Ep. 106: Superlatives with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)

Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books joins me for a special Superlatives episode where we are answering from the fourth bucket of questions submitted for the Ask Me Anything episode of Sarah’s Bookshelves Live. We give you a little taste of the bonus Monthly Superlative episodes Catherine and I often do for the Patreon community. This format is a favorite of mine, allowing for a bit more candor and a lot of fun. Today we tackle questions about our all-time favorite books, re-reads, auto-buy authors, favorite audiobooks, and more! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcements If you like this episode, consider joining the Patreon Community ($5/mo) to get our bonus Monthly Superlative podcast episode series! In these episodes, I feature a continued discussion with every big show episode guest from the current month where they answer 5 bookish “superlative” questions. One of my favorite things I hear from patrons about this series is how much they love listening to the same guests from the big show, but with a laid-back and relaxed vibe. Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here! Highlights Behind-the-scenes info on the Monthly Superlative podcast episode series for patrons. Our all-time favorite books Our auto-buy authors How Catherine and Sarah feel about re-reading Books from Sarah’s and Catherine’s childhoods Immediate bookish turn-offs What Catherine and Sarah find in a book that makes it easy to read Superlatives ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOKS [03:15] Catherine:  A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles | Amazon | Bookshop.org [04:01] Skeltons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian | Amazon | Bookshop.org [05:27] Sophie’s Choice by William Styron | Amazon | Bookshop.org [06:32] Sarah: The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne | Amazon | Bookshop.org [07:33] The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [08:15] Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed | Amazon | Bookshop.org [09:10] AUTO-BUY AUTHORS  [09:59] Catherine:  Anna Quindlen [10:13] Alice Hoffman [10:23] Kevin Kwan [10:39] Sarah: Ann Patchett [12:12] Tayari Jones [12:14] Meg Wolitzer [12:58] Megan Abbott [13:13] Brit Bennett [13:34] FAVORITE AUDIOBOOKS  [14:03] Catherine:  Smacked by Eilene Zimmerman | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [14:31] Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [15:04] A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm  [15:08] Sarah: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [15:40] Untamed by Glennon Doyle | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [15:48] The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [17:12] FIRST BOOK THAT SPARKED YOUR JOY OF READING  [18:09] Catherine:  Laurie and Company by Eleanor Frances Lattimore (currently out of print) [18:21] Sarah: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:16] The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:38] Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:45] Jaws by Peter Benchley | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:00] ALL ABOUT RE-READING  [21:23] Catherine:  Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:45] The Longings of Women by Marge Piercy | Amazon [24:05] Sarah: The Great Santini by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:39] The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:41] The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:44] & [26:07] I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:00] From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:15] SIGNIFICANT / IMPACTFUL BOOKS  [28:00] Catherine:  Inventing the Rest of Our Lives by Suzanne Braun Levine | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:25] Untamed by Glennon Doyle | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:04] Sarah: The Mindbody Prescription by John E. Sarno, M.D. | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:20] The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:00] Fear Less by Dr. Pippa Grange | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:00] BOOKS THAT MADE YOU FEEL SEEN  [33:47] Catherine:  Forty Rooms by Olga Grushin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:56] Sarah: Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:41] SARAH’S FAVORITE LITERARY MYSTERIES & SLOW-BURN SUSPENSE  [36:48] Literary Mysteries: [37:14] When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain | Amazon | Bookshop.org The Witch Elm by Tana French | Amazon | Bookshop.org Miracle Creek by Angie Kim | Amazon | Bookshop.org The Current by Tim Johnston | Amazon | Bookshop.org Long Bright River by Liz Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio | Amazon | Bookshop.org Mystic River by Dennis Lehane | Amazon | Bookshop.org The Cutting Season by Attica Locke | Amazon | Bookshop.org Slow-Burn Suspense: [35:41] The Push by Ashley Audrain | Amazon | Bookshop.org Megan Abbott books The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Amazon | Bookshop.org You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Amazon | Bookshop.org Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews | Amazon | Bookshop.org Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent | Amazon | Bookshop.org Based on a True Story by Delphine De Vigan | Amazon | Bookshop.org The Dinner by Herman Koch | Amazon | Bookshop.org FAVORITE SPORTS FICTION  [38:44] Catherine:  The Falconer by Dana Czapnik | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:50] Sarah: Beartown by Fredrik Backman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:42] Trophy Son by Douglas Brunt | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:51] FAVORITE BOOKS IN LEAST FAVORITE GENRE  [41:55] Catherine (Horror):  The Road by Cormac McCarthy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:45] Sarah (Horror & Romance): Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31] One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:06] Seven Days in June by Tia Williams | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:09] Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:13] American Royals by Katharine McGee | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:17] The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:29] IMMEDIATE TURN-OFFS  [46:14] WHAT MAKES A BOOK EASY TO READ  [49:34] SENIOR MAIN CHARACTERS  [51:44] Catherine:  Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:16] Margreete’s Harbor by Eleanor Morse | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:19] The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:23] Sarah: Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:36] Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:06] Other Books Mentioned The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian [06:17]  The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian [06:20] The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy [08:29] Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan [10:39] A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne [11:38] A Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom by John Boyne [11:54] Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones [12:44] An American Marriage by Tayari Jones [12:46] The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer [13:00] The Wife by Meg Wolitzer [13:02] The Mothers by Brit Bennett [13:50] The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [13:53] Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown [19:44] The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard [27:24] South of Broad by Pat Conroy [27:43] Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan [36:37] The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe [40:13] You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott [41:11] Lord of the Flies by William Golding [43:52] Vladimir by Julia May Jonas [47:34] Honor by Thrity Umrigar [51:22] Other Links Glennon Doyle’s podcast: We Can Do Hard Things [16:15] About Catherine Gilmore Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.