Books on the Nightstand

A weekly conversational podcast about books, from two longtime veterans of the publishing industry. If you love to read, this podcast is for you. Listen in to hear what's new, what's great, and the books we just can't stop talking about.

A weekly conversational podcast about books, from two longtime veterans of the publishing industry. If you love to read, this podcast is for you. Listen in to hear what's new, what's great, and the books we just can't stop talking about.

A weekly conversational podcast about books, from two longtime veterans of the publishing industry. If you love to read, this podcast is for you. Listen in to hear what's new, what's great, and the books we just can't stop talking about.

A weekly conversational podcast about books, from two longtime veterans of the publishing industry. If you love to read, this podcast is for you. Listen in to hear what's new, what's great, and the books we just can't stop talking about.

A weekly conversational podcast about books, from two longtime veterans of the publishing industry. If you love to read, this podcast is for you. Listen in to hear what's new, what's great, and the books we just can't stop talking about.

This week we bring you the first three author talks from Booktopia Vermont 2015, recorded at Northshire Bookstore (http://www.northshire.com/): * Megan Mayhew Bergman, author of Almost Famous Women (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25111046-almost-famous-women) * Josh Cook, author of An Exaggerated Murder * Cristina Henríquez, author of The Book of Unknown Americans (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22747715-the-book-of-unknown-americans) (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436753751l/25111046.jpg)   (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408934005l/22548098.jpg)   (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419179598l/22747715.jpg)

International bestseller lists, and don't you forget about Ice Time by Jay Atkinson, and How to Live by Sarah Bakewell. (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (02:30) (http://covers.audiobooks.com/images/covers/full/9781681412979.jpg)The Dorito Effect (http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/the-dorito-effect-the-surprising-new-truth-about-food-and-flavor/233491) by Mark Schatzker, narrated by Chris Patton, is my pick for this week's Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 60,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook)   Bestsellers Around the World (07:48)(http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/intestine.jpg) A recent column from Publishers Weekly (http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/68412-international-bestseller-list-the-girl-in-the-spider-s-web-remains-hot-across-europe.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=f583fe3aa3-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-f583fe3aa3-304563113#path/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/68412-international-bestseller-list-the-girl-in-the-spider-s-web-remains-hot-across-europe.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=f583fe3aa3-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-f583fe3aa3-304563113) gave a quick overview of some bestseller lists from other countries (France, Sweden, and Italy). In addition to crime fiction and political memoirs, coloring books are selling well around the world! Some of the titles we mention: * The Discreet Charm of the Intestine (or Gut (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23013953-gut?from_search=true&search_version=service)) * The Blue Star by Jan Guillou (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/260713.Jan_Guillou?from_search=true&search_version=service) * The Book of Baltimore by Joel Dicker * After We Fell by Anna Todd * books by Andrea Camilleri (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17350.Andrea_Camilleri), including the Inspector Montalbano series (https://www.goodreads.com/series/51078-commissario-montalbano)   Don't You Forget About Me (23:11) (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389457540l/1597038.jpg)     (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326317142l/10628824.jpg) Ice Time by Jay Atkinson is a wonderful look at small town life in general, and a high school hockey team in general. It's a sports book that even I (Michael) loved. How to Live by Sarah Bakewell is a book that Ann read and loved a few years ago, and is now revisiting it on audio (http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/how-to-live/147279) (narrated by Davina Porter) in preparation for reading the essays of Michel de Montaigne, the subject of Bakewell's book.

Great news for a formerly-banned book; Bookclubs for grownups and children together; new books from Adam Makos and Mary Gaitskill Unbanned (00:40) Good news this week for Into The River, the novel by Ted Dawes that had been banned in New Zealand. The ban has been lifted, (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11529170) and will be made available immediately with a parental warning on the cover to help guide parents. Also, rights to publish the novel in the US and Canda have been acquired by Polis Books (http://www.polisbooks.com/blog/polis-publish-banned-award-winning-novel-into-river-by-ted-dawe/), so look for Into the River here in June 2016.     (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (02:20) (http://covers.audiobooks.com/images/covers/full/9781427264794.jpg)    Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things written and narrated by Jenny Lawson, is my pick for this week’s Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 60,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook)   The family that reads together (08:51) One of our listeners asked us to talk about parent/child reading groups (for "parent," feel free to substitute aunt, uncle, grandparent, teacher, babysitter, or any other adult that you trust with your child). Michael recently heard Gretchen Rubin talk about this on a recent Happier (http://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/) podcast (can someone help with the specific episode?), and we thought it was a great topic. There are so many options on how to organize a grownup/child bookclub: it can be just one grownup/one child, groups of children and grownups, or anything in between. Experts recommend grouping by age so that they are all at about the same reading level, but that depends on the age level. Other people recommend keeping it gender specific, but Michael and I agree that that is not necessary or maybe even preferred. Integrating an activity related to the book seems to be a popular choice, with the specific activity dependent on age of the kids in the group. Crafts, baking, even seeing a movie can all be tied into the book in a fun way. It's difficult to recommend specific books, because the choice will vary with age, but some of the books that came to us right away are: Wonder (https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=wonder) by RJ Palacio When You Reach Me (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5310515-when-you-reach-me?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Rebecca Stead The Book Thief (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19063.The_Book_Thief?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Markus Zusak Harry Potter (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone?ac=1) series by JK Rowling The Witches (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6327.The_Witches?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Roald Dahl The BFG (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6319.The_BFG?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Roald Dahl The Boys in the Boat (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16158542-the-boys-in-the-boat?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Daniel James Brown and the young reader's edition (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24611866-the-boys-in-the-boat?from_search=true&search_version=service) Unbroken (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8664353-unbroken?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Laura Hillenbrand, and the young adult version (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21965110-unbroken)   Resources:

Mispronounced literary names. A scary book bracket for Halloween. And, two books we can't wait for you to read.   Hermey-own and VoldemorT A recent article from The Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/don-quixote-top-mispronounced-literary-name/) lists the top 10 most commonly mispronounced literary names, including Don Quixote, Smaug, and Daenerys Targaryen.   (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (05:20) (http://covers.audiobooks.com/images/covers/full/9780739366790.jpg)Mary Poppins (http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/mary-poppins/52642) by P.L. Travers, narrated by Sophie Thompson, is my pick for this week's Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 60,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook)   Scary Sixteen (08:30) Some of our colleagues at Penguin Random House have put together Scary Sixteen, a bracket to determine what's the ultimate spooky read for Halloween. You can see the results so far in the image below, and you can go to the Penguin Random House blog, The Perch to vote on the next round (http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blog/2015/10/13/backlist-bracket-the-scary-sixteen-week-4). (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Scary-Sixteen-All-Titles-Round-Three-Winners-1024x622.jpg) Other spooky books we love: * The Passage by Justin Cronin * The Grownup by Gillian Flynn (on sale 11/3) * The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe * Ghostly edited by Audrey Niffenegger * The Veldt (short story) by Ray Bradbury * The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Also, Ann and I, separately had been thinking about books we should read, and each decided that it was time for you all to vote on a book for us. We'll start compiling our short list and collect your votes for a book we'll read over the holiday break! More to come.   Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (24:07) (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425401787l/23848247.jpg)     (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422969880l/24189224.jpg) Home is Burning by Dan Marshall is not for everyone. Just look at the cover up there. That crossed-out word (along with many of its off-color brethren) permeate this darkly funny and cringe-inducing memoir of Dan and his siblings caring for their Dad, who's dying of ALS, while simultaneously managing their mother, who is not making it easy on them. City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg has been one of the most buzzed-about books since it was first bought by publishers around the world. Set in 1970s New York City, this tome, which actually reads quickly, is the story of several people, some rich, some poor, some black, some white, some gay, some straight, but all affected by and drawn into the city.

  Reading under a blanket: cool weather only, or is it a year-round thing for you? Let us know.     (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (02:00): (http://covers.audiobooks.com/images/covers/full/9780062417114.jpg)The Art of Memoir, narrated by the author, is my pick for this week’s Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 60,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook)       Reading history through family fiction (06:27): October is Family History Month, and we've been thinking about the big, multi-generational family stories that our parents read in the 1970s and 80s. Many of them were series, and we realized that those kinds of books don't seem to be quite as prevalent today. Books like: * The Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes (Book #1: The Bastard (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71771.The_Bastard?from_search=true&search_version=service)) * A Woman of Substance (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8155.A_Woman_of_Substance?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Barbara Taylor Bradford * Evergreen (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/182496.Evergreen?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Belva Plain * The Immigrants (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/151080.The_Immigrants?from_search=true&search_version=service) series by Howard Fast * Books by James Michener (https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=james+michener) * The Forsyte Saga (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103159.The_Forsyte_Saga?from_search=true&search_version=service) by John Galsworthy One contemporary author who is writing something somewhat similar is Jane Smiley. Smiley's most recent work is a series of three novels that follow a family through 100 years of history. * Some Luck (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20587777-some-luck?from_search=true&search_version=service) * Early Warning (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23602474-early-warning) * Golden Age (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25241466-golden-age) Ken Follet's most recent series is The Century Trilogy, and it follows 5 families through the 20th century. * Fall of Giants (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7315573-fall-of-giants?from_search=true&search_version=service) * Winter of the World (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12959233-winter-of-the-world) * Edge of Eternity (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23190986-edge-of-eternity) We'd love to hear your thoughts on these types of books. What are we missing? What are your favorites?   Two books we can't wait for you to read (17:23):   (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1441908447l/24388414.jpg)   (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435188566l/24001090.jpg) Michael recommends a cookbook, but he encourages you to read it from beginning to end. My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24388414-my-kitchen-year?from_search=true&search_version=service), by Ruth Reichl. It's the story of the closing of Gourmet Magazine and the resultant effect that had on editor-in-cheif Reichl's life. It has recipes, yes, but the story of how food kept Reichl connected to her family and friends during a year of grieving is the truly special part of this book. The Last September by Nina de Gramont is a tough book to categorize. On the surface, it's a mystery/thriller told from the point of view of a young wife starting from the point of her husband's murder. But really, it's a novel about marriage, about friendship and family, and it's a great,

Books, serialized. A discussion of Banned Books Week. And, Don't You Forget About The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.   Reading the Serial Box Special thanks to listener Jeff who emailed us about Serial Box (https://www.serialbox.com/), a new service that is serializing stories online. You can read them online or via an app. You can even listen to audio versions. The first episode, or installment, of each story is free. The first story, Bookburners (https://www.serialbox.com/serials/555d1163ada6e26d95b9e785), has three episodes out as this podcast goes live. Another serial, Tremontaine (https://www.serialbox.com/serials/556fb93cada6e270f8e264d6), starts at the end of October.   (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (04:26) (http://covers.audiobooks.com/images/covers/full/9781490635521.jpg)Wide-Open World (http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/wide-open-world-how-volunteering-around-the-globe-changed-one-familys-lives-forever/223982) by John Marshall, narrated by the author, is my pick for this week's Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 60,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook)   Celebrating the Right to Read (08:02) It's Banned Books Week (http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek) (9/27 - 10/3), and we discuss a bit about "banned" vs. "challenged." Thankfully, in the U.S. books have only been challenged lately, and not banned outright (as discussed in a recent Slate article (http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2015/09/banned_books_week_no_one_bans_books_anymore_and_censorship_of_books_is_incredibly.html)). In New Zealand, however, author Ted Dawe (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/10/censorship-is-alive-in-new-zealand-i-should-know-my-book-was-banned) has seen his new book Into the River banned, meaning the book can not be distributed in any way, and it can't even be read out loud. In honor of Banned Books Week, there's a crossword puzzle (http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/blog/2015/09/28/banned-books-week-crossword-puzzle/) to test your knowledge, and a quiz (https://www.qzzr.com/quiz/4d87a531-b3b5-40f5-952b-c63e3aed3623/fi9xdWl6emVzLzk5MDgw) you can take to find out which banned book you are. Of course, you can (and should!) read some banned and challenged books, and can find lists of those here (http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10).   Don't You Forget About Me (21:11) (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327948540l/9571617.jpg)     (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327876995l/991197.jpg) Two books that have been challenged: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot was recently challenged in Knox County, TN for being "pornographic." This gripping real-life tale is the story of a poor black woman whose cervical cancer cells were harvested without her or her family's knowledge. Those cells were used in countless scientific breakthroughs that have benefited millions. Banned for "offensive language, political viewpoint," and for being "politically, racially and socially offensive", Persepolis (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/991197.The_Complete_Persepolis?ac=1) by Marjane Satrapi, is the author's memoir of growing up in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. This was the second graphic novel Ann ever read, and she credits it with helping to change her perceptions of graphic novels.

  (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364865172l/17675232.jpg)   (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375670274l/17349104.jpg) Live from Booktopia Asheville 2014, we're thrilled to present author talks from Kim Church, author of Byrd (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17675232-byrd?from_search=true&search_version=service), and Wiley Cash, author of A Land More Kind Than Home (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12408149-a-land-more-kind-than-home?from_search=true&search_version=service) and This Dark Road to Mercy (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17349104-this-dark-road-to-mercy?from_search=true&search_version=service). Both talks are incredible, and will make you understand why love both of these authors and their books so very much. We'll be back next week with a regular episode!

The first Booktopia, and the last. Reluctant re-readers reconsider. And we recommend Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff.    While reading through the stacks of wonderful cards we received at Booktopia Vermont, Ann and I came upon a note from Joanne in Canada. It was a photo of us with word balloons containing quotes we said when announcing the first Books on the Nightstand retreat (what would later become Booktopia), way back in Episode 79 (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2010/05/botns-books-podcast-79-when-the-buzz-gets-loud-enough.html). Things like, "I think I'd like to keep this really loose..." and "Let's sit by the fire and read..." As we head off to our final Booktopia event, we want to thank all of you who've been a part of this amazing adventure!    (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (04:01) (http://covers.audiobooks.com/images/covers/full/9780545880213.jpg) George (http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/george/237412) by Alex Gino, narrated by Jamie Clayton, is my pick for this week's Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 60,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook)   Re-Reading Reconsidered (07:51) Ann and I have long been reluctant re-readers, primarily because there are too many books we haven't read yet, and because we've been afraid that books we loved wouldn't hold up to a re-read. However, recently we've each been re-reading our favorite book (The Sparrow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/334176.The_Sparrow?from_search=true&search_version=service) and Any Human Heart (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77866.Any_Human_Heart?ac=1)) in preparation for our book discussions with The Readers at Booktopia. Ann has discovered that a second or third reading allows for closer reading, which can lead to more enjoyment. While I enjoyed re-reading Any Human Heart, I don't think I'm going to become someone who re-reads regularly. Maybe one or two here or there. Who knows? In the comments below, please share your thoughts on re-reading. Has this discussion changed your mind?   Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (20:43)   (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421079626l/24453082.jpg)     (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434750235l/24612118.jpg) Big Magic (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24453082-big-magic) by Elizabeth Gilbert is a wholly unique look at creativity as a force in its own right. A force that must be nurtured. I found so many passages of this book to be incredibly inspirational. Fates and Furies, the new novel by Lauren Groff, was first introduced to BOTNS listeners when it was recommended by Jynne Martin, whom Ann interviewed about National Readathon Day for episode 313 (http://booksonthenightstand.com/2015/01/botns-313-a-discussion-of-national-readathon-day-with-jynne-martin-2.html). Rather than re-invent the book recommendation, we're playing you Jynne's original recommendation.  

More love for Wonder, our BOTNS Bingo results, and two books we can't wait for you to read.   (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412358842l/23302416.jpg) Michael's son, a reluctant reader, has fallen in love with Wonder (https://www.goodreads.com...

Books written before 1700, plus we recommend Primates by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks, and The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs by Matthew Dicks. A special thank you to everyone who has left us an iTunes review. We love reading them and they help other iTunes users discover BOTNS! We received a message from a listener who thinks we might have our "heads in the sand" when it comes to e-books. We think he means e-book only titles, since, when we discuss books, we just want you to read them, and don't care how you do that. We fully admit that our own reading tends to be books that are available in multiple formats and not just one, but we do promise to recommend books we love no matter their format.  (http://booksonthenightstand.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/audiobooks.jpg)Audiobook of the week (05:13) (http://covers.audiobooks.com/images/covers/full/9781442375857.jpg) The Art of Stillness (http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/the-art-of-stillness/221709) by Pico Iyer, narrated by the author, is my pick for this week's Audiobooks.com Audiobook of the Week. Special thanks to Audiobooks.com (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook) for sponsoring this episode of Books on the Nightstand. Audiobooks.com allows you to listen to over 60,000 audiobooks, instantly, wherever you are, and the first one is free. Download or stream any book directly to your Apple or Android device. Sign up for a free 30-day trial and free audiobook download by going to www.audiobooks.com/freebook (http://www.audiobooks.com/freebook)   1700 Was a Long Time Ago (07:41) Cam, from Tennessee, asked for help with the Bingo square "Published before 1700." Unfortunately, we're just getting to the question now, with only a week left in the official BOTNS Bingo game. To compensate, we start with a short suggestion. * The Prince (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28862.The_Prince?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Niccolò Machiavelli * Don Quixote (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3835.Don_Quixote) by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra * The Republic (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30289.The_Republic?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Plato * The Satyricon (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/168214.The_Satyricon?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Gaius Petronius Arbiter * The Canterbury Tales (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2696.The_Canterbury_Tales?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Geoffrey Chaucer * The Symposium (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/81779.The_Symposium?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Plato * Beowulf (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52357.Beowulf?from_search=true&search_version=service) * The Odyssey (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1381.The_Odyssey?from_search=true&search_version=service) and The Iliad (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1371.The_Iliad?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Homer * The Odyssey (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7989499-the-odyssey) graphic novel by Gareth Hinds (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11528.Gareth_Hinds?from_search=true&search_version=service) (who has done several graphic novel versions of other pre-1700 books) * Aesop's Fables (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1217489.Aesop_s_Fables) * The Epic of Gilgamesh (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/617495.The_Epic_of_Gilgamesh) * The Histories (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1362.The_Histories?from_search=true&search_version=service) by Herodotus Ann discovered a Reddit thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/1kncat/what_is_your_favourite_piece_of_writing_pre1700/) with a ton of great suggestions.   Two Books We Can't Wait For You to Read (16:58) (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415681635l/22718786.jpg)     (https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428639100l/23847945.jpg) Booktopia Petoskey author Jim Ottaviani's latest work of scientific graphic nonfiction is Primates (https://www.goodreads.