Books with Betsy

On this episode, Betsy Cornwell, author and founder of the Old Knitting Factory, talks about how she has been able to make her life all about words and supporting that in others. She talks about how meaningful physical books are to her, the series she is constantly rereading, and we find some shared Betsy habits.    Ring of Salt: A Memoir of Finding Home and Hope on the Wild Coast of Ireland betsy...

On this episode, Katie Erdman, a lifelong reader who finds comfort in books, talks about the mystery series she particularly loves, ways that technology have made her reading life better and funnier, and she tells a great story about her Aunt Jan and Grandma doing her a reading solid.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay...

On this episode, Rachel Turney, host of Poetry (in Brief), talks about how she has developed a reading life full of just what she wants to read, how important women’s voices are to her, and she gives some really great small press recommendations.    Rachel’s Website     Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson Dead but Dreaming of Electric She...

On this episode, Jabril Yousef Faraj, author of the Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks, a young adult fantasy series, talks about their inspiration from their favorite books, why it’s so important to have stories that children can see themselves in, and what reading can do for humanity.    Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks Jabril’s Author Site Jabril on YouTube     Books mentioned in this episode:    Wha...

On this episode, Dan Santaromita, sports journalist with the Athletic, talks about his love for autobiographies, how reading for work affects recreational reading, and his birthday tradition centered on his ideal reading scenario. We also talk about his favorite writer, Wright Thompson.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  The Great Mann by Kyra Davis Lurie  The Names by F...

On this episode, Sam Ali, @readwithsama on instagram, talks about how she is developing a love of reading in her daughter, recommends some amazing Canadian books, and we gush about our shared love of awards. We talk about how it can be hard to be readers with wide interests when you have so many great books available to you!   Sam on Instagram     Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s r...

On this episode, David Nilsen & Emily Swank, hosts of the HopLit podcast, talk about their work combining their love for beer and books. We also talk a lot about awards, get a little spicy making a literary and beer comparison, and they share some great reading habits you might connect with!    HopLit Podcast   David Nilsen Beer Bean to Barstool Final Gravity, a Beer Zine   David on Instagram...

On this episode, Tatiana, a recent graduate, talks about how she’s renewing her love of reading after finishing school, her blog focusing on making scientific research accessible, and the ways that books have met her in exactly the right time.    Tatiana’s Blog   Tatiana on Instagram     Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig  Super Ca...

On this episode, Kate Sutton, owner of the Lit Wagon in the Chicago area, talks about how she brings books to people all over the city, how her work as a therapist influences her book choices, and the kinds of emotional wreckage she expects from a read. She also gives tips on how to be a good customer of the Lit Wagon!    Follow the Lit Wagon   Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s read...

On this episode, Grace Hughes, author and avid fantasy reader, discusses her specific criteria for naming genres, how her work as a writer affects her reading life, and we talk about a lot of fantasy series. If you’re ready to pick up a fantastical tome, this episode has a lot of recommendations.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  Canon by Paige Lewis  Empire of Pain by...

On this episode, Nicole from Off Color Book Club joins me to discuss the most recent Off Color Book Club book,  A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.    My Book Club Guide   If you’re interested in joining the Off Color Book Club in the future, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 21st to discuss Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. All are welcome! 

On this episode, Molly Page, @mollypg on instagram, talks about her project visiting all of the branches of the Chicago Public Library, how her writing is how she first fell in love with words, and how adaptations drive most of her reading decisions. We also talk a lot about Chicago and how amazing it is to be a reader in the city!    100 Things to Do in Chicago Before You Die   Books mentioned in...

On this episode, Brady Parkin, @booksbybrady on Instagram, is a bookseller who enjoys reading broadly but focuses on literary fiction. We talk about the seemingly magical access he has as a bookseller, how awards lists impact reading, and he gives a lot of really great book recommendations.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  The Renovation by Kenan Orhan  Stolen by Ann-H...

On this episode, Lydia Plahn, a journalism student in Chicago, who talks about how she incorporates reading into her life as a student, how being a younger sister prompted her to read more as a child, and how important used bookstores are to her. We also talk about one of the classes she took entitled Millenial Fiction so lookout for that!!    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s readi...

On this episode, Sam and Maggie from Off Color Book Club join me to discuss the most recent Off Color Book Club book, Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo.    My Book Club Guide If you’re interested in joining the Off Color Book Club in the future, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 16th to discuss A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. All are welcome!

On this episode, Sirenna Blas, of @sirenbee_readsnthings on instagram, talks about how her life as a stay at home mom affords her amazing reading time. We also talk about how she is not afraid to give a spicy review, who she wants an adaptation from, and how she brings the reading life alive with her kiddos.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  Kin by Tayari Jones A Beast...

On this episode, Vanessa Diaz, managing editor with Book Riot, talks about how her reading life is affected by her job, recommends woman-led mysteries, and talks about her current favorite authors. If you like witchy books, you have a lot of really great recommendations in this episode.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  Kin by Tayari Jones Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burk...

On this episode, Jeff Jones, a fan of graphic novels, talks about how he comes to reading through his interest in sci-fi movies. We talk about his favorite weekly read, how he manages his very small TBR, and his discovery of some favorite authors through their work in comics.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaeffer  Suddenly Light by Nina Dunic...

On this episode, Ben from Off Color Book Club joins me to discuss the most recent Off Color Book Club book, True Biz by Sara Novic.    My Book Club Guide   If you’re interested in joining the Off Color Book Club in the future, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 19th to discuss Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. All are welcome! 

On this episode, Tess Page, listener of Books with Betsy, talks about her requirement for books grounded in reality, her high/low reading tastes, and tells some wonderful stories of her reading habits in childhood. We talk about a shared favorite author who has a deep backlist and I encourage you to check her out!   Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  Milktooth by Jaime Barn...

On this episode, Eric Siewert, a former colleague of mine at our college bookstore, talks about his favorite authors, the ways recommendations are important to him, and he waxes poetic about his love for hardcover books. We also talk about our individual authors we think should be more of a household name.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  The Everlasting by Alix E. Har...

On this episode, I bring back Sam Wilmes from episode 1 to celebrate 100 episodes of Books with Betsy so she can interview me! I am the guest on this episode so if you’ve ever wanted to hear my answers to my interview questions, here it is! We talk about a ton of books and somehow I neglected to talk about Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel which is one of my absolute favorite books. I am sur...

On this episode, Emily Bogaert, a fellow teacher, talks about how her childhood made her fall in love with the library, the joy she feels when getting the right books into the hands of her students, and we talk about the ups and downs of the reading life when you’re a teacher. She also has a reading habit that is absolutely wild and I didn’t even know was still possible.    Books mentioned in this...

On this episode, Jennifer from Off Color Book Club joins me to discuss the most recent Off Color Book Club book, Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli.    My Book Club Guide   If you’re interested in joining the Off Color Book Club in the future, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 21st to discuss True Biz by Sara Novic. All are welcome! 

On this episode, Stephanie Bailey, a fellow Read & Runner, talks about her love of audiobooks, especially a favorite narrator, how much she enjoys graphic novels, and we discuss our shared love of sad books. She also has a surprising way that school helped her fall in love with reading.    Books mentioned in this episode:    What Betsy’s reading:  This Here is Love by Princess Joy L. Perry Bra...