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Welcome to From the Front Porch, a weekly conversational podcast on books, small business, and life in the South, produced by The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia.
Episodes
Thursday Feb 13, 2025
Thursday Feb 13, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s an episode of Annie Recommends! In this series, Annie curates a stack of books in a certain genre or theme for you – just as if you walked into our brick-and-mortar store, The Bookshelf. This month, Annie recommends a short list of her favorite rom-coms.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 516”) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Back After This by Linda Holmes (releases 2/25/25)
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Passion Project by London Sperry (releases 4/8/25)
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading How to Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another New Release Rundown! Annie, Erin, and Olivia are sharing the November releases they’re excited about to help you build your TBR. When you purchase or preorder any of the books they talk about, enter the code NEWRELEASEPLEASE at checkout for 10% off your order!
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 515”), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Annie's books:
The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy (2/4)
We Would Never by Tova Mirvis (2/11)
Back After This by Linda Holmes (2/25)
Olivia's books:
The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune (2/4)
You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego (2/11)
The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman (2/18)
Erin's books:
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict (2/11)
The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (2/25)
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister (2/25)
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Isola by Allegra Goodman. Olivia is reading The Enemy's Daughter by Anne Blankman. Erin is reading Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Jan 30, 2025
Thursday Jan 30, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in January. You get 10% off your books when you order your January Reading Recap Duo. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie’s favorite books she read that month.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 514”), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy (releases 2/4)
We Would Never by Tova Mirvis (releases 2/11)
Lucky Night by Eliza Kennedy (releases 3/25)
Playworld by Adam Ross
Back After This by Linda Holmes (releases 2/25)
Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld (releases 2/25)
Annie's January Reading Recap Duo - $52
The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy (releases 2/4)
Playworld by Adam Ross
**Please note your January Reading Recap Duo will ship after Tuesday, February 4, when The Snowbirds releases.
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Jan 23, 2025
Thursday Jan 23, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s a new episode of Into the Backlist! Today, Annie changes her focus from new releases to dive into the backlist: the books that came out years ago, the books that didn’t get enough attention, the books you may stumble upon while browsing in an indie bookstore like The Bookshelf.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 513”) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Previous Into the Backlist Titles:
Frances & Bernard by Carlene Bauer
The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (unable to order)
The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Defending Jacob by William Landay
History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (unavailable to order)
Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suiter Clarke
Stealing by Margaret Verble
The Net Beneath Us by Carol Dunbar
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Penitence by Kristin Koval (releases January 28th)
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Jan 16, 2025
Thursday Jan 16, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s a Literary Therapy session! Our literary Frasier Crane, Annie, is back to answer more of your reading questions and dilemmas. If you have a question you would like Annie to answer in a future episode, you can leave us a voicemail here.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 512”) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Play for Me by Libby Hubscher
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
The Life Council by Laura Tremaine
Begin Again by Helly Acton
Limelight by Amy Poeppel
Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman
If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook
Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs by Heather Lende
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe
Live from New York by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost
I’ll BeThere for You by Kelsey Miller
The Office by Andy Greene
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (unavailable to order)
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Leaving by Roxana Robinson
It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway by Elizabeth Passarella (unavailable to order)
Congratulations! The Best Is Over by R. Eric Thomas
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
Taste by Stanley Tucci
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it’s an episode of Annie Recommends! In this series, Annie curates a stack of books in a certain genre or theme for you – just as if you walked into our brick-and-mortar store, The Bookshelf. Sometimes, you just want a good book list. This month, Annie recommends a short list of her favorite book club selections.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 511”) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Thursday Jan 02, 2025
Happy New Year! This week on From the Front Porch, Annie chats about the unsung books that may have flown under your radar and deserve more airtime.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 510”) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman by Abi Maxwell
The Book of George by Kate Greathead
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Rental House by Weiki Wang.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Dec 26, 2024
Thursday Dec 26, 2024
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie and Hunter (@shelfbyshelf) discuss their top 10 favorite books of 2024.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search “Episode 509”) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Annie's Midyear Favorites:
1. James by Percival Everett
2. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
3. Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
4. Even After Everything by Stephanie Duncan Smith
5. Real Americans by Rachel Khong
6. Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
7. Sandwich by Catherine Newman
8. Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
9. Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
10. Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley
Hunter's Midyear Favorites:
1. James by Percival Everett
2. All Fours by Miranda July
3. We Were The Universe by Kimberly King Parsons
4. In Tongues by Thomas Grattan
5. Colored Television by Danzy Senna
6. State of Paradise by Laura Van der Berg
7. Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
8. Ways and Means by Daniel Lefferts
9. Henry Henry by Allen Bratton
10. Housemates by Emma Copley Eisenberg
Annie's Favorite Books of 2024
1. James by Percival Everett
2. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
3. Even After Everything by Stephanie Duncan Smith
4. The Barn by Wright Thompson
5. The Wedding People by Alison Espach
6. Clear by Carys Davies
7. Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
8. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
9. Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
10. Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley
Hunter's Favorite Books of 2024
1. James by Percival Everett
2. All Fours by Miranda July
3. We Were The Universe by Kimberly King Parsons
4. Small Rain by Garth Greenwell
5. Colored Television by Danzy Senna
6. Rejection by Tommy Tulathimutte
7. Hombrecito by Santiago Jose Sanchez
8. Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel
9. In Tongues by Thomas Grattan
10. Orbital by Samantha Harvey / Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Playworld by Adam Ross. Hunter is reading The Antidote by Karen Russell.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie’s dad, Chris Butterworth, reads the New York Sun reporter Francis P. Church’s timeless response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s question: “Is there a Santa Claus?” Read the letter from 1897 and learn about its history here.
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie and Erin chat about exciting changes to our Shelf Subscriptions! Shelf Subscriptions are The Bookshelf’s book-a-month club for adults and kids. Listen to find out what makes Shelf Subscriptions special, and how we’re refreshing the program in 2025. Learn more about Shelf Subscription changes and read Annie’s letter here.
To purchase your Shelf Subscription, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville or visit our website:
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found here.
Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Thomasville, Georgia. There is something truly special about the holiday season in Downtown Thomasville. The twinkling lights, beautifully decorated store windows, and holiday events all add to the festive feeling of the season.
Let us be your shopping and dining destination this holiday season, so spend Christmas in Thomasville with us. Activities are held every weekend leading up to Christmas, including this year’s 38th Annual Victorian Christmas on December 12 and 13. Learn more by visiting thomasvillega.com or call 229-228-7977.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading Playworld by Adam Ross. Erin is reading Pictures of You by Emma Grey.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.