Check This Out with Rachel Barenbaum

"The Extinction of Irena Rey" is the new novel by famed translator Jennifer Croft. Eight translators arrive at a house in a primeval Polish forest on the border of Belarus. It belongs to the world-renowned author Irena Rey, and they are there to translate her magnum opus, Gray Eminence. But within days of their arrival, Irena disappears without a trace.

Inci Atrek brings readers a seductive and lyrical debut novel. “Holiday Country" follows a young woman’s dangerous summer romance during an idyllic vacation on the Aegean coast.

Set against the backdrop of developing modern China, Aube Rey Lescure’s “River East, River West” is part coming-of-age tale and part family and social drama. It follows two generations searching for belonging and opportunity in a rapidly changing world.

Rachel Barenbaum interviews author Leo Vardiashvili’s about his debut novel“Hard By a Great Forest” – a story about a man who fled the Republic of Georgia in the midst of war. It’s a unique tale about the traumas of war and the lasting effects of those families driven not just to survive, but to remember, love and live.

Rachel Barenbaum interviews author Maura Cheeks who talks about her new novel Acts of Forgiveness. Set in a speculative America, readers navigate a world where the government has approved reparation payments for black Americans – but only if they can prove they are descended from slaves.

Vauhini Vara's story collection, T HIS IS SALVAGED, has been named by The New Yorker, Publisher’s Weekly, Vox, and the New York Public Library as one of the best books of the year.

Host Rachel Barenbaum sits down with her colleagues from the Howe Library in Hanover, New Hampshire to discuss their favorite reads from 2023.

This week on Check This Out, host Rachel Barenbaum sits down with  Emma Törzs , author of "Ink Blood Sister Scribe." Törzs' debut novel will soon be available in 13 languages. It's a fast paced, magical book about two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family's library of magical books. They work together along with a stranger, a magical scribe, to unravel a deadly secret at the hea...

Episode 109. You may know Ayana Mathis from her debut novel, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie. Published 11 years ago, the excitement and noise around that debut took up all the space and energy Mathis had to write fiction. Her new second novel is called The Unsettled. It’s a mother-daughter-son story that braids two narratives - one from the south and one from the north.

John Manuel Arias is a queer Costa Rican-American poet and writer who has lived in the U.S. and in Costa Rica where, as he reports, he shared a house with his grandmother and four ghosts. His debut novel,  Where There Was Fire , burst onto the scene in August 2023. Set in Costa Rica, this story follows several generations of women in one family — mothers and daughters — alternating between their l...

This week, host Rachel Barenbaum sits down with  Angie Kim , author of the novel "Miracle Creek." Kim was named a finalist for the New American Voices Award. Her latest work, "Happiness Falls" follows the story of family in crisis, after a father goes missing — and the only person who knows what happened to him is the family's non-verbal 14 year old son, Eugene. In this conversation, Angie Kim sha...

This week, host Rachel Barenbaum sits down with  Tania James , author of the novels "The Tusk That Did the Damage" and "Atlas of Unknowns." Her latest work,  "Loot,"  has been named to the longlist of the 2023 National Book Award in fiction. In this conversation, Tania James shares her inspiration for "Loot," which gives readers a front-row seat to 18th and 19th century imperialism as seen through...

Episode 105. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah on the launch of his phenomenal debut CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS. Do not miss this book or this author!

Episode 104. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Claire Jimenez on the launch of her debut, WHAT HAPPENED TO RUTHIE RAMIREZ?

Rachel Barenbaum interviews Priya Guns on the launch of her debut novel, YOUR DRIVER IS WAITING. 

Rachel Barenbaum interviews debut author Jenny Jackson on the launch of her Instant New York Times Best Seller PINEAPPLE STREET. 

Rachel Barenbaum interviews Patricia Park on the launch of her debut YA novel IMPOSTER SYNDROME. 

Episode 100. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Ruben Degollado on the launch of his debut novel, THE FAMILY IZQUIERDO. Don't miss this interview of this amazing book!!

Episode 99. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Elena Armas on the launch of her new novel THE AMERICAN ROOMMATE EXPERIMENT. Elena is a brilliant writer who started by self publishing - and grew into a TikTok sensation. After exploding sales, she was picked up by a big publisher and both of her books have been NYTimes instant bestsellers. Don't miss this book or this author!!

Episode 98. Rachel Barenbaum interviews debut author Belinda Huijuan Tang about her novel A MAP FOR THE MISSING. Don't miss this amazing book!!

Episode 97. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Kelly J. Ford on the release of her new novel REAL BAD THINGS. This interview is a part of the new literary series CHECK THIS OUT at the Howe Library. 

Episode 96. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Jonathan Escoffery on the launch of his debut IF I SURVIVE YOU. This book is already nominated for the National Book Award. Do not miss the book or this interview!

Episode 95 Rachel Barenbaum interviews E.B. Bartels on the launch of her debut GOOD GRIEF. Don't miss this amazing author or interview!! 

Episode 94. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Felicia Berliner on the launch of her debut, SHMUTZ. Don't miss it!!

Episode 93. Rachel Barenbaum interviews Zibby Owens on the launch of her debut memoir, BOOKENDS. Do not miss this amazing author or her memoir!!