“This country is built by immigrants.”

Week 3 of Covid-19. Unlike anything we’ve ever seen. David and MIchael talk sports knowns and unknowns. Station Eleven sales up (thank you Michael and your virtual book club).  East City Bookshop owner Laurie Gillman breaks down Indies in the time of pandemics (shipping and local deliveries). DC fiscal star Natwar Gandhi shares his life story, his optimism and his inspiring memoir “Still the Promised Land.”

“He probably should be building respirators right now...”

Social distance means Chatter by Skype. David and Torie debrief impacts on their lives (we’re lucky). Michael Sands of Calvert Woodley cares for staff and customers. Lelia Nebeker of One More Page says it’s a whole new world for indies but they are selling books!  Awesome YA author Zack Smedley talks about sexuality, religion and his terrific book Deposing Nathan.   David wins “Angels and Demons.” 

“Fake it til you make it. Not!”

COB pops up at Georgetown’s McDonough School Of Business.  Michael makes Station Eleven frightenly current. What is it about the snow? Professor Peter Jaworski says it’s okay to pay (for lots of things).  Two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner John Carreyrou talks the fraud and conceit of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos in his stunning book Bad Blood. Everyone should read it. And Deserted Island is more cautionary tales.

“It was the little things he did every day.”

Chatter pops up at Loyalty Books in Silver Spring!  Jamie dishes on Jack Reacher and what happens now. Michael kicks off the  as Station Eleven  virtual book club — no angst allowed! Loyalty owner Hanna Depp Oliver talks medieval, clowns and what makes local Indies thrive.  Andrea Chamblee, wife of slain journalist John McNamara,  finishes his book – The Capital of Basketball – and finds new role as gun safety advocate.

“We are different...we are one.”

Pop up at East City Books on Capitol Hill! Michael intros  the new Chatter book club. Emailers recommend and amaze. East City owner Laurie Gillman talks about what keeps her going.  Author, teacher, legal expert Jeffrey Rosen shares his relationship with RBG and her views on just about everything. Check out the Natl Constitution Center!

“This is not living room Scrabble!”

David, Michael and Torie talk and toast Kobe. They place Super Bowl prop bets (there will be lip synching at halftime), and laugh about abandoned books. Michael Sands of Calvert Woodley joins the group for wine and cheese and his life at CW. Bordeaux rules!  Featured author Stefan Fatsis talks Word Freak (he’s an expert) and A Few Seconds of Panic, his remarkable story as a placekicker for the Denver Broncos.

Looking up words. Michael goes all Tom Jones on college books that mattered. New year’s reading resolutions — more fiction for Torie, non-fiction for Michael and classics for David (but no Moby Dick!).  Susan Page’s incomparable reporting and unparalleled access to Barbara Bush’s diaries make The Matriarch a stunner.