
There Will Be Books
By Peter Murphy


Episode 179 "Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead"
This week we are discussing the fantastic novel "Harlem Shuffle" by Colson Whitehead. A novel which spurned a discussion on mixing genre fiction and literary fiction. We also discussed why people read and write, A.I. novels, and pitching an oral history on George R. R. Martin writing the Game of Thrones novels. Lots of fun banter. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 178 "Lessons in Chemistry"
We don't normally read bestsellers but this week we discuss the 2022 bestseller "Lessons in Chemistry." And we're normally a pretty positive podcast but one of us had some very strong opinions about this novel and the other had an interesting "theory." Let us know what you thought of this book and whether you agreed with our thoughts.
As always thanks for listening!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 177 "Hills Like White Elephants; June TBR Nominations"

Episode 176 "Book Oscars 2024"

Episode 175 "Flashman in the Great Game"
Since we started this podcast we have read one Flashman book a year. This year we read book five, "Flashman in the Great Game." This time we follow Flashman to India as he becomes involved in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. But before we discuss our latest Flashman book, Matt makes a point about Christmas and Peter discusses texting Matt's Dad about books.
Thanks for listening!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 174 "March Additions; Bookshelf Purge"

Episode 173 "Great Granny Webster"
This week we begin with a little AI chat before discussing a fantastic novella. In 1977, Lady Caroline Blackwood published, "Great Granny Webster," a biting, bleak, hilarious take down of a "great" house. Full of fantastic characters and brilliant prose this book impressed us both immensely.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 172 "The Spectre of Alexander Wolf; Plus TBR Short Stories"

Episode 171 "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry"
This week we're discussing the successful debut from Rachel Joyce, "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry." A charming, sad, and poignant novel that surprised and pleased us greatly. We had a great time discussing this novel...spoilers ahead!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 170 "Steppenwolf; For Madmen Only"

Episode 169 "Fall Reading Roundup, October Nominations"
We are back from a nice fall break. Peter went to the big apple and Matt stayed around, working on his sourdough starter. While we were away we both have been reading books on the side, and we begin this episode discussing some of our fall reading highlights.
And finally we end by picking an October book to read. Will we continue to pick a horror book or will we go another direction?
Thank you for listening and happy reading!
Books Recommended:
Mina's Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa
The Bookshop by Evan Friss
Gambler by Billy Walters
The Fellowship by Philip Zaleski and Carol Zaleski
Books Added:
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Email willbebooks@gmail.com
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 168 "September TBR Additions"
We begin by discussing Matt's recent reads, courtesy of his losing sports teams. Then we dive into another installment of nominating and selecting new books to add to our TBR. Lots of serious literary choices this time around. Also discussed; Sally Rooney, NYC bookstores, and twitter feuds. Thanks for listening. Enjoy!
TBR Additions
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
The Spectre of Alexander Wolf by Gaito Gazdanov
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 167 "My Brilliant Friend"

Episode 166 "The Wager by David Grann"
Widely hailed as one of the best books of 2023, David Grann's latest, "The Wager" is a remarkable true story that amazes at every turn. We discuss Grann's gift as a story teller and the various fascinating layers to this best selling book.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 165 "Where to start with Pynchon?"

Episode 164 "NYT 100 Best Books of 21st Century; Plus, Horror Novella Recommendation"

Episode 163 "Fun & Serious Additions"

Episode 162 "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
We're back this week discussing the famous Truman Capote novella, "Breakfast at Tiffany's." We discuss the book, and the 1961 movie adaptation starring Audrey Hepburn. And finally we riff on the idea of author as a celebrity. Have we lost that? If so, who was the last celebrity author? Fun episode with a few hot takes but mostly just two friends discussing books. As always, thanks for listening. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 161 "An Apology: A Maggot"
How do you describe a mysterious episode title? Begin with Matt's brain, add in a John Fowles novel, and there you go! If you listen past the odd beginning, you'll hear us go through our extensive TBR and touch base on where we're at with each book. You'll also learn what a cellar book is. And finally, we add to our TBR with a May selection. As always, thanks for listening and happy reading.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 160 "The Poison King: Part 1"
History fans, the episode this week is for you. We delve into the first part of Adrienne Mayor's fantastic book, "The Poison King." A riveting history of Mithradates, the legendary king who for a time was the biggest threat to the Roman Empire. We discuss fascinating details, stories, and more. Thanks for listening!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 159 "Ripley, Hitchens, and Didion"
This week we're reviewing the latest Ripley adaptation, and discussing two essays from prominent 20th century writers. We begin by discussing a short bookish essay by Christopher Hitchens and then review Joan Didion's essay on John Wayne. And lastly, we heap all kinds of praise on the Ripley series debuting on Netflix. Fun episode for everybody. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 158 "A Question of Upbringing" (A Dance to the Music of Time, #1)
We are back this week talking about one of Matt's desert island books. "A Question of Upbringing" is challenging too describe and even recommend broadly, but as we discuss characters, themes, and plot lines we find there is so much to enjoy and love from this 20th century classic. A rewarding read that favors a curious and patient reader. As always, thanks for listening and supporting us. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 157 "April TBR Addition Extravaganza"
Spring is upon us and what better way to celebrate than to add to our TBR? This month we decided to add a "dad bio" and a bestseller to our TBR but the real question is did we add just two books? Lots of fun this week, with a great list of books discussed. Matt's question to everybody is, "Are we at a TBR tipping point?" As always thanks for listening and supporting us!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 156 "2023 Book Oscars"
It's that time again, to pick our favorites from the last year. What was our favorite book? Who wrote our favorite prose? Who was the best villain? Join us for our annual Book Oscars! We have those categories plus lots more. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our selections by reaching out to us on our socials. As always thanks for listening!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 155 "March Nominations plus Kafka and Bowles"
Are we clowns? Do we not discuss books in a serious enough manner? We discuss these questions plus two more short works from Franz Kafka and Paul Bowles. And finally, we nominate books for March. In typical fashion, we select more than one book! Thanks for listening!
Books added to TBR:
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 154 "The Historian. Hunter S Thompson, and Prop Bets"
We are back with a jam packed episode. First off, we discuss the massive 2005 hit, "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova. We gave inklings that one of us didn't like the book and Peter details why. Next, we discuss the essay "Fear and Loathing at the Super Bowl" by Hunter S Thompson. We discuss the writer vs the persona. And finally, we give our predictions for our latest thriller book, "The Nine Tailors" by Dorothy Sayers. Lots to discuss and debate. Such as, "do you agree with Peter's opinion on The Historian?" And "Is Matt plain?
Thanks as always for listening and supporting us.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 153 "HHhH"
We have a fantastic novel to discuss this week. Laurent Binet's debut novel "HHhH" has been on both our radars since its release over a decade ago and our high expectations were met and exceeded by this brilliant, thrilling, and important book. We highly recommend this book and we hope you enjoy our conversation about all things "HHhH."
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 152 "Dinner at the Golden Corral; featuring Dostoevsky, Capote, Didion, Thompson, Bowles, Gaiman, Kafka, and Hitchens

Episode 151 "Flashman at the Charge"
It's beyond cold outside and we've both been under the weather but we are back this week with our annual Flashman episode! We are discussing the fourth book in the series, "Flashman at the Charge." Perhaps the best of the series so far and a possible jumping off point for new readers to the series. We gush over George MacDonald Fraser's creation, and dive deep into what makes it such a rewarding series. Plus, Matt makes an analogy he promises to repeat in 2024.
Thanks for listening!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 150 "Christmas Movies. Christmas Book Hauls"
We are back after a busy holiday season to talk Christmas movies, both good and bad. This year we both watched the 2000 movie, Reindeer Games. We discuss if the movie was as bad as everybody said and more. And finally, Peter discusses the stack of books he hauled and Matt talks about the mammoth book he got for Christmas. Another fun episode in the books. Also, let us know if you got any books over the holiday season.
Thanks for listening!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 149 "The Fellowship of Two Turtledoves"
To close out another great year of book nominations, our December nominations are the best group yet. We could have picked a half dozen books to add to our TBR but we settled on a classic.
We also discuss Napoleon's education, attempt insightful analogies, and discuss upcoming Patreon content.
Thanks for listening and enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 148 "Burr: Part 2"
We are back this week to wrap up Burr by Gore Vidal. To finish up this entertaining and informative novel, we discuss Burr's duel with Hamilton and his treason charge. We discuss Vidal's plausible theories that he puts forth during this fascinating chapter in American history. High recommend for historical fiction fans. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 147 "Non-Fiction November TBR Addition"
We're back after a week off, and ready to talk books, or is that missing crockpot lids or egg yolk in coffee or free range pork. Never mind, we begin with randomness before getting to some exciting news from Matt and thats all before getting to selecting a November book. This time we turned our attention to the world of Non-fiction and selected a very interesting title. As always, thanks for listening and enjoy!
November Book
The Poison King by Adrienne Mayor
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 146 "Ball Four by Jim Bouton"
As baseball celebrates another World Series champion, we decided awhile ago to read the classic baseball book, "Ball Four" by Jim Bouton. A sensation, when it was released in 1970, we discuss how much Bouton's book still shocks and what seems relatively tame nowadays. A must read for baseball fans but Bouton's talent as a writer makes for an interesting read for not just the devoted fans of America's pastime. Along the way, we discuss our history with baseball, favorite moments, and biggest heartbreaks. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 145 "Jayber Crow"
Many moons ago Matt's dad insisted with we read "Jayber Crow" by Wendell Berry, and this week we are ready to discuss this fantastic book and author. A great book to take your time reading, we unpack the life philosophies Berry seems to hold true as well as praise the beautiful prose and character development. A fantastic author that we hope to return too in the near future. And finally, we end the episode by coming up with prop bets for our newest thriller! Join us over on our Patreon for more content including our Thriller Book Club.
Thanks for listening and enjoy this weeks episode.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 144 "Spooky Nominations"
We begin this week with Matt trolling, Peter vowing to nominate sad books for six months, and end with our annual October tradition of nominating scary books. And as is wont to happen from time to time, we add more than one book this month! Thanks for listening. Enjoy!
Books selected:
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 143 "'The Son' by Philipp Meyer"
We begin this week with a tale as old as time....cutting up couches. From there we dive into the brilliant 2013 novel, 'The Son' by Philipp Meyer. This is our second Meyer novel that we have covered on the podcast and it's safe to say we are big fans! So much to unpack in this sprawling epic novel and we had a great time diving in. We highly recommend this novel and hope you enjoy this episode.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 142 "Interview w/ R.J. Jacobs; author of the book 'This is How We End Things'"
We are very grateful to welcome back author, R.J. Jacobs back onto the podcast this week. His fantastic new dark academia murder mystery novel, "This is How We End Things," was recently released and we had a great time discussing the newest book and all things writing. We think you'll enjoy this one. Thanks for listening and happy reading.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 141 "September Nominations; Patreon Legal Thrillers"
We combined two episodes into one this week. First, we nominate some legal thrillers for our thriller book club that we have a great time doing over on our patreon. (No pressure to join but our patreons get exclusive episodes and help us select books to read) And finally we nominate and select a new September book to read. Fun episode all around. Hope you enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 140 "Interview with Rustin Dodd; Kingdom Quarterback Co-Author"
Special episode this week, we are joined by Rustin Dodd, co-author of the book "Kingdom Quarterback." This fascinating new book looks at the rise of star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and the history of Kansas City. We discuss the troubled history of suburban development in Kansas City, how the Chiefs became Super Bowl champions, and much more. We recommend this book to both sports fans and history buffs. Enjoy the interview.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 139 "Burr by Gore Vidal; Part 1"
We begin this week with Matt's wife questioning Peter's taste in books. All in good fun! And then we begin a very fun and interesting discussion on the first half of the 1973 Gore Vidal novel, "Burr." If you are in anyway a fan of historical fiction, Vidal is a great author to read. We delve into Burr's historical importance and how Vidal created a compelling and entertaining novel based on Burr's life. Hope you enjoy this week's episode. Thanks for listening!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 138 "Nights in Rodanthe"
We begin with a discussion about parking courtesy and shift to discuss the best selling author, Nicholas Sparks and his book, "Nights in Rodanthe." This is our first entry in a series we like to call, reading out of our comfort zone. Best selling romance is not usually our kind of book, and in hindsight we probably picked a dud of an example. But we had loads to discuss, including the 2008 movie adaptation starring Richard Gere and Dianne Lane. Which did we like better?
Also, we will probably do this series again, so send in some titles of books you think would be out of our comfort zone. Social media links below.
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 137 "August Nominations; A Surprising Selection"
When you have an overflowing TBR the best thing to do is to select more books. Right?! We already have the next in the Flashman series to add but we decided to add another book, too. A very long list of books were discussed and a surprising selection was made. As always books weren't the only things discussed. Side topics included; wasps, insect spray, heat stroke, camping, and audio book narrators. Sounds fun right? Enjoy!
Books Selected:
Flashman at the Charge by George MacDonald Fraser
The King David Report by Stefan Heym
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 136 "Interview w/ author and podcaster Brad Kelly"
This week we had the great joy of talking books, authors, and so much more with author and podcaster Brad Kelly. There really is nothing better than talking books, reading history, favorite authors, etc. We end with Brad discussing his writing process. This was such a fun episode that we could have gone on for hours more. And finally, make sure to listen to "Art of Darkness," the podcast Kelly co-hosts and pick up his novel "House of Sleep."
Links to all things Brad Kelly:
https://www.youtube.com/@artofdarkpod
https://www.bradkellyesque.com/
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 135 "The Once and Future King: Part I"
It's been about a year since we selected this fantasy classic, but we are ready (Matt's been ready, it's Peter whose been reading too many library books on the side) to discuss the first book in the series, "The Sword in the Stone." But first we get sidetracked by chili and sports analytics. Listen to fully understand the way our brains work: books, sports, and chili. Great episode this week, discussing a great book. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 134 "52 Pickup; Elmore Leonard Talk"
We begin this week with a surprise book haul from Matt! After that we discuss "52 Pickup" by Elmore Leonard, a lesser known novel from the legendary writer but a very good novel none the less. Also, Peter discusses his first impressions of Leonard and why ultimately he is such a fantastic writer. Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy the episode!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 133 "Adding to the TBR and Rodanthe Prop Bets"

Episode 132 "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again; Special Guest"
This week we're back with another discussion about a David Foster Wallace essay. This time there is some controversy! Did Peter actually read the essay if he didn't read the footnotes? Also, we discussed Fourth of July movies and drinking six cups of coffee. Finally, we are joined by Matt's extremely intelligent and thoughtful brother. Fun episode all around. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 131 "Negative Review, Harari, and Prop Bets"
A little bit of everything on this weeks episode. Peter is left disappointed by a recent read, and Matt talks about C.S. Lewis. For the main bulk of the episode, we give our updated thoughts on "Homo Deus." Finally, we come up with prop bets and talk through predictions for our upcoming thriller book club. Thanks for listening, and enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks

Episode 130 "A Moveable Feast"
This week we are diving into the 1964 book, "A Moveable Feast," by Ernest Hemingway. So much to talk about when discussing Hemingway, and we delve into the book but also Hemingway in general. A very entertaining episode, and not our last Hemingway episode by any means. Enjoy!
Contact Us:
Instagram @therewillbbooks
Twitter @therewillbbooks
Goodreads: Therewillbebooks
ko-fi.com/therewillbbooks
patreon.com/therewillbbooks