Welcome to the Summer 2022 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!

In this episode, Catherine and I share our most anticipated books coming out June through mid-August.  

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)…

• In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I introduced Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo).
• Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members.
• The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and is available in a PDF file format via Patreon.
• If you’d like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker.
• Plus, as a patron you can listen to the quarterly bonus podcast episode series called Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books that we’re excited about that we did not share in the regular Preview episode. 

Get Summer Shelves!

Highlights

• The summer theme lands on the spectrum of female relationships — some healthy and some toxic.  
• Catherine is more optimistic for these summer releases.
• Debut novels make up 4 of Sarah’s 6 picks!
• Catherine and Sarah fall into an impromptu new game of Guess What Book This Sounds Like?
• Catherine shares a funny author meeting gaffe from her past.
• Catherine and Sarah share their #1 summer release picks.

Summer 2022 Book Preview [2:33]

June

Sarah’s Picks:

• These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:11]
• The Measure by Nikki Erlick (June 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:08]

Catherine’s Picks:

• Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:16]
• Tracy Flick Can’t Win by Tom Perrotta (June 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:46] 
• Girls They Write Songs About by Carlene Bauer (June 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:41] 

July

Sarah’s Picks:

• The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger (July 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:12] 
• Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez (July 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:12] 
• The Work Wife by Alison B. Hart (July 19) | Amazon [30:24] 

Catherine’s Picks:

• Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark (July 5) | Amazon [27:20]
• Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress (July 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:15] 

August

Sarah’s Pick:

• Dirt Creek by Hayley Scrivenor (August 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:03] 

Catherine’s Pick:

• Bookish People by Susan Coll (August 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:57]

Other Books Mentioned

• Upgrade by Blake Crouch (July 12) [3:51] 
• Normal People by Sally Rooney [6:52] 
• Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney [6:55] 
• There There by Tommy Orange [9:44]
• Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades [10:00]
• American Predator by Maureen Callahan [11:00]
• The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin [11:57] 
• Election by Tom Perrotta [14:51] 
• The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta [15:11] 
• The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger [18:50] 
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [19:53] 
• Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven [20:10] 
• Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer [22:54] 
• The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer [24:42]
• Love and Saffron by Kim Fay [24:50] 
• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez [25:23] 
• A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost [26:29] 
• Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [32:05] 
• The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer [35:22] 
• The Ensemble by Aja Gabel [35:29] 
• The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale [35:33] 
• The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb [36:11] 
• Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [39:06] 
• The Mothers by Brit Bennett [39:09] 
• The Dry by Jane Harper [39:37] 
• We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker [40:23] 
• Descent by Tim Johnston [41:08] 
• The Stager by Susan Coll [44:19] 

About Catherine Gilmore

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

In the Spring 2022 Book Preview, Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I shared our most anticipated books that released April – May 2022.  In today’s episode, we’re circling back to update you on the books we’ve had a chance to read — or at least attempted.  Given my ongoing success rate with spring releases, I’m starting to wonder if that is just the best season for my type of books! 

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)…

• In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I’m introducing Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo).
• Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members.
• The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and is available in a PDF file format via Patreon.
• If you’d like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker.

Get Summer Shelves!

Highlights

• Catherine and Sarah continue with fairly high success rates for 2022 so far.
• Sarah had three 5-star spring releases!
• Catherine and Sarah share their best and worst picks from the Spring 2022 Book Preview.

Spring Books Read Before the Preview [5:08]

Sarah’s Picks:

• Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:12]
• Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:13] 

Catherine’s Pick:

• The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:55]

Spring Circle Back [3:34]

April

Sarah’s Picks:

• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:52]
• Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:32]
• When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:22]

Catherine’s Picks:

• Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:55]
• An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:39] 

May

Sarah’s Pick:

• The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (May 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:06] 

Catherine’s Picks:

• Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39]
• Elektra by Jennifer Saint (May 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:01] 
• Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:24]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne [12:27]
• What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins [13:58] 
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [18:46]
• Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson [21:28]
• Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett [22:13]
• Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders [22:42]
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini [28:13]
• Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner [30:42]
• Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson [31:02]
• Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach [34:14] 
• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz [36:11] 
• You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz [36:26] 
• Circe by Madeline Miller [41:14]
• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid [45:36]

Other Links

• Smithsonian Magazine | The Transcontinental Railroad Wouldn’t Have Been Built Without the Hard Work of Chinese Laborers
• Smithsonian Magazine | What Archaeologists Are Learning About the Lives of the Chinese Immigrants Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad

About Catherine Gilmore

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I share our favorite books that missed last year’s Summer Reading Guides, some deep backlist books we think are great for summer reading, and our #1 picks for four categories featured in Sarah’s 2022 Summer Reading Guide.

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Introducing Summer Shelves (a companion to my Summer Reading Guide)…

• In addition to my annual 2022 Summer Reading Guide, I’m introducing Summer Shelves, a companion exclusively for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo).
• Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from over 25 former podcast guests and our team members.
• The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and you’ll receive it in a PDF file format via Patreon.
• If you’d like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker.

Our Summer Reading Guides

• Sarah’s 2022 Summer Reading Guide
• Susie’s 2022 Summer Reading Guide

Summer Reading [4:23] Books That Missed Last Year’s Summer Reading Guides [4:58]

Sarah

• The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:29]
• The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:12]
• Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography by Laurie Woolever | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:24] 

Susie

• For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:29]
• Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:06] 
• Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:32] 

Backlist Books That Are Great for Summer Reading [25:30]

Sarah

• Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolito | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:53] 
• Red Notice by Bill Browder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39]
• The Fever by Megan Abbott | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:52]

Susie

• Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:12] 
• The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty by Vendela Vida | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:09]
• The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:15]

Our #1 Summer Picks by Category  [42:08]

Something Light / Fun

• Sarah: Dilettante by Dana Brown | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:46] 
• Susie: Cover Story by Susan Rigetti | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:03] 

Something Fast Paced / Intense

• Sarah: Upgrade by Blake Crouch (July 12, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:48] 
• Susie: Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone (May 24, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:52] 

Something with a Bit More Substance

• Sarah: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:27] 
• Susie: Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:05] 

Something Different

• Sarah: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:45] 
• Susie: This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:23] 

Other Books Mentioned

• The Family by Naomi Krupitsky [6:53] 
• The Turnout by Megan Abbott [7:01] 
• Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll [7:21] 
• My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing [9:35]
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt [9:48]
• Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates [9:48]
• One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London [12:37] 
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston [12:44] 
• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid [15:14] 
• The Ensemble by Aja Gabel [15:14] 
• Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau [15:14] 
• The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton [15:14] 
• The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff [20:08] 
• The Office by Andy Greene [20:57]
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [30:15] 
• Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez [30:41]
• Moneyball by Michael Lewis [33:21] 
• We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida [34:17] 
• Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight [38:18] 
• My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams [45:51] 
• The Accident by Chris Pavone [55:54] 
• The Expats by Chris Pavone [56:02] 
• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle [1:04:10] 

Other Links

• The New York Times Magazine | What Happened to the Girls in Le Roy

About Susie Boutry

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Susie has loved reading for as long as she can remember. Some of her fondest childhood memories involve long afternoons at the library and then reading late into the night. More than ten years ago, she began journaling about the books she read and turned that passion into writing about books. Her first forays were as a guest reviewer on a friend’s blog, but she soon realized she wanted to be reviewing and talking about books on a blog of her own. From there, Novel Visits was born. That was in 2016 and, though the learning curve was steep, she loves being a part of the book community. Novel Visits focuses on new novel reviews (print and audio), previews of upcoming releases, and musings on all things bookish.

In Episode 111, Dolen Perkins-Valdez (author of Take My Hand) shares details about the real-life events that inspired the book about a tragic story and historical landmark in the battle for women’s rights. Dolen also talks about her research methods and a couple of key themes from the book. Take My Hand was a 5-star book for me and will be one of my favorite books of 2022!

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• What compelled Dolen to write this book, based on the true story of the Relf sisters.
• How Dolen shaped this real-life story into fiction and the liberties she allowed for her novel.
• Dolen’s research process and a bit of the behind the scenes of crafting the book.
• The theme of governmental coercion and exploitation of poor people.
• Dolen’s favorite genre of fiction as a reader.
• How Dolen first resisted defining herself as a Historical Fiction writer.
• The secret genre Dolen would like to explore one day.

Dolen’s Book Recommendations [24:31]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:08]
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:06]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:00]
• Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:58]

One Book She DIDN’T LOVE

• A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:12]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn (March 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:49]

Last 5-Star Book Dolen Read

• Miss Chloe by A. J. Verdelle (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:22]

Other Books Mentioned

• Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez [1:02]
• Balm by Dolen Perkins-Valdez [1:02]
• Black No More by George S. Schuyler [28:19]
• Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora by Sheree Renée Thomas (ed.), with short story “Sister Lilith” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers [32:23]
• The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers [33:31]
• The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois [33:39]
• The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway [41:05]
• The Alice Network by Kate Quinn [42:40]

Other Links

• Reuters | Henrietta Lacks’ Heirs Sue for Cut of Medical Research Profits.  Are They Too Late?
• NPR | Henrietta Lacks’ family sues biotech company for profiting from ‘stolen’ cells

About Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is the New York Times bestselling author of Wench and Balm. She was a finalist for two NAACP Image Awards and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for fiction, and she was awarded the First Novelist Award by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Dolen is the current Chair of the Board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. On behalf of the foundation, she has visited nearly every public high school in the District of Columbia to talk about the importance of reading and writing.   She is currently Associate Professor in the Literature Department at American University and lives in Washington, DC with her family.

In Episode 110, Mary Laura Philpott (author of Bomb Shelter) joins me for a deep dive into the memoir & essays genre, including the differences between a memoir and an essay collection, the level of involvement from editors and publishers, and how she personally approaches writing a memoir or essays. 

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• Mary Laura talks about her latest book, Bomb Shelter.
• Where memoirs and essay collections fall on a spectrum.
• The fluidity of genre-labeling books.
• A bit about cover design and subtitles.
• How Mary Laura feels about the “Literary” label.
• The planning of an essay collection and their overarching themes.
• Balancing living life for its own sake and living life for good book content.
• How Mary Laura handles telling personal stories and the real people they feature.
• How Mary Laura handles memory and recall in her work.
• The fact-checking process for memoirs and essays.

Mary Laura’s Book Recommendations [32:31]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:47]
• Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:57]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Let’s Not Do That Again by Grant Ginder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:49]
• Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:30]

The CURRENT READING TREND She DOESN’T Love [45:35]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub (May 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:15]

Last 5-Star Book Mary Laura Read

• Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:03]

Other Books Mentioned

• I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott [1:02]
• Raven Rock by Garrett Graff [30:14]
• The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett Graff [30:20]
• A Million Little Pieces by James Frey [32:23]
• The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close [42:03]
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott [47:42]
• Siracusa by Delia Ephron [51:24]

About Mary Laura Philpott

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Mary Laura Philpott is the author of the brand-new memoir, Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives, which has been named an Indie Next pick by booksellers nationwide, an Amazon Editor’s Choice selection, and a best book of the spring or most anticipated book of the year by publications ranging from the Washington Post to TODAY.com, among others. She is also the author of the national bestseller I Miss You When I Blink — which was named one of NPR’s Favorite Books of 2019 and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her writing has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other publications. Additionally, Mary Laura (yes, she goes by both names) is a former bookseller and was an Emmy-winning co-host of A Word on Words, the literary interview program on Nashville Public Television. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family.

Welcome to the Spring 2022 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!

In this episode, Catherine and I share our most anticipated books coming out in April – May 2022.

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Announcements

• In conjunction with my upcoming 9th annual Summer Reading Guide, I will be releasing a companion for Superstars Patrons ($7/mo)! The companion is called Summer Shelves and will feature backlist reading recommendations from former podcast guests.  Plus, both Catherine and Susie will be contributing book recommendations! Both the 2022 Summer Reading Guide and Summer Shelves will launch on Tuesday, May 17.  Sign up here, and select the Superstars tier to get this guide and more bonus content.
• Join our Patreon Community ($5/mo) to get our bonus podcast episode series called Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here!

Highlights

• Catherine and Sarah share the key to their recent high success rate and try to go in cold to new books.
• Sarah’s second 5 star book of 2022!
• Catherine and Sarah share their #1 spring release picks.

Spring 2022 Book Preview [3:34]

April

Sarah’s Picks:

• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:06]
• Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:03]
• Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:54] 
• Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:48]
• When We Fell Apart by Soon Wiley (April 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:24]

Catherine’s Picks:

• The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:54]
• Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:24] 
• An Unlasting Home by Mai Al-Nakib (April 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:09] 
• Dark Circles by Caite Dolan-Leach (May 10*) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:15]

May

Sarah’s Pick:

• The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (May 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:37] 

Catherine’s Picks:

• Elektra by Jennifer Saint (May 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:34] 
• Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (May 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:47]

Other Books Mentioned

• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan [10:23] 
• I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott [15:34] 
• The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik [19:35] 
• A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum [28:09]
• Honor by Thrity Umrigar [28:18]
• Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett [29:37]
• Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach [33:02] 
• The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin [33:35] 
• We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter [34:05] 
• If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha [38:14] 
• Ariadne by Jennifer Saint [38:55] 
• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz [40:57] 
• You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz [41:03] 
• Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner [43:19]
• The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo [44:00] 

*Book’s release date changed since the time of recording.

About Catherine Gilmore

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

In the Winter 2022 Book Preview (Ep. 102), Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I shared our most anticipated books set to release January – March 2022 (with one early April release). Today, we’re giving an update on the books we shared in the Winter Preview — now that we’ve had the chance to read them.

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• Sarah’s and Catherine’s Winter 2022 reading stats and success rates.
• How their success rates compare to Fall 2021 and Winter 2021.
• Sarah talks about the key to her tremendous reading success lately.
• Their Best and Worst picks from the Winter 2022 Book Preview episode.

Winter 2022 Books Read Before the Preview [2:54]

Sarah’s Picks:

• Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor (February 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:24]
• I Came All This Way to Meet You by Jami Attenberg (January 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:11] 

Catherine’s Picks:

• Honor by Thrity Umrigar (January 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:34]
• No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib (January 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:01] 

Winter 2022 Circle Back [8:08]

January

Sarah’s Pick:

• Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho (January 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:08]

Catherine’s Picks:

• To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara (January 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:35] 
• The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk (January 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:49]
• Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (January 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:34]

February

Sarah’s Picks:

• What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris (February 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:11]
• Our American Friend by Anna Pitoniak (February 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:03]
• Fake by Erica Katz (February 22) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:52] 

Catherine’s Pick:

• Love and Saffron by Kim Fay (February 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:32]

March

Sarah’s Pick:

• Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor (March 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:57]

Catherine’s Picks:

• One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle (March 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:13]
• Dilettante by Dana Brown (March 22) | Buy from Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:38]

April

Sarah’s Pick:

• Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow (April 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:58]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald [3:33] 
• The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott [24:19]
• American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld [24:25]
• Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka [24:49]
• The Boys’ Club by Erica Katz [28:05]
• Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger [37:32]
• The Bright Lands by John Fram [38:30]
• Never Simple by Liz Scheier [40:45]

About Catherine Gilmore

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

In Episode 107, Barbara Feinman Todd (author of Pretend I’m Not Here) takes me behind the scenes of ghostwriting after a career of writing for many top names in Washington, DC.  Barbara is wonderfully candid and we have a fascinating discussion all about the nuts and bolts of ghostwriting, and the emotional and personal side of the business.

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• How Barbara’s ghostwriting career began
• Nothing is typical when it comes to ghostwriting including the services offered
• The reasons people might need a ghostwriter
• The surprising distinction between author and writer.
• We discuss confidentiality agreements and the vetting process
• How ghostwriters get paid
• Who has veto power and control of the information
• The allure of the job and protecting your own legacy
• The struggle with the moralities and ethics of ghostwriting 
• How Barbara handled balancing the work with the intimate access to other people’s lives
• Figuring out the perspective and angle for writing about the subject
• A surprising person who requested her ghostwriting services
• What Barbara is currently working on (it’s fiction!)
• Her ongoing nonfiction project that started with a diary from 1872

Barbara’s Book Recommendations [29:43]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• Henry and Clara by Thomas Mallon | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:00]
• Bleaker House by Nell Stevens | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:07]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Latinist by Mark Prins | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:20]
• Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:02]

One Book She DIDN’T LOVE

• Trump: The Art of the Deal by Donald J. Trump with Tony Schwartz | Amazon| Bookshop.org [40:30]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (April 5, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:50]

Last 5-Star Book Barbara Read

• Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:41]

Other Books Mentioned

• It Takes a Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton [01:08]
• Veil by Bob Woodward [01:11]
• Loyalties by Carl Berstein [01:13]
• A Good Life by Ben Bradlee [01:15]
• Open by Andre Agassi [19:17]
• A Woman’s Place by Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky with Barbara Feinman [18:41]
• Open Book by Jessica Simpson [25:07]
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty [28:14]
• Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens (July 19, 2022) [34:57]
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt  [36:20]
• Possession by A. S. Byatt [36:25]
• The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel [46:04]
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [46:07]

Other Links

• Slate | Ghost in the Machine: A Washington Ghostwriter Gets Caught in the Clinton Scandal Complex
• The Washington Post | Mrs. Clinton’s Book:  A Ghost Story?  The Flap Over Who Write Village
• The New Yorker | Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All

About Barbara

Twitter

Barbara Feinman Todd is the author of the 2017 memoir Pretend I’m Not Here. She taught journalism at Georgetown University for 25 years, where she was the founding Journalism Director and is currently professor emerita.  Cofounder of the Pearl Project, she coauthored the e-book The Truth Left Behind: Inside the Kidnapping and Murder of Daniel Pearl. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Glamour, the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast, Newsweek, and on NPR.

Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books joins me for a special Superlatives episode where we are answering from the fourth bucket of questions submitted for the Ask Me Anything episode of Sarah’s Bookshelves Live. We give you a little taste of the bonus Monthly Superlative episodes Catherine and I often do for the Patreon community. This format is a favorite of mine, allowing for a bit more candor and a lot of fun. Today we tackle questions about our all-time favorite books, re-reads, auto-buy authors, favorite audiobooks, and more!

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Announcements

• If you like this episode, consider joining the Patreon Community ($5/mo) to get our bonus Monthly Superlative podcast episode series! In these episodes, I feature a continued discussion with every big show episode guest from the current month where they answer 5 bookish “superlative” questions. One of my favorite things I hear from patrons about this series is how much they love listening to the same guests from the big show, but with a laid-back and relaxed vibe. Get more details about all the goodies available to all patrons (Stars and Superstars) and sign up here!

Highlights

• Behind-the-scenes info on the Monthly Superlative podcast episode series for patrons.
• Our all-time favorite books
• Our auto-buy authors
• How Catherine and Sarah feel about re-reading
• Books from Sarah’s and Catherine’s childhoods
• Immediate bookish turn-offs
• What Catherine and Sarah find in a book that makes it easy to read

Superlatives

ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOKS [03:15]

Catherine: 

• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles | Amazon | Bookshop.org [04:01]
• Skeltons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian | Amazon | Bookshop.org [05:27]
• Sophie’s Choice by William Styron | Amazon | Bookshop.org [06:32]

Sarah:

• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne | Amazon | Bookshop.org [07:33]
• The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [08:15]
• Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed | Amazon | Bookshop.org [09:10]

AUTO-BUY AUTHORS  [09:59]

Catherine: 

• Anna Quindlen [10:13]
• Alice Hoffman [10:23]
• Kevin Kwan [10:39]

Sarah:

• Ann Patchett [12:12]
• Tayari Jones [12:14]
• Meg Wolitzer [12:58]
• Megan Abbott [13:13]
• Brit Bennett [13:34]

FAVORITE AUDIOBOOKS  [14:03]

Catherine: 

• Smacked by Eilene Zimmerman | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [14:31]
• Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [15:04]
• A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm  [15:08]

Sarah:

• Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [15:40]
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [15:48]
• The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff | Amazon | Bookshop.org | Libro.fm [17:12]

FIRST BOOK THAT SPARKED YOUR JOY OF READING  [18:09]

Catherine: 

• Laurie and Company by Eleanor Frances Lattimore (currently out of print) [18:21]

Sarah:

• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:16]
• The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:38]
• Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:45]
• Jaws by Peter Benchley | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:00]

ALL ABOUT RE-READING  [21:23]

Catherine: 

• Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:45]
• The Longings of Women by Marge Piercy | Amazon [24:05]

Sarah:

• The Great Santini by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:39]
• The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:41]
• The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:44] & [26:07]
• I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:00]
• From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:15]

SIGNIFICANT / IMPACTFUL BOOKS  [28:00]

Catherine: 

• Inventing the Rest of Our Lives by Suzanne Braun Levine | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:25]
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:04]

Sarah:

• The Mindbody Prescription by John E. Sarno, M.D. | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:20]
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:00]
• Fear Less by Dr. Pippa Grange | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:00]

BOOKS THAT MADE YOU FEEL SEEN  [33:47]

Catherine: 

• Forty Rooms by Olga Grushin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:56]

Sarah:

• Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:41]

SARAH’S FAVORITE LITERARY MYSTERIES & SLOW-BURN SUSPENSE  [36:48]

Literary Mysteries: [37:14]

• When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• The Witch Elm by Tana French | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Miracle Creek by Angie Kim | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• The Current by Tim Johnston | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Long Bright River by Liz Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Mystic River by Dennis Lehane | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• The Cutting Season by Attica Locke | Amazon | Bookshop.org

Slow-Burn Suspense: [35:41]

• The Push by Ashley Audrain | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Megan Abbott books
• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Based on a True Story by Delphine De Vigan | Amazon | Bookshop.org
• The Dinner by Herman Koch | Amazon | Bookshop.org

FAVORITE SPORTS FICTION  [38:44]

Catherine: 

• The Falconer by Dana Czapnik | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:50]

Sarah:

• Beartown by Fredrik Backman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:42]
• Trophy Son by Douglas Brunt | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:51]

FAVORITE BOOKS IN LEAST FAVORITE GENRE  [41:55]

Catherine (Horror): 

• The Road by Cormac McCarthy | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:45]

Sarah (Horror & Romance):

• Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31]
• One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:06]
• Seven Days in June by Tia Williams | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:09]
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:13]
• American Royals by Katharine McGee | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:17]
• The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:29]

IMMEDIATE TURN-OFFS  [46:14]

WHAT MAKES A BOOK EASY TO READ  [49:34]

SENIOR MAIN CHARACTERS  [51:44]

Catherine: 

• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:16]
• Margreete’s Harbor by Eleanor Morse | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:19]
• The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:23]

Sarah:

• Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:36]
• Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:06]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian [06:17] 
• The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian [06:20]
• The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy [08:29]
• Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan [10:39]
• A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne [11:38]
• A Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom by John Boyne [11:54]
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones [12:44]
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones [12:46]
• The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer [13:00]
• The Wife by Meg Wolitzer [13:02]
• The Mothers by Brit Bennett [13:50]
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [13:53]
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown [19:44]
• The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard [27:24]
• South of Broad by Pat Conroy [27:43]
• Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan [36:37]
• The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe [40:13]
• You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott [41:11]
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding [43:52]
• Vladimir by Julia May Jonas [47:34]
• Honor by Thrity Umrigar [51:22]

Other Links

• Glennon Doyle’s podcast: We Can Do Hard Things [16:15]

About Catherine Gilmore

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.

In Episode 105, Sarah and Thrity (author of Honor) tackle some hard-hitting questions related to the themes in her emotional book: religion, women’s rights, and identity. Thrity discusses the complicated relationship an immigrant often has with their homeland and the complex duality of human nature. 

This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• Spoiler-free summary of Honor.
• The real-life story behind the inspiration for her book.
• How Thirty constructed the present-day India in the book.
• Character development and which character’s (Meena’s or Smita’s) story came first.
• The ways miscommunication and misunderstandings drive real-life and fictional tensions.
• How she conveyed the joy and beauty of India, juxtaposed against the horrific events of the story.
• How rural vs. urban landscapes each form different composite communities.
• From working title to finished product, what Thrity wants readers to know about the title and the layered meaning of the word honor.
• Thrity shares details about her next novel.

Thrity’s Book Recommendations [32:48]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• The Waves by Virginia Woolf | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:02]
• A Burning by Megha Majumdar | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:08]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:38]
• The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:48]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (April 5, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:28]

Last 5-Star Book Thrity Read

• The Overstory by Richard Powers | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:13]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar [1:16]
• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson [19:33]
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald  [33:50]
• Bombay Time by Thrity Umrigar [37:35]
• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen [43:07]
• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan [43:56]
• Bewilderment by Richard Powers [45:27]

About Thrity

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Thrity Umrigar is the bestselling author of eight novels, including The Space Between Us, which was a finalist for the PEN/Beyond Margins Award, as well as a memoir and three picture books. Her books have been translated into several languages and published in more than fifteen countries. She is the winner of a Lambda Literary Award and a Seth Rosenberg Award and is Distinguished Professor of English at Case Western Reserve University. A recipient of the Nieman Fellowship to Harvard, she has contributed to the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and Huffington Post.