Without a guest, the guys make good on their TMN Tournament of Books bet- Drew chose Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn . They talk about what matters in a noir, Lethem tackling Tourette's, and enjoying a book about where you live, amongst other subjects. Also: Patreon listener recommendations! contribute: patreon.com/smdb drink lists, book lists, and more: somanydamnbooks.com 15 seconds of a song: Lounger - Dogs Die in Hot Cars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 29, 2017•29 min
When Samantha Hunt drops by the Damn Library, the guys try to put a shadow in her drink but just end up with something more blood colored. They discuss her story collection, The Dark Dark , the Normas in one's life, and ticks, as well as transcending genre. The story collection she suggested, Chavisa Woods' Things to Do When You're Goth in the Countr y, also transcends genre, and the trio can't stop deciding on favorite stories. 15 seconds of a song: Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh support t...
Aug 15, 2017•43 min
In the Damn Library, Christopher gets an egg white cocktail egg-zactly right for Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, Vitamin and also All About Eggs . He and Drew also chat with Rachel about the inner/outer voice of the critic, using family as inspiration, and eschewing categorization. Then they all dish on how much they liked Mary Robison's Why Did I Ever. 15 seconds of a song: The Magic Numbers - Don't Give Up The Fight contribute over at patreon.com/smdb! get book lists, drink recipes, and more ...
Aug 01, 2017•50 min
Rosecrans Baldwin, who indirectly provided the beginning for the SMDB podcast, stops by the Damn Library to talk about his exceptional "HBO series of a novel," The Last Kid Left . Youth is discussed, as well as getting characters right, stopping into a memory-laden Barnes and Noble, and reading T he Economist in bed. Also, Rosecrans tells a story about how reading Graham Greene helped him meet his wife, before he and the guys discuss Brighton Rock . Tequila is consumed. contribute and get extra ...
Jul 18, 2017•55 min
MARLENA MARLENA MARLENA! Julie Buntin drops into the Damn Library to talk her terrific debut novel, Marlena , and gets into whether she's a Marlena or a Cat, if there's a real Spicy Bob's Pizza, and what she was hoping to get to at the core of her characters. Plus, she and the guys get really into Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki, which isn't a noir even if it seems like it. 15 seconds of a song: Chet Faker - Gold contribute and help the show: patreon.com/smdb find drink lists and recipes at somanyd...
Jul 03, 2017•45 min
Alissa Nutting, author of Made for Love (and also Tampa) joins the guys in the Damn Library to talk surveillance state and let the guys bring up the dolphin sex, and the importance of first sentences. They also talk about Randa Jarrar's Him, Me, Muhammad Ali, a collection of short stories that includes both crows and reading your Mom's diary, amongst other subjects. Crassness is celebrated, and everyone has a dolphin delightful time. get cool stuff, contribute to our patreon: patreon.com/smdb bo...
Jun 20, 2017•48 min
Elif Batuman joins Christopher and Drew in the Damn Library, and they all imbibe a drink called "The Dissertation" which can smack the words off the tip of your tongue. They discuss Batuman's The Idiot , and being nicer to your college self, and how you can end up a Dostoyevsky acolyte by accident, almost. They also delve into Swann's Way , the first volume of Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time (translated by Lydia Davis) and answer: how is this Paris if there isn't the Eiffel Tower? 15 seco...
Jun 06, 2017•53 min
The guys decide to participate in One Book One New York, get on the bandwagon, and finally read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah . They discuss Obama, getting bloggers right, and what it's like for a city to read along together. Plus, they launch a patreon. support the show if you'd like! https://www.patreon.com/smdb book lists and more at http://www.somanydamnbooks.com/episodes//episode-sixty-six-onebookny-americanah Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 23, 2017•23 min
Bianca Bosker, author of Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste saunters into the Damn Library with gusto. She and the guys discuss books that make you want to get pregnant, Burgundy drinking songs, and getting her first hater. Plus, they delve into Joan Didion's South and West, and discuss its essential notebook-ness. write us an iTunes review! 15 seconds of a song: Jim Noir - Eanie Meany suppor...
May 09, 2017•52 min
When Melissa Febos stops by the Damn Library to talk about her new book "Abandon Me," Christopher goes "Beyond Booze" for the drink, and Drew is also there, because of course he is! They talk pop psychology, gift giving, and everyone having different versions of a memory, amongst other topics. Then they move on to Elena Passarello's "Animals Strike Curious Poses" and marvel at her modern bestiary. Part of a song: Unit 4+2 - Concrete and Clay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...
Apr 25, 2017•46 min
Nozlee Samadzadeh-Hadidi, producer of The Tournament of Books for The Morning News, drops by the Damn Library to help wrap up this year's tournament with Christopher and Drew. Drinks are drunk, ancient history is drudged up, least favorites are spilled, and Nozlee even explains how she edits judgments for spoilers when she hasn't read the books. visit somanydamnbooks.com for book lists and drink recipes! 15 seconds of a song: Sondre Lerche - It's Too Late Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...
Apr 11, 2017•39 min
Just before winning a Whiting Award, Kaitlyn Greenidge brought her debut novel "We Love You, Charlie Freeman" to the Damn Library. She confesses to hating animals, amongst other deep explications, and then we switch to talking the genre of "sexy-ckens" with Sarah Waters' "Tipping the Velvet," a novel whose filthy title is only the start of the sex within its pages. 15 seconds of a song: Javelin - Nnormal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 28, 2017•51 min
Jonathan Lee takes a dip into the Damn Library, talking his novel High Dive over a cocktail named after chlorine that surely doesn't taste like chlorine. The ensuing discussion includes fatherhood, pool water, and political awakenings - particularly those of Antonio Tabucchi's "Pereira Maintains." Or does he declare? Of course, Drew and Christopher take a break to chat about the Tournament of Books. 15 seconds of a song: Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
Mar 21, 2017•50 min
Francine Prose joins C+D in the Damn Library for some lively talk of theater that misses the mark, thwarted ambitions, and following the characters of her newest novel, Mister Monkey. They also get into Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson, and Francine heartily recommends a foreign film that will "change your life." And of course there is a brief Tournament of Books interlude. (Caw!) 15 seconds of a song: TOPS - Way to be Loved Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 14, 2017•46 min
Drew and Christopher take a break from tournament reading to enjoy some books that break the mold, namely Alejandro Zambra's Multiple Choice and Sarah Manguso's Ongoingness. The merits of breaking the mold is discussed, along with other topics, like the Disney Vault and Arrested Development. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 28, 2017•23 min
Other than this sentence, not a single reference to Valentine's Day is in this podcast. Megan Abbott stops by the Damn Library with her newest novel, You Will Know Me. We discuss prodigies and the grit of teenage gymnasts, and then dismount the pommel horse into the quarry of Patricia Highsmith's slow burn suburban thriller, Deep Water. Drinks are consumed, dark jokes abound. (buy our shirt): https://teespring.com/stores/so-many-damn-books 15 seconds of a song: "Wedding in Finistere" - Jens Lekm...
Feb 14, 2017•48 min
After a long hiatus, Drew and Christopher are back in the Damn Library, explaining what the Tournament of Books is, why they like it, and what seems like the favorite to win this year. New logo by Jefferson Wiggins. jeffersonwiggins.com GO BUY A TSHIRT: https://teespring.com/stores/so-many-damn-books 15 seconds of a song: Free the Bees - Chicken Payback Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 31, 2017•26 min
Snowed in, the guys decide to record an episode, because why not? They discuss L. Frank Baum, and then an unexpected visitor shows up in the form of Uli Beutter Cohen, founder of Subway Book Review and co-creator of the new literary newsletter Eye Level. Drinks are drunk, halls are decked, christmas trees are discussed at length. Happy Holidays from So Many Damn Books! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 19, 2016•47 min
In this one, the guys look to escape their lives for a bit with some epic fantasy, and they do so via a duologetic ticket to Leigh Bardugo's Grisha-verse. After they extoll the book's virtues and consider the difficulties of escapism, they jump into their Top 6 of 2016. 15 seconds of a song: Lou Rawls - "Merry Christmas Baby" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2016•32 min
The indomitable, incomparable Lisa Lutz stops by the Damn Library for a career retrospective. Drew and Christopher very nearly contain their rabid fandom and talk the Spellman Files series, "The Passenger," "Heads You Lose," and "How to Start a Fire," as well as why it might not have been the best choice to read Georges Simenon's "Dirty Snow" right around the election. Also, the cocktail doesn't necessarily need booze in it! 15 seconds of a song: The Boy Least Likely To - "Be Gentle With Me" Hos...
Nov 29, 2016•46 min
Christopher and Drew are joined by Jade Chang to chat about a road trip, writing what is most challenging, and aliens. Jade likes how cozy it is in the library and the guys love how cozy "The Wangs vs. The World" is as a novel. Then the aliens, because Margaret Wappler's Neon Green is about aliens, sort of. 15 Seconds of a Song: Ashes of American Flags - Wilco Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 14, 2016•47 min
Kathleen Donohoe drops by the Damn Library to talk about her book, Ashes of Fiery Weather, and all the historical disasters contained within, as well as her personal connections to Brooklyn. Surprise '98 National Book Award winner Charming Billy by Alice McDermott is also discussed, and parallels are unlocked, like funerals! and Bridies! 15 seconds of a song: Maria Taylor's "Irish Goodbye" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 19, 2016•38 min
Hannah Pittard stops by the Damn Library to drink a classic cocktail bastardized by a substituted ingredient and discuss her book "Listen to Me" and Iain Reid's "I'm Thinking of Ending Things." Dread is discussed, as well as what makes for a good thriller, and Hannah explains why none of anything matters at all! Other fun revelations too! 15 seconds of a song - "Willow Weep for Me" by Muzzy Marcellino Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 03, 2016•39 min
Christopher and Drew invite Teddy Wayne to the Damn Library, and he brings along his new "zeitgeist-y" novel, Loner, as well as Rebecca Schiff's short story collection The Bed Moved. The literary reader's intelligence is praised, the drink is overtly symbolic, and technology in fiction is discussed in earnest. This is our 50th episode! To celebrate, leave us a nice rating on iTunes, and share our show with a close friend! 15 seconds of a song: Reggie and the Full Effect - "Congratulations Smack ...
Sep 16, 2016•39 min
Christopher and Drew are joined by returning guest Alexandra Kleeman. They all drink a cocktail named after a character who moonlights in both her short story collection "Intimations" and, maybe, within Robert Coover's "Pricksongs and Descants." They discuss being a person-person, talk fiction-fiction, and why puzzle-stories are sometimes best left unrevisited. Amongst other things. 15 seconds of a song: Julien Dore - Les Limites Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 31, 2016•42 min
Christopher and Drew drink Firewhiskey Juleps and get feisty about the new story in the Harry Potter-verse. Fan fiction, Sherlock Holmes, and second Death Stars are amongst the subjects mentioned. No one gets hurt. 15 seconds of a song: Harry and the Potters, "Save Ginny" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 23, 2016•31 min
Christopher and Drew sit down with a whiskey drink sweetened with the blood of maraschino cherries, and discuss Donna Tartt's marginalized sophomore novel, The Little Friend. Unjustly pushed to the side? Or lesser entry in the Tartt Canon? They also briefly discuss show spin-offs. 15 seconds of a song: Adam Green - "Friends of Mine" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 04, 2016•21 min
Evan Hanczor, chef at Egg in Williamsburg, drops by the damn library with Tortilla Espanola and the tale of serving a meal inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God. The connection of food and fiction is discussed. Drew gets worked up by Hemingway, Christopher eats food to spite characters sometimes. Evan recommends cookbooks, too. 15 seconds of a song: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...
Jul 18, 2016•40 min
Christopher and Drew decide it's never too early for list making, and choose six favorites from the year to date (2016). Then they get out their crystal ball and look forward to books coming out for the rest of the year. Summertime reading, awayyyyy! 15 seconds of a song: The Monkees - You Bring the Summer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 28, 2016•17 min
Drew and Christopher tackle YA through the 2001 classic Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and the 2016 Printz Award Winner, Bone Gap by Laura Ruby. Grand theories are posited, the state of YA is considered, the line between YA and regular lit is blurred. No one gets hurt and everyone's happy. 15 seconds of a song: Regina Spektor, "Us" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 14, 2016•29 min
