From the Front Porch

Episode 197 || The Newsroom

The world is a very confusing place even in the most stable of times, and everyday people depend on journalists and other writers to figure out and lend some structure to the swirling facts and details of our lives. This week, Annie and Chris salute the heroes of nonfiction and hope to introduce you to the large and fascinating conversation about how we tell the truth.

Listen to Robin Young's Here and Now interview with the cast of The Lifespan of a Fact here. + In Cold Blood by Truman Capote + The Lifespan of a Fact by John D'Agata and Jim Fingal + Amanda Wakes Up by Alisyn Camerota + Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen + All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward + The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman + So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson Find all these great books at The Bookshelf here. Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 196 || Great American Read: Revisited

Thanks to the efforts of PBS, we now have a definitive list of America's favorite books. Annie and Chris are now recapping and providing their commentary on the top picks of PBS's Great American Read.  You can learn more about The Great American Read at PBS's website. Send your Mailbag questions to podcast [at] bookshelfthomasville [dot] com.  America's top five picks were: + The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien + Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen + Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling + Outlander by Diana Gabaldon + To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 195 || October Reading Recap

Okay, everybody. Spooky season is over, so Annie and Chris and back to walk you through what they read this month.  Annie read: + The Winters by Lisa Gabriele + Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier + Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis + If I'm Being Honest by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley + The Editor by Stephen Crowley + Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver + I'll Be There For You by Kelsey Miller + Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriarty + To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer + The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 194 || Halloween Seasonal Reads

Okay, so sometimes scheduling things weeks in advance is hard, and it turns out it's NOT the week of Halloween, but Annie and Chris have a great list of books to get you in the mood for what is objectively the best fourth-quarter holiday! Also, honk honk. We recommend: + Foe by Iain Reid + The Witch Elm by Tana French + The Widow by Fiona Barton + The Child by Fiona Barton + The Winters by Lisa Gabriele + Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier + The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware + In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware + Final Girls by Riley Sager + The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager + There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins + The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Robert Hack + Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry + The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule + I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara + Are You Sleeping? by Kathleen Barber Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 193 || Underappreciated

It's award season, and some of our absolute favorites got robbed. As much as we are Professional Book People™️, we're not professional critics--and we're the first people to admit that the critics don't always know what they're talking about. Join us as we talk through some of those books. + Fire Sermon by Jamie Quatro + Difficult Women by Roxane Gay + Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi + An American Marriage by Tayari Jones + The Mothers by Brit Bennett + Commonwealth by Ann Patchett + Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng + Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng + The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt + Department of Speculation by Jenny Offill + The Afterlives by Thomas Pierce + The End We Start From by Megan Hunter + Less by Andrew Sean Greer Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 192 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 15

Annie is joined by frequent guest Hunter to chat about listener-favorite Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. What are your thoughts on this suspense classic? It's so funny, but thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 191 || Books for Binge-Watchers

In addition to being Professional Book People™️, Annie and Chris are also avid TV watchers. Take that as you will. This week, book recommendations based on new and upcoming television. Binge with us a little bit, won't you? Also, The VVitch is a very scary movie. For fans of Murphy Brown: + Amanda Wakes Up by Alisyn Camerota + Hello, Sunshine by Laura Dave For fans of The Good Place: + How to Invent Everything by Ryan North + How to Live Safely in a Science-Fictional Universe by Charles Yu For fans of I Feel Bad: + I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron + The Misfortune of Marion Palm by Emily Culliton For fans of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: + The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa + Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero For fans of The Romanoffs: + I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon + Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal + A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 190 || September Reading Recap

It's time for our regular jaunt through the books we finished this month. Join us for the recap! Also, and very importantly: teenage penguins. + Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller + Fear by Bob Woodward + Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman + A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl by Jean Thompson (on sale October 9) + The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy + A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti + Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes + I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott (on sale April 2, 2019) Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like Chris and Annie's Unpopular Opinions, consider supporting us on Patreon here.  

Episode 189 || Fall Literary Lineup

Annie hosted Books and Brunch event in the shop last week and previewed some of her favorite coming releases of the fall season. This week, we're giving you an opportunity to get caught up!  Annie recommends: + Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller + Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver (on sale October 16--preorder here) + Gone So Long by Andre Dubus III (on sale October 2) + Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan (on sale October 2) + The Witch Elm by Tana French (on sale October 9) + I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel  + The Power of Love by Michael Curry (on sale October 30) + Gmorning Gnight by Lin Manuel Miranda (on sale October 23) + Becoming by Michelle Obama (on sale November 13) + Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty + A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl by Jean Thompson (on sale October 9) + Personality Brokers by Merve Emre + All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung (on sale October 2) + Transcription by Kate Atkinson (on sale September 25) + Melmoth by Sarah Perry (on sale October 16) + Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy (on sale October 23) Thanks, as always, to Forlorn Strangers for the use of our theme music. Learn and listen more here. Listen to a full back catalogue of our show here, and, if you're interested in some exclusive content like brief interviews with not-so-hideous booksellers, consider supporting us on Patreon here. 

Bonus Episode || Georgia Hunter

In preparation for Thomasville's annual One Book festival, Annie sat down with New York Times bestselling author Georgia Hunter, the great mind behind We Were the Lucky Ones.

Georgia will be in Thomasville on Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 PM in the Thomas County Board of Education Auditorium. For more information, including how to purchase tickets for the event, visit the One Book website here.