By Its Cover

Jake really wanted to pick out the sequel to this book, which had an image of people walking through the desert on its cover. But, after talking to the author, he chose the first book in the series like a responsible reader. The Mistress by PA Stockwell is a fiction book about the dangers of AI. Email us at hostsofbyitscover@gmail.com

If you’re interested in the development of the atomic bombs and the implications for our world, this book is for you. Steve Olson makes the argument that Hanford was the most important facility for the development of the plutonium and the atomic age. Katie likes books like these, Jake doesn’t. Couple of corrections for this episode: Groves was in charge of the Manhattan Project, not ju...

While out on a training swim in the ocean off the coast of Los Angeles at 17 years old, Lynne Cox is followed by a baby gray whale and spends several hours trying to help it find its mother. Katie picked this one, and we both read it. Listener, do you know the name of the fear Katie has? Email us and let us know, hostsofbyitscover@gmail.com  

Jake picked this book because of the typewriter on the cover. Turns out, he has always wanted to type on a typewriter, and this book inspired him to go and buy one of his own! This story is about a typewriter, a boy, and their family, and what happens when the boy’s mother goes missing. Will they find her, and how? By the way, the thing Katie was talking about in this episode with Meryl Stre...

Katie was drawn to the cover of this book by the beautiful watercolor art on the front and the words “a kayak journey from Vancouver Island to Alaska.” This is a gorgeous book in full color of David Norwell’s kayak journey, filled with art, observations, and sciencey bits of his trip. Katie didn’t want to return it to the library (but she did).

You may remember from a previous episode that Jake does not read Stephen King. But, he read this book!! Go Jake. This story follows a teen, Charlie, who inherits a fantastical world after helping the quintessential grumpy old man on the block, Howard/Adrian Bowditch, recover from surgery. Bowditch’s dog, Radar, is aging and needs help, so Charlie goes to the fantastical world to save her, ul...

The Berry Pickers, by Amanda Peters, is a fiction novel featuring the voices of Joe, an indigenous person of Nova Scotia who lost his four-year-old sister, Ruthie, in the berry fields in Maine, and a woman, Norma, who grows up with a protective family in New England and has recurring dreams of having a brother, even though she’s an only child. Katie picked this one, because blueberries.

Jake found this book calling to him by the cover in a different bookstore than he normally shops at. The cover spoke of ninjas, shadows and swords, and offered dark, grungy vibes. Katie didn’t read it and she asks him, did it deliver? Content warning: This book contains references to sexual assault and violence. If this is not something you want to listen to, skip this episode.

This is another book Katie picked, but both of us read it this time! A Horse Walks into a Bar is a novel by David Grossman. We thought it would be funny, but while we were surprised that it wasn’t, we were delighted. The story takes the reader through a night of comedy stand-up, which turns out not to be comedy at all. Content warning: This episode talks about suicide and mental health. If y...

Katie picked up this book in the library in the section titled, “You May Have Missed These.” Drawn to the title, combined with the image of an angry skunk (or is it a badger?) on a bright orange cover, it was an easy pick. This book is a series of hilarious essays by Samantha Irby, and this episode, like the book, is filled with diarrhea and hilarity (okay, wait. We don’t have di...

Jake was drawn to this book, Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery, by the cover. He was looking for something “grungy.” Jake and Katie both read this one. Join us for a conversation about the witchery and revenge in this book!  

This is Katie’s pick. What drew her to it? A bright pink cover, the words VENOMOUS LUMPSUCKER, and a weird fish on the front. What the heck is this book about??? Also, who else here has read Vurt, by Jeff Noon? Let us know. Reach out to us at hostsofbyitscover@gmail.com

Jake picked this book, which he describes is about a lesbian cop in a futuristic high-tech city with mushroom houses that is very anti-gay and not welcoming to our main character. What else is in this book? Pirates and magic and more! Let’s talk about it. Did you know the name of that other book we mentioned in here? Let us know! There are no prizes. You can reach out to us at our email, hos...

We’re siblings! And on our first episode of By Its Cover, we talk about the book Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver,  written by Jill Heinerth. Katie picked this one, and we both read it! Learn more about this book at https://www.intotheplanet.com/book/