So Many Damn Books

The indomitable, incomparable Lisa Lutz stops by the Damn Library for a career retrospective. Drew and Christopher very nearly contain their rabid fandom and talk the Spellman Files series, "The Passenger," "Heads You Lose," and "How to Start a Fire," as well as why it might not have been the best choice to read Georges Simenon's "Dirty Snow" right around the election. Also, the cocktail doesn't necessarily need booze in it! 15 seconds of a song: The Boy Least Likely To - "Be Gentle With Me" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew are joined by Jade Chang to chat about a road trip, writing what is most challenging, and aliens. Jade likes how cozy it is in the library and the guys love how cozy "The Wangs vs. The World" is as a novel. Then the aliens, because Margaret Wappler's Neon Green is about aliens, sort of.  15 Seconds of a Song: Ashes of American Flags - Wilco Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen Donohoe drops by the Damn Library to talk about her book, Ashes of Fiery Weather, and all the historical disasters contained within, as well as her personal connections to Brooklyn. Surprise '98 National Book Award winner Charming Billy by Alice McDermott is also discussed, and parallels are unlocked, like funerals! and Bridies! 15 seconds of a song: Maria Taylor's "Irish Goodbye"     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannah Pittard stops by the Damn Library to drink a classic cocktail bastardized by a substituted ingredient and discuss her book "Listen to Me" and Iain Reid's "I'm Thinking of Ending Things." Dread is discussed, as well as what makes for a good thriller, and Hannah explains why none of anything matters at all! Other fun revelations too! 15 seconds of a song - "Willow Weep for Me" by Muzzy Marcellino Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew invite Teddy Wayne to the Damn Library, and he brings along his new "zeitgeist-y" novel, Loner, as well as Rebecca Schiff's short story collection The Bed Moved. The literary reader's intelligence is praised, the drink is overtly symbolic, and technology in fiction is discussed in earnest. This is our 50th episode! To celebrate, leave us a nice rating on iTunes, and share our show with a close friend! 15 seconds of a song: Reggie and the Full Effect - "Congratulations Smack and Katy"  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew are joined by returning guest Alexandra Kleeman. They all drink a cocktail named after a character who moonlights in both her short story collection "Intimations" and, maybe, within Robert Coover's "Pricksongs and Descants." They discuss being a person-person, talk fiction-fiction, and why puzzle-stories are sometimes best left unrevisited. Amongst other things. 15 seconds of a song: Julien Dore - Les Limites Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew drink Firewhiskey Juleps and get feisty about the new story in the Harry Potter-verse. Fan fiction, Sherlock Holmes, and second Death Stars are amongst the subjects mentioned. No one gets hurt. 15 seconds of a song: Harry and the Potters, "Save Ginny" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew sit down with a whiskey drink sweetened with the blood of maraschino cherries, and discuss Donna Tartt's marginalized sophomore novel, The Little Friend. Unjustly pushed to the side? Or lesser entry in the Tartt Canon? They also briefly discuss show spin-offs.15 seconds of a song: Adam Green - "Friends of Mine"  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evan Hanczor, chef at Egg in Williamsburg, drops by the damn library with Tortilla Espanola and the tale of serving a meal inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God. The connection of food and fiction is discussed. Drew gets worked up by Hemingway, Christopher eats food to spite characters sometimes. Evan recommends cookbooks, too. 15 seconds of a song: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew decide it's never too early for list making, and choose six favorites from the year to date (2016). Then they get out their crystal ball and look forward to books coming out for the rest of the year. Summertime reading, awayyyyy! 15 seconds of a song: The Monkees - You Bring the Summer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew and Christopher tackle YA through the 2001 classic Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and the 2016 Printz Award Winner, Bone Gap by Laura Ruby. Grand theories are posited, the state of YA is considered, the line between YA and regular lit is blurred. No one gets hurt and everyone's happy.   15 seconds of a song: Regina Spektor, "Us" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephanie Danler, author of the highly recommended Sweetbitter, joins the guys in the Damn Library for a chat about anything and everything. Food, identity, sex - you name it, they talk about it. TWO cocktails are imbibed and Maggie Nelson's exceptional Bluets is unanimously praised. 15 seconds of a song: "The Clearest Blue" - CHVRCHES Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Chee stops into the Damn Library for a Lilliet and a discussion of his novel The Queen of the Night. Drew and Christopher ask after pop culture parallels and fidelity to nonfiction. They also discuss Garth Greenwell's What Belongs to You and whether or not you're a sucker to fall in love with a prostitute. 15 seconds of a song: I Love Paris - Sam Butera and the Witnesses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew and Christopher see if they can draw any comparisons between the current election and Hunter S. Thompson's other Fear and Loathing book. Not the one that he goes to Las Vegas. Gonzo journalism is discussed, but sadly, not Gonzo from the Muppets.  Fifteen Seconds of a Song: "American Girl" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And that's a wrap! What a tournament of books that was! Tournament of Books producer Nozlee and former contestant (with his book A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall) Will Chancellor stop by the Damn Library to talk believability, tooth truths, good tourney moments, and much more! 15 Seconds of a song: Taki Rari - Yma Sumac  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew and Christopher talk their brackets and re-reading. They wax nostalgic on the week past and dive deep into the remaining match-ups as we head into the finals. Plus, a bookish wager on who will take the Rooster home. 15 Seconds of a song: The Aquabats - Magic Chicken! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katy Waldman stops by the Damn Library to drink "The Rooster" and prognosticate. Jane Austen keeps getting updated, the trio relives the first round of the TOB's ups and downs, and then a deep dive into Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff somehow reveals which presidential couple is most like the Underwoods from House of Cards. And more!   15 Seconds of a Song: Modest Mouse - Wild Packs of Family Dogs     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angela Flournoy, author of the Turner House, stops by the Damn Library, fresh off her Tournament of Books win in round one against Ban en Banlieue. She and the guys talk where she was when her novel published, whether or not she believes in ghosts, and how it was to write in Iowa. And of course they all discuss Tournament happenings and could-happens. 15 Seconds of a song: Kamasi Washington "Rerun" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's tournament time!! Christopher drinks a Slaughtering Mary, Drew and Maris Kreizman don't. They all discuss Maris' book/blog Slaughterhouse 90210 and Kickstarter, and then delve into the complexities of The Invaders by Karolina Waclawiak. There's also a little ToB prognostication. CAWWWWW! 30 Seconds of a song: "Frenchy" from the 30 Rock OST. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over a round of Dark and Particularly Stormys, Drew and Christopher have the pleasure of chatting, friendly-like, with Mark de Silva, author of Square Wave, out now from Two Dollar Radio. Jazz is discussed! So is Donna Tartt! And Misogyny! And how Bret Easton Ellis got to be the way he is! And so much more.    15 seconds of a song: The Beach Boys, "Catch a Wave" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.