Poured Over

Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland gives insight in to the human experience through the eyes of a young woman ( who may or may not be an extraterrestrial ) and reflects the joys and heartaches of life in way that will resonate with all readers. Bertino joins us to talk about her unforgettable character, looking at the world from an outsider's perspective, the mysticism of a fax machine and more.   ...

How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill is edited by Jericho Brown and contains diverse and expansive essays and other works on the craft of writing from acclaimed Black authors like Nikki Giovanni, Barry Jenkins, Jacqueline Woodson and more. Brown joins us to talk about identity and language, the necessity of treating yourself like a writer, creating a new form of poetry and mor...

Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois is a fiction debut that blends a coming-of-age story with the themes of lasting friendship and what it takes to be an artist. Kois joins us to talk about the publisher that inspired the novel's title, some of the important influences on his work, what he does in his day jobs and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.     T his episode of Poured Over was host...

Bonnie Jo Campbell's The Waters follows the interwoven and often complicated lives of a family of women inhabiting an island in a Michigan swamp. Campbell joins us to talk about the challenges in crafting this novel, matching her unique characters with an equally intriguing setting, small - town storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted...

" I think it is a moment where we are thinking a lot about our relationship to the places and the societies that we have … wanting to create deeper connections ."     My Friends by Hisham Matar reflects family and friendships in the shadow of revolution as a man navigates life in exile. Matar joins us to talk about his journey to telling this story, the importance of time in a novel, exploring the...

The Fetishist by Katherine Min is a darkly humorous and provocative novel of love, revenge, and identity published after her death in 2019 . Min's daughter, Kayla Min Andrews, joins us to talk about her mother's work, taking on the task of finishing and publishing this novel, creating and continuing a legacy and more with host, Miwa Messer.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Pr...

Julie Myerson's newest novel  Nonfiction is intricate and raw , featuring themes of motherhood, addiction and what it means to write. Myerson joins us to talk about her approaches to writing a novel, her interwoven and often personal themes, how she picks her titles and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.             ...

"People always asked 'what made you want to write fiction?' And I'm like, this isn't a departure. I feel like this is me going back to how it actually started..."     All Good People Here , our January Mystery & Thriller Pick, has everything you want in a crime thriller — a cold case, an intrepid journalist and more twists and turns than you could count, all told from the host of the hit podcast C...

" O ur ancestors, our grandparents , love us by not speaking … "      The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan follows one family in 1945 Malaya as they face the realities of a life shaped by war and colonization. Chan joined us to talk about her family connection to her novel, her unique journey to becoming an author, the things about writing that surprised her and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured...

"New York is a character in the book, and I hate it when people are like ' the city's almost a character ' "   One of our favorites of 2023, Colson Whitehead's Crook Manifesto is a crime novel and so much more with unforgettable characters and a gritty portrait of New York in the 70s. Whitehead joined us to talk about his portrayal of the city he grew up in, creating a code of honor for criminals,...

"I think it's actually good for discussion, because you want to see a range of variety of books on these top 10 lists . "   I t's been a great year for books! With best - of - the - year lists rolling out, Gilbert Cruz, Books Editor at the New York Times, sat down with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over , to discuss some favorites of the year, how the top lists are compiled, the joys of recommending...

Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk puts Indigenous history at the center to create a fuller and more accurate depiction of America's past and future . Blackhawk joins us to talk about the erasure of Indigenous peoples from American history, retelling narratives from new perspectives, the surprises he found in his research and more with Miw...

Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy offers an in-depth look at the significant cultural intersection between hip - hop music and the world of fashion. Krishnamurthy joins us to talk about her career leading up to writing this book, the research she did, gender roles in hip - hop and fashion and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Prod...

Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter is a raw and visceral novel that explores primal desires, shocking secrets and the effects they have on those that uncover them. Hunter is joined by her publisher, Roxane Gay, a prolific author in her own right including her new collection, Opinions. The two join us to discuss collaboration and revision, writing the gritty details of life, advice for writers and...

Emily Wilson's new translation of The Iliad brings to life this divine tale of conflict, love and honor in a way that feels fresh and compulsively readable. Wilson joins us to talk about the universality of Homer's work, working with gods and epic themes, translating for modern audiences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by H...

"It's important for us to examine those inherited perspectives that … guide the way that we think and feel and imagine with regard to other life forms on the planet."     Entangled Life: The Illustrated Edition brings readers back to the wondrous realm of fungi , now with stunning photographs that illuminate this mysterious piece of our world in a new way. Sheldrake joins us to talk about adding a...

Ed Park's Same Bed Different Dreams blends history, technology and pop culture in a novel that spans time and reality in an unforgettable way. Park joins us to talk about the long gap between his books, writing and identity, media connections in his work and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.      This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry...

With recent reprints of The Children's Bach and This House of Grief , Helen Garner's voice returns in two of her best works — a novel featuring the intricacies of complicated family life and a nonfiction account of one of Australia's most shocking criminal cases. Garner joins us to talk about how she came to write each of these stories, keeping diaries, the complexities of human character and more...

In Jeff Tweedy's newest book  World Within a Song , the accomplished musician shares fifty influential songs that have shaped his life and career and shows us how music can create connection for all. Tweedy joins us to talk about the impact of music on identity, the shared qualities between his different mediums, his thoughts on authenticity and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.    This episode o...

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith's To Free the Captives   combines the beauty of a memoir with a grander look at America's history and future. Smith joins us to talk about family and cultural identity, race and belonging, the importance of poetry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang...

"My favorite parts of this book are when you have two characters … talking about what they want from the world and how they can achieve it."    The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump showcases a cast of relatable and deeply human characters as they attempt to create a perfect society in an imperfect world. Bump joins us to talk about his writing process, creating characters that feel messy and real, gri...

The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez reflects our complicated and constantly changing world, featur ing unlikely connections and even a parrot named Eureka. Nunez joins us to talk about the autobiographical details in her works, her unique writing process, incorporating humor into her novels and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.      This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Produce...

Set on one day in April in three different years, Day by Michael Cunningham is an intimate analysis of family love and connection. Cunningham joins us to talk about translating his writing from thoughts to words, writing a pandemic novel that isn't really a pandemic novel, using literature as a connection to the world and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was...

"S hift in perception is a miracle "     Death Valley by Melissa Broder is part desert survival story, part examination of grief — mixing the absurd with the profoundly human in a feat of imagination . Broder joins us to talk about the realities of anticipatory grief, incorporating fantastical elements into the real world, including humor in her work and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.       Th...

"I think the bigger stuff isn't going to happen if we can't change the fact that we're not really seeing each other."   Class by Stephanie Land is a portrait of motherhood, the institutions of education, and the realities of life for those under the poverty line, full of heart, compassion and wit. Land joins us to talk about her hopes for the book, her experiences with secondary education and moth...