Episode 069: Books by Women

Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson and A Woman is No Man: A Novel by Etaf Rum

Our books this week are by women authors about women. Amie's book, A Woman is No Man, by debut author Etaf Rum has won several awards: A New York Times bestseller • A Washington Post 10 Books to Read in March • One of Cosmopolitan's Best Books by POC for 2019 • A Refinery 29 Best Book of the Month • The Millions Most Anticipated Books of 2019! The author, Etaf Rum, an Arab-American voice, takes us inside the lives of conservative Arab women living in America. Tami's book Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson celebrates the 1930's in Reno when it was known as the "Divorce Capita of the World".

Start Here! Here's a Great Video from YouTube about Reno and it's Divorce Industry

Tami Read

Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson

Amie Read

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Uram

See our website for some great photos—described here (while you're there sign up for our newsletter). We thought it would be fun to add a few images of the North Virginia Street bridge: the original, the destruction of the more than a century old bridge, and the new contemporary bridge. Rumor has it (and a few confirmed sightings) that newly divorced women tossed their rings off of this bridge right after being granted a divorce.

Julia Claiborne Johnson's book also talks about the Divorce Ranches or Dude Ranches where divorce seekers resided for their 6 weeks of required residency. Here are a few pictures of people hanging out on the ranches! There are a couple of postcards too!

Books Mentioned

Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Half the Sky by Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn

Missoula by Jon Krakauer

Etaf Rum's Books and Beans Sites Mentioned - Around Reno – see website for photos!

We mentioned several places around Reno that Julia Claiborne Johnson mentioned in Better Luck Next Time - here are a few images: Top, left to right: Nevada Historical Society on the campus of the University of Nevada Reno, Parkers Western Wear (No longer in business), Pyramid Lake. Bottom, left to right: Reno's First Airport, The Announcement of the Airmail Hangar being torn down to create the Washoe Golf Course, Lone Star Dude Ranch, Reno.

Media Mentioned

Grand Designs on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Escape to the Chateau on Peacock

Yellowstone on Peacock

The Misfits Movie

The Misfits is a 1961 American drama western film written by Arthur Miller, directed by John Huston, and starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and Montgomery Clift. The supporting cast features Thelma Ritter, Eli Wallach and Kevin McCarthy. The Misfits was the last completed film for both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. For Gable, the film was posthumously released, while Monroe died in 1962.

The plot centers on a newly divorced woman (Marilyn Monroe) and her time in Reno and Northern Nevada, spent with her friendly landlady Isabelle Steers (Thelma Ritter), an old school cowboy (Clark Gable), the cowboy's tow truck-driving and plane-flying friend (Eli Wallach) and their rodeo-riding, bronc-busting friend (Montgomery Clift) in Dayton, Nevada, and in the western Nevada desert in 1960. The Misfits was a commercial failure at the time of its 1961 release but received critical acclaim for its script and performances. Its reputation has shifted over the following years, and many critics now consider the film to be a masterpiece and one of the best films of the 1960s. (from wikipedia)

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Episode 68 – Minisode – The Friday Four – Books about books!

Continuing to celebrate 'Read Across America' Week we have four books about books for you today on the Friday Four! Could there be anything better? We don't think so!

Tami's Recommendations What We Talk About When We Talk About Books by Leah Price The Great American Read: The Book of Books: Explore America's 100 Best-Loved Novels by PBS (Foreword by Meredith Vieira) Amie's Recommendations The Lost Art of Reading: Books and Resistance in a Troubled Time by David L. Ulin Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany by Jane Mount

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Links to Things We Talked About: The Great American Read from PBS Bibliophile Note Cards on Amazon

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Episode 67 - Read Across America - Library / Book related reading selections

The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman and The Library Book by Susan Orlean

This entire month is National Reading Month and the first week in March is Read Across America - celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday. Read Across America was launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA) and guided by a committee of educators; NEA's Read Across America is the nation's largest celebration of reading. While it is a year-round initiative, every month in March has special programming to encourage children to read. Here is an example of week one this year:

8 non-Seuss ideas for celebrate Read Across America

1. Monday: Read a book about families.
2. Tuesday: Read a funny book.
3. Wednesday: Read a book about an inspiring leader.
4. Thursday: Read an #ownvoices book.
5. Friday: Read a book that celebrates books.

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Tami Read

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Amie Read

The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman

Central Library Los Angeles, California

The Richard J. Riordan Central Library in downtown Los Angeles is both a leading public research library and a major architectural landmark. Comprised of the original 1926 library now called the Goodhue Building and a 1993 addition named for former mayor Tom Bradley, it ranks with the Bradbury Building and Union Station as a treasure of the city's historic downtown. The library has been designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument (#46) and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The images on our website are of the exterior, highlighting the tiled pyramid with the light of learning at its apex. Next are three images of the fire both internal and external. Susan Orlean is pictured displaying one of the damaged books that was kept in the library and the final two images are interiors after the building was restored.

Click HERE for a link to a YouTube video interview with two librarians that worked at Central Library at the time of the fire.

Books Mentioned

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Crime and Punishment by Fydor Dostoyevsky

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

Sites Mentioned

The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, California - this place looks PHENOMENAL (Road Trip!) The UCLA Library - Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 at this library

Media Mentioned

Ray Bradbury video from THE BIG READ - great video!

Read Across America - National Education Association - FAQ's here Dr. Seuss's Birthday

Bookmarks on Etsy

Silver Spoon Book Mark

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This week we have a variety of titles sure to please! Amie recently joined the Book of the Month Club and is bringing two hot titles into the library. Tami wanted to share a favorite book about a dictionary (The OED - Oxford English Dictionary) to tie into her Tuesday read. Her last book is a new release from January about a massive blizzard in 1888 - historical fiction, of course!

Tami's Recommendations The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester. The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin Amie's Recommendations The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr. The Removed by Brandon Hobson

Just a quick reminder about our Patreon page: we gave everyone a free look in January - and everything is still available to view! We hope you decide to become a member to support our little podcast! Also, don't forget to sign up for our free newsletter!

Hi Listeners, just a quick reminder about our Patreon page: we gave everyone a free look in January - and everything is still available to view! We hope you decide to become a member to support our little podcast. Also, sign up for our free newsletter!

Also, check out our website! Linked here!

This week Amie and Tami each chose a book that 'checks off' a box on their 21 in 2021 Reading Challenge (click here if you still need one). Amie chose Jack by Marilynne Robinson, author of Gilead, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005. Robinson revisits the community of Gilead, Iowa this time telling the story of John Ames Boughton, the beloved, erratic, and grieved-over prodigal son of a Presbyterian minister. Tami read The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams, a recommendation given to us on Episode 53 by guest Debi Stears, Librarian and Collection Development Manager for the Washoe County Library System. Interested in the OED (The Oxford English Dictionary)?

Here are a few links for those of you who want more information:

About the OED - here

Welcome to the OED Blog - here

Mountweasels - More from the New Yorker here

Books Mentioned

The Great American Read: The Book of Books: Explore America's 100 Best-Loved Novels by PBS from the Great American Read hosted by Meredith Vieira

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Red Wheelbarrow and Other Poems by William Carlos Williams

Patterson by William Carlos Williams

Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

Lila by Marilynne Robinson

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

Attrib. and other stories by Eley Williams

Sites Mentioned

Carmichael's Bookstore

Writers' Workshop - University of Iowa

Washoe County Library

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We are very excited to share with you four FANTASTIC books dealing with three different Presidents: President Thomas Jefferson (3rd), President Abraham Lincoln (16th) and President James Garfield (20th).

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever by Bill O'Rielly and Martin Dugard Jefferson's Daughters: Three Sisters, White and Black, in a Young America by Kerrison Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

Episode 063: Celebrating President's Day Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush and You Never Forget Your First by Alexis Coe

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This week, because it's President's Day on February 15th, Amie and Tami decided to read two books relating to President's of the United States.

Tami Read: You Never Forget Your First by Alexis Coe

Amie Read: Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush

Books Mentioned

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Everything Beautiful In Its Time: A Seasons of Love and Loss by Jenna Bush Hager

The Complete Personal Memories of Ulysses S. Grant (Volume 1 & 2 together) by Ulysses S. Grant

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez

Media Mentioned

Jay Leno's Garage episode with Laura and George Bush - clip from YouTube

John Adams Miniseries starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney

Romance recommendations from Tuesday's guest, Taryn Ruf

This week our special guest, Taryn Ruf, brings you her recommendations for the Friday Four. Romance is her favorite genre fiction and she's read a ton of titles and studied all of the tropes and sub-genres - so many we consider her our expert! Here she explains four, one of which is sure to be your next great read!

Taryn's Romance Recommendations Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (Male/Male Relationship) Get a Life, Chloe Brown (Contemporary) by Talia Hibbert A Rogue of One's Own (Historical) by Evie Dunmore Would Like to Meet (Contemporary) by Rachel Winters

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Episode 061: Valentine's Day Romance with Guest Taryn Ruf

• Forever by Judy Blume and
• The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

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On today's show we have Tami's older daughter, Taryn, as our guest to teach us all about the differences between the Romance Genre and romantic fiction. We had such a great discussion and WOW are there a lot of books for you to see below!

As we discussed the Romance genre throughout the episode, Taryn gave SO MUCH wonderful information we've decided to give you a convenient list right here:

• In Romance, the woman is always the Heroine and the male is always the Hero.
• HEA (Happily/Happy Ever After - story is complete) - HFN (Happy For Now - story continues in a series)
• In a Love triangle the choice isn't between two men, it's between two life paths for the heroine. The man is metaphorical for these two life paths.
• Romance has a number of tropes, such as - friends to lovers, best friends brother/sister to lover, enemies to lovers, road trip romance (forced proximity on a journey).
• Sub-Tropes: Sick bed, communication mishap, secret identity
• Romance is about the journey not the end!

Romance Genre fiction vs. romantic fiction - What is the difference?

Taryn: Two requirements for Romance: 1)The main plot in the story is the romance between the two characters.2) There must be an HEA or an HFN

romantic fiction example: Beach Read by Emily Read

Romance Genre example: The Bridgertons Series (The Duke and I - Book 1) by Julia Quinn

Why teach genre fiction in high school?

We had an in depth discussion of why teaching genre fiction is important and why it should be included in high school. Choosing to teach the structure of a Romance novel means that you can talk about heroes and false heroes and structure details such as every first chapter sets the universe where the heroine is located and what she must break out of for her happily ever after.

We discussed how Romance novels are 'feminist' novels. Here's a great article from March of 2020 from The Atlantic called The Unexpectedly Subversive World of Romance Novels that sums it up really well.

For this Episode We Read and Discussed:

Tami Read: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (Enemies to Lovers - sub trope is rivals to lovers) Amie Read: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - Inspirational Romance - extremely famous

Taryn's Romance Recommendations by sub-subgenre

Paranormal: Vampires/Witches/Fey/Valkyrie - Immortals After Dark Series - The Warlord Wants Forever (Book 1 of 17 in series) - Kresley Cole

Regency Romances - Bridgerton's Series (8 books total) by Julia Quinn

Regency Romances - The Duchess Deal (Book 1 of 4) in The Girl Meets Duke Series by Tessa Dare

Contemporary - Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Fantasy - A Heart of Blood and Ashes (Book 1 in A Gathering of Dragons) by Milla Vane

The Bride by Julie Garwood

Taryn's recommendations

For Amie - Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (unrequited love / best friends brother) by Julia Quinn

For Tami - Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

Books Mentioned

50 Shades of Grey Trilogy by E.L. James

The Breathless Trilogy by Maya Banks

The Beyond Series Books 1-3 (explicit content) by Kit Rocha

Beautiful Bastard - Book 1 of 10 in series by Christina Lauren

Immortals After Dark Series - The Warlord Wants Forever (Book 1 of 17) by Kresley Cole

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Book 1 of 3 - Love By Numbers Series) by Sarah MacLean

The Return by Nicholas Sparks - romantic fiction

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (kindle edition is currently free)

Lord of the Rings Boxed Set by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brönte

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Jessa Kane Novellas (Very Explicit-Erotica)

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria (Taryn said Adriana Herrera by mistake in the show)

Mangoes and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood

Media Mentioned

Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightley

Bridgerton Series on Netflix

Hallmark Channel - mass market paperbacks in films

Kindle Unlimited by Amazon - monthly subscription

Audible Plus - monthly subscription

Libraries that sell library cards to out of state residents

Brooklyn Public Library subscription

Queens Public Library subscription

Orlando Public Library subscription

Houston Public Library subscription

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This week our Friday Four are four books that we love to reread. There are so many reasons to reread a book: revisit a place, a time, visit favorite characters, the prose is inspiring, it evokes a memory - and so many more reasons! Here are just four that we love. . .

Amie's Recommendations to Reread Before I Fall by Lauren Olliver Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak Tami's Recommendations to Reread People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay Other Books Mentioned March by Geraldine Brooks Tandia by Bryce Courtenay