Top Shelf with Carol Ann Tack

Welcome to the 100th Episode of the Top Shelf Podcast!

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend it than with the brilliant Julia Armfield talking about her debut novel, Our Wives Under the Sea. You may remember that Julia was my guest for Episode 32. Back then we discussed her fantastic book of short stories, Salt Slow. For this episode, we talk about her new release, Our Wives Under the Sea, which is a gorgeous debut that is a fathomlessly inventive and original portrait of marriage as we’ve never seen it before. Critics are raving and I wouldn’t steer you wrong in the ocean of books out there – please don’t miss this episode and don’t miss this book. Thank you so much Julia!

Julia Armfield recommends: Devil House by John Darnielle; Matrix by Lauren Groff; X by Davy Davis; Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer; The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

Place your holds for Julia Armfield’s books here.

What a joy to host for the third time author Jess Montgomery for the next book in her Kinship series, The Echoes. Jess and I chatted about her amazing main character Sheriff Lilly Ross, the very personal background behind the title, WWI, keeping the series fresh and more! Remember, you don’t have to read the series in order, that’s the beauty. Please make your next read The Echoes.

Jess Montgomery recommends: Deer Season by Erin Flanagan; The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi; Blackout by Erin Flanagan

Place your holds here for the other books in the Kinship series!

“Madeline Kay Sneed has written a Friday Night Lights for a new generation. The Golden Season is a heartfelt story of finding yourself, coming out, and coming home… A tender, bighearted exploration of family, first love, and faith, with a gorgeously evoked west Texas landscape as backdrop.” —Sarah McCraw Crow, author of The Wrong Kind of Woman.  An absolutely spot-on review for this remarkable debut, a novel about love, acceptance, and the expansion of your heart.

For this episode, debut author Madeline Kay Sneed chatted with me about writing a debut novel, setting the novel in West Texas and signature cocktails. Madeline even offers to teach me how to say, “y’all” like a true Texan. A must listen, thank you SO much Madeline!

Madeline Kay Sneed recommends: Vigil Harbor by Julia Glass; The Burning Season by Allison Wisdom

Follow Madeline on Twitter: @madelinesneed and on Instagram @madzsneed

 

“Poignant and funny, Crazy To Leave You is chock full of Rothstein’s signature fast-paced, smart dialogue and brimming with wit. A heartfelt, delicious story.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace

Marilyn Simon Rothstein‘s latest, Crazy to Leave You, is a funny, bighearted novel about the happy accidents that lead to love and second chances. We had such a great conversation…this episode is a must listen and Crazy to Leave You is a must read for this summer. Thank you so much Marilyn – what a blast!

Marilyn Simon Rothstein recommends: Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins

Reserve Marilyn’s previous books right here.  Follow Marilyn on Instgram: @marilynsimonrothstein; Twitter: @nounsandverbs1; and follow Marilyn on both her Facebook pages: Marilyn Simon Rothstein Author and Marilyn Simon Rothstein.

“Horse isn’t just an animal story—it’s a moving narrative about race and art.”

—TIME

A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and racial injustice across American history. Horse is a fascinating and richly compelling story that I could not put down.

What a thrill and honor to host Geraldine Brooks for this episode. We talked about the greatest racehorse of all time, the Kentucky Derby, bone articulation (trust me) and what she’s working on next and our love for The Overstory by Richard Powers. Place you hold here for all work by the fabulous Geraldine Brooks!

Geraldine Brooks recommends: The Overstory by Richard Powers

    

                                                      Follow her on Twitter: @geraldinebrooks and on Facebook @GeraldineBrooks

Here’s what’s being said about the debut adult fiction novel, Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour:

“A love story for our time.” ―Tara Conklin, bestselling author of The Last Romantics

“This book is a precious thing.” ―Casey McQuiston, bestselling author of One Last Stop.

I mean these reviews for Yerba Buena are so true, I needed to include both of them!  This lush and lyrical queer love story gave me such joy and hope that when I was finished, I went right back and read it again. For this episode, Nina spoke about writing her first adult fiction novel, writing that book during lock down, her inspiration and more. Thank you so much for joining me Nina LaCour, Yerba Buena is such a special book! I loved this interview…

Nina LaCour recommends We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart; and Memorial by Bryan Washington 

Click here to reserve all Nina LaCour titles!

“My Summer Darlings is spicy enough to make you sweat – until the suspense chills you to your core.” ~ Riley Sager, bestselling author of Survive the Night.

Named A Most Anticipated Novel of 2022 by Crime Reads, Goodreads, and more. My Summer Darlings is the story of three life-long friends and a dangerous, sexy new stranger in town which leads to a scorching summer of manipulation, obsession, and murder. Jen, Kittie, and Cynthia are three main characters in My Summer Darlings you won’t soon forget. For E94, May & I talked about how these women try to keep up appearances and keep their desires a secret. We also chat about Jake Ryan (yes that Jake Ryan), and what May is working on next. Thank you so much May!

May’s interview with the Dallas Morning News 

May Cobb recommends: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager; Watch Out For Her by Samantha Bailey; Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Sutanto 

Follow May Cobb on Instagram @may_cobb; on Twitter @maykcobb; and on Facebook @MayKCobb

“The Devil Himself thunders off the page with beautiful writing and a killer sense of place. It’s urgent, triumphant, and unflinching.” — William Boyle, author of Shoot the Moonlight Out and City of Margins

What a pleasure to sit down with the 2021 Le Prix Lire En Poche finalist, author Peter Farris. The Devil Himself is a gritty southern noir with themes of family, estrangement, and redemption; a riveting deep dive into the genre.  First published in France with enormous critical acclaim and winning multiple literary awards, The Devil Himself will mark Peter Farris as a major crime writer in America as well.

We talk about the book, his other fantastic novel, Last Call for the Living, character development, French love for his books, rattlesnakes, and so much more. Thank you so much Peter!

Peter Farris recommends these authors: Pete Fromm; William Boyle; Sara Gran; and Eli Cranor.

 

Follow Peter Farris on Instagram at peter_farris and on Twitter @authorPJFarris

“Libraries and bookstores are the most important spaces in the world to me.” ~ Emma Straub

For this wonderful episode I had the pleasure of hosting author Emma Straub for her latest book, This Time Tomorrow. We talked about the book, NYC and Brooklyn of the 1990s, going back in time, and Emma’s love for libraries and independent bookstores. This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub asks the age old question, if you could revisit your teenage self, what would you do differently? Oh gosh, please don’t miss this special story of love and family and friendships – it’s terrific.

Emma Straub recommends, I’ll Be You by Janelle Brown; Book Lovers by Emily Henry; By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

Place your hold here for all Emma Straub titles. Click here to go for Books Are Magic, Brooklyn, NY

“This book is layered like a napolean…there’s no chuffa in The Good Left Undone!” ~ Adriana Trigiani 

There is just something special about the latest from Adriana Trigiani that sets it apart from her other remarkable books. Author Lisa Scottoline says of The Good Left Undone, “Adriana Trigiani has written the triumph of her career in this historical epic. It’s an opus – a gorgeous opus!” The book is filled with historical fiction of the kind I had never heard of, yet it’s every bit contemporary: our main character, Senora Cabrelli, looks back on her life and relates her remarkable story to her adult granddaughter.  You will not be able to put this one down, I can assure you. As Goodreads says, “Prepare to be enthralled…”

Thank you so much Adriana Trigiani, what a special, special interview. I am so grateful. Grazie Mille!

Place your holds here for all the Adriana Trigiani books!

    Just LOOK at all these Adriana Trigiani titles!