Book Public

In Girl Warrior, Joy Harjo shares stories about her own coming of age to bring to light pivotal moments of becoming—among them, forgiveness, failure, falling, rising up, honoring those who came before and making space for those who will come after us.

Paula Saunders discusses her novel Starting from Here. It's a coming-of-age story about 15-year-old René. She leaves a home that is tense and difficult in order to pursue a career in ballet. But the challenges of this displacement are as fraught—and even dangerous.

In Jason Diamond's novel, Kaplan's Plot, Elijah’s mother is dying, and she is sharing some family secrets he never knew before— including that the family owns a cemetery and his grandfather was a gangster in Chicago. In this family, the relationships across generations have always been fraught, but now they must find a way to a reckoning and walk together toward acceptance of exactly who they are. Jason Diamond is the guest on this episode of Book Public.

Sasha Bonét’s intergenerational memoir, The Waterbearers, offers us the idea that the journey of Black American motherhood is like a complex, powerful river. As you read, you travel through generations—from a Louisiana cotton plantation to modern-day New York. She explores triumphs and trials—and shares the stories of legacies of maternal love borne of triumphs and tribulation.

Peter Mendelsund has two new books out. His latest novel is Weepers—about card-carrying members of a union of people who cry for a living. His memoir is Exhibitionist: 1 journal, 1 Depression and 100 Paintings. He had never painted—but the obsession with it may have saved his life.

Peter Ames Carlin discusses his latest book— Tonight in Jungleland—about the making of the iconic album Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. The album was released in 1975. Carlin provides us close access to The Boss—and takes us inside the creative processes that rendered this classic collection of essential songs.

This one is for all the lonely voices out there. We’ve got a podcast crossover on this episode. Peter Orner from The Lonely Voice podcast joins Yvette Benavides on Book Public to discuss his already critically acclaimed novel, The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter. A little noir, a little true crime, some family drama, friendship—and other kinds of love stories. Peter Orner has been called "the most daring and original narrative voice in contemporary American fiction.”

In this tender, brave and heartrending memoir, Jill Bialosky shares the story of her mother—in reverse chronology. It is an elegy and a story of her resilience—and the legacy of love she left behind.

Marth Barnette is the host of the public radio show and podcast, A Way with Words. Her latest book, Friends with Words, is a linguistic memoir. We learn about her lifelong passion for languages and her fascination with words.

Bridgett M. Davis shares a tribute to her sister, Rita. The memoir is a family history, social commentary, elegy, and celebration of life.