TBR Lowdown

In season 4 episode 151, we discuss The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and Whose Names are Unknown by Sanora Babb. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

In season 4 episode 150, we discuss Near to the Wild Heart by the incredible Clarice Lispector, our May book club pick. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

In season 4 episode 149, we talk about the romantasy subgenre and how publishing plays a role in its explosion. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

In season 4 episode 148, we jump on the 10 Before the End trend. What 10 books would you like to read before the end of the year? Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

In season 4 episode 147, we share some books we think are perfect to read during the Fall season. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

In season 4 episode 146, we discuss the nonfiction books we’d like to read for Nonfiction November. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

In season 4 episode 145, we discuss Margot’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. Who else is excited about the upcoming Apple TV series adaptation?!?! Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

In season 4 episode 144, we discuss our Aug/Sep book club pick I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, translated from the French by Roz Schwarz. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

It’s Fall and we read translated fiction all year long. Here are some upcoming releases to keep your eye on. Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to your Substack newsletters.

Fall is here, and some books are coming out that we think you should add to your TBR! Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to your Substack newsletters.

We’re back from our summer break and ready to talk about books! Hello and welcome back to season 4! Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com/ to join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters. Books mentioned in this episode The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout The Last Shootist by Miles Swarthout The Little Friend by Donna Tartt The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Go...

In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our conversation with literary translator Tina Kover. Kover has translated Disoriental by Négar Djavadi, Blue by Emmelie Prophète, Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, and The Postcard by Anne Berest, to name a few. Highlights: 🎙 From wanting to join the foreign service to becoming a literary translator. 🎙 The way translations are pitched and commissioned is q...

In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Belle Greene by Alexandra Lapierre, translated from the French by Tina Kover. The story of Belle da Costa Greene is nothing short of amazing. Reading about her story felt like a real adventure full of worry, excitement, hope, loss, and pride. It’s a book we highly recommend. Highlights: 🎙 The things you could do to change your identity back...

In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Elena Knows by Claudia Piñero, translated from the Spanish by Francis Riddle. Highlights: 🎙 This book is so much more than a mystery. 🎙 The afterword was such a vital part of understanding the author and her writing. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us for our 2024 Reading Schedule https://www.tbrlowdown.c...

In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Vladimir by Julia May Jonas. Highlights: 🎙 We open the episode by giving you a little gardening talk! Where are our fellow gardeners? 🎙 The part women play in marriage is a major topic of discussion. 🎙 Open marriage vs. unconventional marriage. What’s the difference? ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us for...

In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth. Highlights: 🎙 Motherthing looks at motherhood from many angles. 🎙 Can we talk about those mama’s boys??? 🎙 There’s nothing like a well-written darkly comedic book that touches on many sensitive themes. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us for our 2024 Reading Schedule https:/...

In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, our December 2022 Book Club Pick, from Season 2 Episode 71. Highlights: 🎙 Grief is dripping off these pages. 🎙 Was Leah even there? We have so many questions. 🎙 Who and what does The Center symbolize??? 🎙 The body horror was done so well. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalo...

In this episode, we are rebroadcasting our discussion of Boulder by Eva Baltasar, translated from the Catalan by Julia Sanches, from season 2 episode 77. Highlights: 🎙 What does an obsessive relationship look like? 🎙 Sometimes you want the role of an aunt, not a mother. 🎙 We debate whether or not Boulder is punk literature. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us fo...

In this episode, we discuss The Glutton by A.K. Blakemore. Highlights: 🎙 We agree the writing was beautifully written at times, but was that enough? 🎙 In terms of forgotten historical figures, we’re not sure this one had enough meat to his story. 🎙 Will we read from this author in the future? ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us for our 2024 Reading Schedule http...

In this episode, we discuss A Little Luck by Claudia Piñero, translated from the Spanish by Francis Riddle. We are big fans of Piñero and truly enjoy reading her work. In 2022, we chose her book Elena Knows as our August book club pick and we had a great discussion on that book (episode 55). Highlights: 🎙 Piñero knows how to write suspense. 🎙There was one character that wasn’t mentioned much, but...

In this episode, we chat with S.T. Gibson, the author of the forthcoming novel Evocation, with special guest Jess Owens. Highlights: 🎙 Saint and Jess have a fangirl moment and it was EVERYTHING! 🎙We share our favorite characters from Saint’s book Evocation. 🎙 Saint talks about her love for tarot. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us for our 2024 Reading Schedule...

In this episode, we discuss an article on The Bookseller titled The Adultification of YA. Highlights: 🎙 Is the intended audience for the YA readership being pushed out???? 🎙Many YA readers DO NOT want to read books with spice. 🎙 It seems like authors are writing YA books for adults instead of for the actual YA audience. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us for ou...

In this episode, we discuss an article on The Cut titled Why Does Every Famous Woman Have a Book Club Now? Highlights: 🎙 The idea of having a ‘Book Concierge’ is strange and intriguing. 🎙 Naomi was surprised the article didn’t mention Amerie and Natalie Portman. 🎙 Surprisingly, these celebrity-chosen books do not have a sustaining effect on sales. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us....

In this episode, we discuss our MAR/APR community read: The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, translated from the Dutch by Michele Hutchison. Highlights: 🎙 The level of discomfort is high in this book. 🎙The relationship between the siblings is so strained and strange. 🎙 The grief is heavy in this book. It drips off almost every page. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us...

In this episode, we discuss, The Atlantic’s March 14, 2024, The Great American Novels article. Highlights: 🎙 Can one book encompass the totality of America? 🎙What does the term “great American novel” even mean? 🎙 It’s always fun to see a list of books that are completely new to you. ------ Join our community! Read and chat with us. ⭐️ Readalong with us for our 2024 Reading Schedule https://www.tb...