Amanda and Rebecca discuss Westerns, nonfiction, friend stories, and more in this week's episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by the Read Harder Journal, Hunting Annabelleby Wendy Heard, and Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Ryan.

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The show can also be found on Stitcher here.

 

Feedback

The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys

 

Questions

1. I'm writing because my brother is a 22 year old Marine, and we've recently had a number of fights about race/gender/social justice. Basically, I think he doesn't believe that racism is really real, and he also believes a lot of wild evolutionary psychology stuff about the differences between men and women. I'm a queer white cis woman in a relationship with a woman of color and he thinks all of my political beliefs are too radical to take seriously, so I'm looking for a book that might get through to him. I'm sick of these conversations, but I don't want to give up without making some reading recommendations, so I want to send him a book for Christmas. In an ideal world I could give him The New Jim Crow, or any number of incredible works of feminist theory, but he definitely won't read them.

He's not a huge reader, but he's been working his way through the Commandant's Professional Reading List https://grc-usmcu.libguides.com/usmc-reading-list (recommended readings for Marines) and recently mentioned that he was enjoying "Principles" by Ray Dalio? I think he's kind of into self-improvement stuff. Maybe needless to say, I'm at a loss.

Some possible criteria:

- nonfiction is probably preferable, and it would be great if it had some kind of military connection.

- I hate saying this, but should be by an author with some kind of credentials that resonate with him (e.g. someone who isn't a vocal radical feminist).

I know this is a broad question, but I'm really struggling, so any recs would be super appreciated.

Thanks so much,

--Caroline

 

2. I am looking for a good book for my stepmom to give for Christmas. Since I only see her once a year for Christmas, I only know two things about her: she’s Jewish and is a hippie. Can you guys recommend a book that has those two things? Thanks!

--Josh

 

3. Hey!

I love your podcast and have discovered so many great books because of it!

I'm between jobs at the moment and have been considered a career switch. I'm looking for any book recommendations that have a similar situation in them - something that could maybe inspire me, make me laugh or just feel better in general. I don't usually read memoirs and would prefer fiction recommendations!

Thanks,

--Nikhila

 

4. I have recently finished watching the TV show Justified and I LOVED it. I have also read and loved a few YA books lately that I think could be called westerns: Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquist; Vengeance Road and Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman.

I am really craving a book that gives me what I loved from the Justified television show (moral grey areas; complicated relationships; prickly characters; law enforcement vs criminals, with people you root for on both sides of the law; sharp, witty dialogue), preferably with a female main character and a Western feel. And I am not big on romance so if there is little to none of that, even better!

I do not have a preference between YA or adult, and I also don't have a preference between present day/contemporary setting or historical.

I am fine with violence in books.

Since the TV show Justified is based on an Elmore Leonard short story about the character Raylan Givens, I read one of Leonard’s books featuring Raylan Givens (Pronto), but it didn't scratch that itch.

Thank you and I am very excited to hear any recommendations!

--Anon

 

5. Help! I was just listening to the most recent Get Booked and question 1 was about a woman going through a painful and complicated separation needing a sweet, hopeful love story. I am, unfortunately, in the exact same situation. I, personally, do not enjoy Kate Morton’s books or historical fiction as a rule or witches, really for that matter. Do you have any other recommendations for this request?

I’ve never read a romance novel but am open to trying one. I recently read One Day in December and that is just the kind of book I’m looking for, I think.

Thanks for participating in my quest for happiness again :)

--Julie

 

6. Hi there! I love the show, but this is my first time writing in. I am looking for some non-fiction recs for my boyfriend. He typically reads sci-fi, fantasy, and thrillers, but recently commented how he doesn't know much about non-fiction and has always found them rather dry. He loves Murakami, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, etc., so I'm looking for non-fiction books that read more in that flavor. I recently gave him Martha Wells' Murderbot book 1 and he loved that. He's interested in food, and distilling, and psychology, so those topics might be helpful. Thank you so much!!!

--Cassidy

 

7. Hello! I've been filling out my "to read" list, and I'm at a loss for books to fill a certain category that I've been craving. What I'm really looking for are books about platonic relationships that are as strong as most romances are written. I'm not opposed to a good romance, but I'd like a few suggestions where romantic love is not the focus, and instead the plot centers around found-family friendships and best-friend-as-soulmate stories. Any suggestions for me? Thanks for your time!

--Molly

 

Books Discussed

Best American Travel Writing edited by Cheryl Strayed

Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantú

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

What It Is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes

The Book of Separation by Tova Mirvis

Arcadia by Lauren Groff

Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl

Chemistry by Weike Wang

Heresy by Melissa Lenhardt

She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper

The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Buttermilk Graffiti by Edward Lee

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

She Matters by Susanna Sonnenberg

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