So Many Damn Books

When Amelia Gray stops by the Damn Library, Christopher turns a drink blue again, and they discuss her new book, Isadora. Particularly: what it was like to write a book about a dancer during a time when she wasn't dancing. A quote about dancing is misattributed. Plus, we get into Nell Zink's fearlessness in her novel, Nicotine, about activists and squat housing. Also: Amelia Gray starts an exquisite corpse in our iTunes reviews. book lists, drink recipes, and more over at somanydamnbooks.com contribute at: patreon.com/smdb 15 seconds of a song: Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Without a guest, the guys make good on their TMN Tournament of Books bet- Drew chose Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn. They talk about what matters in a noir, Lethem tackling Tourette's, and enjoying a book about where you live, amongst other subjects. Also: Patreon listener recommendations!contribute: patreon.com/smdbdrink lists, book lists, and more: somanydamnbooks.com15 seconds of a song: Lounger - Dogs Die in Hot Cars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Samantha Hunt drops by the Damn Library, the guys try to put a shadow in her drink but just end up with something more blood colored. They discuss her story collection, The Dark Dark, the Normas in one's life, and ticks, as well as transcending genre. The story collection she suggested, Chavisa Woods' Things to Do When You're Goth in the Country, also transcends genre, and the trio can't stop deciding on favorite stories.  15 seconds of a song: Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh support the show! patreon.com/smdb book lists/drink recipes at somanydamnbooks.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the Damn Library, Christopher gets an egg white cocktail egg-zactly right for Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, Vitamin and also All About Eggs. He and Drew also chat with Rachel about the inner/outer voice of the critic, using family as inspiration, and eschewing categorization. Then they all dish on how much they liked Mary Robison's Why Did I Ever. 15 seconds of a song: The Magic Numbers - Don't Give Up The Fight contribute over at patreon.com/smdb! get book lists, drink recipes, and more over at somanydamnbooks.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosecrans Baldwin, who indirectly provided the beginning for the SMDB podcast, stops by the Damn Library to talk about his exceptional "HBO series of a novel," The Last Kid Left. Youth is discussed, as well as getting characters right, stopping into a memory-laden Barnes and Noble, and reading The Economist in bed. Also, Rosecrans tells a story about how reading Graham Greene helped him meet his wife, before he and the guys discuss Brighton Rock. Tequila is consumed. contribute and get extra content! http://patreon.com/smdb drink recipes and book lists at http://somanydamnbooks.com 15 seconds of a song: Beulah - If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MARLENA MARLENA MARLENA! Julie Buntin drops into the Damn Library to talk her terrific debut novel, Marlena, and gets into whether she's a Marlena or a Cat, if there's a real Spicy Bob's Pizza, and what she was hoping to get to at the core of her characters. Plus, she and the guys get really into Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki, which isn't a noir even if it seems like it. 15 seconds of a song: Chet Faker - Gold contribute and help the show: patreon.com/smdb find drink lists and recipes at somanydamnbooks.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alissa Nutting, author of Made for Love (and also Tampa) joins the guys in the Damn Library to talk surveillance state and let the guys bring up the dolphin sex, and the importance of first sentences. They also talk about Randa Jarrar's Him, Me, Muhammad Ali, a collection of short stories that includes both crows and reading your Mom's diary, amongst other subjects. Crassness is celebrated, and everyone has a dolphin delightful time. get cool stuff, contribute to our patreon: patreon.com/smdb book lists and drink recipes at somanydamnbooks.com 15 seconds of a song: I Am Not a Robot - Marina & The Diamonds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elif Batuman joins Christopher and Drew in the Damn Library, and they all imbibe a drink called "The Dissertation" which can smack the words off the tip of your tongue. They discuss Batuman's The Idiot, and being nicer to your college self, and how you can end up a Dostoyevsky acolyte by accident, almost. They also delve into Swann's Way, the first volume of Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time (translated by Lydia Davis) and answer: how is this Paris if there isn't the Eiffel Tower? 15 seconds of a song: Vampire Weekend - Campus hey, support the show: http://patreon.com/smdb  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys decide to participate in One Book One New York, get on the bandwagon, and finally read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah. They discuss Obama, getting bloggers right, and what it's like for a city to read along together. Plus, they launch a patreon. support the show if you'd like! https://www.patreon.com/smdb book lists and more at http://www.somanydamnbooks.com/episodes//episode-sixty-six-onebookny-americanah Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bianca Bosker, author of Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste saunters into the Damn Library with gusto. She and the guys discuss books that make you want to get pregnant, Burgundy drinking songs, and getting her first hater. Plus, they delve into Joan Didion's South and West, and discuss its essential notebook-ness. write us an iTunes review! 15 seconds of a song: Jim Noir - Eanie Meany support our patreon! https://www.patreon.com/smdb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Melissa Febos stops by the Damn Library to talk about her new book "Abandon Me," Christopher goes "Beyond Booze" for the drink, and Drew is also there, because of course he is! They talk pop psychology, gift giving, and everyone having different versions of a memory, amongst other topics. Then they move on to Elena Passarello's "Animals Strike Curious Poses" and marvel at her modern bestiary.    Part of a song: Unit 4+2 - Concrete and Clay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nozlee Samadzadeh-Hadidi, producer of The Tournament of Books for The Morning News, drops by the Damn Library to help wrap up this year's tournament with Christopher and Drew. Drinks are drunk, ancient history is drudged up, least favorites are spilled, and Nozlee even explains how she edits judgments for spoilers when she hasn't read the books. visit somanydamnbooks.com for book lists and drink recipes! 15 seconds of a song: Sondre Lerche - It's Too Late Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just before winning a Whiting Award, Kaitlyn Greenidge brought her debut novel "We Love You, Charlie Freeman" to the Damn Library. She confesses to hating animals, amongst other deep explications, and then we switch to talking the genre of "sexy-ckens" with Sarah Waters' "Tipping the Velvet," a novel whose filthy title is only the start of the sex within its pages. 15 seconds of a song: Javelin - Nnormal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Lee takes a dip into the Damn Library, talking his novel High Dive over a cocktail named after chlorine that surely doesn't taste like chlorine. The ensuing discussion includes fatherhood, pool water, and political awakenings - particularly those of Antonio Tabucchi's "Pereira Maintains." Or does he declare? Of course, Drew and Christopher take a break to chat about the Tournament of Books.   15 seconds of a song: Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francine Prose joins C+D in the Damn Library for some lively talk of theater that misses the mark, thwarted ambitions, and following the characters of her newest novel, Mister Monkey. They also get into Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson, and Francine heartily recommends a foreign film that will "change your life." And of course there is a brief Tournament of Books interlude. (Caw!) 15 seconds of a song: TOPS - Way to be Loved Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew and Christopher take a break from tournament reading to enjoy some books that break the mold, namely Alejandro Zambra's Multiple Choice and Sarah Manguso's Ongoingness. The merits of breaking the mold is discussed, along with other topics, like the Disney Vault and Arrested Development. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Other than this sentence, not a single reference to Valentine's Day is in this podcast. Megan Abbott stops by the Damn Library with her newest novel, You Will Know Me. We discuss prodigies and the grit of teenage gymnasts, and then dismount the pommel horse into the quarry of Patricia Highsmith's slow burn suburban thriller, Deep Water. Drinks are consumed, dark jokes abound.   (buy our shirt): https://teespring.com/stores/so-many-damn-books   15 seconds of a song: "Wedding in Finistere" - Jens Lekman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a long hiatus, Drew and Christopher are back in the Damn Library, explaining what the Tournament of Books is, why they like it, and what seems like the favorite to win this year.  New logo by Jefferson Wiggins. jeffersonwiggins.com GO BUY A TSHIRT: https://teespring.com/stores/so-many-damn-books 15 seconds of a song: Free the Bees - Chicken Payback Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Snowed in, the guys decide to record an episode, because why not? They discuss L. Frank Baum, and then an unexpected visitor shows up in the form of Uli Beutter Cohen, founder of Subway Book Review and co-creator of the new literary newsletter Eye Level. Drinks are drunk, halls are decked, christmas trees are discussed at length. Happy Holidays from So Many Damn Books! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this one, the guys look to escape their lives for a bit with some epic fantasy, and they do so via a duologetic ticket to Leigh Bardugo's Grisha-verse. After they extoll the book's virtues and consider the difficulties of escapism, they jump into their Top 6 of 2016. 15 seconds of a song: Lou Rawls - "Merry Christmas Baby" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.