Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: New And Upcoming Summer Reads

Date: July 29, 2024
Host: Alison Stewart (B)
Guest/Producer: Jordan Loff (C)
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Overview of the Episode

This episode of All Of It dives into new and upcoming summer reads as part of the show's Summer Reading Challenge. Host Alison Stewart and producer Jordan Loff discuss standout books across various challenge categories, share recommendations, listener favorites, and highlight stories both recently released and highly anticipated. The segment fosters a sense of community, encourages diverse reading, and offers reflections on book culture in New York and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The All Of It Summer Reading Challenge (00:57)

• Overview: The show’s ongoing challenge encourages listeners to read four books, each from one of seven suggested categories, throughout July and August.
  • Categories include:
    • A classic you’ve been meaning to get to
    • A book by a debut novelist
    • A book recommended by a friend
    • A book about or set in New York
    • A translated book
    • A book becoming a TV series or movie
    • A book featured on All Of It
• “We are four weeks into the Summer Reading Challenge. Over 750 of you have signed up to read along with us in July and August.” —Alison Stewart (00:57)
• The team personally stuffed over 600 envelopes with prizes for participating readers. (02:16)

Affordable Books & Library Sales (02:37)

• Jordan Loff promotes local library book sales, especially the Pequot Library’s $5 bag day, underscoring community and accessibility.
  • “If you are looking to pick up a cheap book to round out your summer reading, I am going to do a quick plug for the Pequot Library book sale... you can show up with a bag, put anything you can fit in it, and the whole thing is $5. It’s amazing.” —Jordan Loff (02:42)

Spotlight on Recommended Reads

Translated Literature (03:11)

• Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías, translated from Spanish (03:24)
  • Speculative, climate dystopia fiction about a city beset by toxic air.
  • Focuses on a woman's determination to stay and “fix it,” reminiscent of New Yorkers’ resolve during COVID.
  • “She finds that the longer that she stays, the more she wants to stay...sort of like New Yorkers who are like, you know what? I’m not leaving the city during COVID. I’m staying here. This is my home.” —Jordan Loff (03:24)

New York-Based Stories (04:03)

• Peggy by Rebecca Godfrey & Leslie Jamison (04:09)
  • A novel about art collector Peggy Guggenheim.
  • Notably, Godfrey began the novel before her death, asking Jamison to complete it.
  • “I think it’s a really interesting and moving project to finish your friend’s work.” —Jordan Loff (04:10)

Notable Listener & Host Picks (04:55, 09:14)

• Listeners share current reads that align well with the challenge categories, including Knights of the Plague and Martyr by Kaveh Akbar (a debut novel).
• Capote’s Women discussed as a versatile recommendation (07:55):
  • “I read the whole thing. I thought it was fascinating...you can count that as a book that you heard about on all of it. Or...as a classic you’ve been meaning to get to.” —Jordan Loff (07:55)
  • Explores Truman Capote’s creative and personal entanglements.

Anticipated Upcoming Releases

• The Hypocrite by Joe Hamya (05:07)

  • An aging novelist attends his daughter's play and discovers it’s inspired by their own summer together—unflinchingly personal and possibly cringeworthy.
  • “He realizes, ‘Oh my god, this play’s about me...It literally is in this case.’” —Jordan Loff (05:07)

• Night Watching by debut author (06:04)

  • Psychological thriller about a mother defending her children from a home invader—exploring themes of feminism and believing women, along with intense suspense.
  • “So this one is about a home invasion. So if home invasion is really scary to you, maybe not. But it’s a woman who wakes up in the middle of the night to discover that there’s a man in her house.” —Jordan Loff (06:08)

• House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias (06:36)

  • Follows five teens seeking revenge on a gang in Puerto Rico during a hurricane. A blend of coming-of-age, tension, and social commentary.
  • “[It] takes place in the backdrop of a large tropical storm... So I think it’s going to be both a moving story and a scary one and an intense one.” —Jordan Loff (06:36)

• The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter (08:38)

  • A Brooklyn resident disappears during COVID; the book follows the search and the context of those unable to leave the city during the pandemic.

Community Involvement and Call-ins (09:14)

• Listener Angela shares her reading selections:
  • Nostromo (Joseph Conrad), City of Girls (Elizabeth Gilbert), Demon Copperhead (Barbara Kingsolver), and Percival Everett Jayne.
• “Demon Copperhead is an absolute winner. If you haven’t read it, go get it right now.” —Jordan Loff (09:34)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Alison Stewart, on the challenge:
  “We’re challenging our listeners to read four books between July 1st and the end of Labor Day weekend. At least one book in the four of the seven categories.” (00:57)

• Jordan Loff, on book sales:
  “It’s the best...Check your local listings.” (03:11)

• Jordan Loff, on 'Night Watching':
  “It was. It’s really so good.” (06:04)

• Listener Angela, succinctly sharing her picks:
  “Nostromo by Joseph Conrad. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and Percival Everett Jayne.” (09:20)

• Alison Stewart, closing shoutout:
  “Jordan Law, thanks so much for your help today.” (09:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:57 — Summer Reading Challenge explained and categories detailed
• 02:37 — Library book sale tips; $5 bag day discussed
• 03:11 — Translated literature: Pink Slime recommendation
• 04:09 — About/Set in New York: Peggy Guggenheim novel background
• 05:07 — Anticipation for The Hypocrite; discussion of theme
• 06:04 — Debut author: Night Watching summary and themes
• 06:36 — Upcoming spooky read: House of Bone and Rain
• 07:55 — Capote’s Women: how books can fill multiple challenge categories
• 08:38 — Another NYC-based recommendation: The Rich People Have Gone Away
• 09:14 — Listener Angela shares her picks for the challenge
• 09:34 — Jordan Loff’s book endorsement: Demon Copperhead

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode maintains a friendly, communal, and encouraging tone—focused on inclusivity, accessibility, and the joy of reading. Stewart’s and Loff’s banter feels welcoming, and their references to the difficulties and resilience of New Yorkers (especially during COVID) ground the literary topics in authentic lived experience.

Takeaways

• The All Of It Summer Reading Challenge is bringing together hundreds of readers who are encouraged to expand their reading horizons.
• The team offers both practical book-buying advice and thoughtful, contemporary recommendations spanning genres and backgrounds.
• Books recommended in the episode cover everything from speculative, dystopian fiction to emotional nonfiction and intense thrillers—demonstrating the depth of this year’s new summer releases and the creative community spirit of New York readers.

For anyone who missed the episode, this summary delivers the core book recommendations, captures the lively and thoughtful spirit of the challenge, and highlights how literature can connect, comfort, and push its readers into new places—both real and imagined.