Aug 18, 2010

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:

• Beneath the Lion’s Gaze by Maaza Mengiste (W.W. Norton)
• The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer (Alfred A. Knopf)
• Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes (Atlantic Monthly Press with El León Literary Arts)
• Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross (Alfred A. Knopf)
• The Quickening by Michelle Hoover (Other Press
• The Report by Jessica Francis Kane (Graywolf Press)
• This is Just Exactly Like You by Drew Perry (Viking)

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)

Today, 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.

Michael 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.