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WSIRN Ep 76: Book people are the best people (LIVE!)

Book people really ARE the best people!

WSIRN just hosted our first LIVE event at the fabulous bookstore The Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves, St Louis. (Many thanks to owner and friend Holland Saltsman, whose charming presence you may remember from this episode or this episode). It was so much fun getting to mingle and chat with so many listeners in person! But one of the best parts of the day was surprising three readers from the audiences with their very own book-matchmaking session. 😉 If you weren’t able to make it, I hope today’s episode makes you feel just a little bit like you were sitting in the bookshop with us, having a group book-therapy session.

Enjoy!

What Should I Read Next #76: Book people are the best people (LIVE!)

Connect with The Novel Neighbor on their website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

***

If you missed the first live show, don’t panic: we have another LIVE event coming your way very soon. This one’s a little different, and I’m VERY excited about it. Many of you know Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden from the pop culture podcast The Popcast with Knox and Jamie. They’re hitting the road soon for their Popcast Summer Tour, and their first stop is my town: Louisville, KY. Come see us at their live show on SAturday, June 24 at the Tim Faulkner gallery here in Louisville. And I do mean US—I’ll be there as a special guest.

And even better, the night before, we’re throwing a VIP pre-party AT MY HOUSE. We will have delicious food, signature drinks, swag bags, and lots of mingling. Tickets are limited, so get yours now—go to knoxandjamie.com/louisville and get ‘em before they’re gone. Can’t WAIT to see you there.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Some links are affiliate links. More details here.

Nellie:
• The Father’s Tale, by Michael D. O’Brien
• Island of the World, by Michael D. O’Brien
• This Is How It Always Is, Laurie Frankel
• Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett
• The Magician’s Assistant, by Ann Patchett
• State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett
• I Let You Go, by Clare Mackintosh
• Behind Her Eyes, by Sarah Pinborough
• Crossing To Safety, by Wallace Stegner
• Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson
• Flora, by Gail Godwin
• Father Melancholy’s Daughter, by Gail Godwin
• Evensong, by Gail Godwin

Lindsey:
• To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
• Go Set A Watchman, by Harper Lee
• The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
• Half Broke Horses, by Jeanette Walls
• The Cloister Walk, by Kathleen Norris
The Quotidian Mysteries, by Kathleen Norris
• Prep, by Curtis Sittenfeld
• You Will Know Me, by Megan Abbott
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
• In This House of Brede, by Rumer Godden
• Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, by Kathleen Rooney
• Delancey, by Molly Wizenberg
• A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table, Molly Wizenberg
• Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House, by Cheryl Mendelson
• Lab Girl, Hope Lahren
• Morningside Heights, by Cheryl Mendelson
• The Silver Star, by Jeanette Walls
• 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, by Laura Vanderkam
• What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, by Laura Vanderkam

Sarah:
• My Life in France, by Julia Child
• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver
• Everyone Brave is Forgiven, by Chris Cleave
• The Likeness, by Tana French
• Present over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living, by Shauna Niequist
• Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson
• Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen
• The Sugar Queen, by Sarah Addison Allen
• Don’t Breathe A Word, by Jennifer McMahon
• We Were The Lucky Ones, by Georgia Hunter
• Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein

Holland & Anne’s picks for the near future: 
• Rabbit Cake, by Annie Hartnett
• Hourglass, by Dani Shapiro
• Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone by Phaedra Patrick
• The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, by Phaedra Patrick

If WSIRN was to take to the road again… where would you want me to go? Let me know in the comments!

32 comments

Leave A Comment
    • Nellie Bewley says:

      Sorry. That was my fault. I didn’t get the mic close enough to my mouth. I felt like I was shouting every time I moved it up.
      Re: the book. I was repeating what Anne has previously said about This is How It Always Is which is not to read to read the flap (or back, depending on where the plot summary is located).
      Hope that helps.

  1. Laurie Proctor says:

    Bookshop Santa Cruz, great bookstore in a wonderful small city on the Pacific Ocean. The Steinbeck Center is not far away and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

  2. Diana says:

    I laughed at the comment of going to hear Kathleen Norris speak and being the youngest one there…her Dakota was the book we had to read freshman year of college and they brought her in to speak to all of us 18/19 year olds. Must have been younger than her normal demographic!

    And Indiana! We’re right across the river from you!

  3. Sabrina Molden says:

    For lovers of The Quotidian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris, I highly recommend An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor.

  4. Hi Anne, have you considered Skyping into a bookclub? Ours in Johannesburg meets in the afternoon which is morning your time (perfect :)) We can tell you 3 books we loved, 1 book we hated and you can give us suggestions for what we should read next 🙂

  5. Samantha says:

    I usually dislike live episodes of even my most favorite podcasts, but this one won me over! What a good episode!

  6. Janet K says:

    Hi there,
    I think in was Sarah who said she liked some WW2 books. If you don’t mind reading YA, two books by Ruta Sepetys are very good. I read both Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray and they were both very good.

  7. Minneapolis! Minneapolis! We have so many great Indie bookstores! But you should check out Wild Rumpus if you come here (probably not the best store for a live event since it’s a kids book store – but it’s delightful!)

    Another random request – would you consider doing a monthly post about the BOTM selections? I’m a member but we have to make our choices so early and sometimes I have not heard a thing about the book selections and sometimes it’s hard to go off the opinions of judges that I don’t know well. I know you read a lot of ARC so might have some opinions to share before the 5th of the month deadline!

  8. Christina says:

    I have had In this house of Brede for WAAAAY too long and I’m just finally reading it as I just finished a book up the other day and I have put a moratorium on checking out any books from the library until I can work through some on the nightstand! Great episode, so fun to listen to it live (even though it was tricky to hear parts).. I still loved it!

  9. Cecilia says:

    Well, since I live in Alabama somewhere in state would be awesome! BUT since Annie’s store is in GA, that is not far for a nice road trip! 🙂

  10. Mary Ann Garcia says:

    I’d love for you to visit Scuppernong Books in quaint downtown Greensboro, NC a very readerly community.

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    • Sarah says:

      Also, someone in this episode made me think that they would LOVE like I do “The Shadow of the Wind”….and Anne, do YOU know this amazing book? It’s…well, it’s hard my me to say just one favorite, but it’s definitely one of mine!

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