Books on the Nightstand

McDonalds giving away books with Happy Meals; Is it OK to make fun of tragedy? And we can't wait for you to read Quiet by Susan Cain and The Ice Balloon by Alex Wilkinson. A very happy meal (maybe) McDonalds recently announced

Deadlines approaching for World Book Night and The International Readers Book Awards. The Alex Awards honoring adult books perfect for teens. We share our love of Defending Jacob by William Landay and Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. Books Around the World January 31 and February 1 are two dates to circle on your calendar. February 1 is the deadline to sign up to be a volunteer book-giver for World Book Night (http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/). I've already signed up and Ann is narrowing down the selection of which book she'd like to pass out. Join us! (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WBN.gif) January 31 is the deadline to nominate books for the shortlist of The International Readers Book Awards (http://bookbasedbanter.co.uk/thereaders/the-international-readers-book-awards-2011/), put on by our friends Simon and Gav at The Readers podcast. If a book was published somewhere in the world in 2011, it's eligible, so nominate your favorites! The Alex Awards (5:38) The American Library Association just awarded The Alex Award (http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/alex#current) to ten adult books that have "special appeal to young adults." It's a wonderful list that includes a few of our favorites: * Big Girl Small (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8789529-big-girl-small), by Rachel DeWoskin * In Zanesville (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9429864-in-zanesville), by Jo Ann Beard * The Lover’s Dictionary (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9279177-the-lover-s-dictionary), by David Levithan * The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10188990-the-new-kids), by Brooke Hauser * The Night Circus (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9361589-the-night-circus), by Erin Morgenstern * Ready Player One (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9969571-ready-player-one), by Ernest Cline * Robopocalypse (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9634967-robopocalypse), by Daniel H. Wilson * Salvage the Bones (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10846336-salvage-the-bones) by Jesmyn Ward * The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11101772-the-scrapbook-of-frankie-pratt), by Caroline Preston * The Talk-Funny Girl (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10460266-the-talk-funny-girl), by Roland Merullo Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (9:12)   (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/def-jacob-198x300.jpg)     (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/salvage-the-bones-203x300.jpg) Defending Jacob (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11367726-defending-jacob) by William Landay is the story of a lawyer dealing with a murder in his town; a murder for which his own fourteen-year-old son Jacob has been accused. This is a book that I read in huge gulps, turning pages frantically until the end, when my hands were shaking and my heart was pounding. We're thrilled that Bill Landay will be joining us in Manchester for Booktopia VT. Ann was thrilled to see Salvage the Bones (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10846336-salvage-the-bones) by Jesmyn Ward on the list of Alex Award recipients. It also won the 2011 National Book Award for Fiction. It's a book she read last year, but hadn't had a chance to talk about yet. Set in a fictional Mississippi town in the ten days leading up to Hurricane Katrina, this novel follows Esch, a fourteen-year-old who has just found out she's pregnant, and her family. Poetic, literary, and many-layered, it's a book that you don't want to miss.

Should you trust author blurbs? What are your thoughts on destroying a book for the sake of art? We share our love of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker and The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss. The Value of a Blurb Betsy in our Goodreads Group asked whether or not she should trust author blurbs. Do the authors actually read the books then write those recommendations? The short answer is yes. In our opinion, and from what we've seen on the "inside," we think you can trust the majority of blurbs. When you should most pay attention is when an author you love blurbs a book. That should definitely make you check out that book! You Did WHAT to a Book?! (6:56)   (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BOOKS-collage-1024x340.jpg) On our Facebook wall, author Elizabeth Stuckey-French posted a message about using books as the raw materials for art projects. The book lover in her can't bear the thought of books, even old ones, being destroyed for any reason. Ann and I can certainly see her point, but we had to admit that we've done things like this many times. In our defense, we also handmake books, so that has to balance the scales a bit, right? Whether you need inspiration for "evil" (mutilating helpless books) or "good" (creating beautiful new tomes), here are some books of inspiration and instruction: * The Repurposed Library (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9869870-the-repurposed-library) by Lisa Occhipinti * Playing With Books (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7637701-playing-with-books) by Jason Thompson * Uncovered (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/924910.Thomas_Allen) by Thomas Allen * Handmade Books (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9009992-lark-studio-series) by Lark Studio Series * How to Make Books (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2090588.How_to_Make_Books) by Esther K. Smith Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (16:12)   (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/heartbeats-200x300.jpg)     (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/thorn-blossom-217x300.jpg) Ann has been waiting several months to tell you all about The Art of Hearing Heartbeats (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11331421-the-art-of-hearing-heartbeats) by Jan-Philipp Sendker (on sale January 31). It's the story of a young woman who travels to Burma in search of the truth behind her father's disappearance and the possible love affair he had with a woman there. It's perfect for book groups. (Because Ann read the book so long ago, she mixed up the main character's name when describing the book. It's Julia.) Just out in stores now is The Thorn and the Blossom (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11338984-the-thorn-and-the-blossom) by Theodora Goss. It's an utterly charming story of a love affair that spans a decade, and possibly a millennium. The story is told from the point of view of both the man and the woman, and is presented in a unique accordion fold package. You choose which story to read first. When you finish it, you flip the book over and read the other side. Plus, it's packaged in a beautifully illustrated slipcase.  

A reminder about our new monthly newsletter, and the book we'll be publishing to celebrate this year's Booktopia events. In honor of the Sundance Film Festival, we discuss books and short stories that have been or will be, made into movies. And finally, it's one book, we both love: The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. Not Yet on the Nightstand Our forthcoming monthly newsletter finally has a name: Not Yet on the Nightstand (thanks to Doug on our Facebook page for coming up with the title - even though Ann claims she came up with it first, but I have no memory of that!). The newsletter will take a quick look at manuscripts we have just read and loved, but that won't be out for a few months, plus a calendar of exciting books coming out the following month. Subscribe to our mailing list by typing your email address below (If signup form does not appear, please use this link to subscribe (http://eepurl.com/hkZUU))   As we did last year (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/03/two-books-i-cant-wait-for-you-to-read.html), we will be creating a book to commemorate the Booktopia 2012 events.  Full details on how to submit will soon be sent to all registered attendees and authors. Sadly, the deadline for getting the book ready in time for the first event in April means that folks who wait to register for Oxford in June or Santa Cruz in October may be left out. Yet another reason to register soon (http://booktopia.booksonthenightstand.com/)! Adaptations (9:26) Sundance Film Festival starts soon, and will feature two movies based on books: Wuthering Heights (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/763402.Wuthering_Heights) and Lay the Favorite (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6783580-lay-the-favorite). Ann and her daughter recently watched the movie version of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1103.Snow_Flower_and_the_Secret_Fan), which was disappointing to say the least. Two book-based movies we are looking forward to are Norwegian Wood (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11297.Norwegian_Wood) and The Woman in Black (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12476962-the-woman-in-black). (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/adaptations-200x300.jpg) Adaptations (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/183947.Adaptations) is a collection of 35 short stories that were turned into movies. I think it would make for an interesting book group discussion to read several of the stories and then watch the movies to see how they were expanded. And Two One Book We Both Can't Wait For You to Read (18:27) It's rare for Ann and I to read the same book, and our tastes are different enough that we don't always agree when we do. But we both love The Orphan Master's Son (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11529868-the-orphan-master-s-son) by Adam Johnson. (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/orphan-200x300.jpg)  The story follows Pak Jun Do, a boy raised by his father in an orphan work camp. In adulthood, he finds himself serving the North Korean government in several covert capacities until he finally ascends to a level that pits him against the Dear Leader himself, Kim Jong-il. The writing is wonderful and the research that went into the book creates a picture of a North Korea that has rarely been glimpsed.

Resolving to carve out more reading time. Who should be our Literary Ambassador and what should that job entail? Two books we can't wait for you to read: Enjoy Every Sandwich by Lee Lipsenthal and The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson. Step Away from the Screen (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ipad-books-300x198.jpg) My amazingly wonderful wife surprised my with an iPad for Christmas. It's fantastic and and I love it, but I've been spending a lot of time on it and my reading time has suffered. So I've made a resolution to unplug from all media two hours before bed. Ann has made a similar pledge: to change the hour between 7-8 am from time spent trolling Twitter and email to an hour spent reading. Don't forget about our 12 in '12 Reading Challenge (http://booksonthenightstand.com/12-in-12-reading-challenge). Folks are coming up with some great interpretations over at our Goodreads group (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/750114-what-s-your-12-in-12-reading-plan)! A New Literary Ambassador (4:53) Walter Dean Myers (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13291.Walter_Dean_Myers) was just named the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature (http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2012/12-001.html). That got us thinking: should there be a Literary Ambassador for adult books or reading in general? What would that position entail and who should fill it? I suggested John Grisham (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/721.John_Grisham), but Ann made a compelling argument for Neil Gaiman (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1221698.Neil_Gaiman). What do you say Neil? If chosen, will you serve? As for the rest of you, let us know who you would nominate to this (as of now, non-existent) post. And Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (12:35) (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/enjoy-every-sandwich-200x300.jpg)     (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/fang-198x300.jpg) Over the holiday break, I read, and was moved by, Enjoy Every Sandwich (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11376584-enjoy-every-sandwich) by Lee Lipsenthal M.D. Lipsenthal's life and work uniquely prepared him for his diagnosis of terminal esophageal cancer. This book is his a look at his philosophy of truly living every day you are alive. Last episode, Ann and I both expressed regret over not having read The Family Fang (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10149142-the-family-fang) by Kevin Wilson. Ann picked it up New Year's Day and was very much surprised by it. It was not what she expected and she can't wait to discuss it with others who have read it (yes, yes, I'll get to it soon!) photo by spykster (http://www.flickr.com/photos/spykster/6405337533/), via flickr

 It's our last episode of 2011, so before we go, we tell you how we fared with our 2011 reading resolutions. We also each choose our top 5 books of 2011, discuss three books that we wish we had read, and tell you about World Book Night. Successes and failures At the beginning of the year, we made some reading resolutions. Michael and I report on our successes (or not) in meeting those resolutions. Congratulations, Michael, on reaching your goal of reading 61 books. Many others who joined the challenge have completed or surpassed their +11 in 2011 resolutions, and they are scheming ways to read "12 in 2012". Join the Goodreads thread (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/65646) to check in on them, and to join in with your own challenge. Michael will put up a blog post soon with all the details--watch for it! Our favorite books of 2011 It was really difficult to narrow down our favorite books of 2011, but we (sort of) managed. Our individual lists are presented below, in no particular order. Where applicable, links go to the BOTNS episode where we first discussed these books. Ann's list: The Cat's Table (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/10/botns-150-were-not-even-in-the-same-room.html) by Michael Ondaatje We the Animals (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/09/botns-148-your-literary-mount-rushmore.html) by Justin Torres The Illumination (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/01/botns-podcast-113-these-novels-are-a-work-of-art.html) by Kevin Brockmeier The Last Werewolf (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/07/botns-podcast-137-covering-book-covers.html) by Glen Duncan The Upright Piano Player (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/06/botns-podcast-132-books-for-gay-pride-month.html) by David Abbott or Jo Nesbo's The Snowman (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/05/botns-podcast-128-epigraphs-and-a-surprising-bestseller-list.html) I also want to add  the winners of 2011's big literary awards: The Sense of an Ending (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10746542-the-sense-of-an-ending) by Julian Barnes, which won the Man Booker Prize, and Salvage the Bones (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10846336-salvage-the-bones) by Jesmyn Ward, which won the National Book Award. Michael's list: The Bee Loud Glade (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/01/botns-podcast-111-theres-no-winter-in-publishing.html) by Steve Himmer Habibi (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/09/botns-148-your-literary-mount-rushmore.html) by Craig Thompson Ready Player One (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/08/botns-podcast-140-back-in-time.html) by Ernie Cline Townie (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/05/botns-podcast-128-epigraphs-and-a-surprising-bestseller-list.html) by Andre Dubus III The Art of Fielding (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10996342-the-art-of-fielding) by Chad Harbach (not previously discussed on BOTNS) Three books we wish we had read this year Michael and I both discovered that the number one book we wish we had read this year is The Family Fang (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10149142-the-family-fang) by Kevin Wilson Since we didn't want you to feel cheated, we each chose another book. Michael wishes he had read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9460487-miss-peregrine-s-home-for-peculiar-children) by Ransom Riggs. I chose Ready Player One (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/08/botns-podcast-140-back-in-time.html) by Ernie Cline -- Michael and so many of the rest of you have convinced me!   World Book Night! April 23rd is World Book Night (http://www.worldbooknight.com/), and we hope that you will all participate. I'm sure that publicity will ramp up after the New Year, but it's a great event that will hopefully spread the love of reading far and wide. Volunteers throughout the United States, UK & Ireland (and possibly other countries, I'm not sure) will hand out free books in their communities.

The books Michael encountered on his vacation; Our picks for the Overlooked Books of 2011; and two books we can't wait for you to read: Batman: Noel by Lee Bermejo and Divergent by Veronica Roth. Sometime last week Books on the Nightstand podcast passed 500,000 downloads. It's an astonishing number. True, heartfelt thanks to all of you who have supported us for past 4+ years! Next week, we'll be bringing you our Favorite Books of 2011. We'd love to hear what your favorites were this year! In the comments section below, please tell us up to five of your top books. Feel free to leave a simple list, or tell us a little about the books and why you loved them. The Books on the Nightstand Retreat Author Reading Challenge (http://booksonthenightstand.com/retreat-author-reading-challenge) is coming to an end! You have until January 15 to report (https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHBEVnJYNFpHeTJoVVJhcEtYV2VIa1E6MQ) the reading that you've done. Then we'll pick three winners who will each receive a book, or two, plus a set of BOTNS Bookmarks, hand letterpress printed by Ann. The Books Michael Saw on Vacation (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/books-at-disney-300x225.jpg) While at Disney's Hollywood Studios, I was amused (and a little horrified) to see books used entirely as props. So much so that they were actually glued to the bookshelves. I'm guessing we all love to "decorate" our homes with the books we've read and loved, but I think books strictly as decoration, especially in a way that prevents using them as intended, is going a little far! A Cry for Attention (9:34) We'll be covering our favorites of 2011 next episode, this time around we're discussing the books we feel deserve more readers. Some of them may have sold well, or made some Best of lists themselves, but in our own opinions, they should have been even bigger. Similar lists were put out by Flavorwire (http://flavorwire.com/237850/the-most-criminally-overlooked-books-of-2011) and Book Riot (http://bookriot.com/2011/12/06/top-5-most-overlooked-books-of-2011/). (Titles below link to original BOTNS podcast where the book was mentioned) Ann: * We the Animals (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/09/botns-148-your-literary-mount-rushmore.html) by Justin Torres * The Devil All the Time (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/07/botns-138.html) by Donald Ray Pollock * The Curfew (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/06/botns-podcast-133-we-have-opinions.html) by Jesse Ball * The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/02/botns-117-who-will-buy-margaret-atwoods-cheese-sandwich.html) by Elizabeth Stuckey-French * The Upright Piano Player (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/06/botns-podcast-132-books-for-gay-pride-month.html) by David Abbott Michael: * Domestic Violets (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/09/botns-episode-146-in-honor-of-grandparents-week.html) by Matthew Norman * After the Apocalypse (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/11/botns-157-books-as-security-blankets.html) by Maureen McHugh * Bright's Passage (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/06/botns-book-podcast-135-writing-so-good-it-will-scare-you.html) by Josh Ritter * The Tragedy of Arthur (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/04/botns-podcast-125-because-you-asked-for-it.html) by Arthur Phillips * Vietnamerica (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/01/botns-podcast-113-these-novels-are-a-work-of-art.html) by GB Tran Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (20:20) (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman-noel-202x300.jpg)     (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/divergent-199x300.jpg) Batman: Noel (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11186443-batman), a graphic novel written and beautifully painted by Lee Bermejo is a Gotham City retelling of A Christmas Carol. I loved Bermejo's unexpected choice of who stood in for Scrooge.

A dirty little secret: we don't always love our favorite authors' books. A roundup of novels featuring time travel. Michael recommends I am Half-Sick of Shadows, the new Flavia DeLuce novel by Alan Bradley, and I recommend Jo Nesbo's The Leopard. When good authors go bad   How do you handle the disappointment when you are looking forward to a favorite author's book and it leaves you wanting? I tend to make a distinction between favorite books and favorite authors -- not all of my favorite books are by my favorite authors. I tend to judge authors on the body of their work, but I don't always love every book by a favorite author. Michael and I discuss this. Is it a case of overblown expectations? Are we more disappointed by a book we don't love if it's from a favorite author? Do we cut other authors more slack?   (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/time_travel-300x300.jpg) Excuse me, where is the time travel section?   Michael and I are both fans of time travel in fiction. Paris Before Men (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Boitard) by Pierre Boitard is often mentioned as one of the first time travel novels. Some classic examples of time travel fiction are The Time Machine (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2493.The_Time_Machine)by H.G. Wells and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/162898.A_Connecticut_Yankee_in_King_Arthur_s_Court)by Mark Twain. In this segment, we do a quick roundup of some of our favorite time travel novels, and one or two that are on our to-be-read list: * A Scientific Romance (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1196219.A_Scientific_Romance) by Ronald Wright * Replay (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/341735.Replay) by Ken Grimwood which, as Michael points out, was revitalized a few years ago when author Brad Meltzer talked about it on NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92131281). * Outlander (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10964.Outlander) by Diana Gabaldon * The Revisionists (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10789142-the-revisionists) by Thomas Mullen * 11/22/63 (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12530184-11-22-63) by Stephen King * Revolution (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7558747-revolution) by Jennifer Donnelly * Kindred (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60931.Kindred) by Octavia Butler * Time and Again (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40526.Time_and_Again) by Jack Finney   Two books we can't wait for you to read   (http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320497533l/11277218.jpg)   (http://www.randomhouse.com/images/dyn/cover/?source=9780307595874&height=450&.jpg) Michael talks about Alan Bradley's new book, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11277218-i-am-half-sick-of-shadows). The latest in the Flavia DeLuce series, this book is set during the holiday season and includes a plot by Flavia to catch Santa Claus. Michael hasn't read it yet, but  you know that both of us are huge fans of Alan Bradley, so I suspect that we will both have read this book before the year is out. My recommendation for this episode is gritty and gory: The Leopard (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13135867-the-leopard) by Jo Nesbo, the latest mystery in the Harry Hole series. The novel picks up after The Snowman, and we see Harry Hole suffering from the events that transpired in The Snowman. Despite his best efforts, Hole gets dragged into a new investigation in Norway that involves a serial killer who is targeting people who stayed in a particular cabin on a particular night.    

Let the BOTNS Book Elves help with your holiday shopping (on our Facebook page). What books do you turn to when life gets tough? In segment 3, Michael talks about Maureen McHugh's After the Apocaloypse, and Ann discusses P.D. James' Austen-inspired Death Comes to Pemberley. Before the show... I realize that we've forgotten to mention two important things. First, the 2011 BOTNS Holiday Gift Guide (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/11/book-recommendations-for-the-holidays-botns-2011-gift-guide.html) is available for you to download. We hope that you find some great gift ideas. Secondly, we recently announced that we would be writing a free monthly email newsletter, available only to subscribers. We'll begin in January. We're still playing with the types of content that we want to include, but we know that it will feature a snapshot of the manuscripts we've been reading. If you like hearing about books that will be published far in the future, this is the email for you. Sign up here (http://eepurl.com/hkZUU). We promise we will never spam you. Book Elves are Back on Duty (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/3106128994_94dc2c576e_m.jpg) Last year, Michael and I played "book elves," and asked BOTNS listeners to call in and give us their "gift giving challenges". We came up with book recommendations for those tough-to-buy-for people, and we had a great time doing it. This year we've decided to play Book Elves on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BooksOnTheNightstand). Post your holiday gift challenges on our wall there, and Michael and I will try to come up with some great book suggestions -- but we'd love for you to chime in with your recommendations, too! It starts on December 1st, so please join us there! Books as Warm Blankets We got an email message asking us to talk about "security blanket books" -- those books that we turn to in time of stress or turmoil. Others have called these "comfort reads." Michael and I confess that neither of us have specific books that we turn to, but we do have genres that we rely on. Michael of course loves superhero comics, and I run for mysteries and thrillers, especially Lee Child (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5091.Lee_Child)'s Jack Reacher series. What are your comfort reads or "security blanket books"? Let us know in the comments.   Two Books We Can't Wait for You to Read Michael recommends After the Apocalypse (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11249375-after-the-apocalypse), a collection of short stories by Maureen McHugh.  The stories are all very different and don't fit the typical post-apocalyptic mold. My pick for this week is P.D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12980723-death-comes-to-pemberley), which I confess I have not yet read--but I will drop whatever I'm reading when my copy arrives. P.D. James has set her latest mystery at Pemberley, the estate from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It's an homage to Austen that I can't wait to read. (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Y69qBVTUL.jpg)   (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DX0qAvlqL.jpg)

We tell you about a new UK-based book podcast, look at the category of narrative nonfiction, and talk about The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and Death in the City of Light by David King. Meet The Readers:   We open the episode with a call from Simon (http://savidgereads.wordpress.com/) and Gavin (gavreads.co.uk/) of The Readers (http://bookbasedbanter.co.uk/thereaders/), our new favorite books podcast. We love their take on the UK book scene, and we strongly recommend that you download a few episodes and check them out (Michael and I have a cameo in episode 8 (http://bookbasedbanter.co.uk/thereaders/2011/11/21/the-readers-episode-eight-reading-challenges-more/)). Simon and Gavin share their literary Mount Rushmores with us, and I think the call will give you a great sense of what their podcast has to offer.  (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/thereaders.jpg) What is Narrative Nonfiction?   (http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320464074l/10782759.jpg)(http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320541575l/10335318.jpg) Next, we talk about the category of "Narrative Nonfiction," which some also call "Creative Nonfiction." This is nonfiction that reads like fiction, following a story and incorporating the elements of fiction such as plot, character, pacing, etc. Some examples: John Krakauer's Into Thin Air (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1898.Into_Thin_Air) and Into the Wild, (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1845.Into_the_Wild) Erik Larsson (Isaac's Storm (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239186.Isaac_s_Storm), Devil in the White City (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21996.The_Devil_in_the_White_City)). We each have a book of narrative nonfiction on our reading lists: Michael wants to read The Unconquered (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10782759-the-unconquered) by Scott Wallace, which will appeal to readers of River of Doubt (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78508.The_River_of_Doubt) by Candace Millard or Lost City of Z (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3398625-the-lost-city-of-z) by David Grann. On my nightstand is Destiny of the Republic (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11297434-death-in-the-city-of-light), the new book by Candace Millard. this book looks at the assassination attempt of President James A. Garfield and what happened after Garfield was shot in the back.   Two books we can't wait for you to read:   I love The Warmth of Other Suns (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8171378-the-warmth-of-other-suns) by Isabel Wilkerson, which won the National Book Critics Circle 2010 award for nonfiction. Wilkerson writes about "The Great Migration," the large-scale movement of southern African-Americans to points north, east and west. Wilkerson follows three people on their journey, telling their stories and what compelled them to leave, the challenges they found, and also the opportunities. Michael talks about Death in the City of Light (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11297434-death-in-the-city-of-light) by David King, about a serial killer who terrorized Paris during the Nazi occupation. Michael compares this book to Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. (http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320396640l/8171378.jpg)   (http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320457185l/11297434.jpg) On Thanksgiving morning (that's November 24 for those of you non-US-based listeners), we'll have our annual Holiday Gift Guide ready for download. Look for it here before you dive into your mashed potatoes.

We look at one of the first "Best Books of 2011" lists, talk about all things Dickens and tell you about two of our current favorite books: Headhunters by Jo Nesbo and Marzi by Marzena Sowa. Let the Lists Begin Publisher's Weekly is one of the first media outlets to name their Best Books of 2011 (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2011/top-10#list) and it's an interesting list filled with big names (Jeffrey Eugenides, Tina Fey and Ann Patchett) and some smaller ones (Ali Smith and Maureen McHugh). Ann is thrilled that Donald Ray Pollock's The Devil All the Time (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10108463-the-devil-all-the-time) made the list. In case you missed it, she raved about that book back in episode 138 (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2011/07/botns-138.html). There are plenty more "Best of" lists to come. Start thinking of which books are on your list; in December, we'll be asking for your favorite book of the year. (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dickens20121-268x300.jpg) You've Got to Pick a Dickens or Two! (4:15) 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens and it will be celebrated in many ways: BBC Films will be releasing a new film version (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2057429/Helena-Bonham-Carters-path-despair-Miss-Havisham-Dickens-masterpiece.html) of Great Expectations; the UK newspaper The Guardian, in association with Vintage Classics, is running a photo competition (http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/nov/06/oliver-twist-competition) to find a contemporary image to put on the jacket of Oliver Twist: and, apparently, 2012 is the year I finally read Dickens, as Ann chose this episode's topic partly as a way of guilting me into committing. And I did: Great Expectations (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46335.Great_Expectations) in 2012. (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/headhunters-194x300.jpg)     (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/marzi-228x300.jpg) Two Books We Can't Wait for You to Read (12:08) Jo Nesbo's Headhunters (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11777020-the-headhunters), recently came out in a US edition, in advance of the release of the foreign film based on it. What if a corporate headhunter got to know his clients so well that he was able to steal precious works of art from their homes? Marzena Sowa's Marzi (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11725494-marzi), is a beautifully told graphic memoir of growing up in Poland just as Communism was falling. It's a wonderful blend of the everyday elements of childhood and the nation-changing events occurring around her.

It's part two of our call-in show, with all of your choices for the Literary Mount Rushmore. Another great batch of calls, thanks everyone! Here's the updated Name Cloud, including all authors mentioned in episode #152 and in this episode. (Click on the image for a larger version) (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/LMR-part2.jpg) Based on the sizes of some of those names, it looks to me like the Books on the Nightstand Mount Rushmore will have to feature five authors: Ann Patchett, Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Louisa May Alcott and William Shakespeare. So who wants to start carving the mountain for us?

Literary title trends, dog books for fall, and a look at Sybil Exposed by Debbie Nathan and Zone One by Colson Whitehead A completist's guide to title trends: Our friend and librarian extraordinaire Carol K. pointed us to this article from Shelf Talk, the Seattle Public Library blog: Top Trends: The Irresistible "-ist" List (http://shelftalk.spl.org/2011/10/27/the-irresistible-ist-list/). We love that observant librarians are discovering new treands in book titles. Coincidentally, Michael is currently reading Tom Mullen's The Revisionists (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10789142-the-revisionists). Can you think of other "ist" titles? Go share them in the comments at Shelf Talk.   (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/botnsdogs.jpg) [photos: courtesy of BOTNS listeners who were on twitter when I needed cute dog photos: @picky_girl, @LaraFromOhio, @LittleGidget, @ya_reader, @Rita_liccious, @SarahMMcCoy and @melizaallen] BOTNS goes to the dogs: Speaking of trends, this fall is chock full of dog books. Now in the front of bookstores everywhere: You Had Me at Woof (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7845926-you-had-me-at-woof)by Julie Klam Love at First Bark (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11129765-love-at-first-bark) by Julie Klam Following Atticus (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11100477-following-atticus) by Tom Ryan Rin Tin Tin (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11238914-rin-tin-tin) by Susan Orlean Also, some members of our Goodreads groups had some suggestions: Libby recommends: Pack of Two (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/369672.Pack_of_Two) by Caroline Knapp Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6332526-inside-of-a-dog)by Alexandra Horowitz Through a Dog's Eyes (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8079728-through-a-dog-s-eyes) by Jennifer Arnold Elizabeth recommends: The Other End of the Leash (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119723.The_Other_End_of_the_Leash)by Patricia McConnell Dog Years: A Memoir (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106241.Dog_Years) by Mark Doty A Dog's Purpose (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7723542-a-dog-s-purpose) by W. Bruce Cameron Janet recommends Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie Mysteries (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1932450.Spencer_Quinn), the first of which is called Dog On It (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5600151-dog-on-it). Wade Rouse edited a collection called I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in this Relationship (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10756815-i-m-not-the-biggest-bitch-in-this-relationship), with essays from actors, comedians and authors. And fear not, feline fanciers: we will have a podcast on cat books sometime in the future.   Two books we can't wait for you to read: (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ta%2BcpeeAL.jpg)   (http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310489802l/10365343.jpg) In the 1970s, there was a national fascination with the book and movie Sybil (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67920.Sybil), about a young woman with multiple personalities. A new book by Debbie Nathan, Sybil Exposed (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11971784-sybil-exposed), looks at the real story behind the case, using many of the original papers and records of the therapist and the author of the original book. It's a fascinating expose, especially if you remember the original Sybil mania. Michael recommends Zone One (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10365343-zone-one) by Colson Whitehead, which is not your typical zombie book. It follows a group of 3 soldiers, including one whose nickname is 'Mark Spitz' as they are tasked with cleaning up Manhattan from the zombies left behind. Esquire called this the best book of the fall, and Justin Cronin, author of The Passage, called it "a zombie novel with brains." Next week, the second part of our "Literary Mount Rushmore series."      

Welcome to part one of your Literary Mount Rushmores! We received so many calls (thank you all!) that we're splitting the show up into two episodes, one airing this week and one airing in two weeks. Rather than a laundry list of all of the authors mentioned, I thought it might be fun to create a word cloud of the names. For those unfamiliar with word clouds, the more common a word, the larger it is. So, for the cloud below F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jane Austen were the most popular authors. When we air part 2 we'll update the cloud to reflect all of the calls.  (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/LMR-part1.jpg)   I'm not sure there's a mountain in the world big enough to fit all of those faces, and that's only half of the calls!