Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson is a novel of family and freedom as one young man navigates coming of age as a Londoner born to Ghanian parents. Nelson joins us to talk about the change and growth in his second book, visiting Ghana while writing, the importance of place and more.  In her short story collection, Temple Folk, Aaliyah Bilal examines and illuminates some of the realities of the Black Muslim experience through her stunning prose and deep characters. Bilal talks with us on how she came to short stories, the impact of community, the influences that shape her as an author and more.  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):  Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson  Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal  Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson  NW by Zadie Smith  Lot by Bryan Washington  Family Meal by Bryan Washington  Jazz by Toni Morrison  Corregidora by Gayl Jones  Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones  The Turner House by Angela Flournoy  The Sword and the Shield by Peniel Joseph 

“... what is it like to live your life through the books you read?"  The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt is a warm, introspective novel about a retired librarian who lives his life surrounded by books, and the impact he has on those around him. DeWitt joins us to talk about finding the story’s voice, balancing humor and melancholy, writing in different genres and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Mary.     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): The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt French Exit by Patrick deWitt Ablutions by Patrick deWitt Stoner by John Williams Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller  Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Fifth Business by Robertson Davies The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson 

“What part of yourself is actually in each character?”  Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur is a family drama set on the shores of Cape Cod, full of complicated relationships, secrets and revelations. Brodeur joined us to talk about creating her detailed characters, writing intuitively, her career in the literary world and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was 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):  Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur  Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy  The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese  Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  The Great Offshore Grounds by Vanessa Veselka Seven Steeples by Sara Baume 

Whether it’s to 18th century Prague or present-day Los Angeles, you’ll find yourself transported with these fast paced and thrilling reads and their complicated characters and dynamic plots. The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni is thriller unlike any other with its intricate web of enigmas and ancient mysteries that will keep you guessing until the very end. Trussoni joins us to talk about how she developed her characters and plots, the immense amount of research she did before writing, why we’re scared of lifelike dolls and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.  Ivy Pochoda returns with her newest novel, Sing Her Down, which follows the charged and often violent journey of two women released from prison in the height of COVID lockdown. Pochoda joins us to talk about female rage, writing during quarantine, the personality of LA and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.          Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).       Featured Books (Episode):   The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni Sing Her Down by Ivy Pochoda The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown These Women by Ivy Pochoda Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy Angels by Denis Johnson Mecca by Susan Straight Pity the Beast by Robin McLean 

“This whole life experience is just a ride, and occasionally we get to steer it.”  Jason Mraz’s new album Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride combines elements from his previous music with all new influences for this journey through sound. Mraz joins us to talk about writing new songs, his time on Broadway, his take on concert etiquette and more with Poured Over guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.            Featured Titles (Episode): Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride by Jason Mraz The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur

“I didn't want to get sick of my work … let's write something that I'm going to enjoy.” Open Throat by Henry Hoke is a novel unlike any other. This propulsive and vulnerable story reflects humanity from the perspective of a queer mountain lion living under the Hollywood sign. Hoke and his editor, Jackson Howard, join to talk about the process of writing this book, the canon of queer literature, the setting of LA and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was 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): Open Throat by Henry Hoke  100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell  Let the Record Show by Sarah Schulman  Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters  Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis  

“God, I was an idiot, but I had good legs.” Caroline O’Donoghue’s The Rachel Incident is a witty and emotional journey through friendships, first loves and all the challenges that come with being in your early 20s. O’Donoghue joins us to talk about her incredibly relatable characters, realistic love interests, writing for adults and YA 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.    New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.           Featured Books (Episode): The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Elysha Chang’s debut, A Quitter’s Paradise, is the story of one woman’s journey through family secrets, grief and love told with humor and heart. Chang and her publisher, Sarah Jessica Parker, join us live at Barnes & Noble Union Square to talk about the challenges of writing this novel, what they look for in books, getting into the publishing industry 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 Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang  A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza  The Dinner by Herman Koch   A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra  Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters by J.D. Salinger 

“I found in nature that kind of the same appeal that I find in books which is: … they're both filled with these rich particularities and they're also … mysteriously universal.” Jennifer Ackerman’s What an Owl Knows is a compelling and vivid investigation into one of our world’s most beloved and mysterious animals. Ackerman talks with us about her journey to the world of birds, the incredible researchers she worked with on the book, the roles nature plays in daily life 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.    New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.            Featured Books (Episode): What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman  The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman  An Immense World by Ed Yong  Sounds Wild and Broken by David Haskell  Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan Slaght  A Most Remarkable Creature by Jonathan Meiburg    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy  The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht 

“Does one ever move on from someone they love dying?” Lorrie Moore’s I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home is a story of love, family, life and death, written with the unmistakable wit and humor her readers cherish. Moore talks with us about her distinct authorial voice, balancing humor and grief, the difference in reviewing television 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 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):  I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore  Arcadia by Tom Stoppard  As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner  Birds of America by Lorrie Moore  The Hours by Michael Cunningham   A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore    Feature Books (TBR Topoff):  Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill   Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo 

Two authors take on historical fiction with these novels featuring queer love, heartbreak, coming of age and agency with rich settings and vibrant casts, from 17th century France to the wild, wild American West.  Celia Bell’s The Disenchantment finds Paris amidst political and social upheaval, while one noblewoman balances her unhappy marriage and her female lover in the tenuous world of high society intrigue. Bell joins us to talk about this particularly interesting time period, how a fairy tale inspired the novel, incorporating real people from history and more. Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens is a nonstop Western following a scrappy and resilient young woman who faces hardship head-on by taking a job at a brothel where she finds strength, friendship and maybe even love with an alluring gunfighter. Cravens talks with us about creating a tactile world, telling queer stories, writing hot mess characters and more.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery 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 Disenchantment by Celia Bell  Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens  Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue   Regeneration by Pat Barker  The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters  Lone Women by Victor LaValle  Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry   The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin  Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi  

These two new novels ask a crucial question: who gets to tell our stories?  Keziah Weir’s The Mythmakers follows one young journalist as she seeks answers within the unpublished manuscript of a recently dead author while her own life starts to crumble. Weir joins us to talk about likeable female characters, what makes the literary canon, AI storytelling and more. My Murder by Katie Williams is a fast-paced, inventive mystery where the victims of a serial killer are brought back to life to solve the case. Williams talks with us about how she came to write her book, including technology in her fiction, what she learns from teaching and more. 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 Mythmakers by Keziah Weir  My Murder by Katie Williams  The Guest by Emma Cline  The Idiot by Elif Batuman  American Pastoral by Philip Roth  Beowulf translated by Maria Dahvana Headley  The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson  The Wife by Meg Wolitzer   Delicious Foods by James Hannaham   Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams     Featured Books (TBR Topoff):   The Muse by Jessie Burton  The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes 

These two novels transport readers into rich, vivid historical settings — whether it’s a journey from colonial India to Europe, or through the canals of 18th century Venice.   Loot by Tania James follows one young artist from his homeland across the world to retrieve a stolen wooden tiger in an engrossing adventure. James joins us in conversation about the choice to write historical fiction, the vast web of colonization and empire (including stolen art), how she came to the voice of the novel and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. Obsession meets ambition in Julia Fine’s Maddalena and the Dark, with two teenage girls set to bargain for their futures — whatever the price. Fine joins us to talk about the particular politics of Venice, the distinct nature of teen girl friendship, highlighting contemporary issues through the past and more with guest host Jenna Seery.  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): Loot by Tania James  Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine  The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas  Beloved by Toni Morrison   Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel   The Passion by Jeanette Winterson 

Powerful women, families of all kinds, fantastical adventures and so much more unite these two spellbinding tales. Juno Dawson’s The Shadow Cabinet is the second installment in her series of witches, intrigue and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Dawson joins us to talk about the importance of complex female characters, the response to This Book is Gay, the strength her characters find together and more with Poured Over guest host, Marie Hendry.  Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs finds two estranged sisters tasked with protecting the most important thing of all: the books in a magical library. Törzs talks about the challenging dynamics of writing about family, fairy tale tropes, her favorite things about writing fantasy and more with Poured Over guest host, Kat Sarfas.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Marie Hendry and Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.         Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).      Featured Books (Episode):  The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson  Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs  Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson  This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson  How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran  You Need to Chill by Juno Dawson  The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri  Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah  The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez  The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner  Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine 

Either/Or, Elif Batuman’s sequel to Pulitzer Prize finalist The Idiot, is the humorous and relatable ongoing story of a Turkish American surviving college in the 90s. Batuman joins us to talk about her approach to writing fiction, how her own life influences her work, analyzing 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. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).  Featured Books (Episode): The Idiot by Elif Batuman  Either/Or by Elif Batuman  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy   Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin  Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert  The Possessed by Elif Batuman  In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust 

“This is the place; this is the right place for me, it’s home.” Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer Prize-winning return to Appalachia, is the story of a young boy growing into adulthood amid the struggle and beauty of this oft-overlooked corner of America. Kingsolver joins us to talk about the truth of Appalachian culture, how journalism made her the novelist she is today, the politics of art 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.           Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    Featured Books (Episode): Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver Dopesick by Beth Macy Raising Lazarus by Beth Macy Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe Dreamland by Sam Quinones Cannery Row by John Steinbeck  The Leavers by Lisa Ko Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks 

“What if we could do anything? Should we do it? What are the consequences?” Ramona Ausubel’s new novel The Last Animal asks big questions about motherhood, grief and our responsibility to the planet. And there’s a woolly mammoth. Ausubel joins us to talk about the realities of working in male dominated fields, the differences in writing novels and short stories, the power of storytelling 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 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):  The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel A Guide to Being Born by Ramona Ausubel Pastoralia by George Saunders Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):   Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler 

These two authors tackle important subjects with new research and keen insight. Héctor Tobar’s Our Migrant Souls delves into the “Latino” identity with thorough analysis of history, culture and extensive interviews. Tobar joins us to talk about the concepts of ethnicity and race, hearing stories from people across the country and more.  King: A Life is the comprehensive new biography of Martin Luther King Jr. compiling new information with in-depth research to create a definitive portrait of this brilliant and complicated figure. Jonathan Eig joins us to talk about new declassified documents that aided his work, what surprised him about this project 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.         Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).      Featured Books (Episode):  Our Migrant Souls by Héctor Tobar  King: A Life by Jonathan Eig  The Barbarian Nurseries by Héctor Tobar  Bearing the Cross by David Garrow  G-Man by Beverly Gage  The Sword and the Shield by Peniel Joseph    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  The Dead are Arising by Les Payne  Women in the Picture by Catherine McCormack 

Starring strong female characters in rich, captivating, historical settings, we can’t wait for you to dive into these two new novels we love. Our June B&N Book Club Pick is Good Night, Irene by Pulitzer Prize finalist Luis Alberto Urrea. Inspired by the life of his mother, this is the story of the bravery of women on the frontlines of WWII. Urrea joins us to discuss connecting his writing to his own family, what surprised him as he wrote and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig is our June Discover Pick, full of pirates, adventure and intrigue as one woman becomes a queen of the high seas in early 19th century China. Chang-Eppig talks with us about erasure of female stories, morally grey characters, and more with Poured Over guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.   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): Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry   Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez Piranesi by Susanna Clarke    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 

Tom Hanks (yes, that Tom Hanks) returns to the world of fiction with The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece — a loving look at what (and who) it takes to make a movie, told through the lens of America’s changing history. Hanks joins us to talk about why he writes, how he finds his voice 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 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):  The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman 

“I've become increasingly cynical about the industry's ability to change itself and how it deals with representation and marginalization.” R.F. Kuang’s new novel, Yellowface, tackles cultural appropriation, the challenges of the world of publishing and what it means to be a writer with a wit all her own. Kuang joins us to talk about what lead her to writing this novel, who gets to tell our stories, publishing her first literary fiction novel and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. 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): Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Babel by R.F. Kuang The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu Jade City by Fonda Lee

“I am a firm believer in consequences.” Brandon Taylor’s new novel, The Late Americans, finds a group of young people at a crossroads and follows as they face uncertainty and confront decisions that will affect the trajectory of their lives. Taylor joins us to discuss connections between his previous works, his love of revision and rewriting, starting a new career journey and more with Poured Over host Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.        Follow us here for New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).   Featured Books (Episode): The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor Real Life by Brandon Taylor The American by Henry James Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld     Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Ohio by Stephen Markley All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews 

“In 1649, Artemisia Gentileschi wrote, ‘I'll show you what a woman can do.’”  In The Story of Art Without Men, Katy Hessel recounts the legacy of the women that have shaped the history of art — largely without recognition. Hessel joins us to talk about how she started this massive project, what surprised her while writing, some of the women that inspire her and more with guest host Allie Ludlow. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.      This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.         Featured Books (Episode):  The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel  The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich     Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  How To Suppress Women’s Writing by Joanna Russ   Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? By Linda Nochlin 

Few people are as funny as Samantha Irby, and her new collection of essays, Quietly Hostile, proves it. Irby joins us to talk about representation in media, the importance of paperback books, writing for television and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.     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): Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby  Meaty by Samantha Irby  Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):   Dear Girls by Ali Wong  Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan 

Emma Cline, author of the The Girls, returns with her propulsive new novel, The Guest. This is the story of a singular young woman — a con artist drifting through Long Island’s high society in the heat of summer. Cline joins us to talk about trauma math, reasons to write complicated characters, how this book was influenced by John Cheever and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.    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 Guest by Emma Cline  The Girls by Emma Cline  Daddy by Emma Cline  The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller  The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith 

Mary Beth Keane’s new novel, The Half Moon, follows a small-town couple navigating the uncertainties of marriage and starting a family. Keane joins us to talk about how she creates her characters, why she chose to tackle tough themes, writing during the pandemic and more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.    This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.      Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).   Featured Books (Episode):  The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane  Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell  Opened Ground by Seamus Heaney   Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Trespasses by Louise Kennedy  Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee 

“When I was working forensics, I always thought, we do this work for the people who need us to do this work — it's not always the easiest thing.”  Ramona Emerson’s Shutter is not your typical procedural — join an unforgettable crime scene photographer with the ability to speak to the dead in a mystery that will keep you guessing. Emerson joined us to talk about her own career in forensics, the importance of Native American representation in fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.  This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.    New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       Featured Books (Episode):  Shutter by Ramona Emerson    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo  She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran 

“I have to transport myself, and only then I can transport my reader.” Brinda Charry’s novel, The East Indian, transports readers to Colonial Virginia to follow the life and adventures of a young Indian boy coming of age in the New World. Charry joins us to talk about her intensive research process, the effects of colonialism on the story, her love of world literature and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. 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 East Indian by Brinda Charry A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): David Copperfield by Charles Dickens She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

“It's more than responsibility. It's fear of just sucking — I don't want to write some garbage that people are going to dismiss.” John Wray’s new novel Gone to the Wolves brings the world of heavy metal to the masses, following a group of young people on a nonstop ride from teenage angst to the dark recesses of doomsday cults. Wray joins us to talk about the responsibility of writing about subcultures, his vibrant characters, music you can listen to while you write and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.   New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      Featured Books (Episode):   Gone to the Wolves by John Wray  Godsend by John Wray  Lowboy by John Wray  The Biography of X by Catherine Lacey    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Y/N by Esther Yi  Louder than Hell by Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman 

"I loved that sense of the slow evolution of a community and watching it happen under your eyes." Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone, returns with a long-awaited novel — The Covenant of Water, an inter-generational tale through the lives of a family in Southern India. Verghese joins us to talk about the long gap between his works, his career as a doctor, themes of finding home and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. 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 Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese  Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese  My Own Country by Abraham Verghese  The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese  The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy    Featured Books (TBR):   The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates  The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See 

“…A big part of the journey with this book is realizing that people's humanity shouldn't be negotiable.”  Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s debut novel Chain-Gang All-Stars tells an explosive, unrelenting and ultimately compassionate story about a not-so-unbelievable future in which incarcerated people become gladiators fighting their way to freedom at any cost. Adjei-Brenyah joins us to talk about the underlying love in his dystopian setting, creating his characters through voice, the realities that led him to his plot and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. 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): Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Solitary by Alfred Woodfox    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Battle Royale by Koushun Takami 

These riveting works of nonfiction by two incredible women have powerful narratives on family, race, and the way we get to tell our stories. Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe compiles art and short vignettes into a beautiful work that explores the Black experience through a wide variety of themes. Sharpe joined us to talk about how these notes came to be, the wealth of literary influences on the project and more. Ava Chin’s Mott Street follows one Chinese American family through generations of struggle and resiliency as they work to build their lives. Chin joined us to talk about uncovering her family’s past, researching an intergenerational story and more. Listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.  And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.  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): Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe Mott Street by Ava Chin In the Wake by Christina Sharpe Counternarratives by John Keene Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham Obasan by Joy Kogawa Auschwitz and After by Charlotte Delbo Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark Wayward Lives by Saidiya Hartman Lose Your Mother by Saidiya Hartman Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang

“We all shape our stories in some way, we all try to emerge as the hero of them…” Author of Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann, takes on mutiny and shipwreck in the shocking true story of The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. Grann joined us on the show to talk about wading through archival research, his adventure to the sites from the book, seeing his works become films and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. 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 Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann The Lost City of Z by David Grann Moby Dick by Herman Melville The Unknown Shore by Patrick O’Brian Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Dennis Lehane, prolific author for both the page and the screen, returns with Small Mercies, a thriller set against the time of desegregation of public schools in Boston that balances one family’s struggle with the turmoil of the era. Lehane talked about his personal connection to the history of the novel, writing challenging and complex characters, creating his tv show “Blackbird” and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.  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) Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane Featured Episode (TBR Topoff) Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins

“I leave that book feeling less alone, because I've been welcomed into somebody else's humanity, and I feel like they've shared part of themselves with me and that feels communal…”  Maggie Smith’s bestselling You Could Make This Place Beautiful transcends traditional memoir in a staggering take on divorce, motherhood and what it means to be a writer in a way only the poet could deliver. Smith speaks about the vulnerability of sharing your life through words, the freedom of nontraditional literary devices, healing through art and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.  This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.   New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.     Featured Books (Episode): You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith Good Bones by Maggie Smith Goldenrod by Maggie Smith Keep Moving by Maggie Smith    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy Broken Reverie by Elle Madison 

"All of them, in my mind… were wrestling with the same question, which is — what do I do with either the burden of family or what do I do with the found family that I've made?" Victor LaValle’s Lone Women takes supernatural suspense to early 1900s Montana as one young woman sets out to leave her past and family secrets behind. LaValle talks about the history that inspired this novel, the connection between this story and one of his previous books, the upcoming streaming adaptation of The Changeling and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. And 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):  Lone Women by Victor LaValle The Changeling by Victor LaValle Big Machine by Victor LaValle The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):   How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann  

“You get to learn a bit about the social issue of Native women and girls going missing and that's really what I hope a lot of people will take away from this, having more awareness…” Nick Medina’s debut novel Sisters of the Lost Nation defies genre — mixing mystery, horror and family drama into the story of one teen girl as she searches for the women who’ve gone missing on her tribe’s reservation, including her own sister. Medina joined us to discuss the unusual way his ideas came to him, preserving culture through legends and stories, his research and the resources he used and more with guest host, Marie Cummings. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Marie Cummings and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.   New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.   Featured Books (Episode):  Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis     Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV White Horse by Erika T. Wurth 

“I can even still have my festively neurotic characters, but they can be working their way toward a happy ending, instead of working their way towards crushing disappointment.”  Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy is a playful, smart and fizzy look at love and pop culture through the eyes of a charming and relatable late-night TV writer. Sittenfeld joins us to talk about how a good novel feels like eavesdropping, what makes a character likable, surprising literary influences and more with Poured Over host Miwa Messer. And 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):  Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld  Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld  Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld  The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore  XOXO by Axie Oh 

“I never start a book out with ideas. I always start a book out with people in places, and what could happen here.” Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain, brings readers to the Great Depression-era American West with impeccably researched history in his new novel, The Trackers, featuring a vivid cast holding secrets and ambitions that transcend the past. Frazier talks about the photograph that inspired the characters, the excitement and drama of book tours, taking his time to get the language right and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. 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 Trackers by Charles Frazier Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles Ava’s Man by Rick Bragg

“It was going to be a story about American instability, and precarity, and what happens when we aren't able to access the things that we need — and yet still have to try to care for each other anyway.” Nicole Chung’s newest memoir, A Living Remedy, reflects on the tragic inequality of access to the American healthcare system and the way it directly affected her family. Chung talks with us about privilege and class, how writing this memoir changed her, her literary influences and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. And 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): A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka    Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green Seeing Ghosts by Kat Chow 

“Loneliness is such a universal experience for so many of us — and I do hope that the book is a balm for that and helps make readers feel less alone…” Gina Chung’s debut novel Sea Change explores family ties, grief and growing up through a complicated protagonist that readers will love to root for — and yes, there really is an octopus. Chung joins us to talk about sad girl characters, allowing women to feel anger, how we never stop “coming of age” and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer.    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):  Sea Change by Gina Chung  Chemistry by Weike Wang  Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier  Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong  All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews  If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery  Nuclear Family by Joseph Han  Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin  More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera  

“We all want the same thing; we want respect and security and to be loved — and that's what storytelling does, it connects the similarities that we have.” Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle, returns with Hang the Moon, a novel that follows feisty Sallie Kincaid as she comes into her own in the upheaval of Prohibition-era Virginia. Walls talks with us about the language of historical fiction, the differences between writing a memoir and a novel, the impact of telling your story and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Chris Gillespie.  New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    Featured Books (Episode):  Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls  The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls   Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls 

“I live on art. I'm an art vampire, that’s how I sustain myself.”  Jacqueline Holland’s debut novel The God of Endings weaves together themes of motherhood, mortality and the human condition in a vampire novel unlike any we’ve seen before. Holland joins us to discuss vampire lore, the power of art, how her novel grew out of a grad school novella, why you should always read the book rather than watch the movie and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.  Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).   Featured Books (Episode): The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link The Shining by Stephen King   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu The Lovely War by Julie Berry

“As a kid, you don't know any of that. You're just like, wow, this sounds magical, like, how could this be the sea? How could this be land? How can that just happen? And I think that speaks to a particular quality of life in Singapore, and growing up in Singapore, and all of the changes that you see happening before your eyes…” Rachel Heng’s new novel, The Great Reclamation, is an epic story of love and power and family (with a magical twist) set in mid-century Singapore. She joins us on the show to talk about the legacy of colonialism, rewriting (with an assist from Post-It notes and index cards), Elizabeth McCracken and the Michener Center, the histories that get told (and the ones that don’t), Crazy Rich Asians, and much more with host Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. 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): The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng Suicide Club by Rachel Heng The Man with the Compound Eyes by Wu Ming-Yi The Known World by Edward P. Jones Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

“I'm so interested in the moment when the reader takes over … I wanted it to be a book that feels like I'm walking alongside the reader, learning as they learn.” Katherine May’s first book, Wintering, was a finalist for the Barnes & Noble 2020 Book of the Year, and we’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting for her follow-up, Enchantment. Katherine joins us on the show to talk about the importance of humor, holding space for joy and curiosity and wonder in her work, journaling (and the scrappy beginnings of all her books), hierophany, the memoirist’s terror, her admiration for the work of Joan Didion and much more in a charming, laughter-filled conversation with Jenna Seery, Associate Producer of Poured Over. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. Featured Books (Episode) Enchantment by Katherine May Wintering by Katherine May Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susannah Clarke Featured Books (TBR Topoff) And Yet by Kate Baer The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by Pico Iyer This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).

“Look at all the advances we've made in the last 50 years, look at the way that culture and medicine and technology and science have advanced since the Beatles broke up, since we were involved in Vietnam, but the poverty rate has been incredibly stubbornly persistent and I think it's rather shameful for the richest country in the history of the world.” Reading Matthew Desmond’s books will make you smarter­, break your heart, make you mad, and push you to think differently about poverty — all in the same moment. Poverty, by America is his follow-up to his landmark book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Desmond joins us on the show to talk about going where the data takes him, the human cost of poverty, the gig economy, writing in community, what a post-poverty would could look like, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.   Featured Books: Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond   Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).

Who gets to tell our stories? Two debut authors use their powerful voices to show strong female characters navigating family, race and colonialism with unfailing humor and heart. Claire Jiménez’s What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez follows a family in the wake of a tragedy as they attempt to move on — and up. Jiménez talks with us about finding the voice in her work, telling Puerto Rican stories, how she uses perspective and humor and more. In Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou we find a young Taiwanese American woman mired in the world of academia and all the challenges that privilege and power can bring. Chou joins us to talk about Asian American identity, how she changed while writing the book, what she’s working on next and more. Listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.  And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Madyson.     Featured Books (Episode): Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita Another Country by James Baldwin Dear Miss Metropolitan by Carolyn Ferrell Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez War Against All Puerto Ricans by Nelson A. Denis Velorio by Xavier Navarro Aquino   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood    Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).

From the trenches of WWI to the coast of Australia, these two debut novels depict the ubiquity of coming of age, even when the circumstances are drastically different.  In Alice Winn’s In Memoriam, two young men find love and tragedy on the fields of battle. Winn talked with us about how the story came into being, the extensive research required to create her characters and their world, her literary influences and more. Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas follows a young woman through a newfound relationship that alters her perspective on life and the future. Lucas joins us in conversation about location as a character, other novels and writers that weave their way into her work, the music she listens to when writing and more.   Listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.  And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.    Featured Books (Episode): In Memoriam by Alice Winn Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara The Runaways by Fatima Bhutto Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain Regeneration by Pat Barker Vladimir by Julia May Jonas Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin Catch-22 by Joseph Heller The Lover by Marguerite Duras Voyage in the Dark by Jean Rhys The Friend by Sigrid Nunez   Featured Books (TBR Topoff):   Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman Good-bye to All That by Robert Graves    Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).