Dec 21

BOTNS Podcast #108: Books that surprised us

By Ann Kingman Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:06 — 13.8MB)

It’s the last holiday-themed episode of the year! Before we head off to celebrate Christmas with our families, we share with you the books we’re hoping to receive as gifts, two books that surprised us, and two books that we’re wrapping up for family and friends.

NUC Christmas Tree 2010_03

Books we’re hoping to find under our respective Christmas trees:

We’ve given you holiday gift ideas, and told you about some books that we are giving as gifts, but we haven’t yet ‘fessed up on what books we’re hoping to find wrapped up for us. Michael is hoping for DC Super Heroes: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book by Matthew Reinhart.  I’m hoping that Santa brings me Skippy Dies: A Novel by Paul Murray or Faithful Place: A Novel by Tana French.

Books that surprised us:

I never thought it would be a book that I would want to read, but Decodedby Jay-Z is so powerful and cool, I haven’t been able to stop talking about it. I’m not a fan of rap or hip-hop, and barely knew who Jay-Z was, but the reviews were so strong that I had to check it out. It’s part memoir, part coffee table book, and a must for any music lover or person interested in cultural history.

Michael’s not a big sports fan, but found himself captivated by Ice Time: A Tale of Fathers, Sons, and Hometown Heroes by Jay Atkinson. He so loved this book that he also talked about it in BOTNS episode 23. The story of a high school hockey team goes well beyond the sports category.

Two books we’re gifting this year:

Snowmen All YearWar and Peace

Michael loves to give his sons books for Christmas, and this year he is gifting Snowmen All Year by Carolyn Buehner. Buehner’s other books are already a hit with the family, and this should be no different.

I’m giving my friend Christine a copy of War and Peace (Vintage Classics)by Leo Tolstoy, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. I’m hoping that this will inspire her to join my War and Peace Read-Along. You are welcome to join in, too — see the Facebook page for more details. We kick it off in February.

We’ll be back next week with the books that you voted as the Best of 2010.  In the meantime, Merry Christmas!

  • http://lizoksbooks.blogspot.com/ Lisa

    I’m so glad to hear you’ll be reading War and Peace next year! It’s such a fun book!

  • Stan

    Merry Christmas, Ann and Michael. Put away your Blackberrys and enjoy.
    You two make Wednesday mornings worth coming to work for.

  • Cheryl Joi

    Ann and Michael,

    Great podcast before Christmas. Now I’m really looking forward to the end of year wrapup.

    Ann, I was so surprised to hear you say how much you enjoyed Jay-Z’s Decoded. I am a HUGE fan of his and found the book quite intriguing. But it was nice to hear someone, who is not familiar with his work, be so taken with the book. I haven’t even gotten halfway through it but I am enjoying going through it piece by piece. Nice to know you are reading as well.

    Have a relaxing Christmas but now we’re waiting for you both to come back next week.

    Best,
    Cheryl Joi from Chicago

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com AnnKingman

    Cheryl Joi, thanks! Glad to know that a fan likes Decoded, too. “See” you next week!

  • Melinda Joy

    I get excited each time I see there’s a new episode to download from you two.

    It never ceases to amaze me that you both have careers and young families and still produce what I consider THE best podcast in cyber world.

    Please know you are appreciated by many and bring great joy to me. Thank you.

    Happy Christmas to you and your families.
    Melinda Joy in Sacramento

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com AnnKingman

    Awww, thank you! Honestly, it’s notes like this that keep us going. We probably get more out of it than you do. Thank you so much.

  • http://page247.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/sunday-salon-happy-boxing-day/ Sunday Salon – Happy Boxing Day | Page247

    [...] plus Once Upon A Time and R.I.P., and I  am excited about the TBR Dare, Orange January and the BOTN War and Peace Read Along.  I also plan to take part in several read alongs and book discussions throughout [...]

  • donstuff

    War and Peace… I’ll have to give it a whirl and follow along with the crowd. I hope you both had a wonderful Christmas.

  • donstuff

    War and Peace… I’ll have to give it a whirl and follow along with the crowd. I hope you both had a wonderful Christmas.

  • Marie

    Now I want that Jay-Z book. Good celeb bios are my guilty pleasure and this one sounds like a winner.

  • http://modernradiotimes.blogspot.com Liska

    I’m so glad you guys talked about Jay-Z’s Decoded!!

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