So Many Damn Books

Drew and Christopher tackle YA through the 2001 classic Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and the 2016 Printz Award Winner, Bone Gap by Laura Ruby. Grand theories are posited, the state of YA is considered, the line between YA and regular lit is blurred. No one gets hurt and everyone's happy.   15 seconds of a song: Regina Spektor, "Us" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephanie Danler, author of the highly recommended Sweetbitter, joins the guys in the Damn Library for a chat about anything and everything. Food, identity, sex - you name it, they talk about it. TWO cocktails are imbibed and Maggie Nelson's exceptional Bluets is unanimously praised. 15 seconds of a song: "The Clearest Blue" - CHVRCHES Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Chee stops into the Damn Library for a Lilliet and a discussion of his novel The Queen of the Night. Drew and Christopher ask after pop culture parallels and fidelity to nonfiction. They also discuss Garth Greenwell's What Belongs to You  and whether or not you're a sucker to fall in love with a prostitute. 15 seconds of a song: I Love Paris - Sam Butera and the Witnesses Hosted on Acast...

Drew and Christopher see if they can draw any comparisons between the current election and Hunter S. Thompson's other Fear and Loathing book. Not the one that he goes to Las Vegas. Gonzo journalism is discussed, but sadly, not Gonzo from the Muppets.  Fifteen Seconds of a Song: "American Girl" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And that's a wrap! What a tournament of books that was! Tournament of Books producer Nozlee and former contestant (with his book A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall) Will Chancellor stop by the Damn Library to talk believability, tooth truths, good tourney moments, and much more! 15 Seconds of a song: Taki Rari - Yma Sumac  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew and Christopher talk their brackets and re-reading. They wax nostalgic on the week past and dive deep into the remaining match-ups as we head into the finals. Plus, a bookish wager on who will take the Rooster home. 15 Seconds of a song: The Aquabats - Magic Chicken! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katy Waldman stops by the Damn Library to drink "The Rooster" and prognosticate. Jane Austen keeps getting updated, the trio relives the first round of the TOB's ups and downs, and then a deep dive into Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff somehow reveals which presidential couple is most like the Underwoods from House of Cards . And more!   15 Seconds of a Song: Modest Mouse - Wild Packs of Family Do...

Angela Flournoy, author of the Turner House, stops by the Damn Library, fresh off her Tournament of Books win in round one against Ban en Banlieue. She and the guys talk where she was when her novel published, whether or not she believes in ghosts, and how it was to write in Iowa. And of course they all discuss Tournament happenings and could-happens. 15 Seconds of a song: Kamasi Washington "Rerun...

It's tournament time!! Christopher drinks a Slaughtering Mary, Drew and Maris Kreizman don't. They all discuss Maris' book/blog Slaughterhouse 90210 and Kickstarter, and then delve into the complexities of The Invaders by Karolina Waclawiak. There's also a little ToB prognostication. CAWWWWW! 30 Seconds of a song: "Frenchy" from the 30 Rock OST. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

Over a round of Dark and Particularly Stormys, Drew and Christopher have the pleasure of chatting, friendly-like, with Mark de Silva, author of Square Wave, out now from Two Dollar Radio. Jazz is discussed! So is Donna Tartt! And Misogyny! And how Bret Easton Ellis got to be the way he is! And so much more.    15 seconds of a song: The Beach Boys, "Catch a Wave" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

Laura Van Den Berg stops by the Damn Library to talk about her novel Find Me and Yoko Tawada's The Naked Eye. We also find out what tv show she can't stop repeating, and discuss a lot about getting lost, both physically and in translation. Plus, she talks Tournament of Books - her favorites and who might win!   15 seconds of a song: "Charade" by Si Zentner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Christopher and Drew can't contain their excitement - the short list for the Morning News' ToB 2016 is here, and they are discussing every title. They also explain this whole tournament business, talk snubs and loves, and teach you a new cocktail to make. Amongst other things. 15 seconds of a song: A Band of Bees "Chicken Payback" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew and Christopher talk about what books they were given for Christmas, 2016 reading goals, experimentally designed books they love, and then Eli Horiwitz's The Pickle Index which they tried to experience it every which way it came out. App recommendations commence. Review us on iTunes! Share! Retweet! 15 seconds of a song: Jim Dooley's Pushing Daisies Score Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

The damn hosts choose 4 books they loved in 2015, and one book each that the other didn't read/love. Also, one to grow on. Bye-bye, 2015! You were a year. 15 seconds of a song: The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie-Helene Bertino stops by the deck hall'd Damn Library in full seasonal good cheer to talk about her novel, 2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas. Holiday music is played. A Little Life is discussed. Butter is pondered. Gifts are given! A very happy holiday from So Many Damn Books! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Britt stops by the Damn Library to explain the deeper meanings of why Luke Skywalker Can't Read (which is also the title of his new essay collection). The guys then discuss a classic Star Wars novel - Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn - over Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters. They also cover Christmas. And Ryan pitches a Dickens movie. 15 seconds of a Song: R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas   H...

Alexandra Kleeman takes So Many Damn Books down the rabbit hole as Drew and Christopher discuss her novel, You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine, as well as the novel The Blind Owl. Everyone gets unsettled. 15 Seconds of a Song: Lucy Rose - Middle of the Bed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two nonmaj/muggles discuss Harry Potter spinoffs, whether or not they listen to music when they read, and Carrie Brownstein's memoir  Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl. ~15 seconds of a song: Sleater-Kinney "The Fox" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher institutes a new buying books rule for himself, Drew likes scary books, and they both have very different opinions on City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg and Purity by Jonathan Franzen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gentlemen discuss their favorite book they've read for the podcast so far, a few books they'd like to see in the next Tournament of Books, and tell you how to win a copy of City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg. Amongst other things.   15 seconds of a song: Selena Gomez - Birthday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Drew under quarantine (he caught the plague), the guys call on Will Chancellor to step in. He returns to the Damn Library to go deep with Christopher on Jesse Ball's latest novel, "A Cure for Suicide". 15 Seconds of a Song: Del Amitri, "Roll to Me" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa Manko drops in to talk about how writing is like dancing, her novel The Invention of Exile 's editing journey, and they all discuss  T he English Patient , and suggest a novel they'd like to see made into a movie.   Fifteen seconds of a song: Fountain's of Wayne, "Mexican Wine" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaac Fitzgerald skates by the Damn Library and joins the guys to talk about his  Pen & Ink  series, Kathleen Alcott's "Infinite Home", and the joys of recommending books. Hilarity ensues. Also maybe some 80s metal.   Fifteen Seconds of a Song: Belle & Sebastian, "Wrapped Up in Books" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys introduce a new segment ("Reading Comprehension"), which leads to some serious questions. They also discuss their summer reading habits, the Man Booker longlist, and Christopher continues to shame Drew for not reading "A Little Life".  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Drew and Christopher wonder what spumoni is (it's ice cream), talk about the books they bought, discuss Elena Ferrante and the first book in her Neapolitan saga, and they recommend books to each other, like usual.   15 seconds of a song: Mama by Lunchmoney Lewis   also featured: Money by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.