Show #1 December 6 & 7
A spotlight on new works from Old Masters. All around the publishing world, the names we often reach for are out with new titles. Elaine shares the highlights, and speaks with Patricia Cornwell about "Flesh and Blood."
Interviews:
Patricia Cornwell, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Revival: A Novel" by Stephen King
"Flesh and Blood: A Scarpetta Novel, Book 22" by Patricia Cornwell
"Some Luck: A Novel" by Jane Smiley
"Desert God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt" by Wilbur Smith
"Leaving Time" by Jodi Picoult
"Bones Never Lie" by Kathy Reichs
"Beautiful You" by Chuck Palahniuk
Show #2 December 13 & 14
Elaine gets the jump on those year-end "best-of" lists and previews fabulous finds from Publisher's Weekly in fiction and non-fiction. James McBride speaks about his 2013 National Book Award winner, "The Good Lord Bird."
Interviews:
James McBride, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That Set Them Free" by Héctor Tobar
"The Dog" by Joseph O'Neill
"On Immunity: An Inoculation" by Eula Biss
"A Brief History of Seven Killings" by Marlon James
"The Blazing World: A Novel" by Siri Hustvedt
"All Our Names" by Dinaw Mengestu
"Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David" by Lawrence Wright
Show #3 December 20 & 21
This special holiday edition is a mix of "feel good" heart-warmers, books that spice it up with a dash of murder and mayhem, and last minute gift ideas from "best of" lists. There's a special Christmas confection by Pete Larkin, and a conversation with Debbie Macomber.
Interviews:
Debbie Macomber, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Winter Street" by Elin Hilderbrand
"A New York Christmas" by Anne Perry
"Mr. Miracle: A Christmas Novel" by Debbie Macomber
"Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story" by Rick Bragg
"The Laughing Monsters: A Novel" by Denis Johnson
"Lives in Ruins: Achaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble" by Marilyn Johnson
"The Mistletoe Promise" by Richard Paul Evans
Show #4 December 27 & 28
A global getaway with books about far-flung countries and cultures worth exploring. Elaine is charmed by Alexander McCall Smith, on hand to speak about the new title in his Number One Ladies Detective Agency series, "The Handsome Man's Deluxe Cafe."
Interviews:
Alexander McCall Smith
Audio Books Previewed:
"Strange Stones" by Peter Hessler
"The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café" by Alexander McCall Smith
"The Trigger: Hunting the Assassin Who Brought the World to War" by Tim Butcher
"We'll Always Have Paris: A Mother/Daughter Memoir" by Jennifer Coburn
"An Experience Definitely Worth Allegedly Having: Travel Stories from The Hairpin" edited by Edith Zimmerman
"Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing" by Anya Von Bremzen
"No Land's Man: A Perilous Journey through Romance, Islam, and Brunch" by Aasif Mandvi
Show #1 November 1 & 2
Elaine travels down the literary 405 for a look at LA Noir - with evocative characters tossed into a literary stew and seasoned with a strong sense of place. James Ellroy introduces us to Book 1 of his 2nd LA Quartet - "Perfidia."
Interviews:
James Ellroy, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
“The Burning Room” by Michael Connelly
“Perfidia: A Novel” by James Ellroy
“Rose Gold: An Easy Rawlins Mystery” by Walter Mosley
“The Golem of Hollywood” by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman
“Imperial Bedrooms” by Bret Easton Ellis
“The Barbarian Nurseries” by Héctor Tobar
“Raymond Chandler: The Big Sleep (Dramatised)” by Raymond Chandler
Show #2 November 8 & 9
An investigation into UK mystery authors making waves "across the pond." Elaine speaks with Tana French, just out with a new installment of her Dublin Murder Squad series.
Interviews:
Tana French, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"To Dwell in Darkness" by Deborah Crombie
"The Soul of Discretion: Simon Serrailler Book 8" by Susan Hill
"The Secret Place: Dublin Murder Squad, Book 5" by Tana French
"The Paying Guests" by Sarah Waters
"The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher: Stories" by Hilary Mantel
"The Children Act" by Ian McEwan
"Blood on the Water: William Monk, Book 20" by Anne Perry
Show #3 November 15 & 16
A spotlight on books to gear you up for holiday entertaining and travel. Elaine gets an insider's look into the Food Network with author, Allen Salkin, and receives fabulous trip advice from travel guru, Pauline Frommer.
Interviews:
Allen Salkin, Author
Pauline Frommer, Travel Guru
Audio Books Previewed:
"Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good: A Memoir of Food and Love from an American Midwest Family" by Kathleen Flinn
"The Tastemakers: Why We're Crazy For Cupcakes but Fed Up with Fondue (Plus Baconomics, Superfoods, and Other Secrets from the World of Food Trends)" by David Sax
"Proof: The Science of Booze" by Adam Rogers
"Shadows in the Vineyard: The True Story of the Plot to Poison the World’s Greatest Wine" by Maximillian Potter
"Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey into the Heart of Russia" by David Greene
"Delancey: A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage" by Molly Wizenberg
"Food: A Love Story" by Jim Gaffigan
Show #4 November 22 & 23
A first look at gift suggestions for those hard-to-shop-for folks on your list. This week's Book Report focuses on new non-fiction titles that span diverse interests. Elaine speaks to Tom Shroder about his news-making new book, "Acid Test."
Interviews:
Tom Shroder, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution" by Walter Isaacson
"Acid Test: LSD, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal" by Tom Shroder
"How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World" by Steven Johnson
"Napoleon: A Life" by Andrew Roberts
"The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House" by Chuck Todd
"All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid" by Matt Bai
"Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's ‘Learned’" by Lena Dunham
Show #5 November 29 & 30
Hot new autobiographies just in time for the holidays. And the bonus: all are read by the authors. Fascinating life stories, in their own words, and their own voices. And today, we speak with Margo Howard, a writer who embraced the "family business" (she's the daughter of Ann Landers AND the niece of "Dear Abby"). She has a new book out, "Eat, Drink & Remarry."
Interviews:
Margo Howard, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Yes Please" by Amy Poehler
"Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography" by Neil Patrick Harris
"So, Anyway…" by John Cleese
"Not My Father's Son: A Memoir" by Alan Cumming
"I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend" by Martin Short
"Even This I Get to Experience" by Norman Lear
"The Woman I Wanted to Be" by Diane von Furstenberg
"Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks" by Dick Cavett
Show #1 October 4 & 5
New titles that spotlight endearing characters who just don't fit in. These stories about misfits pack heart...and the punches that hit us squarely in our emotional center. Elaine speaks with Laura Moriarty, whose "Big Little Lies" is coming soon to the big screen.
Interviews:
Liane Moriarty, Author of "Big Little Lies"
Audio Books Previewed:
"How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky" by Lydia Netzer
"Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarty
"We Are Called to Rise" by Laura McBride
"All Fall Down" by Jennifer Weiner
"The Girls from Corona del Mar: A novel" by Rufi Thorpe
"Heft" by Liz Moore
"2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas" by Marie-Helene Bertino
Show #2 October 11 & 12
A spotlight on new titles that offer balanced factual accounts of people who have become cultural icons. Elaine speaks with Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, about an icon who celebrates his 70th anniversary as a beloved figure in popular culture.
Interviews:
Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee" by Marja Mills
"The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra" by Helen Rappaport
"The Creation of Anne Boleyn: A New Look at England’s Most Notorious Queen" by Susan Bordo
"I Invented the Modern Age: The Rise of Henry Ford and the Most Important Car Ever Made" by Richard Snow
"Birdmen: The Wright Brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and the Battle to Control the Skies" by Lawrence Goldstone
"Off the Edge of the Map: Marco Polo, Captain Cook, and 9 Other Travelers and Explorers That Pushed the Boundaries of the Known World" by Michael Rank
"A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal" by Ben Macintyre
Show #3 October 18 & 19
A show that proves that crime does pay...when you're looking for a book to keep you turning those pages. Elaine speaks with bestselling author, Sandra Brown, about her newest thriller, "Mean Streak."
Interviews:
Sandra Brown, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
“The Long Way Home: Chief Inspector Gamache, Book 10" by Louise Penny
"Mean Streak" by Sandra Brown
"The Marco Effect: Department Q, Book 5" by Jussi Adler-Olsen
"The Stone Wife: Peter Diamond, Book 14" by Peter Lovesey
"Deadline: Virgil Flowers, Book 8" by John Sandford
"The Perfect Witness" by Iris Johansen
"A Thin Dark Line" by Tami Hoag
Show #4 October 25 & 26
The special Halloween edition of the Book Report. Elaine brings you a great crop of smart, scary books, a task she takes....very gravely. Fun, fantasy, and literary treats.
Interviews:
Sarah Bartlett, Author of “National Geographic Guide to the World’s Supernatural Places”
Audio Books Previewed:
"Bird Box: A Novel" by Josh Malerman
"The Quick: A Novel" by Lauren Owen
"Rooms: A Novel" by Lauren Oliver
"The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell
"Evil Librarian" by Michelle Knudsen
"Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
"The Girl with All the Gifts" by M. R. Carey
Show #1 September 6 & 7
We preview new titles about "The Games People Play" - soccer, baseball, basketball, and the more sedentary, but incredibly popular pursuits. Elaine speaks with Alan Connor, popular British TV quizmaster who's just out with a fascinating look at the history and lore of Crossword puzzles.
Interviews:
Alan Connor, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Why Soccer Matters" by Pelé with Brian Winter
"Michael Jordan: The Life" by Roland Lazenby
"Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America" by Jeff Ryan
"World of Warcraft: War Crimes" by Christie Golden
"The Outsider: A Memoir" by Jimmy Connors
"Titanic Thompson: The Man Who Bet on Everything" by Kevin Cook
"1954: The Year Willie Mays and the First Generation of Black Superstars Changed Major League Baseball Forever" by Bill Madden
Show #2 September 13 & 14
New mysteries offer up a literary scavenger hunt for clues obscured by time...only to see the light of day years later. My guest today, Beatriz Williams, offers up a delightful new addition to the genre.
Interviews:
Beatriz Williams, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Hidden Child: Fjällbacka Mysteries, Book 5 " by Camilla Läckberg
"Sapphire Skies" by Belinda Alexandra
"The Secret Life of Violet Grant" by Beatriz Williams
"The Beautiful American" by Jeanne Mackin
"The Hundred-Year House" by Rebecca Makkai
"The Light Behind the Window" by Lucinda Riley
"The Perfume Collector: A Novel" by Kathleen Tessaro
Show #3 September 20 & 21
An escape into tales that drop you into the inevitable "push and pull" of family. When it comes to parents and siblings, expect the unexpected. My guest today, Emma Straub, introduces us to her new chart-topper, "The Vacationers."
Interviews:
Emma Straub, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Good House: A Novel" by Ann Leary
"The Vacationers" by Emma Straub
"The Lemon Grove" by Helen Walsh
"Lucky Us: A Novel" by Amy Bloom
"Landline" by Rainbow Rowell
"The Book of Unknown Americans: A Novel" by Cristina Henríquez
"Invisible Ellen" by Shari Shattuck
Show #4 September 27 & 28
A look at titles that uncover new facts and perspectives on American history - from the Civil War to the skirmishes between the Obamas and Clintons. Today's guest, John Dean, is one of Watergate's last surviving figures. We'll speak about his new book, "The Nixon Defense."
Interviews:
John W. Dean, Author of "The Nixon Defense"
Audio Books Previewed:
"Uncertain Justice: The Roberts Court and the Constitution" by Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz
"The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It" by John W. Dean
"The Long Shadow: The Legacies of the Great War in the Twentieth Century" by David Reynolds
"The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942" by Nigel Hamilton
"Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II’s Most Audacious General" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
"Fierce Patriot: The Tangled Lives of William Tecumseh Sherman" by Robert O'Connell
"Blood Feud: The Clintons vs. The Obamas" by Edward Klein
Show #1 August 2 & 3
A look at new thrillers centered around average people who happen to be in the wrong place... at the wrong time. Elaine speaks with Joseph Finder about his newest bestseller, "Suspicion."
Interviews:
Joseph Finder, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Those Who Wish Me Dead" by Michael Koryta
"Suspicion" by Joseph Finder
"An Untamed State" by Roxane Gay
"Phantom Instinct" by Meg Gardiner
"Cop Town" by Karin Slaughter
"Wayfaring Stranger" by James Lee Burke
"Mr. Mercedes: A Novel" by Stephen King
Show #2 August 9 & 10
With Midsummer's Night just passed, Elaine previews bestsellers that seem to illustrate Puck's quote, "Lord, what fools these mortals be." We'll look at titles that delve into the mess we make of our lives and loves, and speak with the delightful Jojo Moyes.
Interviews:
Jojo Moyes, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You" by Courtney Maum
"One Plus One: A Novel" by Jojo Moyes
"The One and Only: A Novel" by Emily Giffin
"Off Course: A Novel" by Michelle Huneven
"The Housemaid's Daughter" by Barbara Mutch
"600 Hours of Edward" by Craig Lancaster
"Lost for Words: A Novel" by Edward St. Aubyn
Show #3 August 16 & 17
Cops and undercover agents are at the top of their game in this summer's thrillers. Elaine discusses "The Heist" with Daniel Silva, a book that finds Gabriel Allon going up against a criminal network of art thieves and international terrorists.
Interviews:
Daniel Silva, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Director" by David Ignatius
"Let the Devil Sleep" by John Verdon
"The Heist" by Daniel Silva
"Operation Shakespeare: The True Story of an Elite International Sting" by John Shiffman
"Midnight in Europe" by Alan Furst
"Zodiac Station" by Tom Harper
"Paw and Order: A Chet and Bernie Mystery, Book 7" by Spencer Quinn
Show #4 August 23 & 24
A salute to the fictional heroines who never play it safe...and to real world women who boldly go where few men have gone before. Elaine speaks with Janet Evanovich about the indomitable Stephanie Plum, about to set off on her 21st adventure.
Interviews:
Janet Evanovich, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Competition" by Marcia Clark
"Top Secret Twenty-One: A Stephanie Plum Novel, Book 21" by Janet Evanovich
"Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space" by Lynn Sherr
"Eyes on You: A Novel of Suspense" by Kate White
"I Love You More: A Novel" by Jennifer Murphy
"The Widow's File: A Thriller" by S. G. Redling
"Diary of a Mad Diva" by Joan Rivers
Show #5 August 30 & 31
A vibrant and varied crop of new business titles worthy of your time investment. These books feature solid principles we can all employ in our lives.
Interviews:
Beth Macy, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain" by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
"The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph" by Ryan Holiday
"Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local - and Helped Save an American Town" by Beth Macy
"Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of the Creative Mind" by Biz Stone
"Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises" by Timothy F. Geithner
"Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration" by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
"Talk Like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds" by Carmine Gallo
"Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown
Show #1 July 5 & 6
New bios and memoirs on the iconic musicians, legendary actors, tycoons, and politicians who continue to impact our world.
Interviews:
Lisa Robinson, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band" by Alan Paul
"There Goes Gravity: A Life in Rock and Roll" by Lisa Robinson
"Love Life" by Rob Lowe
"Dirty Daddy: The Chronicles of a Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian" by Bob Saget
"You Must Remember This: Life and Style in Hollywood’s Golden Age" by Robert J. Wagner and Scott Eyman
"The Hiltons: The True Story of an American Dynasty" by J. Randy Taraborrelli
"Hard Choices" by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Show #2 July 12 & 13
There's nothing like travel to recharge your spirit and re-energize your soul. Elaine helps you hit the road with travel books that are both destination based and activity based.
Interviews:
Brian Benson, Author of "Going Somewhere: A Bicycle Journey Across America"
Audio Books Previewed:
"Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America" by John Waters
"Obsessive Compulsive Cycling Disorder" by Dave Barter
"The Map Thief: The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps" by Michael Blanding
"Where the West Ends: Stories From the Middle East, the Balkans, the Black Sea, and the Caucasus" by Michael J. Totten
"Love With a Chance of Drowning: A Memoir" by Torre DeRoche
"Crossing the Heart of Africa: An Odyssey of Love and Adventure" by Julian Smith
"Walking Home: A Poet’s Journey" by Simon Armitage
Show #3 July 19 & 20
Though we are a nation dedicated to "the proposition that all men are created equal," history has shown otherwise. Elaine previews new titles on social injustice, and interviews David Boies and Ted Olson, the lawyers behind the overturning of California's Proposition 8.
Interviews:
David Boies and Theodore Olson, Authors of "Redeeming the Dream: The Case for Marriage Equality"
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap" by Matt Taibbi
"Capital in the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas Piketty
"Sons of Wichita: How the Koch Brothers Became America's Most Powerful and Private Dynasty" by Daniel Schulman
"Redeeming the Dream: The Case for Marriage Equality" by David Boies and Theodore B. Olson
"The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle over a Forbidden Book" by Peter Finn and Petra Couvée
"The Bill of the Century: The Epic Battle for the Civil Rights Act" by Clay Risen
"Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America" by Gilbert King
Show #4 July 26 & 27
A literary look at the "Girls with Grit." Elaine explores titles about women with backbone, brains, and bravado.
Interviews:
Ayana Mathis, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street: A Novel" by Susan Jane Gilman
"China Dolls: A Novel" by Lisa See
"The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Oprah’s Book Club 2.0)" by Ayana Mathis
"The Pearl That Broke Its Shell" by Nadia Hashimi
"I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban" by Malala Yousafzai
"The Ship of Brides" by Jojo Moyes
"All Day and a Night: Ellie Hatcher, Book 5" by Alafair Burke
Show #1 June 7 & 8
Elaine spotlights topics and titles that feed into your leisure time pursuits: photography, drawing, cooking, reading, sports, travel, and more.
Interviews:
Peter Essick, National Geographic Photographer & Author; Thomas Thorspecken, Artist & Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty" by Diane Keaton
"The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin
"Delicious!: A Novel" by Ruth Reichl
"The Closer" by Mariano Rivera with Wayne Coffey
"To the Moon and Timbuktu: A Trek Through the Heart of Africa" by Nina Sovich
Show #2 June 14 & 15
A show dedicated to Dads...and designed to offer up gifts destined to please. Titles span the spectrum: history, business, thrillers, comedy, and sports.
Interviews:
Jeffrey Deaver, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon" by Brad Stone
"The Skin Collector: Lincoln Rhyme Book 11" by Jeffery Deaver
"All the Great Prizes: The Life of John Hay, from Lincoln to Roosevelt" by John Taliaferro
"Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life In the Minor Leagues of Baseball" by John Feinstein
"The Best Sailing Stories Ever Told" edited by Stephen Brennan
"The Target" by David Baldacci
"Tales from the Dad Side" by Steve Doocy
Show #3 June 21 & 22
The summer solstice has arrived....time to dig out the Beach Reads. They can be fiction, or compelling memoirs, but all are page-turners your friends are talking about.
Interviews:
Steve Berry, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Keep Quiet" by Lisa Scottoline
"The Lincoln Myth: A Novel" by Steve Berry
"Everybody's Got Something" by Robin Roberts with Veronica Chambers
"A Fighting Chance" by Elizabeth Warren
"All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel" by Anthony Doerr
"Field of Prey: Lucas Davenport, Book 24" by John Sandford
"Big Girl Panties: A Novel" by Stephanie Evanovich
Show #4 June 28 & 29
A Book Report salute to June Brides. It's a modern look at matrimony and relationships - some rocky, some wickedly funny, all incredibly complex.
Interviews:
Andre Dubus III, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Blossom Street Brides: A Blossom Street Novel, Book 10" by Debbie Macomber
"Chestnut Street" by Maeve Binchy
"Four Friends" by Robyn Carr
"Dirty Love" by Andre Dubus III
"Miss Julia Renews Her Vows" by Ann Ross
"Save the Date" by Mary Kay Andrews
"The Matchmaker: A Novel" by Elin Hilderbrand
"Sixth Grave on the Edge: Charley Davidson, Book 6" by Darynda Jones
Show #1 May 3 & 4
An investigation into why we - law-abiding citizens - are so fascinated with crime dramas. Elaine presents the newest suspects from current bestseller lists.
Interviews:
CJ Box, Bestselling Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Auschwitz Escape" by Joel C. Rosenberg
"Missing You" by Harlan Coben
"Stone Cold: Joe Pickett, Book 14" by C. J. Box
"Destroyer Angel: An Anna Pigeon Novel, Book 17" by Nevada Barr
"A Circle of Wives" by Alice LaPlante
"The Cairo Affair" by Olen Steinhauer
"Death on Blackheath: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel, Book 29" by Anne Perry
Show #2 May 10 & 11
The Book Report offers up a literary salute to Moms. Titles range from side-splitting memoirs, compelling fiction to new perspectives on parenting.
Interviews:
Thacher Hurd: Artist and son of Illustrator Clement Hurd of "Good Night, Moon" fame
Audio Books Previewed:
"My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper: A Guide to the Less Than Perfect Life" by Gabrielle Reece with Karen Karbo
"Please Look After Mom" by Kyung-Sook Shin
"I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids" by Jen Kirkman
"Red Joan" by Jennie Rooney
"Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood – The Good, The Bad, and the Scary" Jill Smokler
"All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood" by Jennifer Senior
"The Cursing Mommy's Book of Days: A Novel" by Ian Frazier
Show #3 May 17 & 18
Elaine presents a line-up of notable new non-fiction your friends are talking about now.
Interviews:
Dave Barry, Author and Humorist
Audio Books Previewed:
"A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at One Hundred" by George Will
"Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt" by Michael Lewis
"You Can Date Boys When You're Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About" by Dave Barry
"Not Cool: The Hipster Elite and Their War on You" by Greg Gutfield
"The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change" by Adam Braun
"A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power" by Jimmy Carter
"Living With a Wild God: A Nonbeliever's Search for the Truth About Everything" by Barbara Ehrenreich
"Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder" by Arianna Huffington
Show #4 May 24 & 25
A look at recent installments from authors you love....just in time to kick off your summer reading list.
Interviews:
Elizabeth George, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932: A Novel" by Francine Prose
"No One Writes to the Colonel, and Other Stories" by Gabriel García Márquez
"In Paradise: A Novel" by Peter Matthiessen
"I've Got You Under My Skin" by Mary Higgins Clark
"Andrew's Brain: A Novel" by E.L. Doctorow
"Frog Music: A Novel" by Emma Donoghue
"Trains and Lovers" by Alexander McCall Smith
Show #5 May 31 & June 1
A spotlight on crime...but not the usual suspects. Elaine investigates crime bestsellers from popular English, Scottish, Norwegian, South African and Australian writers.
Interviews:
Malla Nunn, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"No Man's Nightingale" by Ruth Rendell
"Silent Valley: Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper, Book 3" by Malla Nunn
"Saints of the Shadow Bible: Inspector Rebus, Book 19" by Ian Rankin
"The Son: A Novel" by Jo Nesbø
"The Telling Error: Culver Valley Crime, Book 9" by Sophie Hannah
"The Blackhouse" by Peter May
"Silent Kill" by Peter Corris
Show #1 April 5 & 6
Elaine looks at new titles from "The Ladies of the List" - popular women authors who can be regularly found on the Best Seller lists.
Interviews:
Sue Monk Kidd, bestselling author of "The Invention of Wings"
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Winter People: A Novel" by Jennifer McMahon
"The Museum of Extraordinary Things: A Novel" by Alice Hoffman
"The Invention of Wings: A Novel" by Sue Monk Kidd
"After I'm Gone: A Novel" by Laura Lippman
"Glitter and Glue: A Memoir" by Kelly Corrigan
"Moving Target: Ali Reynolds, Book 9" by J. A. Jance
"Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of the Great Gatsby" by Sarah Churchwell
Show #2 April 12 & 13
The Book Report offers a welcome escape from Tax Day headaches with a focus on Sci Fy titles that hurl us into outer space, and the familiar, yet oft-times frightening near future.
Interviews:
Kevin Barry, award winning Irish author of "The City of Bohane"
Audio Books Previewed:
"Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles" by Marissa Meyer
"The Martian" by Andy Weir
"An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything" by Chris Hadfield
"Blackout" by Connie Willis
"Influx" by Daniel Suarez
"The Last Firewall" by William Hertling
"Year Zero: A Novel" by Rob Reid
"William Shakespeare's Star Wars" by Ian Doescher
Show #3 April 19 & 20
A literary salute to Earth Day with previews of fiction and non-fiction titles that spotlight key environmental issues.
Interviews:
Larry Bud Meyer, author of "Mother Fracker"
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Man From Clear Lake: Earth Day Founder Senator Gaylord Nelson" by Bill Christofferson
"Wet Desert: A Novel" by Gary Hansen
"The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History" by Elizabeth Kolbert
"World Made By Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1" by James Howard Kunstler
"How To Think Seriously About the Planet: The Case for an Environmental Conservatism" by Roger Scruton
"Finding Everett Ruess: The Life and Unsolved Disappearance of a Legendary Wilderness Explorer" by David Roberts
"Visit Sunny Chernobyl: And Other Adventures in the World's Most Polluted Places" by Andrew Blackwell
"My First Summer in the Sierra" by John Muir
Show #4 April 26 & 27
With summer looming in the not-too-distant future, The Book Report travels the globe on journeys of discovery: fascinating new histories and compelling memoirs.
Interviews:
Tom Zoellner, author of "Train"
Audio Books Previewed:
"Fast Times in Palestine: A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland " by Pamela J. Olson
"The Last Train to Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari" by Paul Theroux
"Train: Riding the Rails That Created the Modern World - from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief" by Tom Zoellner
"Labyrinth of Kingdoms: 10,000 Miles Through Islamic Africa" by Steve Kemper
"Canoeing the Congo: First Source to Sea Descent of the Congo River" by Phil Harwood
"On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads" by Tim Cope
"The Longest Road: Overland in Search of America, from Key West to the Arctic Ocean" by Philip Caputo
"Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris" by Ann Mah
Show #1 March 1 & 2
A look at the books behind this year's crop of Oscar hopefuls. Join Elaine in a special Book Report salute to actors, Hollywood and the Academy.
Interviews:
Diane Ladd, Author and Actress
Audio Books Previewed:
"Philomena: A Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search" by Martin Sixsmith
"Mary Poppins, She Wrote: The Life of P. L. Travers" by Valerie Lawson
"The Sting Man: Inside Abscam" by Robert W. Greene
"A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea" by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty
"Twentieth Century-Fox: The Zanuck-Skouras Years, 1935-1965" by Peter Lev
"Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3" by Robert Matzen
"The Wolf of Wall Street" by Jordan Belfort
Show #2 March 8 & 9
Elaine looks at books shortlisted for prestigious literary prizes. The titles are a worthy group of contenders which should be awarded a top spot on your reading list.
Interviews:
NoViolet Bulawayo, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Testament of Mary" by Colm Toibin
"Harvest" by Jim Crace
"We Need New Names: A Novel" by NoViolet Bulawayo
"A Tale for the Time Being" by Ruth Ozeki
"Pacific" by Tom Drury
"Fools: Stories" by Joan Silber
"A Constellation of Vital Phenomena: A Novel" by Anthony Marra
Show #3 March 15 & 16
A look at new, well-reviewed non-fiction titles that spotlight the people, places and events that chronicled historical turning points.
Interviews:
Brad Meltzer, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42" by William Dalrymple
"My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel" by Ari Shavit
"Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China" by Jung Chang
"Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City" by Russell Shorto
"History Decoded: The Ten Greatest Conspiracies of All Time" by Brad Meltzer with Keith Ferrell
"Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings" by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
"Dance of the Reptiles: Rampaging Tourists, Marauding Pythons, Larcenous Legislators, Crazed Celebrities, and Tar-Balled Beaches: Selected Columns" by Carl Hiaasen
Show #4 March 22 & 23
We salute the welcome return of Spring with a spotlight on characters who've come through adversity and made it to the other side. This week, our focus is on fresh starts.
Interviews:
Wally Lamb, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Still Life With Bread Crumbs: A Novel" by Anna Quindlen
"We Are Water: A Novel" by Wally Lamb
"The Good Luck of Right Now" by Matthew Quick
"Perfect: A Novel" by Rachel Joyce
"The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles: A Novel" by Katherine Pancol
"Queen Sugar: A Novel" by Natalie Baszile
"One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories" by B. J. Novak
Show #5 March 29 & 30
Elaine serves up a smorgasbord of new titles on foodies and oenophiles. Our guest is Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist Michael Moss whose "Salt, Sugar, Fat" is a scorching indictment of America's food giants.
Interviews:
Michael Moss, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line" by Michael Gibney
"Lobsters Scream When You Boil Them: And 100 Other Myths About Food and Cooking...Plus 25 Recipes to Get It Right Every Time" by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough
"No Experience Necessary: The Culinary Odyssey of Chef Norman Van Aken" by Norman Van Aken
"From Scratch: Inside the Food Network" by Allen Salkin
"Provence, 1970: M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste" by Luke Barr
"Roast Mortem: A Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 9" by Cleo Coyle
"A Man and His Mountain: The Everyman Who Created Kendall-Jackson and Became America's Greatest Wine Entrepreneur" by Edward Humes
"The Juice: Vinous Veritas" by Jay McInerney
Show #1 February 1 & 2
A focus on entertaining new biographies that take you behind the tabloids to offer up an accurate account of the lives of men and women who've become cultural icons.
Interviews:
Delia Ephron and Brian Jay Jones, Authors
Audio Books Previewed:
"Johnny Carson" by Henry Bushkin
"Sister Mother Husband Dog" by Delia Ephron
"Poirot and Me" by David Suchet
"Jim Henson: The Biography" by Brian Jay Jones
"A Story Lately Told: Coming of Age in Ireland, London, and New York" by Anjelica Huston
"Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting" by Ann Hood (editor)
"The Wives: The Women Behind Russia's Literary Giants" by Alexandra Popoff
Show #2 February 8 & 9
Love is in the air...and on the page in this special salute to a bouquet of titles picked for Valentine's Day.
Interviews:
Robin Oliveira, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Under the Wide and Starry Sky: A Novel" by Nancy Horan
"I Always Loved You: A Novel" by Robin Oliveira
"This is the Story of a Happy Marriage" by Ann Patchett
"The Hypnotist's Love Story" by Liane Moriarty
"Love Minus Eighty" by Will McIntosh
"All That Is" by James Salter
"The Rosie Project: A Novel" by Graeme Simsion
Show #3 February 15 & 16
After last week's focus on love stories, this week we explore a great new selection of "life stories"....not biographies, but stories of life's inevitable twists and turns.
Interviews:
Anita Shreve, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion: A Novel" by Fannie Flagg
"Becoming Clementine" by Jennifer Niven
"Stella Bain" by Anita Shreve
"Someone: A Novel" by Alice McDermott
"Orphan Train: A Novel" by Christina Baker Kline
"The Girl You Left Behind" by Jojo Moyes
"Looking For Me" by Beth Hoffman
Show #4 February 22 & 23
A spotlight on musicians who rocked the house, and rocked the world. Elaine presents biographies that provided the soundtrack to massive world changes.
Interviews:
David Meyer, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Once Upon a Time: The Lives of Bob Dylan" by Ian Bell
"Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years" by Mark Lewisohn
"The Walrus and the Elephants: John Lennon's Years of Revolution" by James A. Mitchell
"Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker" by Stanley Crouch
"Shell Shocked: My Life with the Turtles, Flo and Eddie, and Frank Zappa, etc. " by Howard Kaylan with Jeff Tamarkin
" The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret " by Kent Hartman
"Autobiography" by Morrissey
Show #1 January 4 & 5
We're "resolving" to catch up on books you've been meaning to read. Elaine researches a great mix of mystery, thrillers and non-fiction - a title for every taste.
Interviews:
David Baldacci, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Life After Life: A Novel" by Kate Atkinson
"King and Maxwell" by David Baldacci
"The Flamethrowers: A Novel" by Rachel Kushner
"The Guts" by Roddy Doyle
"The Quarry" by Iain M. Banks
"The Woman Upstairs" by Claire Messud
"Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier" by Tom Kizzia
Show #2 January 11 & 12
Conversations with Dave Barry, Amy Tan and Mitch Albom....bestselling authors who are also members of the literary rock band, The Rock Bottom Remainders. We speak about their new books, and the band retrospective, "Hard Listening."
Interviews:
Dave Barry, Amy Tan and Mitch Albom: Authors/Musicians of the Rock Bottom Remainders Band
Audio Books Previewed:
"Choke Point: A Risk Agent Novel, Book 2" by Ridley Pearson
"The Valley of Amazement" by Amy Tan
"The First Phone Call from Heaven: A Novel" by Mitch Albom
Show #3 January 18 & 19
A jump start to New Year's Resolutions with titles on business, food and fitness to help you take those difficult first steps towards your 2014 goals.
Interviews:
Judith Martin "Miss Manners" and Meghan Doherty, Authors
Audio Books Previewed:
"The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism" by Olivia Fox Cabane
"Foodist: Using Real Food and Real Science to Lose Weight Without Dieting" by Darya Pino Rose
"Miss Manners Minds Your Business" by Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin
"Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar - Your Brain's Silent Killers" by David Perlmutter, Kristin Loberg
"The Truth Project: Finding the Courage to Ignore Wall Street" by Wayne von Borstel
"Born to Run: The Hidden Tribe, the Ultra-Runners and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen" by Christopher McDougall
Show #4 January 25 & 26
A look at current history titles you'll find as compelling as novels. Their subjects cover diverse eras and offer fascinating new perspectives on people and events.
Interviews:
A. Scott Berg, Author
Audio Books Previewed:
"Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination: The Untold Story of the Actors and Stagehands at Ford's Theatre" by Thomas A. Bogar
"Wilson" by A. Scott Berg
"The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams" by Ben Bradlee Jr.
"George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved America" by Brian Kilmeade, Don Yeager
"The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend" by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
"The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History" by Robert M. Edsel , Bret Witter
