The B&N Podcast

Our guest today is Dean Atta, author of The Black Flamingo—our June YA Book Club Pick.

The Black Flamingo is a fierce coming-of-age story told in verse about identity and the power of drag. Michael, the main character of the story, is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London and navigating what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs—and the Black Flamingo is born. We were simply in awe of this beautifully crafted and inspiring work on so many levels and can’t wait for everyone to experience all the powerful, life-affirming messages throughout this unforgettable novel. Acclaimed UK poet and performer Dean Atta joins us to discuss his personal connection to this story, the process of selecting characters to challenge readers’ perspectives and winning the Stonewall Book Award.

Join us Thursday, July 9th, at 4PM ET when Dean Atta will be with us live on B&N Facebook for a discussion of his novel The Black Flamingo. We hope to see you there! #BNYABookClub

Our guests today are Mike Birbiglia and J. Hope Stein, authors of The New One.

The hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt Broadway show is now essential reading for all parents (new and old) — or really anyone who has ever resisted change. With laugh-out-loud observations and whimsical poetry perfectly placed throughout, Birbiglia and Stein offer a devastatingly honest, yet beautiful look at parenthood. Be sure to pick up a signed edition of The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad and listen here as comedian Mike Birbiglia and poet Jennifer Hope Stein discuss the trials of writing a book with your significant other, jealousy, poetry and the great bread debate (to freeze or not to freeze).

Join us Tuesday, June 16th, at 7PM ET when Mike Birbiglia and J. Hope Stein will be with us live on B&N Facebook for a discussion of their book The New One. We hope to see you there! #BNEvents

Our guest today is Megha Majumdar, debut author of A Burning—our June Discover Pick of the Month.

A Burning is an astonishing, heartbreaking story about power—who has it, who doesn’t, and what some will do to get it. In a deceptively slim package like Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys and There, There by Tommy Orange, this is an unforgettable debut by a magnificent new voice. Megha Majumdar, a book editor by trade, never takes the reader for granted, and her writing is full of the contradictions and surprises she looks for in a great novel. We could not get over the complexities, distinct characters and timely messages throughout this amazing story, and we're not the only ones who were completely enchanted by its language and universal themes: Yaa Gyasi, author of Homecoming raved about how "Megha Majumdar writes about the ripple effects of our choices, the interconnectedness of our humanity, with striking beauty and clarity.” We couldn't agree more. We can’t wait for you to devour this cinematic story and get to know Megha Majumdar here as she discusses art and politics, various forms of storytelling, and alternative endings.

Our guest today is Brit Bennett, author of our June Barnes & Noble Book Club selection The Vanishing Half.

[ean1]The lives of identical twin sisters diverge when they leave their tiny hometown in this indelible story of identity, family and home. As the narrative cuts across the country and across decades, we follow the aftermath of trauma and the events that follow difficult, often unimaginable choices. The Vanishing Half is the kind of book you never want to end; Brit writes her characters with such understanding and love that you wish you could follow them forever. There’s a lot to unpack in this incredible novel, which is why it’s the perfect choice for our June B&N Book Club pick. We’re excited to get the conversation going and for readers to discuss a story that asks big questions about who we are and where we’re headed. As you ready yourself for this not-to-be-missed event and novel, be sure to also check out Brit Bennett’s acclaimed novel, The Mothers and listen to Brit here as she brilliantly discusses the inspiration for the community at the center of this story and the characters she chose to leave out.

Join us Tuesday, July 7, at 7PM ET when Brit Bennett will be with us live on B&N Facebook for a discussion of her novel The Vanishing Half. We hope to see you there!

Our guest today is Emma Straub, author of our May Barnes & Noble Book Club selection All Adults Here.

All Adults Here is a sharp, yet sincere look at how we define our lives and the profound effects we have on those we love most. This deeply fulfilling story of sibling relationships, aging parents, hard truths, and second chances is chockfull of heady topics ripe for discussion, so it should come as no surprise it’s been selected as our BN Book Club pick for May. Reading an Emma Straub novel is essentially like hanging out with your smartest, most insightful friend – it’s life-affirming, wisdom-giving, and something you’ll look back on fondly – so we know you’re going to love it! As you get ready for what’s sure to be a lively conversation around a great book, due yourself the favor of checking out her other bestselling novels, The Vacationers  and Modern Lovers , and listen to Emma here as she brilliantly talks about her love of bookstores, personal ambitions, and the atmospheric small-town vibe of her new novel – secretly inspired by Gilmore Girls!

Join the conversation on social media using #BNBookClub. Then on Tuesday, 6/2 at 7 PM ET, join the author for a virtual #BNBookClub event on our Instagram!

Our guest today is Elizabeth Gilbert, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Magic and Eat Pray Love here to discuss her latest bestseller City of Girls.

With City of Girls, beloved author Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction with a unique love story set in the New York City theater world during the 1940s. Told from the perspective of an older woman as she looks back on her youth with both pleasure and regret (but mostly pleasure), City of Girls explores themes of female sexuality and promiscuity, as well as the idiosyncrasies of true love.

Our guest this week is the three-time Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin.

She joins us today to discuss her latest novel, The City We Became. A story of culture, identity, magic, and myths in contemporary New York City.

In this episode, we dive into They Went Left, A tour de force historical mystery from Monica Hesse, the bestselling and award-winning author of Girl in the Blue Coat.

They Went Left is also our Barnes & Noble YA Book Club selection for the month of May.

The Barnes & Noble YA Book Club Edition features an author Q&A and an annotated chapter.

Our guest this week is Rhodes Scholar, bestselling author, decorated combat veteran, former White House fellow, and CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in the nation, Wes Moore.

He joins us to talk about his latest book, Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City; a kaleidoscopic account of five days in the life of a city on the edge told through eight characters on the front lines of the uprising that overtook Baltimore and riveted the world.

Our guest today is Lisa Wingate, bestselling author of Before We Were Yours.

Lisa joins us to discuss her new historical novel The Book of Lost Friends. A dramatic story of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.