Oct 04

BOTNS Podcast #149: Two Books and Three Retreats!

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:52 — 17.1MB)

Ann recommends The Affair by Lee Child and Michael raves about When She Woke by Hillary Jordan. Then, a look at all three of our Booktopia 2012 retreat events: Manchester, VT; Oxford, MS; and Santa Cruz, CA.

Two Books We Can’t Wait for You to Read (2:09)

 

The Affair, Lee Child, Jack Reacher     When She Woke, Hillary Jordan

Ann’s love for Lee Child shines through again as she tells us about The Affair, the most recent book in his Jack Reacher series. This one goes back to earlier in Reacher’s life to tell us why he is no longer an Army MP. Ann absolutely loved the book but is devastated that she’s all caught up on Lee Child’s books.

It’s true that When She Woke by Hillary Jordan starts out as a retelling of The Scarlet Letter set in a near future, but in my opinion, the writing and world that author has created make it so much more than that. It’s so very different from the author’s first book, Mudbound, but no less powerful.

Three Retreats We Can’t Wait to Tell You About (12:44)

 

 

April 20-22, 2012: Manchester, Vermont
June 15-17, 2012: Oxford, Mississippi
October 19-21, 2012: Santa Cruz, California

The official announcement of the three Booktopia 2012 retreats went out to the mailing list last week, but in case you weren’t on that list we wanted everyone who listens to the podcast to hear about them. All three events are still very much works in progress. No authors have been finalized, but in this episode we give you a brief rundown of the cities, the bookstores we’ll be working with (Northshire, Square Books and Bookshop Santa Cruz) and a some special things we’re thinking about for each location.

Much more information to come, and you’ll always be able to find the most complete and up-to-date details at the Booktopia website. At the top of the page, there’s a tab for each location, plus a tab for FAQs. Check it all out and register soon, spaces are filling fast!

We can’t wait to meet many of you, or see you again!

 

  • Stan Hynds

    Out of all the topias, Booktopia is my favorite. See you in Manchester!

  • William Lexner

    Michael, When She Woke is most certainly Science Fiction. Without question. Please don’t be embarrassed of that label and so help perpetuate unfair prejudices.

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com AnnKingman

    William, we really need to get you on the show. Soon.

  • Suzanne

    So excited for Oxford’s Booktopia stop! 
    I’ve only read one Faulkner novel (As I Lay Dying) and I didn’t like it at all but I’m willing to give him another try.  Maybe a group discussion of one of his books could go on the weekend agenda?

  • Don Morgan

    Which Lee Child book would you start with?

  • http://www.booksonthenightstand.com AnnKingman

    Don, I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to series, so I would suggest The Killing Floor which is the first in the Jack Reacher series. However, I actually *did* start with Persuader, the 7th book in the series, and I don’t feel that it was a problem to pick up in the middle of the series. The only book I wouldn’t recommend starting with is Nothing to Lose – my least favorite of the series. Gone Tomorrow is a great one — a bit later in the series, but a fabulous page turner that will give you the true Reacher experience.

  • Dogearedcopy

    A couple of bloggers who were posting reviews of When She Woke were on twitter discussing the classification of this book. There was a lot of back-and-forth about what drives this story: the science & technology or; the changing social contexts set in the future.  The discussion involved interpretations of terms like “science fiction,” “speculative fiction,” “fantasy” and, ” political fiction.” Library of Congress specs were consulted; maps were linked to (the NPR Science Fiction Signal Map) and comparisons with other books made (especially to The Handmaid’s Tale, The Scarlet Letter and The Unit.) In the  end, it was interesting to see how the reviewers tagged their posts!

  • http://twitter.com/MEAndersFit M.E. Anders

    Thanks for the suggestions.  I’m really excited about starting the Jack Reacher series in the near future. :)

  • Sophie8 83

    If my paycheck comes before Oxford Booktopia fills up then I am considering it a sign and packing my bags this June.

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

    Sophie, I think you will have that paycheck before the retreat fills up, unless you are unemployed, or get paid only twice a year. :)

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