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- [00:02]
Annie Jones
Welcome to from the Front Porch, a conversational podcast about books, small business, and life in the South. A great novel, a truly great one, not only captures a particular fictional experience, it alters and intensifies the way you experience your own life while you're reading it, and it preserves it like a time capsule. Lilly King, Heart the Lover I'm Annie Jones, owner of the Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in beautiful downtown Thomasville, Georgia, and this week it's time for an episode of Literary Therapy. If you are a new or newish listener of from the Front Porch, you might not realize our podcast is a production of our bookstore, the Bookshelf in rural South Georgia. By listening to the show and recommending it to your friends, yes, you are promoting our podcast, but you are also helping keep our indie bookstore in business. And if you like what you hear, one way you can financially support us is through Patreon. We talk a lot here about our Conquer a Classic program. Last year we read the classic American novel Lonesome Dove together. This year we have been tackling Don Quixote. And soon, very, very soon, it will be time to announce our 2026 plans. Hunter and I are very excited about what we've got up our sleeves for 2026, so to find out more you can go to patreon.com from the front porch. Our 2026 Conquer a Classic will be announced there first, and we would love for you to join us there. For $5 a month, you can access those monthly Conquer A Classic recaps, including Backlist. Well, they're all Backlist titles, but you know what I mean, back episodes. And you get access to our Porch visits monthly live Q&As, where we talk about everything from pop culture to nail polish to what books you should take on your next vacation. To learn more, go to patreon.com from the FrontPorch. Now back to the show. So every once in a while here on from the Front Porch, I dive into the metaphorical mailbag and I peruse your readerly hangups and your bookish conundrums, like a literary Frasier Crane tackling your issues on air. If you have your own readerly riddle you'd like me to solve in a future episode, you can leave me a voicemail at the from the Front Porch website. That's from the frontporchpodcast.com contact. There's a link in the show Notes, too. Basically, you'll click on that link and scroll until you see an orange button on that page that says Start Recording. You can click or tap there and voila. It is super easy. You don't need a microphone, you don't even really need your headphones and I would love to hear from you. Just give me your name, your conundrum, and where you're from. Okay, let's get started. Let's dive into the mailbag. Here we go.
- [03:05]
Christy from Tennessee
Hi, I'm Christy from Tennessee, and here's my question. It seems like most of the book world turns to very scary and spooky reads in October, and I'm wondering if you have any great suggestions for books with fall and autumnal vibes that don't veer into the super scary, because that's not really my jam. Thanks so much.
- [03:34]
Annie Jones
Thank you, Christy, for kicking us off with the perfect autumnal question. Actually, I think almost all of today's conundrums are follish in nature, but I actually think this is a great question and we get it at the bookshelf all the time. Because not everybody likes a spooky reading. If you do, last week's episode of from the Front Porch will be right up your alley where I talked about my favorite spooky reads. But if you still want to read seasonally but thrillers, cozy mysteries aren't your thing, I have some books that I think have autumnal vibes. These are books set around the academic year or on an academic campus like a boarding school or a university. Books that have in my mind a cozy autumnal setting. Maybe that's in New England. Or I'm thinking in particular about a couple of examples of historical fiction and then books that are maybe set around a seasonal holiday like Thanksgiving. Okay, so here are some suggestions for you. Many of them you have heard me mention on from the Front Porch before, but I also tried to pick some front list titles that maybe you haven't read yet. So first up, Elizabeth Strout is my go to in this kind of genre. I love the way she writes, I love her storytelling, and I love her settings. The two books of hers that I think are most autumnal in nature are Tell Me Everything and Olive Again. Oh, William also might fit in this category, but in my mind especially Tell Me Everything and Olive Again. The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring is a small town book that isn't set just around fall, but it definitely has in my mind some fall. I just want to stop using the word vibes. And yet, sadly, I cannot. It has fall vibes. Empire Falls by Richard Russo very much feels like Gilmore Girls to me, but with a perhaps heavier darker center the Academy by Ellen Hildebrand. The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington. Both set on boarding school campuses. My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. This is a short story collection that delves a little bit into academia. Like Family by Aaron O. White. This is a new dysfunctional family story that releases. Oh gosh, now I'm second guessing myself. I believe it will release a week or two from when this episode runs, so you have time to pre order it. The Book of Goose by Yuyun Lee the Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff I feel like we don't talk about the Vaster Wilds enough, and that's a real shame. It's one of my favorite Lauren Groff books. We Loved to Run by Stephanie Rentz. This was my August no, this was my September shelf subscription and I think it does a great job of taking the campus novel and adding a sports element to it. Like We Ride Upon Styx, which is also a great book by the way. And then Old Love Good Girls by Gail Godwin. I'm also going to recommend a book that I have not read, so I'd like to be very clear. I have not read this, but it is in my Libro FM account. I think I downloaded it about a year ago. It is a short nonfiction book, like two hours long, called the Headmaster. This is by John McPhee. It is nonfiction about the real life boarding school president, principal, dean, owner, founder. I'm not really sure, but Leadership Person of Deerfield, which is an American boarding school and apparently it's kind of expanding or expounding upon, I want to say, a New Yorker profile. In any case, it apparently reads like a New Yorker profile. I am obsessed with boarding school campuses, the concept of boarding school. And so this has gotten really good reviews. It came out years and years ago. I believe the director or the boarding school dean is long deceased, but for some reason this got republished or reissued a year ago. Or maybe the audiobook did. Anyway, I'm throwing it out there just in case you, like me, just need like a two hour listen. This is like a two and a half hour long book. Maybe if you're a fan of the Atlantic or the New Yorker, this might fit that bill. So those are some books with autumnal vibes that are not scary. Instead they have these academic settings or they take place in and around New England or I feel like you can cozy up with them in your corner chair. I hope that helps. Kristie, this was a fun question and I think a lot of us, you know, want to read beyond spooky season. And so these are the books that I would recommend for that.
- [08:08]
Courtney from South Shore, Massachusetts
Hi Annie, this is Courtney and I am from the South Shore in Massachusetts. And I would love your recommendations for Fall feeling Autumnal feeling books that are especially great on audio. I love reading seasonally, so I would love books that are maybe a little bit spooky or just really have that kind of fall, crisp air, falling leaves, cozy vibe. I do love something with a little mystery to it, but I do have a long commute to work that I have to make once a week. And it's been a really great opportunity for me to get through some audiobooks because I don't have a lot of audiobook listening time in my day to day with a toddler. But the car has been perfect for that. So I would love your recommendation for some books that have that autumnal feel but are especially great on audio. Thank you so much.
- [09:11]
Annie Jones
Okay, Courtney, here are the notes that I took when I was listening to your voice memo. Fall Feeling Autumnal books. Maybe spooky cozy mysteries, but audio. And I put audio in all caps. So here are the books that I think are excellent in audiobook format, but they run the gamut in terms of spooky cozy mystery. And then I did include one where I was just like, it's really good, it's autumnal, but it's not spooky or a mystery at all. So I'm gonna start by recommending a book called the H by Zinnabie Purvis. This is Zinnabie Purvis's debut novel. Think this is an Aaron. This is for sure an Aaron sounding book. I'm curious about it as well. I listened to an audiobook sampling and I really liked what I heard. The publisher is pitching this as the Crucible meets Virgin Suicide. So it also feels like Hunter vibes. Definitely on the weirder side of things. Okay, so if you like a straight spooky book, straight mystery book, this might not be for you, but if you're willing to dabble in the weird a little bit, I think that you will like this one. Wild Dark shore by Charlotte McConaughey. Three maybe four of our staffers read that earlier this winter and I think it lends itself to autumnal reading. Fantastic audiobook, all the Colors of the Dark, which I think everybody on staff at the bookshelf loved except Nancy. So it's not for everyone, but it's for almost everyone and it is a fantastic audiobook as well. That's by Chris Whitaker. I have listened, I think to both of Kimmy Cunningham Grant's books, the Nature of Disappearing and these Silent Woods. I like both of those. They're very nature centric books. Think Heartwood by Amity Gage, but they're excellent in audiobook format. So if you've never read Kimmy Cunningham Grant, I think audiobook is a great way to listen to her. Listen for the Lie is by Amy Tinterra. This is okay. Again, three or four of us on staff at the Bookshelf read listened to this one last year. It's really. I think I would prefer listen to this book because it is dealing with, you know, fictional true crime and there's a podcast element and so there's a lot of great sound effects. It's just a well produced audiobook. So that's Listen for the Lie. I don't hear a ton of people talk about Lauren Nossett. She is a Georgia writer. She has written the professor and the Resemblance. I know I read the professor. I am 90% sure I read the Resemblance and I really liked both of them. I think Olivia read at least one of these too. And both of them are set on campus. So I think if I'm remembering right, maybe even the University of Georgia, she's definitely a Georgia writer. And these are really good detective campus mysteries. I really liked them. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Rayburn. This is another one that I think should be listened to. Of course you can read any of these in physical format, but I think this is an excellent audiobook and really fun. So kind of that fun Fenlay Donovan feel. Killers of a Certain Age. There's also a new book. I cannot recommend the audiobook. I have not listened to it. But there's a new book coming out called the Librarian which feels similar in vibe to Killers of a Certain Age. I featured it on our literary first look for the fall. It's about a group of Texas librarians who host a murder mystery night at their library and then somebody really dies and they have to solve the murder. So it sounds killers of a certain age adjacent. You might look into that audiobook as well. And then last but not least, again, this is not. I need to be very clear. This is not a mystery. It is not spooky, it is not necessarily cozy thriller.
- [12:44]
Alana from Fresno, California
But.
- [12:45]
Annie Jones
But I have been listening to the audiobook Dominion by Addy Kitchens and the audiobook is so good. If you liked the Mothers by Brit Bennett, I think this will be for you. I just had to put in a plug because the audiobook has been so great. Really well produced great narration. And so if you're an audiobook listener. But maybe you're like Christy, who at the top of the episode did not want a spooky book. Dominion by Addi Kitchens might work for you instead. Courtney. I hope that helps you on your commute this fall. Hey, this is Annie, and I'm taking a quick break from this episode to tell you about Discover Thomasville. Gracefully tucked within the storied red hills of South Georgia, Thomasville curates a distinguished downtown experience that meanders along several blocks of our iconic red brick streets. Here, bespoke boutiques, master craftsmen, coveted antique art purveyors, and celebrated culinary artisans converge in harmony with the cultural richness of the Pebble Hill Plantation Art Tour and the tranquil allure of Birdsong Nature Center. Here you discover the soul of the South. Here you discover Thomasville. Learn more by visiting thomasvillega.com News.
- [14:05]
Christine
Foreign.
- [14:10]
Annie Jones
Hey friends, it's Annie. If you're looking for another bookish show to add to your listening cue, check out the Webby Award winning daily podcast, Totally Booked with Zibby. It's hosted by my fellow independent bookstore owner, Zibby Owens, who's been dubbed New York City's most powerful book fluencer by Vulture. Every weekday on Totally Booked, she sits down with the best and buzziest authors to share work that's truly worth your time. And that's not all. Season two of Totally Booked Live is here. This time around, you're invited to be part of the live studio audience in New York for 16 incredible interviews with stars like Danny Shapiro and Susan Orlean. Every conversation will be released on the podcast feed after, so don't miss out. Follow Totally Booked with Zibby wherever you're listening now.
- [15:05]
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- [15:07]
Annie Jones
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- [15:17]
Molly from Texas / Anna Urban from Duluth, Minnesota
Visit phantomscreens.com hi Annie, this is Molly from Texas. I was wondering if you could do an autumn flight for us. A pairing of cozy drinks with some great fall reads. Bonus points if they can be closed door and trigger free. Thank you so much.
- [15:38]
Annie Jones
All right, Molly, this is a real challenge. A flight. I took this seriously. I took this literally. We're not just doing a literary flight, we're doing a drink flight. I literally texted my husband and I said, hey, he's the cocktail guy in our house. I said, hey, what are three autumnal cocktails that you can send me the names and Then I used the description from Google and from a couple of online cocktail guides and I developed my book choices for three different cocktails. And then at the end, I also have two cozy non alcoholic beverages for those of us like me, who do not partake and for whom cocktail descriptions mean nothing. So this will be fun because I looked up the cocktail descriptions and the words are like gobbledygook to me. But Jordan suggested an Old Fashioned. According to what I know about the Old Fashioned and what I have read about the Old Fashioned. It's balanced, it's sophisticated, it's a classic. And so I want to recommend what I consider to be a new modern classic, which is Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. You've heard me mention this one on the podcast before. I think it is worth mentioning again. It's historical fiction, but doesn't quite feel like it. That's what somebody, somebody I'm pretty sure kindly DM'd me to let me know that it didn't feel like historical fiction. And it doesn't. If, if your understanding of historical fiction is typically like World War II or where, where the historical moment or event is the centerpiece of the book, in this book it is more just the backdrop against this small town in Ohio and, and the people in the small town and the two marriages at the center of the book, The World War II content, the Vietnam War content, it kind of sits at the backdrop. So I do understand why you might not. And we don't even have a historical fiction section at the bookshelf, but you wouldn't shelve this necessarily in historical fiction, but it does take place in the past and to me feels like a classic novel in the way that it is both character driven and things do happen to these characters. You are very invested in them. It feels like a sophisticated book. I was right. And it was the Jenna Bush Hager pick for, I believe, September. So I feel really good about that. So I think you could read Buckeye by Patrick Ryan while drinking an Old Fashioned.
- [17:53]
Molly from Texas / Anna Urban from Duluth, Minnesota
Next.
- [17:53]
Annie Jones
And look, do I know how flights work? Not really. I mean, I think it's generally like a flight of beers or something like that. We're not doing that today. We're doing a cocktail flight, an autumnal cocktail flight, and I'm pairing them with books. Okay. That's what we're doing. Molly, I took this really seriously and I hope you know that. So Old fashioned is Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. Next up is the Tipperary. This is a complex herbal cocktail that features green chartreuse, which is Jordan Jones's favorite liqueur liquor. Unclear. Anyway, it's a classic Irish cocktail, so I thought about Irish novel, particularly a frontless title. But honestly, would an autumnal episode of from the Front Porch be complete without a ton of French reference? No, it would not. And so I am here to re recommend, as I have so many times over the last decade, the Likeness by Tana French. I think you could really read any of Tana French's detective novels to scratch the autumnal mystery itch. Gross. But I do think the likeness feels the most autumnal because there's almost a dark academia academia feel to it. So if you like the Secret History, I think you will like the likeness. Now, Molly, you did specify that you wanted Closed Door Trigger Free books. I don't know that all of these are Closed Door Trigger Free. Buckeye definitely, in my opinion, is. Now we have different triggers. It's very hard to know. It's very hard to fully recommend. Like, what would a Trigger Free book even look like? But I think, for example, my mom would like. I think she would mostly like Buckeye. Would she like the likeness? No, she would not. She would not. She does not like dark detective novels. But it fits the bill in terms of. In terms of the flight that we're creating. And so I'm keeping it. And that is the Likeness by Tana French. If you've never read Tana French, I do think the Likeness is a great place to start. Okay, last up on our cocktail flight is the Xanthia. This is a cocktail with gin chartreuse and cherry brandy. It is supposed to be used for celebrations. So, like, if you're doing a celebratory toast or if you're having an after dinner cocktail, this should work for you. So I want to recommend Table for Two by Amor Toles. Amor Towles is an extremely popular author at the bookshelf. I do think his books are Closed Door and Trigger Free. Both my mom and my dad have read his books and really liked them. And even though my personal favorite is Rules of Civility, that book opens on New Year's Eve. And so it doesn't feel like we're quite there yet. So instead I tried to pick his most autumnal work, which was either between Gentleman in Moscow or Table for Two. We're going to go with Table for Two because it is his most recent work and is a collection of short stories. And to me, short stories feel like an after dinner mint or an after dinner cocktail. And so that was the thought behind this. And again, Closed Door Trigger Free Table for Two by Amor Toles. Okay, so that's an Old Fashioned paired with Buckeye, the Tipperary cocktail paired with the likeness, and the Xanthia cocktail paired with Table for Two. Now, if you are not a drinker, then I'm going to recommend two books to go with two non alcoholic cozy beverages. The first, of course, is a chai tea. And this would be perfect for reading or listening to. I really like the audiobook of this one, Play for Me by Libby Hubsher. This is a lovely autumnal rom com. I didn't have a ton of romantic comedy questions or recommendations in this episode, so consider this my plug for an autumnal rom com. And again, I think it is mostly closed door. I really like the book youk Again, but that is pretty open door. So we're gonna go with Play for Me by Libby Hubscher, set at a boarding school campus, and then the pumpkin spice latte. If you're basic, does that mean. I don't know, y'. All. Do you like pumpkin spice lattes? I don't drink coffee. What are we doing here? I don't. I don't drink alcohol or any of any of the drinks I've talked about in today's episode. But Molly wanted a flight. Dang it. So I'm bringing her a flight. So chai tea. Play for me. Pumpkin spice latte. Not basic at all. I believe you should drink whatever you want, within reason. So I'm recommending Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Roll. Honestly, I think I should reread Pumpkinheads every year. It's a delightful graphic novel. Again, romantic comedy. Rainbow Roll just knows how to write chemistry. And I don't frequently kind of dabble in graphic novels, but this is one that I read a couple years ago on the recommendation. Actually, I think both of these books, Pumpkinheads and Play for Me, were recommended to me by my friend Kimberly, and they hold up. I think they're perfect for fall reading. So if you just want to drink a cozy beverage and read at your local coffee shop, I think Play for Me with the chai tea and Pumpkin Heads with a pumpkin spice latte would be perfect.
- [22:43]
Christine
Hi, Annie. This is Christine. Congratulations on your baby. I'm so happy for you and Jordan. My question is, I really like in the summer literary thrillers like Saint X or God in the Woods. And I know that there's fall thrillers like this. Like, I'm thinking I had some have some questions for you with Rebecca from Rebecca Mackay. I'm wondering if you have other autumnal literary thrillers that you would Recommend for this season. Hope to get into the episode. Thanks. Bye.
- [23:22]
Annie Jones
Christine, what a great question. I loved Saint X and God of the woods, but you are exactly right. Those are very summery books. And so if you prefer reading seasonally and you really feel, you know, something warm and fuzzy grows inside your chest when you start a book and you realize it says on the first day of September and it's like the first day of September. If that is you, then here are some recommendations I have for you. Now, I do need to say that Molly wanted Closed Door and Trigger Free. Courtney wanted spooky. But audiobooks, literary thrillers, to me are a totally different thing and naturally feel darker. So if you are looking for Trigger free books, Molly's recommendations will be better suited for you. But if you are looking for darker books or heftier books, then I think these will work. The first is Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Gillian Flynn. It's Gillian Flynn and Gillian Anderson. I think that's right. Oh my gosh, Gillian Flynn. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I love Gillian Flynn. Of course, she's from Gone Girl fame, but Sharp Objects is great. And the TV adaptation on HBO Max, underpraised in my opinion. Not enough praise for that for that TV show. So that is Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn and then you can pair it with the show. I already recommended the audiobook version, but Wild Dark Shore to me falls in this category of a literary thriller. And it's very atmospheric. I would hold it till, well, depends on where you live. I personally would wait till end of November or December to read this one because it goes a little bit from fall into winter, just in terms of it's set in the Arctic or in Antarctica. And so, yeah, it just feels cold. So I would wait till it's a little bit colder to read that one. Heartwood by Amity Gage is set in New England. I loved this book and feel again like it maybe didn't get enough attention. Even though feels like, was it a Jenna pick? It was a book club pick. So maybe it just feels like it didn't get enough attention to me because I didn't work this summer. So I could be lying about that. It might not be an unsung book to you, but I really liked it. Penitents by Kristin Koval. Again, I do that one in November, December because it kind of skews fall to winter. Great for fans of Defending Jacob. Knife river by Justine Champagne and Granite harbor by Peter Nichols. Knife river is great if you are a fan of Long Bright River. The similarity in title is a coincidence. And then Granite harbor by Peter Nichols, if you like serial killer detective stories. I didn't love the ending of that one as I recall, but I loved everything else, so I think it's safe to recommend it it. And then last but not least, and I did mention this on last week's episode, but Fox by Joyce Carol Oates. Now, Christine, if you are listening to this, I don't know how dark you want to go. This is a very dark book and there's a way in which it is not a thriller at all. At the same time, there is definitely a mystery at the heart of it and kind of a slight whodunit aspect. And so I think it fits the bill as a literary thriller. But you will have to decide if it is right for you. Triggers abound. Triggers are abundant. At the same time, it feels a little bit like it could be required reading for parents. But you can listen to me talk about that on last week's episode. So those are some autumnal literary thrillers. Sharp Objects, Wild Dark Shore, Heartwood, Fox, Penitents, Knife river and Granite Harbor. Thanks, Christine. I hope one of those works for you.
- [26:44]
Matt from Pittsburgh
Hi Annie, it's Matt in Pittsburgh. Big fan of the show. My fall literary dilemma for you is this time of year I like to read a novel that has a little bit more to say, so that almost feels like nonfiction, a little deeper, but still has a plot to follow. So something like Stonyard, Devotional, the Correspondent, Beauty Land. I wondered what you'd suggest for me in that vein. Thanks so much, Matt.
- [27:11]
Annie Jones
Imagine my surprise when I heard a man's voice in my ear. I like to think that we have a diverse audience here on from the front por but it's mostly women and so honestly thrilled. Thanks for being here, Matt. Okay. A novel that has more to say, feels like nonfiction is willing to go a little deeper. Let's try Heart the Lover came out a couple weeks ago. I love Lily King. I love writers and lovers. Heart the Lover started slow for me, meaning it took me a second. It is not a slow start. It's a Lily King start. It's about three students on a college campus. It's a little bit of a love triangle. And then we get to really, it feels like a privilege. We get the privilege of watching them grow up so we see them in college, maybe a little bit in early adulthood and then in middle age. The reason it started slow for me is I had some qualms with how Lilly King wrote about one of the characters. He's an annoying Character, but that's not the issue. My issue had to do with some of the faith representation not being inaccurate in terms of spirit. I think the spirit of the character was absolutely right on track. We're talking a bit of a hard nosed, goody two shoes, follow all the rules except when they don't work for him kind of character. But it just had to do with. It felt like maybe Lily King was trying to write a Catholic character, but he was Baptist in the book. And I just, you know, I just had some nitpickies knits to pick. Nitpickies, I don't. Anyway, I had some nitpicking to do is what I'm saying. But Heart the Lover is about friendship. The way Lilly King writes really is beautiful. And it's about middle age and grappling with who we once were. I really liked it. So that is Heart the Lover by Lily King. Play World by Adam Ross. I don't know if it was the length of this one or the January of everything, but I do think this book got a little bit lost. I loved it. It's a dedication of time. It is lengthy and it reads slowly in the best way. Like, this is not necessarily a book that you binge. This is a book that you kind of sit with, which is why I'm thinking it might be great for fall. This is about. This is a coming of age story about a young man. Feels very. Feels very J.D. salinger. I did a full review of it back at the start of the year, but I really liked this book. Among Friends by Hal Ebbitt, Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet, Beautiful World, Where Are you? Backlist Title by Sally Rooney, and then Flashlight by Susan Choi. All of these, I think are really well written novels. That was, you know, if you're talking Stoneyard Devotional, the Correspondent and Beauty Land, that's what I think is one of the connectors of those, is just how beautifully written they are. And then they're all books that absolutely feel like they're deeper than maybe they would even suggest. So Among Friends does take a little bit of a dark turn. So go into it knowing that. I mean, Playworld does too. To be honest, I think one of the themes for this year's reading climate, fiction has been huge, but also adults behaving badly and not in a fun way, not in a fun way, in an abusive way, is what I have seen over and over again in literature this year. Among Friends is certainly one of those books, but I really liked it. It's an examination of a lifelong friendship Dinosaurs is such a quiet, short little book about neighborliness and you just. I kept waiting for this book to take that dark turn and it never did. And I'm so glad it didn't. It's much more interesting this way. Beautiful World, Where Are youe remains one of my favorite Sally Rooney books. Intermezzo. Last year was a little bit of a disappointment to me personally because I loved Beautiful World Where Are youe so much and I think it's so timely for right now. And then Flashlight by Susan Choi just got longlisted for the national book. Aw, I loved it. There is a mystery element here, but this is really a book about family trauma and I absolutely adored it. Could not put it down. And again, it was hefty, it was longer, but I was never bored by it. I really liked it. So, Matt, I hope that those might be the kinds of books that you're looking for this season. Podbean your message amplified Ready to share your message with the world? Start your podcast journey with podbean. Podbean, the AI powered all in one podcast platform.
- [31:36]
Matt from Pittsburgh
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- [31:40]
Annie Jones
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- [31:54]
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- [32:26]
Alana from Fresno, California
Hi Annie, this is Alana from Fresno, California. First, I wanted to say congratulations on your new baby. How sweet. What a sweet and precious time this is. Second, I have a literary conundrum that I would love your take on. Over the last year I have been a little bit more reflective over my reading take and styles that I like to pick up. And I'm finding that I am loving these books that have a touch of ridiculousness, a touch of outlandishness, usually some spots that are laugh out loud funny. And I'm just wondering what we can call this sub genre of book books that come to mind that I read this year that Kind of think, I think fall into this category. Include Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett and the Sweet by Amy Papel. I would love to hear your take on this. What are we calling this genre of book? Is it ridiculous fiction? Is it satirical? And then what other recommendations would you have in this spot? I would love to hear your take on this. And thank you so much.
- [33:40]
Annie Jones
Bye. Alana, you are speaking my language. I love all of the books that you mentioned, although, well, you did mention Unlikely Animals, and that is the one Annie Hartnett book I have not read. And I aim to correct that very, very soon. But I definitely love the genre you're describing where the books have a touch of silliness a little bit. They're a little bit outlandish, they're a little bit ridiculous, certainly. And I really did some research. I use that term loosely, but I did look up, okay, these are the types of books I typed in. Some of the books I, I thought fit the bill, too. And I tried to see what the publisher's descriptors were. And the words that kept coming up were satire or satirical, darkly funny, darkly comedic. I think the key is that word dark in front of the comedic, like where it has a little bit of, I don't know, weight to it. Tinder is another word that came up, but I don't think that fits all of the books you're talking about. I like the phrase seriously silly. But, yeah, in terms of what can we call this shovel sub. This sub genre that you're describing, maybe outlandish lit is the best way. Certainly the publisher verbiage would be satirical, darkly comedic. I think that's what. If you, if you're looking for your, like, Kendra Adachi book words, I think those are your book words that you're going to look for. But if you just want to name this, or if I'm creating an end cap at the bookshelf, what would, what phrase would I use? Probably seriously silly or fiction that borders on the ridiculous. Or I would say laugh out loud funny. Because a lot of these books that I'm gonna recommend, I hope in my mind, are laugh out loud funny. Now to me, and maybe it's because of when I kind of took over operations of the bookstore, but the book that will be always and forever associated with this genre in my mind is Where'd you go, Bernadette? It's been, you know what, that book is over a decade old at this point, but that feels like the kind of thing that we're talking about. And a lesser known debut novel I really wish more people had discussed I think it came out in 2017 is the misfortune of Marian Palm by Emily Culliton I believe is her last name. C U L L I T O N she is the the character. Marian is a Brooklyn mom. She has embezzled money from her kids school and she flees, she flees the jurisdiction and this book was so funny, so dark. I mean she's embezzled, she's embezzled from her children's school. But I really really liked it far and the new book by Amy Popple. I don't know if it's cheating because you mentioned the sweet spot, but honestly, any of Amy Poppel's Popples. Sorry y', all. I've been mispronouncing her name for so very long. At least since the pandemic. At least since the pandemic. But we learned during Read a retreat Popple so Far and Away by Amy Popple is just as delightful as her other books. It's a paperback original. There's a travel piece that makes this particularly compelling. I really liked it it if you want to go even darker maybe than the books I've already said you could do My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. It's great. Time to revisit this one because she's got a new book coming out if it's not out already as of this recording. But I thoroughly enjoyed and quickly finished My Sister the Serial Killer, the Big Finish by Brooke Fossey. This was one of those quarantine reads that has stuck with me and I still find myself recommending it. It's about a man who winds up trying to escape his nursing home, his assisted living facility. The Road to Tender Hearts again maybe feels like cheating, but if you have not read this new book by Annie Hartnett. Five stars from me. Excellent. One of my favorite books of the year, Less by Andrew Shawn Greer, which Hunter and I did a special podcast episode on maybe two years ago. And then Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, which is certainly not pg, but you didn't ask for PG, Alana, so I so I think you'll be fine with this one. And I loved it. So you know, interestingly like lessons in chemistry also to me comes to mind here where there is this element of silliness. This, this like slightly ridiculous like this book would would be so different if it were not for maybe the author going to go a little bit lighter. If you haven't read Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett, I'M gonna also put a plug for that here. So what did we decide we're gonna call it? Well, darkly comedic or satirical. Those are the book words. Those are the words the publisher industry would use, publishing industry would use, and then I would use seriously silly. Maybe a touch of the ridiculous. Yeah, I love the books you're describing and I actually think they're hard to find. I actually don't think this is a super popular genre because they're not straight humor. That was the thing I saw, you know, online, like through Goodreads or, or through Amazon, that I think humor was one of the book words. But they're more than that. They're not just laugh out loud funny, they're rooted in maybe heartwarming. Maybe that would be a good phrase for a lot of these books. Anyway, Alana, I hope you found maybe a new one or two that you could try after listening to this episode.
- [38:42]
Molly from Texas / Anna Urban from Duluth, Minnesota
Hi Annie, this is Anna Urban. I'm calling from my classroom in beautiful Duluth, Minnesota, and I have a literary conundrum for you. For most of my career I taught third grade and I ran an after school program where I picked 15 middle grade novels to read and discuss with fourth and fifth graders. I've always felt really confident in my read aloud selection. However, last year I moved from third to second grade and boy, do I need some help. I really struggled to find novels that I could read and discuss with my class that were rich and exciting and kept them interested in without being too mature for a 7 and 8 year old. I was wondering if you could offer some suggestions for me that I could read aloud to my class this year. It can really be anything. It can be front list, back list, it's up to you. But I really could use some help. Thank you so much, Anna.
- [39:44]
Annie Jones
Thank you for all that you do for students and for little ones. Congratulations on becoming a second grade teacher. I am sure that that is very different from third grade. And so I had my own thoughts on this. And then I also reached out to our children's book buyer, Olivia, and I reached out to a friend of mine who is an educator named Jennifer. She's a listener from the front porch and she had a couple recommendations as well. In fact, Jennifer and I both had the immediate same thought, which is Kate DiCamillo, particularly the miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and then the Tale of Despereau. Both of those books made my list and they made Jennifer's as well, which made me feel pretty good because I thought, okay, I'm on the right track, so certainly you're familiar with Kate DiCamillo? Probably you have read those even to your third graders or fourth graders. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald. That was my pick. That book is old, old, old, but man, I loved it as a kid. I think my third grade teacher read it to me. But I think it is totally appropriate for second graders. We have a local author named Sarah Dean who is, I think she now resides in South Carolina, but she has written a book called the Midnight Post and the Post Box Clock. It's beautiful, beautiful illustrations and I think would be perfect for your second graders. Based on what I have read of the book, it's very charming. It feels very old fashioned. And so to me reads then very appropriate for second graders. The main characters are all like little animals in this village. We loved this book. We did a book signing with Sarah last time she was in town. So the Midd Night Post and the Post Box Clock. Olivia recommended Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake, the Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman and All the Best Dogs, which I also really like by Emily Jenkins. And then Jennifer recommended the classics, Charlotte's Web and then of course the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. Hopefully these get you started as you adapt to a younger age group. I have such fond memories of being read to and, and so I love the role you're playing in your classroom and the memories that your kids are gonna have of you reading to them. So thank you again for what you do. I hope those are good recommendations, not too mature, perfect for reading aloud to your second grade class. Okay everybody, that is today's advice. Thank you so much for your autumnal questions. I thought this was actually a really cozy, lovely episode of from the Front Porch with a lot of great autumnal reads. I hope that if you're listening to, listening to this episode, you found something that could work for you. All of today's books are listed in the show notes which was quite the task because it was a lot of book lists today. And then a thank you to not only those of you who left voice memos and voice messages, but a thank you to Olivia for her kids book recommendations, my friend Jennifer for her recommendations, and of course to Jordan Jones for, for answering my middle of the day text that just said could you send me three fall cocktail names? And he didn't ask any questions, he just said sure and sent them. And so thanks to Jordan Jones for helping me get just the right book list for, for listener Molly today. Thanks again for your voicemails. And don't forget, you can leave your own voice memo for me for future literary therapy episodes at from the frontporchpodcast.com contact this week, what I Am Reading is brought to you by Discover Thomasville. Gracefully tucked within the storied red hills of South Georgia, Thomasville curates a distinguished downtown experience that meanders along several blocks of our iconic red brick streets. Here you discover the soul of the South. Here you discover Thomasville. Learn more by visiting thomasvillega.com News if you're planning a trip to Thomasville this fall, I hope you will consider a visit to our friends at the Jack Hadley Black History Museum. This is an icon and a landmark in Thomasville. Jordan and I did a tour back when we very first moved here. Then I went with my cousins a couple years after that. And right now the Black History Museum is working towards renovating and restoring the Imperial Hotel here in Thomasville. That is a Green Book Hotel, the only Green Book Hotel here in Thomasville. And it is right when you're driving into town. So if you are a if you're a listener from Tallahassee, you have passed the Imperial Hotel and I am so anxious for that project to get done. Feels like such a huge bit of Thomasville history. And so your support of the Thomasville Black History Museum, the Jack Hadley Black History Museum, part of your support goes to the renovation of that building and that history. So if you've never visited the Jack Hadley Black History Museum, I hope you will do so this fall. This week I'm reading the Irish Goodbye by Heather Amy o'. Neill. Thank you again to our sponsor, Discover Thomasville. Here you discover the soul of the South. Here you discover Thomasville. Learn more by visiting thomasvillega.com News from the front Porch is a weekly podcast production of the Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. You can follow the Bookshelf's daily habits happenings on Instagram ookshelftville and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, bookshelf thomasville.com a full transcript of today's podcast episode can be found at from the frontporchpodcast.com Special thanks to Studio D Podcast Production for production of from the Front Porch and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our our Thursday conversations. Our executive producers of today's episode are Cami Tidwell, Jamie Treadwell, Linda Lee Jost, Jean Queens Martha Stephanie Dean, Beth Ashley Farrell, Amanda Wickham, Nicole Marcy, Wendy Jenkins thank you all for your support of from the Front Porch. If you'd like to support from the Front Porch, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the show even better and helps us reach new listeners. All you have to do is open up the podcast app on your phone. Look for from the Front Porch, scroll down until you see, write a review and tell us what you think. Or, if you're so inclined, support us over on Patreon, where we have three levels of support. Each level has an amazing number of benefits, like bonus content, access to live events, discounts, and new giveaways. Just go to patreon.com from the front porch. We're so grateful for you and we look forward to meeting back here next week.