“All the old ghosts are leaving town…”   Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Torie and COB fave Lou Bayard.  Lou goes playwright, and David sheds a tear (a happy one) over TNT.  Award winning, best selling and all around cool guy James Grady zooms in to share his latest, “American Sky.”  Epic and sweeping and so much more significant than your average coming of age story.  Grady’s portrait is, as Lou puts it “…indelibly, the portrait of a nation — an epic canvas that always feels intimate…"

“History and hope.”   Chatter rolls live at Wonderland Books in Bethesda, Maryland.  Claude, David, Jamie, and Torie chat with Wonderland owner Gayle Weiswasser.  She gives the lowdown on how the store is doing; foot traffic, sales, and community hub all flourishing.  S.L. Price (aka Scott) takes a seat to share his latest “The American Game — History and Hope in the Country of Lacrosse.”  Revered by many as one of the all time great sportswriters, Scott examines the history, culture and geopolitics of the game. Meticulously researched, “The American Game” is a fascinating look at a sport whose evolution explains so much about the country.

“Better than Gatsby.”   Chatter rolls with Claude, Torie, and Jamie as David recovers from NBA finals.  They break down DOD events, and Rocco’s shot contest beats all. Best selling author and screenwriter Kyra Davis Lurie zooms in the share “The Great Mann.” Describing it as a reimagining of “The Great Gatsby,” as many do, doesn’t do justice to this deeply researched look at class and wealth and Black identity in postwar Los Angeles. It’s Lurie’s first turn at historical fiction; hopefully not her last.

“To the Jealous.“   Chatter rolls with Kevin Stanfield filling in for Claude (in Hershey), Jamie, and Torie as David rocks the NBA finals.  Horses rule as Torie raves about her rare win betting on the ponies, and they discuss the perils of gambling. They preview Chatter’s live show in Bethesda om July 7 at Wonderland Books.    A violinist and author, Ling Ling Huang zooms in to share “Immaculate Conception.”  Her second novel, it blows ones mind with the possibilities — good and bad — when technology and art and friendship collide.

“Untold“   Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Jamie, Torie, and COB alum Mike Croley.  All agree that Charlotte Bronte was more talented at 13 than any of us as adults.  Mike explains tenure — liberating.  David wins the pop quiz “name the book by the quote.” Award winning (as in James Beard) and best selling author Ted Genoways zooms in to share “Tequila Wars,” his massively researched and compellingly written take on the unsung and underreported Jose Cuervo, a real person with untold impact on Mexican history.

“So many firsts.“   Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Jamie, Jud, and Torie.  After discussing Kaitlyn/Colin nuptials and cars they shockingly move quickly to book topics.  Is “The Great Gatsby” the great American novel?  Is there really a great American novel?   COB alum and fave  Victoria Christopher Murray zooms in to share “Harlem Rhapsody,” the story of Jesse Redmon Fauset, the “literary midwife” of the Harlem Renaissance.  Victoria’s the perfect person to write about the woman at the heart of a cultural renaissance.

“Of a culture."      Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Jamie, Torie, and Jud Ashman.  Chatter on Sports kicks things off — Final Four, Ovi, and the Masters.  A hard turn to award winning author Jack Fairweather.  He zooms in to share “The Prosecutor.”  Meticuous research and beautiful writing make this true story about a Jewish lawyer prosecuting Nazi war crimes a book that can’t be put down once you start.   Sebastian Junger called it “..a tour de force of both historical research and absolutely terrific writing.  It reads like the best sort of cloak-and-dagger novel.” Yep.  And it’s hIghly relevant these days.

“Wild, luxurious, and absurd.”   Chatter rolls into March madness with David, Jamie, and Torie.  All eyes on David’s beloved American Eagles, but Jamie’s Gators look good.  Torie’s beloved CAPs are on a roll, and Ovi’s on the march to break Gretzky’s record.  The show gets back to books (sort of) with a review of reviews of the Moby Dick opera.  Best selling author and former librarian Kristen Arnett zooms in to share “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One.”  As the Washington Post put it, it’s all kinds of funny.  Ostensibly about a retail employee turned clown, it’s a truly original way to look at art and creativity.

“Mice — whatever it means to you.“   Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Jamie, and Torie.  They break down the CAPs resurgence and a great 2018 moment — off the ice and in the water.  They debate what’s behind the  resurgence of brick and mortar book stores.   Award winning author Charlotte Wood zooms in from down under to share “Stone Yard Devotional.”  Released in Australia in 2023 and a Booker Prize finalist in ’24, Wood tells the story of a disillusioned conservationist who moves into a convent.  Beautifully spare, it’s “extraordinary” as WashPost critic Ron Charles said.  And it makes you work — a good thing!

“Seeking something.”   Chatter rolls with Lauren filling in for Claude, Jamie, and Torie.  They once again go down the memory lane of journalism. No contest in the Super Bowl but a good debate over Tom Brady.  Torie and Jamie try to tackle Ed Butt’s daughter’s sorority sister’s list by which to curate reading and epically fail.  N.L. Holmes zooms in to share her remarkable career paths and latest in the Hani’s Daughter Mystery series, “Melody of Evil.”  Set in the time of King Tutankhamun, the book weaves a page turning mystery in a mosaic of the politics, family dynamics, and culture of Ancient Egypt.