Mar 29, 2016

Three mini topics. Plus, don't you forget about Bel Canto by Ann Patchett and Plenty by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon.

In addition to candy, my kids got books for Easter. Later that day, Friends came over and we gave their daughter a late birthday gift: a signed copy of Demon Dentist by David Walliams. At one point...

Mar 22, 2016

A new podcast; an audiobook narrated by the creator of Hamilton, and questions from the mailbag.

This week Michael tells us about a new podcast, This is the Author, published by the audiobooks division of Penguin Random House. It features short conversations with authors who are in the studio narrating their...

Mar 15, 2016

Defining literary and commercial fiction. We recommend Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg and All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage.

I've just gotten over a reading slump. For a few weeks, I couldn't get into any books or audios. All I wanted to do was watch TV (I binged the first season of Netflix's 

Mar 4, 2016

Authors Steve Himmer and Mary Doria Russell, speaking at Booktopia Vermont 2015.

Michael and I are at Sales Conference this week, learning about books that Penguin Random House will publish in the fall of 2016. In place of our usual episode, we're thrilled to share with you two author talks from Booktopia Vermont in...

Mar 1, 2016

Diverse books for a diverse reading population. We recommend What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell, and Evicted by Matthew Desmond.

I recently discovered The Setup Wizard, a Tumblr-based fan fiction about a Muggle who is the first ever IT person at Hogwarts. It's hilarious, and you should definitely read it from the...