Book Nook

By Vick MickunasArts Books

Book Nook episodes

November 18, 2019 Book Nook: If I Live to Be 100: Lessons from the Centenarians, by Neenah Ellis
Some years before Neenah Ellis came to WYSO to become our station manager she passed though our region on a publicity tour for her book "If I Live to Be 100: Lessons from the Centenarians." I liked the book so much that I had her on the program twice, once for the initial hardcover release, then again when it came out the following year in paperback. This collection of interviews that Neenah conducted with Americans who had been living for over a century was originally conceived to be a radio
29 min
November 15, 2019 Book Nook: Music - a Subversive History by Ted Gioia
The music historian and scholar Ted Gioia returned to the program to discuss his monumental new study of what he describes as the subversive history of music. This book was many years in the making, Gioia originally got the idea to write it during the early 1990's. The author takes us back to the beginning, to prehistoric caves in France, where those early cave artists executed their paintings in the portions of the caves which had the best acoustics. Why would they do that? Because they were
50 min
November 11, 2019 Best Of The Book Nook: Kahlil Gibran: A Spiritual Treasury edited by Suheil Bushrui
Dr. Suheil Bushrui made a number of appearances on the program. He was an eminent scholar and an authority on the works of William Butler Yeats and Kahlil Gibran. It was always a distinct pleasure to have a conversation with him because you never knew where any particular discussion might lead. His intellect was radiant-it was truly an honor to speak with him. Dr. Bushrui died a few years ago. I would like to dedicate this particular podcast, number #600 in our archive by my calculation, to him.
30 min
November 08, 2019 Book Nook: The Butterfly Girl, by Rene Denfeld
Rene Denfeld made her third appearance on the show to talk about her third novel "The Butterfly Girl." Denfeld's work defies categorization. Her latest effort springs in part from some deeply personal experiences. This is the story of a young girl who has fled an abusive life at home to survive as a homeless kid living on the streets of a Skid Row area in the Pacific Northwest. Denfeld knows what that feels like, she once found herself in a similar situation. After you listen to the interview
49 min
November 06, 2019 Book Nook: How to Catch a Mole - Wisdom from a Life Lived in Nature by Marc Hamer
Last spring I received an advance copy of a memoir by Marc Hamer. Marc lives in Wales in the United Kingdom. When I first glanced at the book I thought; why on earth would I want to read about how to catch moles? The whole notion seemed bizarre? Then I started reading it and was immediately drawn in. While there is plenty in the book about catching moles this is much more than that. Hamer has written an ode to nature. It is meditative and reflective and poetic. He ponders the changing of the
29 min
November 04, 2019 Best of the Book Nook: The Mile High Club by Kinky Friedman
Kinky Friedman made his only appearance on the program in 2000. The musician and novelist came through the area for a book signing followed by a performance at the Canal Street Tavern. The Kinkster strode into the studio wearing his signature ten gallon cowboy hat. He had an enormous unlit cigar clenched between his teeth. He was quite a sight. He went on to give one of the most hilarious and politically incorrect interviews in the history of the program. I hope you enjoy it. The Book Nook on
50 min
November 01, 2019 Book Nook: Interrupted Motherhood, by Felicia Chappelle
The playwright and actor Felicia Chappelle dropped by our studios to discuss her one-woman play "Interrupted Motherhood." This powerful autobiographical work has been staged recently in our region. If you attend a performance you can look forward to seeing an intensely compelling work with a searing potency that will leave some attendees motionless in amazement by the play's conclusion. Lots to think about in this one. The Book Nook on WYSO is presented by the Greene County Public Library with
29 min
October 30, 2019 Best of the Book Nook: The Lessons of Terror : A History of Warfare Against Civilians by Caleb Carr
Caleb Carr made his only appearance on the program in 2002 to discuss his non-fiction book "The Lessons of Terror : A History of Warfare Against Civilians." The book came out shortly after the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks. 17 years later the treat of terrorism remains very much on our minds and the issues he discussed then are just as current and prevalent today. Carr is best known for his novel "The Alienist." During the interview I never mentioned his father Lucien Carr. If you listen to
50 min
October 29, 2019 Best Of The Book Nook: Almost There: The Onward Journey of a Dublin Woman, by Nuala O'Faolain
The Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain was one of my favorite guests. She had just published her first memoir when she came through Dayton on book tour and we had our first conversation. She was wonderful. She had a wry sense of humor tinged by a deep sadness. Our rapport was instantaneous. The last time I saw her was in 2003 when she was on book tour for her second memoir. She came to Yellow Springs to talk to me again. It was our fourth interview and also our final one. She died a few years after
50 min
October 22, 2019 Book Nook: What Rose Forgot, by Nevada Barr
When I was a small boy and I learned how to read my life changed forever. I became so excited about reading books. All these years later my excitement remains. If anything, I am more excited about books now that I ever was. So many good books to read, so little time. I first began interviewing authors on WYSO back in 1994. For many years I have been aware of the novelist Nevada Barr and her series that features Anna Pigeon, a National Parks Ranger who solves mysteries while being surrounded by
29 min

About Book Nook

From the publisher's feed

Listen to the Book Nook with Vick Mickunas for intimate conversations about books with the writers who create them.Vick Mickunas introduced the Book Nook author interview program for WYSO in 1994.…