Book Talk

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Joan Silber about writing against the "narcissism of the novel," about being "against narrowness," and the dangers of being too careful ("then you lie in other ways"); guest readers Brad Ridky and Alice Baumgartner join Oppenheimer to discuss impermanence and contingency, the public and the private, and the desire to be seen.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Sophfronia Scott about the constraints and possibilities inherent in telling a story that's already been told, about villains and heroes, and about the influence of "Dallas" and "The Godfather" on her writing; guest readers Deborah Cantrell and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss race, gender, and the political and cultural relevance of this novel today.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Owen Egerton about the difference between the novel and film ("a movie knows exactly what it wants you to feel when you step out of the theater; a book you can walk away from in a bunch of different ways"); about why he fell in love with writing ("here was a place where my questions could live"); and about how writing Hollow changed him ("it expanded the mystery"). Guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss loss and grief, passivity and action, the choice to live, and the search for meaning.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Claire Messud about coming of age ("I was reminded of how central bafflement is to that experience"); her purposeful choice to leave so many questions unanswered ("the writers I love and admire the most write into the openness"); and how we tell stories to make sense of our world -- and yet in doing so, leave so many things out. Guest readers Kristopher Jansma and Emily Moore join Oppenheimer to discuss shelter and asylum; babysitters and caretakers; poisoned cloaks and loss of innocence.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Allegra Goodman about about the challenges of articulating the visual, about what fiction and video games have in common (and how they differ), and about why she believes art continues to be important ("people are interested, these days, in which lives matter... a novel validates individual lives"); guest readers Alice Baumgartner and Brad Ridky join Oppenheimer to discuss mythology, metaphor, and metamorphosis.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Jonathan Dee about writing a prologue that doesn't seem like a prologue, about the rise and fall of the "social novel," and about why fiction continues to matter in today's America; guest readers Sam Purdy and Mark Oppenheimer join Cyd to discuss masculinity, morality, and authenticity.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Lisa Ko about becoming the person you want to be to write the book you want to write; about trying and failing and trying again; and about how you know, after you've been working on a book for 8 years, when it's finally done (winning a prestigious literary award before the book is even under contract is a helpful sign!); guest readers Kristopher Jansma and Emily Moore join Oppenheimer to discuss mothers and sons, coming of age, and language and its loss.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Matthew Klam about his process ("I write this sentence and then the next sentence and then the one after that and if I can't pull off the sentence that comes after that I know I can't keep going"); about writing the un-sayable ("I am trying to upset people"); and about whether it's possible to draw a line between fiction and autobiography. Also, they bond over their intense obsession with the writer Tim O'Brien.

Guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss concussions, broken arms, and diamond earrings; unreliable narrators and unlikely lovers; and what stories count as real and deserve to be told.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Daryl Gregory about quarreling with his editor about structure, about the advantages of writing science fiction, and about the ways science fiction is like every other genre; guest readers Tui Sutherland and Alfie Guy join Oppenheimer to discuss fraud, fakery, fire-starters, friendship, and family.

Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Val Emmich about why he writes (“Because I’m insane? Why do any of us do this?”), capturing the perspective of a 10-year-old girl (“the actual discovery of her voice was an accident”), and what Sydney’s secret was in earlier drafts (you have to listen to find out!). Also, he sings! Guest readers Brian Slattery and Tui Sutherland join Oppenheimer to discuss old friends and nosy children, trusted sidekicks and flawed partners; and TV talk shows, shopping carts, and song-writing.