May 6, 2009

We start today's episode by talking about some celebrities that influence the book-buying public. Oprah is an obvious one. For our UK listeners, Richard and Judy are often responsible for books selling hundreds of thousands of copies (and they've just put up their list of summer reads). But there's one other person who's been helping books sell. A recent New York Times interview with President Obama included the fact that he's been reading Joseph O'Neill's Netherland (also one of Ann's favorites), and sales picked up right away. The publisher even rushed the paperback to stores - it now goes on sale May 7, 2009. So, tell us, does a famous person recommending a book mean more than a friend, a colleague, or, dare we say it, a trusted blogger/podcaster?

Merry, from our Goodreads group, suggested an episode on plague/pandemic books and now seemed the perfect time to do it. When the news is particularly bad, many of us turn to books for more information or for entertainment. We have chosen several non-fiction books and one novel dealing with the flu and other diseases. If you want more book recommendations, check out the Plague Books Group on Goodreads. (Thanks to Lee for telling us about the group!)

In segment three, Ann tells us about Born to Run, a book about long-distance runners of northern Mexico. She only planned to dip into the book, but just couldn't stop reading. Michael recommends Dark Places, the new novel from Gillian Flynn, author of Sharp Objects. If you like your books dark and your protagonists damaged, this book is for you. Michael also reminds us about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society, which is now out in paperback.

Full details of the books discussed are at our blog: www.booksonthenightstand.com

Please visit us there.