Four Books a Fortnight

This week, Sam's in Aruba, and despite trying to bring fun and light fare on vacation, he has been unable to break his string of very violent reads, starting with "Recursion," by Blake Crouch, where everyone dies a lot, and which is a lot like "Edge of Tomorrow," a Tom Cruise movie Sam and Hannah both like. Somehow, this triggers a discussion of Sam's in-development sci-fi novel. Then Hannah starts talking about Emma Cline's "The Guest" for no good reason; Cline's a hot new writer and Hannah liked "The Girls," her last novel. Nothing really happens, but it's good. And it leads to a discussion of Sam's issues with "The House in the Cerulean Sea," even though he's not done with it. This leads to a discussion of what exactly a "big gay blanket" is, as a seque into "Lush Lives," by J Vanessa Lyon, the first Roxanne Gay-imprint book (which Hannah sort of forgot she'd talked about before). This causes Sam to remind her that people can have sex without anything being funny about it and be reminded of "Warrior Girl Unearthed." Also not really funny, and definitely violent, is "Essex Dogs," the new historical fiction from history podcaster Dan Jones, which Sam took out of the library. The war reference reminds Hannah of "Thin Skin," the new book of anti-capitalist essays from Jenn Shapland, which sounds awesome, and Sam has researched that these essays are original to the collection and not for anyone else (per instructions).

Hannah and Sam are once again at Camp, by the magical healing waters of Clearwater Pond, and there has been a lot of reading going on (plus, the sound quality of this episode is amazing). We start with "Leviathan Wakes," the first book of the Expanse series (perhaps an addiction in the making for Sam), which leads us to wonder what exactly a "space opera" is. Like all the books Sam read this week, it's very violent. But Hannah's reading "Hello, Beautiful," which is not violent, and is rather a retelling (of sorts) of "Little Women," and is a bit underwhelming (and Hannah may have made up the word "mythicizing"). Also a bit of a retelling is "The Land of Lost Things," John Connolly's follow up to what apparently was the popular "Book of Lost Things" (we hadn't heard of it), which is "like 'Land of Stories' plus 'Fairy Tale.'" Then we get into a little back and forth about "Chain Gang All-Stars" — Hannah is a huge fan, but Sam isn't quite sure (this was a big discussion amongst everyone at camp). Oh, and Hannah finally read "The Midnight Library" and has some thoughts! Those thoughts unveil a critical difference in Hannah and Sam's general worldviews. Finally, there is "An Honest Man," yet another super-violent book set on the islands of Maine. It's good, and he gave it to his dad to read, but Sam is sensitive about all of these books set in Maine nowadays. And "Same Time Next Summer," where you know exactly what's going to happen. And it's not very spicy.

Hannah has returned from driving Aunt Janet to Connecticut with new furniture that is perhaps exciting only for us, but it's now much less likely you'll stumble into the non-fiction table and knock a lot of books to the ground. Also, lots of books this week, including "Infested," by Angel Luis Colón, the first book from MTV Fear (which is a real thing and Sam liked it); and "The Puzzle Master," which Hannah doesn't remember ordering, but is an enjoyable combo package of traumatic brain injury and Jewish mysticism and creepy dolls. How do we sell these books to our readers? Horror is hot everywhere else. Then we move into an old-guy-having-sex book by J.M. Coetzee, "The Pole"; and then the much better "The Art Thief," by Michael Finkel, who really is a terrific storyteller, about a real-life master thief who's hard not to like ("prisons for artwork" is amazing). Oh, and Sam has now read "Warrior Girl Unearthed," too, and so should you because you need to appreciate the level of moral bankruptcy it describes, and Hannah, did, indeed read "When Women for Dragons" for Book Club, but, well, only one person showed up, so we're going to talk about it some more (it's mostly about wanting to roast Brett Kavanaugh in fire).

The customers are cranking through the Shop at 9 a.m. on Monday morning as Hannah is literally live from the Book Shop (yay, mute button) and we are ready to crank through some books, starting first with "TransElectric," the revelatory musician memoir from Cidny Bullens, who used to be Cindy Bullens (and we talk about that), back-up singer to Elton John (we talk about "Me," as well) and so much more. Then comes a bunch of stuff about books that come out in September, including "Amazing Grace Adams" (let's hear it for perimenopausal women!) and the new Lauren Groff (it's miserable — in a good way! And it is based in Virginia, yes). This leads into a sidebar on why it's hard to handsell "Chain-Gang All-Stars," but we come up with a way to do it. Then Hannah tells us a story about someone buying 500 copies of TJ Newman's "Falling" from an indie bookstore as a way to talk about "Drowning," which is her new book, and a way to mildy apologize for slagging "Falling" last year — "shame on me; I'm not always right." Finally, we wrap up with the "laugh-out-loud" book, "The Rachel Incident," which comes out later this month and is like "Sally Rooney, but funny," and leads to the question, "Do British people like American swearing as much as I like British swearing?" Oh, and Sam doesn't like the National Book Award-winning "Let the Great World Spin."

Return to Clearwater Pond! Hannah and Sam are spending Memorial Day trying to read while being interrupted by their father. Luckily, Hannah had already finished "Yellowface" before arriving and so we can have a good chat about the industry's hottest novel and why it's supposed to make us uncomfortable (and succeeded: "I wouldn't do that!"). This leads to a long discussion on the worry of having someone steal your work (Sam is not worried). Maybe it all depends on perspective, which is at the core of "Apeirogon," which you really need to read, just like our Book Club did (they loved it). Oh, plus "George," by Frieda Hughes, which is about a real-life magpie; and "Open Throat," by Henry Hoke, which is about a made-up gay mountain lion. And then Sam remembers he read part of the Lauren Groff ARC, which was pretty interesting. Finally, we wrap with a bit about "Momfluenced," by Sara Petersen, who'll be joining Hannah at Labor in Vain, in Ipswich, on June 6.

Sam is feeling good about himself, having made some customers happy with recommendations in the Shop this past weekend, and maybe even fueled some important TikToks. Unfortunately, he mistakes Vice and Vox, and thinks Vulture is going out of business, but isn't. Regardless, check out Bookshop.org. And our Events page. Oh, and Elliot Bostwick Davis was at the Met, in addition to the MFA, where Sam dropped a bunch of acid. You should come see her speak at Hastings House on May 25 in the Farms. Nevermind about the history of "Labor-in-Vain" as an Ipswich street — it's old. Also, hear about "TransElectric" from Cidny Bullens, "Warrior Girl Unearthed" from Angeline Boulley (the follow-up to "Firekeeper's Daughter," which was awesome), "Dead Man's Wake" from Paul Doiron (Maine mystery!), "We Are Too Many" from Hannah Pittard (a "kind of" memoir about her husband sleeping with her best friend), and, finally, "Updike" from Adam Begley, which Sam is about halfway through, but is scandalous, in general. Did you hear about the plaque dedication? More to come on that.

Independent Bookstore Day is over, and we have thoughts. It was great, but it could have been better (this leads to a long conversation on why we need new art, if we do, and a discussion of Hannah's new favorite book "Chain-Gang All-Stars," which is better than "The Hunger Games," for lots of reasons). Then we talk about Hannah's coming-of-age-novel panel from the Newburyport Literary Festival (sex! Going through trials!), before moving into the books we've read: "Whalefall," by Daniel Kraus (out in August, not as good as the Mario movie); Peter Orner's "Still No Word from You" (headliner at Newburyport, where Andre Dubus wasn't sure he'd met Hannah before, but he has); Emily Henry's "Happy Place" (so comforting); "Game of Edges," by Bruce Schoenfeld (it makes Sam sad); Jo Nesbo's "Macbeth" (Scandinavian cops hold themselves to a higher standard); and "The Midnight News," by Jo Baker (another WW2 book!). Oh, and there's a bit on audiobook narrators and how they get paid. Huge number of books discussed this week.

Hannah is in the Berkshires (or someplace) digging for ramps and concerned about her to-be-read list, but she made some time to talk books, including "Rough Sleepers" (the next Book Club book), which leads to a big discussion of why people do good works. Sam thinks it's anger. Heavy cynicism ensues. As a palate-cleanser, we then engage in a discussion of note-taking — Hannah won't write in her hardcovers — and the use of notes at Book Club and the preciousness of books. (Note: Maine and Massachusetts are NOT the only states that celebrate Patriots Day). Oh, yeah, the books we read: "Blue Skies," by TC Boyle (who's great, but stay for the mediocre TC Boyle anecdote at the end); "Symphony of Secrets," by Brendan Slocumb (don't read the jacket copy!); "Saha," by Cho Nam-Joo (Singapore is not for Sam; it's unclear whether all of his facts are in order); "You Are Here," by Karin Lin-Greenberg ("shining beacons of capitalism"). And then there's 15 minutes worth of stuff about the Newburyport Literary Festival — for which Hannah is leading a panel on the "coming of age" novel, with Allegra Goodman, Kai Harris, and Jessica Anya Blau — and how we manage our advance-reader copies. Also Roxanne Gay's new imprint and its new romance novel from Vannessa Lyon.

Hannah is back from a three-day weekend up at Sugarloaf, thanks to the efforts of our friendly booksellers, and ready to talk books, such as "Rough Sleepers," next month's book club pick — because book club is back! Three people showed up to talk "Noor" (it's not just for employees!). But we quickly transition to a discussion of workplace novels like "Homebodies" (you're late! It's 9:02) and "Everything's Fine," which have Hannah remembering her most-recent mean boss and Sam regretting his life choices in general. To that end, Tom Hanks' workplace is the movie set, and his new book is for sure a "love letter to moviemaking," though that doesn't land for Sam, who doesn't love movies, but the comic books that are tucked into the text land pretty well. Then we finish up with a discussion of "It. Goes. So. Fast.," which has Hannah weeping in the car while Sam wonders about the infantalizing of children, and "Girlfriend on Mars," which is way more bleak than Sam was expecting given Emily St. John Mandel's awesome blurb. Maybe we're transcending '90s cynicism finally? Though "Heart-Shaped Box" is a Nirvana song, and the Paul Westerberg song that Hannah heard is actually "Dyslexic Heart," and Sam, per usual, has misremembered.

Still a bit high on her PBS debut, Hannah gives us some backstory on her "Stories from the Stage" experience before we dive into what we're reading. From there it's "wearing books like clothes," Elmore Leonard, an extended bit on Rebecca Makkai (it's "Jackal" Sam is thinking of, which also isn't about a podcaster), and a brief aside about our general dislike of epistolary novels, before we launch into how great Kelly Link is. Seriously, her new book of short stories is GREAT (is she the most famous short story-only writer going today?). What's not great? Slack. But there's a whole book written in Slack messages. Which triggers a pretty long digression. Sorry about that. But stick around for the finish, cuz we've got some thoughts on "Beyond That, the Sea."