Viet Thanh Nguyen’s new memoir, A Man of Two Faces, is an unconventional and impeccable personal narrative that tackles the author’s own life alongside larger themes of culture and colonization. Nguyen joined us live at The Grove to talk about understanding his own story through writing, his interpretations of memory and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.           New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       Featured Books (Episode):  A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen  The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen  The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen  The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston  

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is a haunted house story for those of us who love books, creepy fairy tales and Southern Gothic themes. Harrow joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, the ties to children’s literature, the differences in writing novels vs. short stories and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.            Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    Featured Books (Episode):  Starling House by Alix E. Harrow    The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow    The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow     A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow    A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow    Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak    She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan    He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan    Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 

"It does come down to that moment, when as a reader or as a writer entering into a story we say — it's not about me, it's about you."    Alice McDermott’s Absolution shines a light on the dynamic lives of American women as they navigate the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War. McDermott joins us to talk about the untold pieces of American history, the evolution of her career as a writer, the power and impact of language in fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.            New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.          Featured Books (episode):  Absolution by Alice McDermott    The Quiet American by Graham Greene    The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott    A Flag for Sunrise by Robert Stone    Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard    Family Meal by Bryan Washington    The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 

“There's nothing truer than fiction, because you can always find yourself in the work.” The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters is the story of a Mi’kmaq girl who goes missing and the grief, turmoil and hope that they find as they move forward. Peters joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, crafting her characters, connection through storytelling and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.             Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).         Featured Books (Episode):  The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart The Circle by Katherena Vermette If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga  

Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang connects lyrical, dreamy prose and visceral reality in the story of two girls who navigate their complicated friendship in a world they build with feral dogs and otherworldly connection. Chang joins us to talk about writing in a nonlinear way, creating personal and cultural mythologies and finding connection through literature. Anbara Salam’s Hazardous Spirits explores the mystical, opulent and sometimes dangerous world of Spiritualism in 1920s Scotland. Salam joins us to talk about writing the time period after a crisis and its connection to today, the specificity of her research and creating stories that may not wrap up neatly.  Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.          Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     Featured Books (Episode): Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang  Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam  Bestiary by K-Ming Chang  Gods of Want by K-Ming Chang  Belladonna by Anbara Salam  Affinity by Sarah Waters  Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward  The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters 

In Roman Stories Jhumpa Lahiri translates her own writing from Italian in a feat of language and a love and connection to Rome itself. Lahiri joins us to talk about the role of a translator in literature, language and identity, exophonic authors and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.        New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.         Featured Books (Episode): Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri  Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri  The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri  Translating Myself and Others by Jhumpa Lahiri  Trick by Domenico Starnone   Metamorphoses by Ovid  

"I think that messy, sort of evolving spiritual element of Black Americans' lives ... has allowed us to survive, and not only to survive, but also to thrive." Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward balances grief and injustice with joy and reclamation in a sweeping, lyrical novel that brings often overlooked history into the light. Ward joins us to talk about exploring historical fiction, writing beyond the world we can explain, and finding the connections between literature, grief, connection and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.        New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.        Featured Books (Episode):   Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward  Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward  Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward  Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Beloved by Toni Morrison  Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson 

Percy Jackson returns at long last in The Chalice of the Gods. Rick Riordan brings back the characters that started it all in a new adventure as they face down one of their toughest challenges yet — getting into college. Riordan joins us to talk about the return to his beloved series, collaborating with incredible authors in his publishing imprint, adapting his work for the screen and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.        New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.        Featured Books (Episode):  The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan  The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan  The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan  The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro  Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi  Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choksi 

Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson brings these wondrous creatures to the forefront as we learn about their personalities, complex ecosystems and their connections to humanity in a variety of ways. Montgomery and Patterson join us to talk about their love of turtles, the importance of local conservation and rescues, what we can learn from turtles and nature in general and more.  Margaret Renkl’s The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year is a literary devotional featuring beautiful artwork that follows the natural world week by week through the splendor of a year. Renkl joins us to talk about the importance of slowing down to appreciate the world around us, connecting to the plants and animals in our surroundings, the impacts of changing climate and more.  Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.          Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     Featured Books (Episode):  Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl  Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl  Graceland, At Last by Margaret Renkl  The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery  How To Be A Good Creature by Sy Montgomery 

“I expect my reader to meet me halfway with their own experiences and fill in the white space, fill in what's left unsaid.” Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson brings the reader to Brooklyn in the 70s to examine memory and acceptance through the eyes of one girl from her childhood and beyond. Woodson joins us to talk about writing for young people, the themes of childhood and nostalgia, creating identity through literature and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.       New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       Featured Books (Episode):  Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson  Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson  Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson  Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson  Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward  The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis  Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson 

Family Meal by Bryan Washington features the importance of food, friends and connection with a cast of characters working through the transitions in life. Washington joins us to talk about the identity of place, how he writes the messiness of life, staying truthful to characters and their struggles and more. Curtis Chin’s Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant follows the author’s life as he grew up in and around his family’s restaurant where he came to better understand himself and those around him. Chin joins us to talk about the perils of writing about your relatives, the nuances of cultural identity, a very particular Detroit meal and more.    Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.        New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      Featured Books (Episode):  Family Meal by Bryan Washington  Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin  Memorial by Bryan Washington  Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson  Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto  Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park  100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell  Mott Street by Ava Chin  The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang 

“I want people to read it with joy, just for the story. But I do hope that they'll pick up something else along the way about … deeper things.” The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok finds two women on incredibly different paths in life in collision as they grapple with issues of culture, class and motherhood. Kwok joins us to talk about how she started a career in writing, the importance and language and cultural identity, how books open doors to learning and growth and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       Featured Books (Episode):  The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok  Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok  Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok  Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok  Happiness Falls by Angie Kim  The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni  Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Greek Lessons by Han Kang  The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan 

"I wanted it to feel like stepping off the world..." Blackouts by Justin Torres explores love, loss and the stories we leave behind with inventive and transformative form and prose. Torres joins us to talk about the source material for this novel, the importance of telling queer stories, navigating legacy, loneliness and identity and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      Featured Books (Episode): Blackouts by Justin Torres We the Animals by Justin Torres Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis City of God by Gil Cuadros Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe Punks by John Keene In Case of Emergency by Mahsa Mohebali

Our October Discover Pick is The Refugee Ocean by Pauls Toutonghi, featuring musical prose and interwoven stories that cross generations and countries to explore what it means to be an immigrant and the resiliency of the human spirit. Toutonghi joins us to talk about his family connection to the novel, using fiction to connect to the human experience, the long process of writing this book and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.            Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).        Featured Books (Episode):  The Refugee Ocean by Pauls Toutonghi  The Overstory by Richard Powers  All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr  Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano  Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 

“Language doesn't just exist on the page … It's about how you embody it.”  How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair is a poetic memoir about growing up as a Rastafari woman in Jamaica and how words and writing empowered her voice. Sinclair joins us to talk about the literary connections in her poetry, shedding light on the reality of her upbringing, and the identity that comes with writing and reading with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       Featured Books (Episode):  How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair  Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair  The Tempest by William Shakespeare  Educated by Tara Westover  The Star-Apple Kingdom by Derek Walcott 

Jonathan Lethem’s Brooklyn Crime Novel brings readers to New York in the 70s and the cast of characters it contains. Lethem joins us to talk about creating something different than he’d done before, writing memory and nostalgia, the joy of bookselling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. The Maniac by Benjamín Labatut defies genre with an examination and exploration of science and humanity from the Manhattan Project to the advent of A.I. Labatut joins us to talk about the dark art of writing, the mystery and mythology of existence, the importance of story and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.  We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.            Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).       Featured Books (Episode):  Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem  The Maniac by Benjamín Labatut  The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem  Desperate Characters by Paula Fox  Another Country by James Baldwin  Steelwork by Gilbert Sorrentino   Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr.  When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Underworld by Don DeLillo  The New Life by Tom Crewe 

"My biggest goal was to convert people who said they don't like fantasy." V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series has enchanted us with wit, wonder and a world not unlike our own, filled with heroes and intrigue. Her newest addition, The Fragile Threads of Power, brings our favorite characters on a new adventure. Schwab joins us to talk about returning to her magical version of London, the role of social media for authors and readers, vampire novels and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.         Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     Featured Books (Episode):  The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab  A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab  The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab  The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell  You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith  Painted Devils by Margaret Owen    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri  Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey 

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis follows a family through generations from small town Alabama to Philadelphia in the 80s as they struggle, succeed and learn to care for each other. Mathis joins us to talk about how long it took her to write this book, keeping joy in hard stories, how real events and culture shape her characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.    New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      Featured Books (Episode):  The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis  The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis  Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe  American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis  Gilead by Marilynne Robinson  Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman  A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel  

“It really illuminates these questions of privilege and pleasure, and what kind of joy we can look forward to in the human experience as things continue to get worse.” In a world facing food scarcity and limited resources, a young chef enters a world of allure, privilege, abundance (and their consequences) in Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang. Zhang joins us to talk about the mythology of the worlds she creates, the secret to great food writing, the politics of privilege and pleasure and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.   New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.     Featured Books (Episode):  Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang  How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang  The Lover by Marguerite Duras  Provence, 1970 by Luke Barr  Prophet by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché  H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald 

“This book is the most personal because it is what I feel about the world itself.” The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff is a beautiful and propulsive survival story that brings new life to wilderness fiction. Groff joins us to talk about her extensive drafting process, her varied influences, getting language right in historical fiction and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.  New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    Featured Books:  The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff  Arcadia by Lauren Groff  Matrix by Lauren Groff  Middlemarch by George Eliot  Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe  The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan   The Road by Cormac McCarthy  Anagrams by Lorrie Moore   A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel  

Daniel Mason’s North Woods follows one house in the woods of New England as it passes through families (with inhabitants both human and not) and endures natural and human history. Mason joins us to talk about how he connected with his setting, writing a novel covering a large timespan, playing with form and more.  The Bee Sting by Paul Murray chronicles the saga of a family in a post-economic-collapse Ireland. Murray joins us to talk about the cultural background of his novel, writing a dysfunctional family, the influences of Joyce and Faulkner and more.  Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.            Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).            Featured Books (Episode):  North Woods by Daniel Mason  The Bee Sting by Paul Murray  The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason  The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason  Walden by Henry David Thoreau   Skippy Dies by Paul Murray  Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett  Ulysses by James Joyce  Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon  The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen  Who Will Run the Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore  As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner 

Wellness by Nathan Hill follows a marriage over decades through a variety of successes, challenges and surprises. Hill joins us to talk about how long it took him to write his novel, describing a realistic marriage, the power of algorithms and more. Ben Fountain’s Devil Makes Three brings readers to Haiti in 1991 with a cast of characters ranging from divers looking for shipwrecked treasure to CIA agents navigating a country in the midst of political unrest. Fountain joins us to talk about his connection to Haiti and the research he has done, the unique historical events that provide the backdrop for the novel, his influences and more.  Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.            Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).           Featured Books (Episode):  Wellness by Nathan Hill  Devil Makes Three by Ben Fountain  The Nix by Nathan Hill   A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders  Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme  Forty Stories by Donald Barthelme  Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf  Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain  Brief Encounters with Che Guevara by Ben Fountain  Beautiful Country Burn Again by Ben Fountain  The Immaculate Invasion by Bob Shacochis 

“I feel like I could actually follow you through this journey and come out of it changed rather than abused by my ignorance.”  The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland blends memoir, history and culture in a study of the experience of blindness and how it effects both the individual and society as a whole. Leland joins us to talk about the connection between blindness and literacy, the language around disability, the long process he took to write this book and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                 New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.           Featured Books (Episode):  The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland  Paradise Lost by John Milton  Finnegans Wake by James Joyce 

Claudia Dey’s novel Daughter is a stark and beautiful portrait of the complicated dynamic between a young artist and her father. Dey joins us to talk about creating the distinct voice of the novel, complicated family relationships, writing a novel that’s true and more.    I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel is a visceral look at one young woman’s descent into the world of social media obsession with a sharp look at today’s internet culture and what it means to exist online. Patel joins us to talk about the absurdity of internet fame, unlikable female characters, combining memes with literature and more.    Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host Jenna Seery.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.           Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    Featured Books (Episode): Daughter by Claudia Dey  I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel  Heartbreaker by Claudia Dey  Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel  I Love Dick by Chris Kraus  Motherhood by Sheila Heti  Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong  Life with Picasso by Françoise Gilot  Intimacy by Hanif Kureishi 

“… this was a book about beauty, and I wanted it to be very honest.”  In Mona Awad’s Rouge, gothic family-drama meets fairy tale (with a hint of horror) as a young woman navigates the world of youth and beauty in the aftermath of her mother’s death.   Awad joins us to talk about how her obsession with skincare led to writing this book, creating a mother and daughter dynamic, the importance of writing with a distinct voice and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.      This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.            New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.           Featured Books (Episode):  Rouge by Mona Awad  Bunny by Mona Awad  13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad  American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis  Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys  Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys  Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Maeve Fly by CJ Leede  Siren Queen by Nghi Vo 

“My specialty is digging up obscure stories where there are just enough facts to really stimulate the imagination.”  Emma Donoghue’s newest novel, Learned by Heart, tells the story of young, enigmatic Anne Lister and her first love, an orphaned heiress born in India. Donoghue joins us to talk about the role Anne Lister has played in her life, crowdsourcing research, the importance of historical fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Mary.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.            Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).       Featured Books (Episode):  Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue  Room by Emma Donoghue  The Wonder by Emma Donoghue  Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue  Haven by Emma Donoghue  Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue  Tom Lake by Ann Patchett  Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Matrix by Lauren Groff  Fingersmith by Sarah Waters   

Maria Bamford’s hilarious memoir Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and a Quest to Belong Anywhere blends the honesty and compassion of a memoir about mental health with her unique brand of absurd, laugh-out-loud humor. Bamford joins us to talk about the realities of writing a book, the importance of honesty around tough subjects, some of the books she loves and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.          Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).      Featured Books (Episode):  Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford  The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Sacks  Madness by Marya Hornbacher  Marbles by Ellen Forney  Rock Steady by Ellen Forney  Hogbook and Lazer Eyes by Maria Bamford and Scott Marvel Cassidy    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Sleepwalk With Me by Mike Birbiglia  The World’s Worst Assistant by Sona Movsesian 

"There's no higher version of historical fiction to me than that, the feeling of being transported." Zadie Smith’s The Fraud brings all the excitement of a Victorian novel with a cast of characters that will be familiar (Charles Dickens, anyone?) and a wild web of plots that combine the best of historical fiction with themes that still resonate. Smith joins us to talk about the different process she used while writing, the importance of knowing and understanding history, freedom, resistance and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.    This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.          New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.          Featured Books (Episode):  The Fraud by Zadie Smith  NW by Zadie Smith  Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel  The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald  The New Life by Tom Crewe  Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf   Great Expectations by Charles Dickens    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys  The Book of Salt by Monique Truong 

“I think that she would have given — to anyone who had been lucky enough to spend time with her — was just this thirst for curiosity.”  Surreal Spaces is Joanna Moorhead’s in-depth and personal biography of her own long-lost cousin, Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. Moorhead joins us to talk about uncovering the truth about her famous relative, Carrington’s eventful life and career, the importance of highlighting women artists and more with guest host, Allie Ludlow. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang.          Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).      Featured Books (Episode):  Surreal Spaces: The Life and Art of Leonora Carrington by Joanna Moorhead The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel 

“I've been asked, why do you blend genres so much? And the simple answer is that it's what I want to read.” Horror meets romance meets historical fiction in Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. This genre-bending novel will have something for any reader — whether they’re looking for spooky, spicy or something in between. Cañas joins us to talk about her research process, the connection between this book and her own family, the importance of genre fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.       This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.         Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     Featured Books (Episode):  Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas  The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas  Dracula by Bram Stoker  Lone Women by Victor LaValle  Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno Garcia  A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine  Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa  The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro  Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda  Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison 

Angie Kim’s Happiness Falls is a family drama with an unconventional cast of characters centered around a missing persons case. Kim joins us to talk about disability awareness in fiction, how she started writing, getting into her narrator’s head and more. Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias is a rich novel of secrets, loss and a government coverup set in Costa Rica. Arias joins us to talk about his own family’s connection to the novel, the effects of colonial intervention in Central America, how long it took him to write the book and more.  Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.      This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.          Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).          Featured Books (Episode):  Happiness Falls by Angie Kim  Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias  Miracle Creek by Angie Kim  True Biz by Sara Nović  Mystic River by Dennis Lehane  Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng  The Art of Death by Edwidge Danticat  The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan  The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy  The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat  La Familia de Pascual Duarte by Camilo Jose Cela  How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz   The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng  The Apartment by Ana Menéndez 

“I wrote this very simply to stay alive.”  Alice Carrière’s beautiful and intense memoir of her unconventional childhood, her mental health journey through the failings of the psychiatric system and more that eventually led her to a life of reconciliation and reconstruction. Carrière joins us to talk about why she wrote the book now, the connectivity of writing and reading, her love of audiobooks and more with guest host Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.         Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    Featured Books (Episode):  Everything/Nothing/Someone by Alice Carrière  The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath  One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey  The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis  Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor  The Giver by Lois Lowry  Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre  The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector  Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler 

“Having that store of memories that history can be, if done well, is a really tremendous form of solace.” Jill Lepore, historian and author of These Truths, returns with The Deadline, a collection of essays ranging from the personal to the political. Lepore joins us to talk about how she came to compile this collection, her connection to Mary Shelley, and the progress to be made in what constitutes the historical record (and who gets to tell it) with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.         New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.         Featured Books (Episode): The Deadline by Jill Lepore  These Truths by Jill Lepore  This America by Jill Lepore  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley  The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones  A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn 

“My book is really an attempt to change that conversation and begin to dismantle some of these pressures so that we don't have to be upheld to these standards.” Prachi Gupta’s memoir, They Called Us Exceptional: And Other Lies That Raised Us, combines meticulous research with the challenging and emotional story of her own family to reveal the truth of the model minority myth and those it affects. Gupta joins us to talk about why she wrote this book, the myth of American Exceptionalism, how it feels to put this kind of work out into the world and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.        New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.        Featured Books (Episode):   They Called Us Exceptional by Prachi Gupta 

The Detective Up Late is the newest installment in the Sean Duffy series by Adrian McKinty following a detective solving his final case in Northern Ireland in the 90s. This former B&N bookseller joins us to talk about the experience of living through The Troubles, the difference between writing mystery and thriller, the war between vinyl and CDs and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.   This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.         New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.     Featured Books (Episode): The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty  The Chain by Adrian McKinty  The Island by Adrian McKinty  Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby  Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby 

“Dr. Oppenheimer, Dr. Oppenheimer. I've been waiting decades to meet you!” The inspiration for the new movie Oppenheimer, Kai Bird’s incredible biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, follows the complicated and consequential life of one of the most influential scientists in human history. Bird joins us to talk about the film, the amount of time it took to write the book, the fluidity of history and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.       New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      Featured Books (Episode):  American Prometheus by Kai Bird 

What happens to reality when nostalgia and memory become weaponized? Part speculative thriller, part queer romance, all page-turning excitement and intrigue, Prophet by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché has something for every reader. The authors join us to talk about how they came to coauthor the novel, writing fun, vibrant and infuriating characters, combining genres and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.     Featured Books (Episode): Prophet by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché  H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald  Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald 

Las Madres follows a group of mothers and daughters between Puerto Rico and the U.S. as they face challenges of health, natural disaster and family secrets with rich, warm prose and characters. Esmeralda Santiago joins us to talk about her personal connection to her characters, the challenge of writing real events, representing Puerto Rican history and culture and more. Elizabeth Acevedo’s Family Lore brings the secrets of a generational saga and the surprises of magical realism together in her adult debut. Acevedo joins us to talk about writing prose and poetry, the importance of silence and power, the danger women face in the world and more. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Mary and Marc.     Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.         Featured Books (Episode): Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago Almost a Woman by Esmeralda Santiago The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez Blessing the Boats by Lucille Clifton Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw Afterlife by Julia Alvarez   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Lotería by Mario Alberto Zambrano The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani 

"People who love books, we're the last line of reason and discourse…" National Book Award winner James McBride’s newest novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store showcases the complicated and compassionate lives of the inhabitants of a small Pennsylvania town. McBride joins us to discuss the research he does, his personal connections to the book, telling stories that need to be told and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.   Featured Books (Episode): The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride The Good Lord Bird by James McBride Deacon King Kong by James McBride Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow

I Will Greet the Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani is the story of a young Iranian American boy growing up in the San Fernando Valley with his brothers. With basketball, his family and the influences around him, he begins to understand his identity. Khabushani joins us to talk about the different realities within L.A., the rewriting process, what he learned as a teacher and more.  With ten rich and beautifully crafted stories, Jamel Brinkley’s collection Witness shows a glimpse of life for people in pivotal times against the backdrop of New York City. Brinkley joins us to talk about the importance of short stories as an art form, his writing process, ghost stories and more.  Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.           Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     Featured Books (Episode):  I Will Greet the Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani   Witness by Jamel Brinkley   Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe  Stay True by Hua Hsu  A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley  I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin 

"My overarching goal is to enchant people the way I am enchanted." Explore the ocean and its wonders in Susan Casey’s The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean. With an eclectic cast of scientists and enthusiasts along with the author’s firsthand experience diving into the unknown of the deep, this is a one of a kind look at one of the most important features of our planet. Casey joins us to talk about the fascinating geography and animal life she’s seen, the importance of connecting with nature, the threats that face the ocean and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.      Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).        Featured Books (Episode): The Underworld by Susan Casey  The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey  The Wave by Susan Casey 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is a rich, multidimensional story of family, love and summer stock theater. Patchett joins us to talk about the wealth of influences that inspired this novel, wanting to write a happy book, being an author and a bookseller and more.  Jimin Han’s The Apology follows a surprising and funny 105-year-old woman as she fends off an intergenerational curse. Han joins us to talk about the humor in her characters, claiming space as a writer, what she’s learned while teaching and more. Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.         Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).         Featured Books (Episode): Tom Lake by Ann Patchett  Our Town by Thornton Wilder  Fool for Love by Sam Shepard  The Dutch House by Ann Patchett  Commonwealth by Ann Patchett  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver  Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III  The Color of Water by James McBride   Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead  Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch  Loot by Tania James  Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson  Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal  The Apology by Jimin Han  The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee  Trust by Hernan Diaz     Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson   The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova 

"There's always this thing that makes you kind of gravitate towards an idea… that you just feel this kind of throb or this pulse that's there within it.” Colin Walsh’s debut novel, Kala, bridges the literary and the thrilling with a group of friends confronting their teenage years as the unraveling of a mystery from their past throws one small Irish town into turmoil. Walsh joins us to talk about creating his characters’ voices, weaving together multiple timelines, the challenges and nostalgia of teenage friendships and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.        Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).        Featured Books (Episode): Kala by Colin Walsh  Frank Sinatra Has a Cold by Gay Talese  My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain  Devil House by John Darnielle  

"The fantastical worlds, the science fiction worlds offer a place where they can explore..." Light Bringer, the 6th installment in Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series, will bring fans back to beloved worlds and characters as the space opera saga hurtles forward. Brown joins us to talk about what other works inspired these books, how this genre can offer space for the outsiders, working toward the conclusion of the series and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.        Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).      Featured Books (Episode):  Light Bringer by Pierce Brown  Red Rising by Pierce Brown  Antigone by Sophocles  The Republic by Plato  Dune by Frank Herbert  The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield  Open Throat by Henry Hoke    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Nevernight by Jay Kristoff  Hyperion by Dan Simmons 

“If you're going to go to dark places… then you better go armed with humor.”  Pulitzer Prize Winner Richard Russo returns to upstate New York with Somebody’s Fool, which reunites readers with beloved characters as they continue their lives in North Bath. Russo joins us to talk about the idea of a regional writer, getting the atmosphere of small towns, writing humor and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    Featured Books (Episode): Somebody’s Fool by Richard Russo  Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo  Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo  Heartland by Sarah Smarsh 

Writing duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza return with You Were Always Mine, a timely, tender and thought-provoking novel about race, motherhood and family ties. They joined us to talk about the challenges and surprises of cowriting, how they balance responsibilities and deadlines, the responses of their families to the book and more, live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.  Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).      Featured Books (Episode): You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza 

“I feel this book is really about America.”  David Lipsky’s The Parrot and the Igloo is not the climate change story you might expect — with a distinct and even humorous narrative voice and a wild story you’ll need to read to believe, this book will change the way we look at one of our most pressing issues. Lipsky joins us to talk about why he decided to approach the topic in this way, the importance of balancing levity with a serious subject, his favorite literary influences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.        Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    Featured Books (Episode):  The Parrot and the Igloo by David Lipsky Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld  Birds of America by Lorrie Moore 

“And I'm grateful for the times I got to ask questions. I got to be curious, I got to say, Hey, this looks different over there.”  A Renaissance of Our Own is both memoir and manifesto; a rallying cry to reimagine how we exist and interact with the world and each other. Author and activist Rachel Cargle joined us to talk about ambition and curiosity, imposed expectations, grief and joy, her work with the Loveland Foundation, finding what we value most and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.    Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     Featured Books: A Renaissance of Our Own by Rachel Cargle The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison