Aug 31

BOTNS Books Podcast #92: More book podcasts for your enjoyment!

By Ann Kingman Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:55 — 20.6MB)

In this episode, we announce a new listener survey, recommend 6 new book-related podcasts for you to check out, and tell you about 2 books that we absolutely love: Susan Casey’s The Wave and Richard Harvell’s The Bells.

streets of Malmö-8

Take our listener survey, please!

It’s been about 18 months since our last Books on the Nightstand reader/listener survey, and the numbers of you have grown quite a bit. We’d love to learn more about you: how you listen, what you think we are doing well, where you’d like us to improve, and anything else you’d like to tell us. It’s a short, 16-question survey, mostly multiple choice. If you choose to include your email address, you’ll be eligible to win a prize. We’ll choose one name at random to receive a cool Books on the Nightstand tote bag that will contain 2 books we can’t wait for you to read. We’ll close the survey on September 30th, but why wait? Go to the survey now.

Book Podcasts for the rest of the week: (03:46)

There must be something in the water: in the last few weeks, I’ve learned about several new book podcasts. We’re so thrilled that we have something to listen to (besides ourselves) and we couldn’t wait to share them with you. We’re also having a “proud parent” moment, since several of these podcasts are being produced by friends and listeners of Books on the Nightstand. While I’m not sure that we had anything at all to do with their entry into bookish webcasts, we hope that you will give them all a listen.

So, while we hope you will continue to listen to Books on the Nightstand on Wednesdays, please do also check out:

  • Guys Can Read – Kevin and Luke talk about books, from the male perspective
  • Do Nothing But Read – Amanda and Brandon talk about all things bookish.
  • Reading and Writing Podcast – Books on the Nightstand friend Jeff Rutherford interviews authors about their writing and reading pleasures.
  • Bookrageous – A revolving cast of booksellers and book bloggers, including many friends of BOTNS, give us a fun and sometimes outrageous podcast about books.
  • Enthusiasticast – Our friend Mark and his friend Jon talk about books, comics, movies and pop culture.
  • Books and Blogging – Amanda from Australia has just started her book podcast, but I loved it and hope she does many more.

Two books we can’t wait for you to read:(14:30)

I’ve been loving narrative nonfiction lately, and Susan Casey’s The Wave may be my favorite nonfiction of 2010. Taking us inside the worlds of rogue waves and the surfers that attempt to conquer them, Casey has a way of captivating the reader in the way that the resembles fast-paced fiction.  We learn about ships that disappear into the sea, taking the entire crew with it; waves that can decimate landscapes in a few seconds; and the surfer that risk their lives, and those of their camera crews and friends, to ride that wave that’s just a bit bigger than the one they rode yesterday.

Michael finally gets to tell you about The Bells by Richard Harvell. He’s been raving about it to me for months.  Michael was captivated by the beautiful writing in this novel about a castrato named Moses, who is born in a town with beautiful bells that are so loud, they can only be rung by a deaf woman who lives in the village. Be sure to check out the iTunes mix featuring music mentioned in The Bells. Thanks to BOTNS listener Tanya for putting it together and sharing it with us!

The Wave The Bells

image credit: streets of Malmö-8 by Tomme040

  • http://proefrocks.net/blog/ Dera

    The link for Reading and Writing Podcast needs to be fixed. You accidentally included your website as part of the addy.

  • http://proefrocks.net/blog/ Dera

    The link for Reading and Writing Podcast needs to be fixed. You accidentally included your website as part of the addy.

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

    Thanks, Dera — fixed it!

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

    Thanks, Dera — fixed it!

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

    I’m looking forward to reading THE WAVE – it’s just the kind of book I most enjoy. And I’ll definitely be checking out some of these new podcasts!

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

    I’m looking forward to reading THE WAVE – it’s just the kind of book I most enjoy. And I’ll definitely be checking out some of these new podcasts!

  • Tanya

    I wanted to comment a little bit more about THE BELLS if I may.

    I work for an audiobook company, specifically the one that is publishing the audiobook edition of THE BELLS. There are literally hundreds of ARCs, blues and finals that cross my desk weekly and the original “blip” on the radar screen regarding THE BELLS didn’t tell me anything (only that we had secured the rights.) It was Michael who, having already read the ARC, contacted me with some excitement about how this was his favorite book. I got my hands on the ARC and, at first, I honesty didn’t know what to make of it! The cover is very elegant, so I thought maybe it was lit-fic; but then the opening scenes describe the bells of a town that ring so loudly, that they are TOO loud (and so I thought maybe this book was a bit of dark humor.) Then there are some darkly tragic things that happen (that remind you that the Age of Enlightenment didn’t necessarily mean everyone was enlightened) and I found I had to hang onto that opening humor and find little moments of beauty to keep me going through the first section (there are three “Acts.”) Even then, after the first Act, I still wasn’t sure what this book was! tried to imagine it as a graphic novel, but that didn’t quite ring true either :-) What I had to do was just stop trying to figure out what it was and let go… And therein lies the payoff: Once you let the prose and the music happen to you, the reader is in for an incredibly moving story (And yes, I cried.)
    The music is described so well in the novel that I could practially hear it. That said, I was quick to raid our home music library and pull copies of the music described in the novel. It’s even more glorious when you are familiar with the music and I have to say I’ve come to enjoy Orfeo et Euridice anew.
    I put together an iTunes playlist of the music (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=381186885.) It’s a bit spendy to purchase everything on the list; but I would recommend that if you were to invest in any of it, to get the Orfeo & Euridice (Pierre Monteux.) Its a seminal performance.
    The narrator of the audio used the playlist to prep for the recording and I understand that he sings a cappella! He admits that he cried while reading the book and; during the recording, the studio engineer broke down too!
    I honestly cannot speak to the audiobook itself. I snagged a copy from the engineers and uploaded it onto my iPod; but I couldn’t do it! I need more objectivity to listen to the audio (someone else will have to review it!)

  • Tanya

    I wanted to comment a little bit more about THE BELLS if I may.

    I work for an audiobook company, specifically the one that is publishing the audiobook edition of THE BELLS. There are literally hundreds of ARCs, blues and finals that cross my desk weekly and the original “blip” on the radar screen regarding THE BELLS didn’t tell me anything (only that we had secured the rights.) It was Michael who, having already read the ARC, contacted me with some excitement about how this was his favorite book. I got my hands on the ARC and, at first, I honesty didn’t know what to make of it! The cover is very elegant, so I thought maybe it was lit-fic; but then the opening scenes describe the bells of a town that ring so loudly, that they are TOO loud (and so I thought maybe this book was a bit of dark humor.) Then there are some darkly tragic things that happen (that remind you that the Age of Enlightenment didn’t necessarily mean everyone was enlightened) and I found I had to hang onto that opening humor and find little moments of beauty to keep me going through the first section (there are three “Acts.”) Even then, after the first Act, I still wasn’t sure what this book was! tried to imagine it as a graphic novel, but that didn’t quite ring true either :-) What I had to do was just stop trying to figure out what it was and let go… And therein lies the payoff: Once you let the prose and the music happen to you, the reader is in for an incredibly moving story (And yes, I cried.)
    The music is described so well in the novel that I could practially hear it. That said, I was quick to raid our home music library and pull copies of the music described in the novel. It’s even more glorious when you are familiar with the music and I have to say I’ve come to enjoy Orfeo et Euridice anew.
    I put together an iTunes playlist of the music (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=381186885.) It’s a bit spendy to purchase everything on the list; but I would recommend that if you were to invest in any of it, to get the Orfeo & Euridice (Pierre Monteux.) Its a seminal performance.
    The narrator of the audio used the playlist to prep for the recording and I understand that he sings a cappella! He admits that he cried while reading the book and; during the recording, the studio engineer broke down too!
    I honestly cannot speak to the audiobook itself. I snagged a copy from the engineers and uploaded it onto my iPod; but I couldn’t do it! I need more objectivity to listen to the audio (someone else will have to review it!)

  • Kevin Meyer

    Just went to the Amazon website to purchase “The Wave” and didn’t because as a Kindle user I am offended at the pricing choices publishers are making with real books versus electronic books. In the case of “The Wave” the new hardcover edition is being sold for $16.77 while the price for the e-version is $15.09. $1.68 more for an actual product which is produced from physical materials, shipped in trucks and on rail using fuel and stored in buildings that have their own costs associated with them. Additionally the physical version of the book can be lent to others and sold to used book retailers (I can only guess for more than $1.68 for the next three to five years).

    While at Amazon I looked at another title that actually is charging MORE for the e-version versus the mass market paperback.

    I want to support authors and publishers by buying their products but I won’t when I think that I am being taken advantage of. I have never used something like Bit-torrent to steal a copy of a book but right now I think publishers are stealing from me with these silly prices and a point will come when I will no longer have the same reservations of stealing from them in return.

    Someone knows the actual cost of printing, shipping and warehousing every title sold. If in the case of “The Wave” that is $1.68 I will be shocked. If that, however, is true I apologize for my tirade even though I really, really don’t think I’m going to have to.

    I love this blog and podcast and I appreciate that your employment at Random House allows us the access to your expertise. I want to spend money on Random House books more because of the podcast. I just don’t want that goodwill wasted by unfortunate and offensive marketing decisions.

  • Kevin Meyer

    Just went to the Amazon website to purchase “The Wave” and didn’t because as a Kindle user I am offended at the pricing choices publishers are making with real books versus electronic books. In the case of “The Wave” the new hardcover edition is being sold for $16.77 while the price for the e-version is $15.09. $1.68 more for an actual product which is produced from physical materials, shipped in trucks and on rail using fuel and stored in buildings that have their own costs associated with them. Additionally the physical version of the book can be lent to others and sold to used book retailers (I can only guess for more than $1.68 for the next three to five years).

    While at Amazon I looked at another title that actually is charging MORE for the e-version versus the mass market paperback.

    I want to support authors and publishers by buying their products but I won’t when I think that I am being taken advantage of. I have never used something like Bit-torrent to steal a copy of a book but right now I think publishers are stealing from me with these silly prices and a point will come when I will no longer have the same reservations of stealing from them in return.

    Someone knows the actual cost of printing, shipping and warehousing every title sold. If in the case of “The Wave” that is $1.68 I will be shocked. If that, however, is true I apologize for my tirade even though I really, really don’t think I’m going to have to.

    I love this blog and podcast and I appreciate that your employment at Random House allows us the access to your expertise. I want to spend money on Random House books more because of the podcast. I just don’t want that goodwill wasted by unfortunate and offensive marketing decisions.

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

    Kevin,
    Thanks for your thoughts. I hear you. I can’t comment on pricing, except to say that in this case the retailer sets the selling price. I’ll also say that the cost structure (paper, printing, shipping, royalties, etc) is very complex and varies widely from book to book, so it’s difficult for anyone but the closest insiders (which is *not* me) to know exactly how costs break down on a single copy, either printed or electronic. As I’m sure you know, this part of the industry is in great transition, and many publishers are experimenting with a great number of business models. I’m sure at some point it will settle down into a “norm,” but for the time being, these frustrations do occur.

    Thanks so very much for your kind words about BOTNS.

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

    Kevin,
    Thanks for your thoughts. I hear you. I can’t comment on pricing, except to say that in this case the retailer sets the selling price. I’ll also say that the cost structure (paper, printing, shipping, royalties, etc) is very complex and varies widely from book to book, so it’s difficult for anyone but the closest insiders (which is *not* me) to know exactly how costs break down on a single copy, either printed or electronic. As I’m sure you know, this part of the industry is in great transition, and many publishers are experimenting with a great number of business models. I’m sure at some point it will settle down into a “norm,” but for the time being, these frustrations do occur.

    Thanks so very much for your kind words about BOTNS.

  • http://butterflyconfidential.com/ Adrienne

    New book podcasts, sweet! I’ve loaded up my ipod. I hesitate to say that I look forward to my drive to work, but I think I am!

  • http://butterflyconfidential.com/ Adrienne

    New book podcasts, sweet! I’ve loaded up my ipod. I hesitate to say that I look forward to my drive to work, but I think I am!

  • http://www.readingandwritingpodcast.com Jeff Rutherford

    Michael and Ann, thanks for mentioning my Reading and Writing podcast. Much appreciated.

    However, Books on the Nightstand is still the gold standard for books podcast, in my opinion.

    Also, for your listeners and anyone who loves books and reading, I wanted to mention some other books podcasts too:

    The Book Show – a podcast of a radio show broadcast on WAMC the Albany, NY NPR station – http://www.wamc.org/prog-bookshow.html

    If You’re Just Joining Us – a podcast recorded by Jon Armstrong, author of a Grey – one of the few science fiction novels that I know of focused on the fashion industry. Armstrong interviews a variety of authors and writers http://www.amazon.com/Grey-Jon-Armstrong/dp/1597800651/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283521703&sr=1-1

    http://www.ifyourejustjoiningus.com/

    Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing – http://www.adventuresinscifipublishing.com/
    Interviews with many top science fiction and fantasy writers.

    Enjoy!

    Jeff

  • http://www.readingandwritingpodcast.com Jeff Rutherford

    Michael and Ann, thanks for mentioning my Reading and Writing podcast. Much appreciated.

    However, Books on the Nightstand is still the gold standard for books podcast, in my opinion.

    Also, for your listeners and anyone who loves books and reading, I wanted to mention some other books podcasts too:

    The Book Show – a podcast of a radio show broadcast on WAMC the Albany, NY NPR station – http://www.wamc.org/prog-bookshow.html

    If You’re Just Joining Us – a podcast recorded by Jon Armstrong, author of a Grey – one of the few science fiction novels that I know of focused on the fashion industry. Armstrong interviews a variety of authors and writers http://www.amazon.com/Grey-Jon-Armstrong/dp/1597800651/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283521703&sr=1-1

    http://www.ifyourejustjoiningus.com/

    Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing – http://www.adventuresinscifipublishing.com/
    Interviews with many top science fiction and fantasy writers.

    Enjoy!

    Jeff

  • Shiney

    I did the survey! Yaaay!!!!

    But I forgot to say that the reason I think you guys do so well is because just listening to you rave about your favourite book makes me want to read it. Like I want to put on my tbr list and get it as soon as possible.

    You guys do a great job and you make Tuesdays fun! :)

  • Shiney

    I did the survey! Yaaay!!!!

    But I forgot to say that the reason I think you guys do so well is because just listening to you rave about your favourite book makes me want to read it. Like I want to put on my tbr list and get it as soon as possible.

    You guys do a great job and you make Tuesdays fun! :)

  • http://bookfanmary.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/in-my-mailboxmailbox-monday-sept-1920/ In My Mailbox/Mailbox Monday – Sept. 19/20 « Bookfan

    [...] I bought The Bells after hearing the 8/31/10 Books On The Nightstand podcast [...]

  • http://www.subliminalintervention.blogspot.com Dreamybee

    Sorry for the late comment, but I’ve been traveling and am just now catching up on your podcasts. Ann, like you, I am in no way shape or form a surfer, but I am fascinated with big waves. As much as you enjoyed THE WAVE, I thought you might appreciate seeing some of the stuff you were reading about. I think the sponsored competetion that you talked about might have been put on by Billabong, and there is a movie called “Billabong Odyssey.” Check out the trailer here, and if this doesn’t give you goosebumps, I don’t know what will!

    http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1203372313/

    Also, the photo galleries from the Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau competitions are awesome-the waves aren’t quite as big, but the surfers have to paddle out, no towing allowed here! I get nervous in waves over 2 feet-I can’t imagine jumping into anything like this!

    http://live.quiksilver.com/2009/eddie/photos.php?btn_photos=_over

    As always, thanks for the great recommendations-both books sound wonderful!

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

    Do Nothing But Read’s podcast/blog can be found here: http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/category/books/. The DNBR site hasn’t been updated with the latest podcasts, as they are a part of the moderndaypirates.com website.

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

    Do Nothing But Read’s podcast/blog can be found here: http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/category/books/. The DNBR site hasn’t been updated with the latest podcasts, as they are a part of the moderndaypirates.com website.

  • Debora

    Have you heard that on http://www.torrentoff.com already have appeared the sequel to The Bells by Richard Harvell. Can’t wait to download it!!!1

  • http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/06/botns-podcast-134-surf-and-turf.html BOTNS Podcast #134: Surf and Turf | Books on the Nightstand

    [...] it’s true. I’m talking about The Bells by Richard Harvell again. You’ve heard me rave about the book before, it was one of my favorite books of 2010, but it’s coming out in paperback on June 28, so you [...]

  • Joanne in Canada

    I was looking for a playlist for The Bells, as I am currently reading it. This link no longer seems to work, and I can’t get the playlist from Richard Harvell’s playlist to work either. Is it available anywhere else? Thanks.

preload preload preload