Today I am thrilled to be joined by Debra Dean, the bestselling author of four critically acclaimed books, including, “The Madonnas of Leningrad” and “Hidden Tapestry.” Reading Debra Dean’s favorite novel felt like the perfect choice for this moment in time. It is a gentle, comforting book, with bigger themes that reveal themselves slowly. The main character only begins to understand his role in history in retrospect. It was a fascinating read, and Debra is an enthusiastic and wonderful reading partner. Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the…

This week's episode was even more fun than usual, because I got to listen to two best friends talk about their favorite books. Daman Tiwana and Kyathi Thakur make me laugh and think every week on their podcast, "Brown Girls Read," and I was thrilled that I could talk to them together about each of their favorite books. 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: Kyathi Thakur and Daman Tiwana of the Brown Girls Read PodcastInstagram/Twitter/Brown Girls Happy Hour Indie…

= Isn’t Pride and Prejudice supposed to be everyone’s favorite book? Are people embarrassed to admit how much they love it? Jaimie Morimoto and I delve into the “Pumpkin Spice” popularity of this novel. In addition to that, we serve up a hot take on Mr. Bennet’s parenting style and some redemption for Lydia. 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: Jaimie MorimotoWebsite/Instagram Indie Bookstore Shoutout of the Week:Magers and Quinn, Minneapolis, Minnesota Books discussed in this episode: Pride and…

Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello is equal parts quick wit and deep thinker. Talking to her was like talking to someone who can see deeper into the ocean than you can, and will gently explain it to you. Marci talks freely about how books saved her life, and this conversation was a balm for my soul after a rough week. I know you are going to love it.We talked for almost two hours, and I had to cut a lot of it to fit the podcast time restraints. But one thing I don’t want you to miss is that Marci is the…

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.…