words instead. 

    One my all time favorites is Montana 1948  by Larry Watson and read by Beau Bridges to me he was that 12 year old boy.  I’ve listened to it at least 3 times.  Sadly I think it’s only cassette now.

    Thanks for your wonderful podcasts look forward to your discussion each week.    Elaine McCarty   

  • Elain

    Comment on audio and print.  For at least 10 years I read 90% of books by using both formats.   I read a chapter or so and then start listening I love audio to get voice of characters, sometimes I’m transported to the particular place and I get pronunciations of characters names or situations.   Yes, the audio is slower than I read but narrators have improved significantly over the years.   Then I nearly always read the print for last 50 to 100 pages but it’s as though the narrator is still talking to me.  So sometimes I buy the audio and borrow the book or vice versa.  I’m always a little disappointed when I can’t get both formats.    Because of the way Audible tracks their downloads can be a challenge to find your place but I’m so used to it now doesn’t present as much of a problem and I also keep only one book at a time on my ipod so it won’t inadvertently skip to another book.   I don’t like the fast reading setting on the ipod I savor the words instead. 

    One my all time favorites is Montana 1948  by Larry Watson and read by Beau Bridges to me he was that 12 year old boy.  I’ve listened to it at least 3 times.  Sadly I think it’s only cassette now.

    Thanks for your wonderful podcasts look forward to your discussion each week.    Elaine McCarty   

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