From the Front Porch

On this milestone episode of From the Front Porch, Annie and Chris answer YOUR questions--from what we're getting our parents for Christmas to what to read your kids at bedtime to how we track our reading! Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here , and, if you're interested in some exclusiv...

Chris and Annie take a personal deep-dive into a few literary characters they may or may not resemble, and what that ultimately means to them. You can read CJ Hauser's "Just (Un)Like Me" at The Millions . Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here , and, if you're interested in some exclusive...

We’re moving some things around in our traditional Thanksgiving-season episode calendar to bring our our food and cookbook episode at the BEGINNING of the month so that you can prepare for the holiday with some of our new favorite recipes. You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . + The Food Lab by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt + Dining In by Allison Rom...

Happy Halloween! Spooky Season will soon be over, but Chris and Annie are here to walk you through what they read in October. You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . + The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman + Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra + Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow + East of Eden by John Steinbeck + Miracles (And Other Reasonable Things)...

It's officially Spooky Season, if you can believe it, and Annie and Chris sound absolutely manic this week as they record their third episode in a row to bring you some of their favorite books of the season! You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . + The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman + A House of Ghosts by W. C. Ryan + The Secret Place by T...

Hunter joins Annie once again for the fifth installment of Backlist Book Club. On the docket this week: John Steinbeck's East of Eden. Follow Hunter and his own Backlist Book Club here . Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here , and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like our...

Since talking about censorship wasn't hard enough, we've taken it upon ourselves--at listener behest--to talk about one of the hardest, most personal things there is: faith. These are some of the books that got us thinking and growing and changing, and we hope, at the very least, that they are useful to your journey. You can read Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux and Daniel Cox's piece on 538 . You can liste...

Somebody wake up Green Day because September is over, and we’re back with our customary reading recap. You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . + Little Weirds by Jenny Slate + All This Could Be Yours by Jami Attenberg + Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur + She Said by Jodi Kandor and Megan Twohey + Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson Thanks, as...

Challenges and censorship are hard things to discuss! But we're going to try.  The American Library Association's discussion of 2018's most challenged books is here . Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here , and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris's ranking of Taylo...

In anticipation of next week's seasonal Literary Lunch, we're talking about some of Annie's favorite "fall books" and letting you in on a quick preview of what's new for the season! To join us virtually, purchase your ticket here and select "Virtual Option" for your lunch! You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . + The Body Lies by Jo Baker +...

The fall season means new TV, and Annie came prepared this week with a series of curated media samplers just for you. Also, Chris and Annie have some cultural amnesia regarding the respective careers of Amanda Bynes and Mandy Moore. You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . + The Politician (Netflix) + The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sover...

Another calendar page has come and gone. Join us for a good, old-fashioned chat about the books we read in August. Annie read: + The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff + Frankly in Love by David Yoon + The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth + Pages & Co.: The Bookwanderers by Anna James + The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt + The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall + The Dutch House by Ann Patchett Chris...

Annie and Chris are back together, but y'all, it's a stressful season. And we know we always say that! Join us for a discussion of some of the particular stressors in our lives and how they do or do not affect our reading habits. Particular books we recommend on the subject are: + Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski + Marriageology by Belinda Luscombe Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for th...

As part of The Bookshelf's July 2019 Reader Retreat, Chris and Annie had the pleasure of sitting down for a live podcast recording with Mary Laura Philpott, bestselling author of I Miss You When I Blink. We chatted about the US/British children's lit split again, some of our favorite bookselling moments, and how weird it is to do this live! Listen to a full back catalogue of our show  here , and,...

Annie and frequent guest contributor Hunter keep the Backlist Book Club feature rolling with a discussion of Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Goldfinch, soon to be a major motion picture. Follow Hunter and his own Backlist Book Club here . Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more  here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show ...

On this edition of Seasonal Reads, we're taking you back to school! Or celebrating the fact that your kids are back in school and you might be feeling some relief after the long days of summer vacation.  You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . Now That You've Got a Break... + Family of Origin by CJ Hauser + City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert...

July was a very busy month here at The Bookshelf, and while our combined list is somewhat small, it allowed us to have a deeper conversation about what we managed to finish! You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . Annie read: + Ordinary People by Diana Evans + The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory + Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser...

Chris and Annie are joined by longtime friend of the show CJ Hauser to talk about her new novel, Family of Origin, available now from Doubleday. They discuss millennials, dysfunctional families, healing from trauma, wacky scientists, baseball, and Anglo-Saxon poetry. By now you've probably seen her viral essay, "The Crane Wife," published at  The Paris Review . You can snag your copy of Family of...

Last month, Chris and Annie were challenged to think of a book that doesn't exist (yet) that they would love to see written. This episode is a very silly grappling with answers to that question. Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here , and, if you're interested in some exclusive content l...

In this special bonus episode of From the Front Porch, Annie sits down with Allen Cheney, co-author of the new book Crescendo, a story of Thomasville.  Allen and his co-author, Julie Cantrell, will be at The Bookshelf on Tuesday, July 16, at 7 PM for an in-store Shelf Talk and signing. Learn more here. Order your copy at The Bookshelf's online store . Hear more of Annie's author interviews exclusi...

Annie and Chris are traveling through time to bring you a list and discussion of the books they read in June.  You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's online store . Annie read: + Burnout by Emily an Amelia Nagoski  + Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston + The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren + Heartburn by Nora Ephron + Recursion by Blake...

As the heat settles and the mosquitos start biting and we all converge in the back of a pickup truck in an antique store parking lot to watch the fireworks, we hope you'll take the time to join us for a conversation on books about what our nation is, has been, and could be. Happy Independence Day. https://www.raicestexas.org/donate/ You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in...

In this very special episode, Chris and Annie were finally able to sit down together for their first ever tandem live show! The occasion was the very first Bookshelf Reader Retreat, and good news: We’ll be doing this again. Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more  here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show  here , and, if you're interes...

Listen. We've all seen the summer reading guides. We here at FtFP have even given you one. Beach, breezy, light, and fun. But what if I told you there was another option? You know, for those of you who don't live anywhere near a beach. You can find all of the following books for sale (or preorder) in The Bookshelf's  online store . + City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert + Infinite Jest by David Fost...

Join Annie and frequent contributors Hunter and Emily for a discussion of Zora Neale Hurston’s classic Their Eyes Were Watching God. Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more  here . Listen to a full back catalogue of our show  here , and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supportin...