There are some people who are so interesting, who have such fascinating lives and jobs, that I can't wait to invite them to the podcast. Then they turn around and scare the life out of me with their book choices. That's what happened with today's guest, Azhelle Wade. Azhelle designs toys for a living, and mentors others in the toy design process. She is sweet and funny and an utterly delightful guest. But the book she chose, "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston, is about a near-catastrophic outbreak of the Ebola virus. I don't read a lot of scary books,…

Today, adventure novelist, pilot, and airplane tinkerer joins me to give the definitive answer to the question, "What is the best book ever?" Nathan insists that his answer is the final answer to the question. I suppose after this I'll have to rename this show to "The Second or Third Best Book Ever."  I had so much fun chatting with Nathan. There is something magical about listening to someone who has thought so deeply about a book, particularly a book from childhood that still affects the reader so deeply. I know you're going to love this episode. Support the Best…

Cat lovers, rejoice! This is an episode about how a book about a cat led one man to change everything in his life. Chris Burch is a ceramics artist from Colorado Springs, Colorado (I am lucky enough to own one of his beautiful pieces.) In this wide ranging chat, Chris and I talked about the power of art, grief, and family, and how to find your center in ceramics and in life. It was a really powerful and moving conversation. Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best…

Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie StraussWebsite/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Elizabeth GowingWebsite/Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn Books discussed in this episode: Stay With Me by Ayobami AdelbayoWhat It Means When a Man Falls From the Sky: Stories by Lesley Nneka ArimahChimamanda Ngozi AdichieAsian Enough (LA Times Podcast) episode with Viet Thanh NguyenWriting About Infertility in a World that Sees Childless Marriage as Tragedy: Ayobami Adebayo on Infertility in the Nigerian Novel, via Lit HubBrit BennettYaa GyasiA Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon JamesThe Book of Night…

Elizabeth Gowing on Playing Big by Tara Mohr Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie StraussWebsite/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Elizabeth GowingWebsite/Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn Books discussed in this episode: Playing Big by Tara MohrThe Ideas PartnershipThe Rubbish-Picker’s Wife: An Unlikely Friendship in Kosovo by Elizabeth GowingThe Books and Travel Podcast: Travels in Blood and Honey – Kosovo with Elizabeth GowingKilling Floor (Jack Reacher Book 1) by Lee Child Discussed in our Patreon Exclusive Clip: The Last Days of the Romanovs by Robert Wilton (Note: some of these…

Dawn Davies on The Water Method Man by John Irving Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie StraussWebsite/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Dawn DaviesWebsite/Facebook/Instagram/Whistle Tree Writers/Whistle Tree Writers Instagram Books discussed in this episode: The Water Method Man by John IrvingMothers of Sparta: A Memoir in Pieces by Dawn DaviesDenise MassarPeter’s Chair by Ezra Jack KeatsCorduroy by Don FreemanThe Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Belden Book 1) by Julie CampbellThe Nancy Drew Mystery Stories Collection by Carolyn KeeneThe Hardy Boys Starter Set by Franklin W.…

Kenya Goree Bell on 9 Rules to Break by Sarah MacLean Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie StraussWebsite/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Kenya Goree BellWebsite/Instagram/Twitter/Facebook Books discussed in this episode: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLeanLooking for Mr. Goodbar by Judith RossnerThe Lonely Lady by Harold RobbinsJackie CollinsSweet Valley HighRapper’s Delight by Kenya Goree BellTess GerritsonJames PattersonDean KoontzSixteen CandlesPretty in PinkNaima SimoneSally KilpatrickSierra SimoneCry of Metal and Bone by L. PenelopeNalini SinghLaura ThalassaLove Unexpected by QB TylerYour Dad Will…

Libbie Hawker on Dune by Frank Herbert Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie StraussWebsite/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Libbie HawkerBlog/Instagram   Books discussed in this episode: Dune by Frank Herbert (this is the first book, that I read with Libbie)The Complete Dune Series Set (Books 1-6) by Frank HerbertThe Eye of the World: Book One of the Wheel of Time by Robert JordanBaptism for the Dead by Libbie HawkerWatership DownCurious Toys by Elizabeth HandHenry Darger at MoMAAmmonite by Nicola GriffithOctavia ButlerThe Goldfinch by Donna…

Jeff Adams on The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie StraussWebsite/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Jeff AdamsWebsite/Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Big Gay Fiction Podcast/Big Gay Author Podcast  Books discussed in this episode: The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen(Part of the Ivy Years Series)New York City Gay Hockey AssociationTrouble Shooter Series by Suzanne Brockman (This is a 19-book series that begins with The Unsung Hero.)Love, SimonThe Front Runner by Patricia Nell WarrenSt. Nachos by Z.A. MaxfieldSimon Vs. The Homo Sapiens…

Asha Sabbella on The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie StraussWebsite/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Asha SabbellaInstagram/ Blog Books discussed in this episode:The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv ConstantineBook of the Month#bookstagramReese’s Book ClubThe Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah PekkanenThe Truth Hurts by Rebecca ReidThe Safe Place: A Novel by Anna DownesUs Against You: A Novel by Fredrick BackmanWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensAn American Marriage by Tayari JonesThe Jane Austen CollectionA Court of…