The Weekly Reader

Social media can be a great way to bring attention to a person, place, or thing, but what happens when the kind of attention it brings is not exactly the type you are looking for? On this edition of The Weekly Reader we review two new novels awash in hashtags, racism, politics and identity crises: " The Society of Shame" by Jane Roper and " Yellowface" by R.F. Kuang.  See omnystudio.com/listener f...

On The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about romantic entanglements and their attending highs and lows: "Romantic Comedy" by Curtis Sittenfeld and "How to Fall Out of Love Madly" by Jan Casales.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of  The Weekly Reader , we review two new books steeped in back-of-the house tales of intrigue, drugs, general excess, and of course, mind-blowing International travel and cuisine:  "California Soul"  by Keith Corbin and Kevin Alexander, and  "The Lemon"  by S. E. Boyd. All titles available at  The Ivy Bookshop  and other fine local retailers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels that explore life’s larger issues in small town America:"Big Swiss" by Jen Beagin, and "Take What You Need" by Idra Novey.   All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we visit the wonderfully diverse cultural melting pot that is London. Marion Winik reviews "The Three of Us" by Ore Agbaje-Williams and "The Dead Are Gods" by Eirinie Carson.   All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , our book critic Marion Winik turns her focus to Southeast Asia, with reviews of a new novel and a memoir: The Great Reclamation  by Rachel Heng, and Getting Out of Saigon by Ralph White.   All books available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retialers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new novels by writers who continue to play with the way the COVID-19 lockdown affected our lives: “ Kunstlers in Paradise" by Cathleen Schine and " The Fun Widow's Book Tour" by Zoe Fishman.  All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review something old, and something new, from Elizabeth McKenzie: "Dog of the North" and "The Portable Veblen."  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a pair of novels that look at a nonfictional genre through fiction: “I Have Some Questions For You” by Rebecca Makkai and “More Than You'll Ever Know” by Katie Gutierrez.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a sentence be “delicious?” On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we  review "The Last Animal" by Ramona Ausubel and "The Angel of Rome" by Jess Walter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about a pair of "tough cookies": "My Nemesis" by Charmaine Craig and "Stone Cold Fox" by Rachel Koller Croft.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going off to college can be an exciting adventure, but what happens when things don't go exactly to plan? On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two novels about what happens when campus life take a dark turn: Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence , by R.F. Kuang and My Last Innocent Year , by Daisy Alpert Florin.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, a look at the work of Australian mystery maven Jane Harper. We review "The Dry," "Force of Nature," and "Exiles."  All titles available at The Ivy Bookshop and other fine local retailers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is it that makes crime stories so popular? On this edition of The Weekly Reader,  we review a new novel and a short story collection sure to please fans of the genre: Age of Vice , by Deepti Kapoor, and The Faraway World , by Patricia Engel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By now you’ve undoubtedly heard about Spare, the stunning new memoir from Prince Harry, but who can say they’ve actually heard all the juicy details? On this edition of The Weekly Reader , our book critic Marion Winik reviews the audiobook version of "Spare," which is read by the prince himself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will we ever tire of gossip about our favorite famous people? On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review three new books that explore the lives behind the legends:  "The Light We Carry" by Michelle Obama, " Love, Pamela"   by Pamela Anderson, and " The Critic's Daughter" by Priscilla Gilman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of the Weekly Reader, we review two novels by Ethan Joella. Marion Winik shares her thoughts on "A Little Hope" and "A Quiet Life."  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new books that explore ethnic identity and coming of age in the American Midwest:  Departure Stories by Elisa Bernick, and The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The teenage years are a time of great flux and change, physically, emotionally, and socially. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we feature two new novels full of teenage thrills, triumphs, and tragedy: Kevin Wilson's "Now is Not the Time to Panic" and Alison Espach's "Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance."  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, our book critic Marion Winik reviews two new novels about working class girls in Ireland who have their eyes on the future while nodding to the past:  Factory Girls , by MIchelle Gallen, and Snowflake , by Louise Nealon.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How big a role does technology play in our daily lives? Is it a good, or a bad, thing? On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new novels that that aim to answer that heady question, and a few other big ones, too: "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin, and "The Mutual Friend" by Carter Bays.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of  The Weekly Reader , we reviews two new comic novels full of crazy characters and hilarious situations:  "Let's Not Do That Again"  by Grant Ginder, and  "Lessons in Chemistry"  by Bonnie Garmus. All titles available at  The Ivy Bookshop  and other fine local retailers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever spent any time in New York City, you know that in many ways, it’s the people who make the place unique. On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new novels set in the city that feature unforgettable characters, from the spiky-haired squatters of the punk underground to beer brewing nuns in Brooklyn. Marion Winik on "No One Left to Come Looking for You" by Sam Lipsyte and...

Sure, we’re all out here working hard and trying to live our very best lives, but what if you think the best way to achieve your dreams is under the glare of television lights? On this edition of The Weekly Reader , we review two new novels that go behind the scenes (and all that glamour!)  and show us how “real” things truly are: "Small Game" by Blair Braverman, and "Carrie Soto is Back" by Taylo...

Once a year, around this time, we like to change gears at The Weekly Reader and focus on the local literary scene . So many great Baltimore authors published in books 2022! Here are just a few we hope you enjoy. And please visit your local bookstores this holiday season!  Shelter , Lawrence Jackson, Graywolf Black Boy Smile , D Watkins, Legacy Lit Inheritance , Baynard Woods, Legacy Lit Liarmouth...