Book Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good Read

Welcome to Episode 210, where we have the pleasure of welcoming back Our Mystery Man, John Valeri! For those of you who are new to the Book Cougars, John is a frequent guest. He’s a reader, professional reviewer, and interviewer extraordinaire (check out his BookTube channel, CENTRAL BOOKING). John joins us to not only recommend some hot new mystery/thrillers but also to share insights on the guiding principles of cozy mysteries, making this a conversation you won't want to miss!

This episode is packed with a diverse range of books. We share our thoughts on THE AWAKENING: THE DRAGON HEART LEGACY, BOOK ONE by Nora Roberts, our second quarter readalong pick in our year of reading romance. We also delve into other intriguing reads such as THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS by Laurie Frankel, THE MYSTERY GUEST by Nita Prose, and LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE HAUNTED PLACES by Claire Kann. Emily also read two captivating short stories: “Lucky Girls” by Nell Freudenberger from LUCKY GIRLS: STORIES and “That of Which We Cannot Speak” by Alethea Black from I KNEW YOU’D BE LOVELY: STORIES.

In Biblio Adventures, we recap an exciting Biblio Adventure to Hartford, CT, where we had the privilege of seeing Michael Harriot (BLACK AF HISTORY: THE UN-WHITEWASHED STORY OF AMERICA) in conversation with Percival Everett about his new novel, JAMES, thanks to the Mark Twain House. Chris attended CULTIVATING VOICES: LIVE POETRY hosted by Sandra Yannone via Facebook. Emily binged some PRESUMED INNOCENT movie/series adaptations. At the Book Barn in Niantic, CT, she found a copy of FELLOWSHIP POINT (which we’re both reading this summer) and a fantastic gift for Chris.

Of course, we also talk about what we’re currently reading, want to read, and upcoming #biblioadventures. We hope you enjoy the episode and if so, please consider leaving a review wherever you listen, as it really does help others find us.

Happy Listening & Happy Reading!

https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2024/episode210

Welcome to Episode 209! We were thrilled and honored to talk with New York Times bestselling author, mystery legend, and social justice advocate Sara Paretsky. We talk with Sara about her newly published novel, PAY DIRT, the 22nd installment in her V.I. Warshawski series, founding Sisters in Crime, and so much more. Don’t miss our conversation at the end of the episode.

We pay tribute to the late Canadian author Alice Munro by reading and discussing her story, “Train.” We try to avoid spoilers in our discussion. The story is available online at Harper’s Magazine.

Emily also read “From Outside I Could See” and “The Next Husband Game” from the collection THE GOODBYE PROCESS by Mary Jones (release date 7/30/2024) and “Origin Story” from the ILL-FITTING SKIN by Shannon Robinson. Chris read “Ardessa” by Willa Cather.

We also finished a few novels:

–PAY DIRT by Sara Paretsky

–THE HOUSE THAT HORROR BUILT by Christina Henry

–THE AWAKENING by Nora Roberts

Biblio Adventures include:

– Our Mystery Man, John Valeri, in conversation with author Tom Straw about his new mystery/thriller, THE ACCIDENTAL JOE: THE TOP-SECRET LIFE OF A CELEBRITY CHEF, at R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT

– A panel event, “On Writing: A Panel Discussion with Authors on Their Craft,” hosted by Bank Square Books and the Westerly Library in Westerly, RI

– A poetry reading by Sandra Yannone from her new collection, THE GLASS STUDIO, at the Acton Public Library in Old Saybrook, CT

We also talk about what we’re currently reading, hope to read, upcoming Biblio Adventures, and a bunch of other bookish things.

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

Happy Reading!

Welcome to Episode 208, which features a fantastic author spotlight with Sara B. Franklin. Her new biography, THE EDITOR: HOW PUBLISHING LEGEND JUDITH JONES SHAPED CULTURE IN AMERICA, is a must-read. It is not hyperbole to say that everyone reading and eating today has been touched by Judith Jones’s work, and Franklin’s writing is a delight to read.

We had a great Biblio Adventure to Brooklyn with Aunt Ellen. Our goal of making it to THE RIPPED BODICE Bookstore has been achieved, and it was worth the wait!

Many of our listeners were avid followers of or found us through Jenny Colvin’s podcast, READING ENVY: I’ll have what you’re reading. Jenny passed away in May of 2022. We miss her, and know that many of you do, too. To honor her memory, we are joining our BookTube friend SHAWN BREATHES BOOKS (formerly Shawn the Book Maniac) and doing something we think Jenny would love – reading books together! We are each choosing one book from Jenny’s Goodreads lists. The plan is to read the book by July 1st, Jenny’s birthday. We would love for you to join us by reading along with one of our selections or choosing a book of your own. We have a conversation thread on our Goodreads page, and we’ve created the hashtag #illhavewhatyourereading to use on social media. Let's keep Jenny's love for books alive in our hearts and our reading.

In other reading news, you might remember from our last episode that Emily expressed her desire to read Monica Wood’s THE ONE-IN-A-MILLION BOY. And guess what? It magically appeared in one of her beloved Little Free Libraries. Isn’t it a delightful feeling when such serendipitous moments occur? Emily loved the novel. She also read two short stories, “Ernie’s Ark” by Monica Wood from the collection ERNIE’S ARK: THE ABBOTT FALLS STORIES and “Chapter Two” by Antonya Nelson in BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2013, edited by Elizabeth Strout. She savored THE PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl, while Chris unexpectedly found herself engrossed in another book by Cal Newport, DEEP WORK: RULES FOR FOCUSED SUCCESS IN A DISTRACTED WORLD. Both Chris and Emily have been captivated by JAMES by Percival Everett, especially the audiobook narrated by Dominic Hoffman. Everett’s narrative is a brilliant reinterpretation and expansion of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, and Hoffman’s performance is simply outstanding. Chris has completed her second reading of MOBY-DICK, an endeavor that was as equally challenging and rewarding as her first encounter with the book.

As always, we also talk about what we’re currently reading and hoping to read soon.

Happy Listening and Happy Reading!

Emily and Chris

Welcome to Episode 207. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with rare book dealer and author Rebecca Romney. Her first book was PRINTER’S ERROR: Irreverent Stories from Book History, and she made a significant contribution to the world of romance fiction with her collection, THE ROMANCE NOVEL IN ENGLISH: A Rare Book Survey, 1769-1999. You won’t want to miss our conversation with Rebecca at the end of the episode. Jane Austen fans will be particularly intrigued to hear about her current project!

We have had some genuinely delightful Biblio Adventures since the last episode. Two were joint jaunts: seeing Caroline Leavitt discuss her new novel, DAYS OF WONDER, at R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT, and watching SHIRLEY, a trippy movie about a fictionalized Shirley Jackson based on the novel of the same name by Susan Scarf Merrell. Emily and Aunt Ellen visited Yu and Me Books in NYC’s Chinatown. We also each attended different virtual events through the North Haven Public Library. Chris attended “A Literary Examination of Power and Art” with Xochitl Gonzalez, discussing her books ANITA DE MONTE LAUGHS LAST and OLGA DIES DREAMING. Emily attended “The Foods, People, and Innovations That Feed Us – A Sweeping History of Food and Culture” with Smithsonian Curator Paula J. Johnson, discussing the book SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN TABLE. See the episode show notes for links to recordings of both events.

In our reading lives, we finished a variety of books and stories. BLESS YOUR HEART (cozy horror) by Lindy Ryan, DIGITAL MINIMALISM (self-help/productivity) by Cal Newport, and JAMES (literary fiction) by Percival Everett (the audiobook is fantastic!), THE EDITOR: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America (biography) by Sara B. Franklin, PRIDE AND PRESTON LIN (romance) by Christina Hwang Dudley, HOW TO READ A BOOK (literary fiction/romance) by Monica Wood, and two short stories: “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” from the collection VAMPIRES IN THE LEMON GROVE: And Other Stories by Karen Russell and “The Bookeeper’s Wife” by Willa Cather.

As always, we also talk about what we’re reading and hoping to read. We are super excited about an upcoming Biblio Adventure with Aunt Ellen to The Ripped Bodice bookstore in Brooklyn.

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

Happy Listening and Happy Reading!

Emily & Chris

https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2024/episode207

Welcome to Episode 206 where we have a fantastic conversation with Rebecca Rego Barry, author of THE VANISHING OF CAROLYN WELLS: Investigations into a Forgotten Mystery Author. One reviewer referred to Barry’s book as a “process biography.” It is true, Barry takes you along on her investigation into the life of Carolyn Wells who, it turns out, wrote more than mysteries. She wrote poetry, plays, screenplays, puzzles, children's books, and a YA series. Wells was also a serious book collector in a time when that pursuit was considered the domain of men. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, this biography would make a great gift.

Along with our friend Kate, we did a buddy read of Carson McCullers’ novella, REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE. This was part of our Biblio Adventure to Nyack, NY where McCuller’s lived for the last 30 years of her life (which wasn’t a very long long life: she died at 50, so she actually lived most of her life in Nyack). We explored the grounds of her home (it is not a public author home at this time) and paid our respects at the Oak Hill Cemetery where Carson is buried next to her mother. We visited Big Red Books, a Little Free Library, Pickwick Books, and the gorgeous Nyack Public Library. (Check out our social media for some pics.)

We also recap our Biblio Adventure to NYC which was metamorphosed by an earthquake in New Jersey that was felt throughout the Northeast.

As always, we talk about what we’ve read, are reading, and want to read. Highlights include PIGLET by Lottie Hazell, THE STOLEN CHILD by Ann Hood (out 5/7), MOBY DICK by Herman Melville, HOW TO READ by Monica Wood (out 5/7), SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY by Edgar Lee Masters, BLESS YOUR HEART by Lindy Ryan, THE EDITOR: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin (out 5/28), and two short stories: “Touchless Bidet” by Omar El Akkad from the collection SMALL ODYSSEYS: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories edited by Hannah Tinti and “A Simple Question” from the collection OLD CRIMES: And Other Stories by Jill McCorkle.

If you’ve been enjoying our podcast, please share it with a friend and consider leaving a review on iTunes or whatever app you use to listen.

Thanks for listening, and Happy Reading!

Chris & Emily

Welcome to Episode 205! April is National Poetry Month and we are here for it. Emily is currently reading YOU ARE HERE: Poetry in the Natural World, a new anthology edited by Ada Limón, and Chris is reading BOATS FOR WOMEN by Sandra Yannone.

Since our last episode, Chris finished listening to WAKE UP WITH PURPOSE! What I’ve Learned in my First Hundred Years by Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt. She also enjoyed the first issue of DEPROG by Tina Horn, Gab Contreras, Dani Strips, and Lisa Sterle, and dipped into RIVER EAST, RIVER WEST by Aube Rey Lescure (long listed for the Women’s Prize). Emily read two suspense thrillers: INTIMACIES by Katie Kitamura and WHEN THE CICADAS CRY by Caroline Cleveland, and then went to a happier place with A BAKER’S YEAR: Twelve Months of Baking and Living the Simple Life at the Smoke Signals Bakery by Tara Jensen.

As always we talk about what we’re reading, what we want to read, and Biblio Adventures we’ve been on, like seeing Rachel Slade discuss her new book MAKING IT IN AMERICA: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. and How It Got That Way, at R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT.

Happy Listening & Happy Reading!

We begin Episode 204 with the announcement of our second quarter readalong in our year of reading romance and end with a delightful conversation with author Allison Pataki about her fabulous new novel, FINDING MARGARET FULLER.

Since our last episode, Emily has continued with her intention of reading a short story every Monday. She read “Lot” by Bryan Washington from the story collection LOT: Stories and “Postcards from Heaven” from REUNION BEACH: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank. Chris also read a short story, “Consequences” by Willa Cather from the story collection UNCLE VALENTINE AND OTHER STORIES.

We each read an excellent novel – we’re talking Top 10 contenders! Emily read THE FROZEN RIVERr by Ariel Lawhon and Chris finished WE GOT THE BEAT by Jenna Miller.

In Biblio Adventures, Chris has rekindled a childhood fascination with Mary Stuart (aka Mary I of Scotland or Mary, Queen of Scots). She watched two movies: Mary, Queen of Scots starring Vanessa Redgrave, and Mary Queen of Scots starring Saoirse Ronan based on John Guy's biography QUEEN OF SCOTS: The True Life of Mary Stuart. She plans to read Antonia Fraser’s biography, Mary, Queen of Scots for Big Book Summer.

Emily took a trip to Wilmington, NC where she tried unsuccessfully to shop at Papercuts Bookshop because it was closed for inventory. She did find two Little Free Libraries where she picked up THIRTEEN MOONS by Charles Frazier, INTIMACIES by Katie Kitamura, and EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Back in CT, Emily went to the North Haven public library where she purchased LOTt: Stories by Bryan Washington and WHO’S IRISH?: Stories by Gish Jen from the Friends of the Library sale, and attended a presentation with Linda Civitello author of BAKING POWDER WARS: The Cutthroat Food Fight That Revolutionized Cooking.

Welcome to Episode 203!

Some highlights of this episode: Emily dives into the pages of THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon and the delicious world of baking with THE COOKIE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE cookbook by Nancy Silverton and Carolynn Carreno. Meanwhile, Chris is back in high school with Jenna Miller's new sapphic YA romance, WE GOT THE BEAT.

Emily devoured Elle Cosimano's new release, FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE, and was deeply moved by Suleika Jaouad's memoir BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS. She also read three short stories: "Itinerary" by Lucia Berlin in EVENING IN PARADISE and "Los Angeles" and "Office Hours" by Ling Ma in BLISS MONTAGE: Stories.

Chris highly recommends the new and first biography of a once hugely popular woman writer, THE VANISHING OF CAROLYN WELLS by Rebecca Rego Barry. She also revisited ETHAN FROME before reading SUMMER by Edith Wharton.

We also discuss INDIGO by Beverly Jenkins, our first-quarter readalong pick. A question for those of you who read it: do you think Hester’s name could be a nod to Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter?

In Biblio Adventures, Chris explored The Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Over On Ingredient One, Emily sat down with Louise Miller, author of THE CITY BAKER’S GUIDE TO COUNTRY LIVING AND THE LATE BLOOMER’S CLUB.

Welcome to Episode 202 of the Book Cougars, featuring an Author and Editor Spotlight with Jessica Pryde.

Chris and Emily are enjoying and learning from Jess’s ground-breaking anthology, BLACK LOVE MATTERS: REAL TALK ON ROMANCE, BEING SEEN, AND HAPPILY EVER AFTERS. Thanks to listener Katie for putting this book on our radar.

We’re both currently immersed in audiobooks.

– Chris is reading a new biography, THE VANISHING OF CAROLYN WELLS by Rebecca Rego Barry (available now from Vibrance Press and narrated by Laura Jennings).

– Emily is reading a memoir, BETWEEN TWO KINGDOMS: A MEMOIR OF LIFE INTERRUPTED, by Suleika Jaouad (out 3/1 from Penguin Random House Audio and read by the author).

And we are both #currentlyreading INDIGO by Beverly Jenkins, the first book in our year of Reading Romance.

Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Catherine Oni, whose new romance novel, IF HER LOVE WAS ENOUGH, is available now. Meet Catherine at Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT, on Saturday, March 2nd, from 1-3 pm ET.

As always, we talk about what we’ve read, what we want to read, and Biblio Adventures.

Thanks for listening, and Happy Reading!

https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2024/episode202

Welcome to Episode 201 featuring an Author Spotlight with LUANNE RICE recorded at the beautiful and welcoming Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme, CT. Luanne’s new novel, LAST NIGHT, is out now. You’ve heard us rave about it in recent episodes and we do our best to keep our conversation with Luanne spoiler free.

Some highlights of this episode:

After recording with Luanne, we headed to Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT to attend her book launch. She was in conversation with new-to-us author, VANESSA LILLIE. It was a great event and the reception afterwards at The Captain Daniel Packer Inne was filled with love, good conversation, and delicious food. Later that night we both started Vanessa’s new thriller, BLOOD SISTERS. We binged it and highly recommend you check it out.

Other books and stories we’ve recently read include THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza (out 4/2/2024) and RIVER OF THE GODS: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard. Emily read two short stories:“The Irish Wedding” from the story collection THE SOUVENIR MUSEUM by Elizabeth McCracken and “Such Fun” from the story collection LAST NIGHT by James Salter. Chris also declared that she’s “finished” reading Emily Wilson’s new translation of THE ILIAD by Homer.

In Biblio Adventures, Emily went to Charter Books in Newport, RI for the book launch of FLOAT UP, SING DOWN by Laird Hunt. Chris acquired a few more IKEA bookcases and immediately started filling them up with purchases from Barnes & Noble and Blackwell’s.

Thanks to the sponsor of this episode, Anthony Ausiello, whose new novel, BROOKLYN ‘76, comes out on 2/20/2024.

Thanks for listening, and Happy Reading!

https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2024/episode201