This week, I go back in time to 2012 to share some of my favorite reads as well as discuss other, notable reads from that year. 

We have a special guest author recommendation from Emily Wiberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka authors of Seeing Other People . 

Happy New Year, everyone! 

Shownotes: 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey 

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane

Every Day by David Levethan

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

The Round House by Loise Erdrich

Tell The Wolves I’m Home by Carole Rifka Brunt

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Link to my Chair Art

Link to Empusium Read Along

Link to National Book Award winners

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Check out my top reads of 2025. I also include some books I read in 2025 that were previously published. I share what craft I'm struggling with, what Thanksgiving crop I grew this year as well as some bookish news. 

Books Published in 2025 Mentioned:

Heart The Lover by Lily King

The Ten-Year Affair by Erin Somers

A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toews

Runs in the Blood by Matthew J. Trafford 

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy 

Endling by Maria Reva

Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li 

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley 

Books Published Other Years: 

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood 

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair 

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

Send me a photo of your specialty library card! You can send it to: [email protected]

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This week, I speak with Aja Gabel, author of Lightbreakers. We talk about loss, writing and book recommendations, of course! We also get a guest author recommendation from Amie McNee, author of To Kill A Queen.

Books recommended:

Stories of Your Life by Ted Chiang

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers

Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor

Maggie: or a man and a woman walk into a bar by Katie Lee

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Find Aja Gabel on Instagram @AjaGabel

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Every once in a while I like to just record on my own! Especially when life gets hectic! 

We get a guest author recommendation from Kristin Bair, author of Clementine Crane Prefers Not To.

I share a story about why I'll never wear white pants again, I talk about the National Book Award fiction contenders and I recommend five great reads. Enjoy!

In November, we'll be reading Washington Black and watching the TV series in my online bookclub on Substack. Come join us! 

Books Recommended: 

The Ex-Boyfriend’s Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro 

Ghost Fish by Stuart Pennebaker

A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toews

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O'Connor

The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma

Register to watch the National Book Awards

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This week, we're joined by Nick Medina, author of The Whistler. We talk about superstitions, narrative voice and so much more! We also get a book recommendation from  Julian Brave NoiseCat, author of We Survived The Night. 

Books Recommended:

Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham Jones

The Red Car by Marcy Dermasnky

Villain Hitting for Viscous Little Nobodies - Lindsay Wong (this one is forthcoming and not yet listed online.) 

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy

Angel Down by Daniel Krause

Other Books Mentioned:

Never Whistle At Night - Shane Hawk, et al.

There, There by Tommy Orange

Find Nick on Social Media:

@nickmedinawrites

X @medinanick

www.nickmedina.net

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On episode 151 Kristine Eckart visits and talks about her new book, Meet Me At Luke's: Lessons in Life and Love from the Gilmore Girls. 

We talk about Rory's booklist, sense of community and important lessons we can learn from the beloved series. 

Books Recommended:

Spells and Forgotten Things by Brianne Randall

Hazel Says No by Jessica Burger Gross

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood

Babel by RF Kuang

Where to find Kristine Eckart

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Enter Carpool Detective Giveaway. Closes November 15th. 

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On episode #150, I sit down with Matthew J. Trafford to talk about his short fiction collection Runs in the Blood. We explore the grounded fantastic—where everyday life meets the surreal—and how queerness, family, and myth shape his stories. 

 Books Discussed: 

This is It – Matthew Fox

Endling - Maria Reva

How to Restore A Timeline - Peter Counter

The Hounding - Xenobe Purvis

Cuckoo – Gretchen Felker-Martin

Other Books Mentioned:

How to Survive A Bear Attack - Claire Cameron

A Truce That Is Not Peace - Miriam Toewes

Swing Low, A Life - Miriam Toews

Monsters - Claire Dederer

Find Matthew J. Trafford:  

IG @MatthewJTrafford

Knitting and crafting: IG @ Fairygodfatherknits

YouTube Fairygodfatherknits

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This week, on episode #149 with Laura Dickerman, we discuss her debut novel, HOT DESK - a funny and touching book about two people who share a desk in the publishing industry, some of our favorite books that subvert expectations and, I've decided I only want to read whatever Laura Dickerman has read because she picks the best books!

We also get a guest author recommendation from Thomas Schlesser, author of MONA'S EYES. 

I just so happen to be running a book giveaway for MONA'S EYES over on Instagram. Click here to see how to enter. This giveaway will close on September 15th, 2025 and is open to U.S. mailing addresses only. 

Books Recommended:

Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman

Beautyland – Marie Helene Bertino

A Marriage at Sea - Sophie Elmhurst 

Trust Exercise - Susan Choi

Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

Find Laura Dickerman:

Instagram:  @Lauradickermanwriter 

website: Lauradickermanwriter.com

Book review site: Bookclique.org

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This week, we speak with the delightful Samantha Dion Baker, artist and author of Draw Your Adventures: Making Art to Celebrate Everyday Experiences and Travel Near and Far.

This episode is sponsored by The Housekeeper’s Secret by Sandra Schnakenburg.

Enter the Mona’s Eyes Giveaway: closes September 15th, 2025

Open to U.S. Mailing addresses only

Thank you to Europa Editions for sponsoring this giveaway.

Guest author recommendation from Jessica Francis Kane, author of Fonseca. 

Check out What Dan Read here. https://what-dan-read.com

Books Discussed:

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

How to Read A Book by Monica Wood

The Guest by Emma Cline

Find Samantha Dion Baker online:

Website www.sdionbaker.com

Instagram @sdionbekerdesign

Substack @Draw Your World

Samantha Dion Baker's Skillshare Classes

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This week, I'm joined by Lisa Pahl who talks about an inventive way to talk about death and dying, through use of The Death Deck. We also discuss books that deal with this topic. 

The Clouds Far Behind Me by Laurie Lo Cicero

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor 

Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living by Penny Hawkins Smith

Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yin Li

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family by Marguerite Magnuson

Learn more about The Death Deck

The Death Deck on Instagram

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I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!