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Your Favorite Book

Your Favorite Book

By Malavika Praseed

Everyone's got a book they'll remember forever. I want to find out what it is and why it matters so much. Each episode, I talk to a new guest about their favorite book. I read it too, draw all my own conclusions, and the fun begins!
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Temporary with Morgan Jerkins (Author of Caul Baby)

Your Favorite BookApr 08, 2021

00:00
40:22
FINALE (for now): My Favorite Books of 2022

FINALE (for now): My Favorite Books of 2022

Well, we're here, and it's bittersweet. Plain and simple, these are my favorite books that I happened to read in 2022, spoiler free of course, and ranked in order. Something for everyone, with plenty of honorable mentions to boot. I will miss each and every one of you, and I hope to be back in some capacity in the future. Till then, you can stay in touch with me via instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Dec 29, 202226:22
On Book Podcasting (Again!) with Julie Strauss (Best Book Ever Crossover)

On Book Podcasting (Again!) with Julie Strauss (Best Book Ever Crossover)

As the year (and Your Favorite Book as a whole) winds down, I wanted to bring back a favorite guest of mine and share some laid-back, lighthearted conversation about all things book podcasting. Julie Strauss is my podcast twin and the host of Best Book Ever, and if you don't already listen to her show, I highly recommend it! We chat about our different approaches to podcasting, how running these shows has changed our reading habits, and where I expect life to take me after wrapping up the show. 

Follow Julie on instagram @bestbookeverpodcast

Follow the show on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Dec 15, 202238:27
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson with Keenan Norris (Author of Chi Boy)

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson with Keenan Norris (Author of Chi Boy)

For this, our last formal interview episode for Your Favorite Book, I'm delving back into nonfiction and into some serious topics. THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS deserves all its accolades, not only for its extensive research on the Great Migration in Jim Crow era America, but on the attention to narrative detail and approachable, readable tone. My guest, Keenan Norris, touches on specific migrations and how the city of Chicago impacted several important Black historical figures, including Barack Obama and Richard Wright. Together, the two of us touch on the surprising results of research, what it means to learn something that should've been taught in schools, and so much more.

Find Keenan at his website: https://www.keenannorris.com/

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Dec 01, 202248:18
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy with Deeba Zargarpur (Author of House of Yesterday)

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy with Deeba Zargarpur (Author of House of Yesterday)

After a couple weeks off, I'm bringing you an episode on one of the most hyped memoirs of the year, and it was an absolute joy to talk about. We're of course talking about I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy, a searing memoir of Hollywood, abuse, eating disorders, and coming into one's own identity. This book is straightforward and not for the faint of heart, but certainly rewarding. My guest is young adult author Deeba Zargarpur, whose YA novel HOUSE OF YESTERDAY combines elements of her Afghan-Uzbek heritage with ghost story elements, complex family dynamics, and a relatable female lead. Deeba and I chat all things families large and small, memoir styles, watching too much TV, and so much more.

Find Deeba at https://www.deebazargarpur.com/

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Nov 17, 202239:27
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (with Ethan Chatagnier, author of Singer Distance)

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (with Ethan Chatagnier, author of Singer Distance)

Our guest this week is Ethan Chatagnier, whose debut novel SINGER DISTANCE effortlessly combines the space age paranoia of the 1960s, theoretical math, and the high stakes of a love unfulfilled. The book challenges the idea of what it would mean to communicate with another planet, presenting an alternate history where this contact has been made and scientists believe they've cracked the latest Martian math challenge set for Earthlings to understand.

Ethan chose a book that also blurs the lines between literary and science fiction, Kazuo Ishiguro's NEVER LET ME GO. This seminal work by the Nobel Laureate defies most summaries, with its slowly unfolding plot and piecemeal storytelling. This is one of few YFB episodes that dives headfirst into spoilers, so for those who have not read NEVER LET ME GO, it's highly recommended before listening, and a highly recommended book in general.

Oct 20, 202240:42
The House of Mirth with Sara Bennett Wealer (Author of Grave Things Like Love)

The House of Mirth with Sara Bennett Wealer (Author of Grave Things Like Love)

We're back with an author who's rapidly becoming one of my twentieth century favorites, Edith Wharton. In this early novel of hers, The House of Mirth, we follow the tragic demise of socialite Lily Bart and how her decline represents the decline of an era itself, and also shows us how precarious it is to be a woman of reputation. Somehow, Sara and I find plenty of laughs. Sara is a YA novelist whose most recent novel, Grave Things Like Love, is a contemporary romance with a ghost hunting twist, and is perfect for the Halloween season. 

Buy Sara's book: https://bookshop.org/books/grave-things-like-love-9780593703557/9780593703557

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Oct 06, 202238:16
Sula by Toni Morrison (with Saeed Jones, Author of Alive at the End of the World)

Sula by Toni Morrison (with Saeed Jones, Author of Alive at the End of the World)

Our guest this week is Saeed Jones, the acclaimed memoirist and poet, whose recent collection ALIVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD takes on both individual and collective grief in the midst of a nation in crisis. Spanning topics from the legacy of Black artists and entertainers to visions of the end of the world as a chaotic rave, Saeed brings every feeling to the forefront and never turns his back to the hard questions.

Saeed chose a book stemming from his adolescence and one that continues to generate deeper meaning for him, Toni Morrison's SULA. This book, hardly two hundred pages in length, delves deep into what it means to be a Black girl, and to be both in and out of a community, and the complicated social dynamics it takes to perpetuate said community. The book is luminous at a prose level and never ceases to shock at every turn. There are some spoilers for this episode, but none that take away from the integrity of the novel.

Together we chat about all things crafting a poetry collection, why the United States struggles with creating a grief culture, the triumphs and pitfalls of high school literary opinions, and so much more.

Books discussed: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel Moniz, Magical Negro by Morgan Parker

Buy Saeed's book: https://bookshop.org/books/alive-at-the-end-of-the-world/9781566896511

Follow the show on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Sep 22, 202243:42
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (with Joe Meno, Author of Book of Extraordinary Tragedies)

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (with Joe Meno, Author of Book of Extraordinary Tragedies)

Our guest is Joe Meno, author of eleven books and most recently, BOOK OF EXTRAORDINARY TRAGEDIES, a family saga taking place in Chicago's south side. Told by twenty year old Aleks, former musical prodigy turned patriarch of his young family, we are shown the limits of human endurance as the family deals with medical crises, desperate poverty, and one heartbreak after another. At the same time there is a real tenderness and creativity underlining these characters, buoying everything with a sense of hope.

Joe chose Jesmyn Ward's landmark novel SALVAGE THE BONES for his episode. Like his own novel, Ward's book shows a young family in peril and the means they take to survive, but the setting differs entirely. We are taken to rural Mississippi in the days before Hurricane Katrina, as Esch and her brothers live their lives and prepare for the oncoming storm. It's a haunting, brutal read and one that proves unforgettable for us both.

Buy Joe's book: http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/book-of-extraordinary-tragedies/

Follow the show on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Sep 08, 202250:22
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger (with Adam Levin, Author of Mount Chicago)

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger (with Adam Levin, Author of Mount Chicago)

Our guest is Adam Levin, author of multiple novels and most recently, the author of MOUNT CHICAGO. This sprawling novel features the city of Chicago in the midst of natural disaster and centers two lives, comedian and writer Solomon Gladman, as well as his biggest fan, Apter Schutz. The book delves into grief, metafiction, publishing, parrots, and so much more that really defies a conventional summary.

Levin chose another book difficult to summarize, J.D. Salinger’s FRANNY AND ZOOEY. Following the youngest siblings of the Glass family, Salinger explores themes of spiritual emptiness, creativity, and social isolation in a novel that feels very much like a stage play in its form and construction. We reflect on how there’s always more to discover in reading and rereading a novel, even generations after its initial publication.

Buy Adam's book: https://bookshop.org/books/mount-chicago/9780385548243

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Aug 25, 202251:58
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow by Wang Anyi (with Belinda Huijuan Tang, Author of A Map for the Missing)

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow by Wang Anyi (with Belinda Huijuan Tang, Author of A Map for the Missing)

We're back for a new season! Our guest this week is Belinda Huijuan Tang, author of the debut novel A Map for the Missing. The novel spans time from the 1970s through the 1990s, in China as well as the United States, and centers family secrets and miscommunication along with the impact of pursuing one's dreams. What does it mean to live a life of knowledge, and how easy is it to achieve that path?

Belinda chose Wang Anyi's The Song of Everlasting Sorrow as her favorite book. Written in 1995 and translated from Chinese, this novel spans four decades in the life of Wang Qiyao, a former beauty queen who lives a life of heartbreak in both old and new Shanghai. The book is dense, complex, but also deliciously petty and joyful in its depictions of Wang Anyi's hometown. As always, no spoilers!

Books discussed: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo, Something I've Been Meaning to Tell You by Alice Munro

Buy Belinda's book: https://bookshop.org/books/a-map-for-the-missing/9780593300664

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Aug 11, 202241:06
A Death in the Family by James Agee (with Jean Thompson, Author of The Poet's House)

A Death in the Family by James Agee (with Jean Thompson, Author of The Poet's House)

Welcome to the Season 4 finale! Our guest is Jean Thompson, author of many novels, former National Book Award finalist, and most recently the author of The Poet's House. This book explores the sordid lives and falsehoods of poets in California through the eyes of a young admirer, a woman entrenched in blue-collar life but fascinated by poetry. The book takes on the blurred lines of mentorship, the elitism of poetry, and the differences between loving writing and writers themselves.

Jean chose a book first and foremost for its prose style, so unique and unlike a great deal of contemporary writing. James Agee's A Death in the Family, his posthumous Pulitzer prize winning masterpiece, takes the simple and magnifies it to Biblical proportions. The death of a family patriarch shatters the suburban ideals within, and we witness the internal and external carnage in one way or another.

This is our season finale, but Your Favorite Book will be back in mid-august with more interviews. Stay tuned!

Follow the show on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Buy Jean's book: https://bookshop.org/books/the-poet-s-house-9798200880980/9781643751566

Jul 21, 202248:01
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (with Natalka Burian, Author of The Night Shift)

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (with Natalka Burian, Author of The Night Shift)

We're indulging in something fun and delightful today, because that's just what we all need. My guest is Natalka Burian, author of the great new speculative novel THE NIGHT SHIFT, which combines the night life of New York City with the portals and intrigue of a time traveling sci-fi novel. It's fast paced and engaging from the very beginning, and an absolutely fun read. Natalka shares her thoughts on working in the service industry, running a nonprofit, and idolizing NYC from her childhood on a farm. We chat all about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and spoiler, we're both absolutely delighted. Don't worry, no spoilers for the book.

Buy Natalka's book: https://bookshop.org/books/the-night-shift-9780778333043/9780778333043

Natalka's tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@natalkaburian?lang=en

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Jul 14, 202237:10
The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp (with Morgan Talty, Author of Night of the Living Rez)

The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp (with Morgan Talty, Author of Night of the Living Rez)

My guest this week is Morgan Talty, author of the debut short story collection NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ. Morgan shares his insights on his low residency MFA program, his approach to book structure and generating ideas, and his approach to writing intergenerational trauma from a Native American perspective. For this episode, Morgan chose the 1991 novel THE LESSER BLESSED by Richard Van Camp, and we dive into what seems to me to be the anti-YA novel. The book is abrasive and tough to read at times, but altogether unique in its craft and the level of nuance each of its young characters has. As always, no spoilers!

Buy Morgan's book: https://bookshop.org/books/night-of-the-living-rez/9781953534187

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Jul 07, 202236:11
Short Story Book Club: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (with Anna Johnson)

Short Story Book Club: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (with Anna Johnson)

In light of recent events, for the first week of airing, my guest and I will be donating a dollar to local abortion funds across several states for every listen this episode gets. You can feel free to spread the word or join me in the fundraising. If you'd like to match a portion of the listens, please reach out to me on instagram or twitter @yfbpodcast

We're chatting about one of the most famous American short stories ever written, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. Anna and I chat about how unfortunately timely this story feels, some wonderfully unexpected moments while reading this story, our grievances against long-held American traditions, and so much more. Everything is spoiled, so consider yourself warned! There are also some lighter reading recommendations at the very end, so stay tuned for those.


Jun 30, 202234:43
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (with Kristina Forest, author of Zyla and Kai)

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (with Kristina Forest, author of Zyla and Kai)

I'm not much of a romance reader, but I always love reading books that challenge my preconceived notions and break down boundaries. It's why I started this podcast in the first place. My guest is Kristina Forest, who writes romance for adults and young people alike, and today we talk about all things writing craft, summer reading experiences, and so much more. Kristina chose a well-loved Sarah Dessen book, THIS LULLABY, for our discussion and it proved to be a great first foray into Dessen's work for me. As always, no spoilers, although I bet many of you have read THIS LULLABY long before I have!

Buy Kristina's book: https://bookshop.org/books/zyla-kai/9780593407240

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Short Story Book Club for June: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Jun 23, 202240:10
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (with Jesmeen Kaur Deo, Author of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove)

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (with Jesmeen Kaur Deo, Author of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove)

We're back in the wonderful world of YA, and my guest this week is Jesmeen Kaur Deo, author of TJ POWAR HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE, a book that takes on high school pettiness, Eurocentric beauty standards, and high school debate teams. I personally related on so many levels. Jesmeen and I chat about the intricacies of debate, the joys of writing a headstrong character, and how the choice to remove or leave body hair takes on a whole new meaning to South Asians. 

We switch gears entirely with Kenneth Oppel's AIRBORN, a childhood favorite of Jesmeen's that hearkens back to the adventure novels of yore, with snappy dialogue and a steampunk aesthetic to boot. We talk about the fun of anachronisms, another headstrong protagonist, and the joys of a wonderful audiobook adaptation, as well as so much more. As always, no spoilers!

Buy Jesmeen's book: https://bookshop.org/books/tj-powar-has-something-to-prove/9780593403396

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Short Story Book Club for June: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson 

Jun 16, 202242:31
The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh (with Joseph Han, author of Nuclear Family)

The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh (with Joseph Han, author of Nuclear Family)

Our guest this week is Joseph Han, the author of debut novel NUCLEAR FAMILY and one of the 2022 5 under 35 National Book Foundation honorees. His novel centers the palpable nature of generational trauma and hope by manifesting it literally, the spirit of an ancestor possessing a descendant, all amongst the backdrop of the longstanding Korean War and a Korean restaurant based in Hawaii.

Joseph chose a book reflecting on similar themes for this episode, THE MAGICAL LANGUAGE OF OTHERS by EJ Koh. This memoir told through the language of translation defies expectation and feels to the reader like a triumph just for its existence. Joseph also shares his thoughts on all things Guy Fieri, what it means to chose the perfect title, and so much more. As always, there are no spoilers for either book in the episode.

Buy Joseph's book: https://bookshop.org/books/nuclear-family-9781640094864/9781640094864

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Short Story Book Club for June: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Jun 09, 202241:15
Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi (with Grace Shim, Author of The Noh Family)

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi (with Grace Shim, Author of The Noh Family)

We're back in the world of YA literature and we're talking about one of the new greats (if I do say so myself), Mary H.K. Choi. Choi's book YOLK was one of my favorites of the year so far, and EMERGENCY CONTACT, her debut, brings some of the nuanced storytelling, subtlety, and maturity that she showed off in later works. My guest is Grace Shim, whose debut novel THE NOH FAMILY is all kinds of wild, with some of the craziness of Korean dramas and a lot of the cultural critique that can only come from someone intimately familiar. We chat about all things beauty standards, finding the right K drama for you, fangirl moments, and so much more.

Read Grace's Book: https://bookshop.org/books/the-noh-family/9780593462737

Follow Grace on instagram @gkshimwrites

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Short Story Book Club for June: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery

Jun 02, 202244:13
Short Story Book Club: Inventory by Carmen Maria Machado (with Rena Patel)

Short Story Book Club: Inventory by Carmen Maria Machado (with Rena Patel)

We're at the end of another month, and we're bringing back a familiar voice for this one. Rena Patel was on the show over a year ago to talk about JULIET by Anne Fortier, but now we're taking on something far darker and foreboding, the short story "Inventory" by Carmen Maria Machado, part of her renowned collection HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES. This story is wild, y'all. Beautifully crafted, deeply unsettling, and somehow written before COVID. Yeah. We also chat about the differences between playwriting and prose writing, and there are some spoilers for the movie DON'T LOOK UP. Consider yourself warned.

There are spoilers for this one! Read the short story here: https://lithub.com/inventory/

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter: @yfbpodcast

May 26, 202237:02
Real Life by Brandon Taylor (with Naheed Phiroze Patel, Author of Mirror Made of Rain)

Real Life by Brandon Taylor (with Naheed Phiroze Patel, Author of Mirror Made of Rain)

This was an intriguing one, fellas! My guest is Naheed Phiroze Patel, author of the new novel MIRROR MADE OF RAIN, and she and I chat in detail about former YFB podcast guest Brandon Taylor and his debut novel REAL LIFE. Yes, being a podcast guest is Brandon's only claim to fame, how'd you guess? In all seriousness, this book is a masterclass of carefully crafted scenes, excruciatingly awkward moments, and flat-out beautiful prose. I couldn't put it down. Naheed and I also chat about her book, including writing for an audience in different continents, the possibly ingrained sexism of Karva Chauth, the pros and cons of an MFA program, and so much more.

Books discussed this episode: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee, Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk

Buy Naheed's book: https://bookshop.org/books/mirror-made-of-rain/9781951213602

May Short Story Book Club: https://lithub.com/inventory/

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast. Reviews always appreciated!


May 19, 202239:47
Wise Children by Angela Carter (with Nghi Vo, Author of Siren Queen)

Wise Children by Angela Carter (with Nghi Vo, Author of Siren Queen)

Another weird book and a blast of an episode! Our guest is Nghi Vo, author of The Chosen and the Beautiful and most recently, Siren Queen. Combining 30s Hollywood with fairyland rules, Siren Queen shows us the dark side of celebrity and what it means to craft a persona for public consumption, and what it takes to climb to the top. The book is part Faustian legend, part Gatsbyesque glamour, and ultimately an aesthetic all its own.

Nghi chooses a book she picked up at a Barnes and Noble over twenty years ago, a book she's read over and over until the cover fell off, Angela Carter's last novel Wise Children. This book is a haphazard, chaotic telling of a deeply dysfunctional family, with humor and darkness thrown in throughout, and ultimately a book that left us speechless at many, many points. We discuss all things celebrity culture and the morality of performance, along with plenty of laughs along the way.

May Short Story Book Club Link: https://lithub.com/inventory/

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Buy Nghi's book: https://bookshop.org/books/siren-queen/9781250788832

May 12, 202236:46
Short Story Book Club: The Worst Friend Date I Ever Had by Samantha Irby (with Jasmine Vyas)

Short Story Book Club: The Worst Friend Date I Ever Had by Samantha Irby (with Jasmine Vyas)

It's the end of another month and we're here with another edition of the Short Story Book Club, the lowest stress book club you could ever join. This month it's an essay, and a hilarious one at that. My guest is Jasmine Vyas (from our What We Carry episode) and together we bring together equal parts literary criticism and laughing about trying to make friends as an adult. Okay, it's mostly the latter. Seriously, this is a great one if you just need to kick back and enjoy something funny, but there's some honest insight in this essay and the episode as well. Plus, you can hear me rant about various friend-making apps and why I'll swipe left on your Bumble BFF profile. There are spoilers in this talk, so read the essay! It's linked below.

The essay: https://www.thecut.com/2020/03/book-excerpt-samantha-irbys-wow-no-thank-you.html

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Apr 28, 202241:00
Gregor the Overlander with Vaishnavi Patel (Author of Kaikeyi)

Gregor the Overlander with Vaishnavi Patel (Author of Kaikeyi)

It's been a minute since we've had an honest to goodness childhood favorite on this show. You know the kind, the book you're obsessed with for most of your waking life, to the point where it creeps other people out. For me, it's the Trumpet of the Swan. For Vaishnavi Patel, it might just be Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. Along with talking all things middle grade, writing nuanced characters, portraying trauma in a second world fantasy, and so much more, we also talk about Vaishnavi's own writing journey. Her book Kaikeyi is a retelling of the Ramayana with a focus on its most notorious villainess, and we chat about dealing with backlash, the editing and publishing process, how myths vary across time and space, and so much more. There are spoilers for Gregor, and we do focus mostly on Book 1 of the series.

Books discussed: Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley, The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. 

Buy Vaishnavi's book: https://bookshop.org/books/kaikeyi-9781668609798/9780759557338

April Short Story Book Club: https://www.thecut.com/2020/03/book-excerpt-samantha-irbys-wow-no-thank-you.html

Apr 21, 202248:01
Azadi with Madhushree Ghosh (Author of Khabaar)

Azadi with Madhushree Ghosh (Author of Khabaar)

Our guest this week is Dr. Madhushree Ghosh, author of the memoir Khabaar: An Immigrant Journey of Food, Memory, and Family. The book defies all real genre constraints by combining food writing, immigrant stories, journalism, explorations of trauma and violence, and so much more. Ghosh brings together her background as a scientist as well as her love for food and her Bengali heritage and creates a work unlike any other, a collection of related essays that embrace the idea as food as a personal and political symbol.

For this episode, Dr. Ghosh chose the recent collection of essays Azadi by Arundhati Roy. Like much of Roy's fiction and nonfiction, the work is deeply political and focuses on the rise of the far-right movement in India, the changing perception of fiction, and the impact of recent politics on nationalistic ideals in India and around the world. This episode is part serious discussion and part recipe sharing, but altogether real and passionate. It's one you don't want to miss!

Books discussed in this episode: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, Curry: Eating Reading and Race by Naben Ruthnum, Southbound by Anjali Enjeti

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Buy Madhushree's book: https://bookshop.org/books/khabaar-an-immigrant-journey-of-food-memory-and-family/9781609388232

Short Story Book Club on April 28: https://www.thecut.com/2020/03/book-excerpt-samantha-irbys-wow-no-thank-you.html

Apr 14, 202255:29
Animal with Chelsea Bieker (Author of Heartbroke)

Animal with Chelsea Bieker (Author of Heartbroke)

Another heavy one, y'all. My guest this week is Chelsea Bieker, author of the new collection HEARTBROKE. Here we are thrust into the world of California's Central Valley, its landscapes, textures, history, and people. Bieker highlights the fraught relationships between parents and children and shows us the very limits of human endurance. From wandering artists selling more than dreamcatchers on a toxic beach to delusional cowboy fantasies to the dreams and regrets of raisin farmers, the collection is layered, witty, and never ceases to surprise.

For this episode, Chelsea chose a recent novel and a polarizing one, Lisa Taddeo's ANIMAL. We discuss the nature of an unlikeable protagonist, the difference between trauma sharing and dumping, the relatability of power imbalanced relationships, and so much more. As always, no spoilers for any of the books discussed.

Buy Chelsea's book: https://bookshop.org/books/heartbroke/9781646221271

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Apr 07, 202246:52
Short Story Book Club: A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield (with MY MOM)

Short Story Book Club: A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield (with MY MOM)

We're back with another short story for the end of the month. This one goes all the way back to 1922 by renowned short story writer Katherine Mansfield. Don't be fooled by the simple premise, there's a lot under the surface when it comes to craft, narrative framing, and social commentary. My guest is my beloved mom, Sreelatha. Mom talks about her experiences with this story in her sixth grade literature class, what's changed over the years, how we can discern theme from the movement of characters in a story, and so much more. Seriously, if you think anything I say is smart, you've gotta listen to my mom.

Read the story (there are spoilers in this one!): https://www.allenisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001197/Centricity/Domain/2344/A%20Cup%20of%20Tea.pdf

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Mar 31, 202236:30
Oreo with Elaine Hsieh Chou (Author of Disorientation)

Oreo with Elaine Hsieh Chou (Author of Disorientation)

This week’s guest is Elaine Hsieh Chou, whose debut novel Disorientation is part campus novel, part political satire, part analysis of Asian American identity, and adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. The novel follows Ingrid, a PhD student making her way through her dissertation on Chinese-American poet Xiao-Wen Chou. Through her research she comes across a shocking discovery that throws not only her research into new light, but every aspect of her day to day life. Her family life, romantic relationship, friendships, and relationship to her Asian identity at large. As things spiral further out of control, Ingrid is forced to reexamine her worldview and fight for the reality she wants, even if it goes against what she's currently constructed for herself.

Chou celebrates the off-the-rails satire by celebrating Fran Ross's 1974 novel Oreo. This book, an interpretation of the myth of Theseus starring a biracial teen, was unappreciated in its time and warrants more consideration. Oreo, our titular character, goes on an epic quest to uncover the secret of her birth, and along the way battles adversaries large and small. The novel defies our modern concepts of characterization and interiority, and in ways is both very of its time and ahead of its time. We discuss the merits of experiencing the novel both in print and via audio, the inherent wackiness of Greek mythology, and why this book remains uncelebrated in a world that worships Ulysses. Even if you've never read Oreo, it's certainly worth the listen. As always, there are no spoilers here.

March Short Story Book Club: https://www.allenisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001197/Centricity/Domain/2344/A%20Cup%20of%20Tea.pdf

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Follow Elaine on twitter @elainehsiehchou

Mar 24, 202240:08
See No Stranger with Mishika Narula (Co-Founder of Brown Girl Bookshelf)

See No Stranger with Mishika Narula (Co-Founder of Brown Girl Bookshelf)

We're back with another nonfiction pick this week, and it's a heavier one this time. Renowed activist Valarie Kaur's memoir SEE NO STRANGER allowed BGB cofounder Mishika Narula to see herself in print in more ways than one. Kaur's work on revolutionary love draws heavily on her Sikh faith and her experiences as an activist and lawyer in a variety of settings. Mishika and I sit down and chat about the nuances of representation, the many facets of South Asian literature, unpacking labor as metaphor, and our favorite breakfast foods. It's a lively, insightful conversation that you don't want to miss! No spoilers in the book either.

Books discussed today: All About Love by bell hooks, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Follow Mishika on instagram @browngirlbookshelf

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March Short Story Book Club pick: https://www.allenisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001197/Centricity/Domain/2344/A%20Cup%20of%20Tea.pdf


Mar 17, 202243:46
You Can't Be Serious with Shreshtha Garg

You Can't Be Serious with Shreshtha Garg

We're doing something new here at YFB, a celebrity memoir! Actor Kal Penn details the story of his life and career in a new memoir, entitled YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS. Despite the reputation celebrity memoirs often have, both Shreshtha and I adored this book, its ability to combine humor with real commentary on racism and politics in the United States. Along the way, we also chat about the 2008 election, our favorite Taylor Swift albums, and the magic of a great audiobook.

Books discussed: Love, Loss, and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, Good Talk by Mira Jacob

Follow Shreshtha on instagram: @shreshtha_reads

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Mar 10, 202246:56
Short Story Book Club: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula Le Guin (with Deedi Brown)

Short Story Book Club: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula Le Guin (with Deedi Brown)

We're back with February's short story book club, and my guest is a voice you might recognize from our Song of Achilles episode, Deedi Brown! Deedi and I chat about this sci-fi classic, its reinterpretations, how it's changed context in recent years for us, and so much more. Deedi even shares a bit about her hot tea obsession and her lavish smart mug (seriously, it sounds like the most unnecessary necessity in the world). There are spoilers for this one, so please read first! It's only 4 pages guys, come on.

The Story: http://shsdavisapes.pbworks.com/f/Omelas.pdf

Follow Deedi on instagram @deedireads

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Feb 24, 202229:52
The Book of Light with Leslie Gray Streeter (Author of Black Widow)

The Book of Light with Leslie Gray Streeter (Author of Black Widow)

This episode covers all kinds of topics, where do I even begin? My guest is the funny and insightful Leslie Gray Streeter, whose memoir BLACK WIDOW captures the messiness of grief in a perspective often ignored. We chat about the enduringness of Joan Didion, how grief is non-linear, and so much more. Our conversation then switches to poetry. I share my thoughts on the intimidating medium and how I've learned to approach it (thanks in part, but not completely, to Thomas C. Foster's HOW TO READ POETRY LIKE A PROFESSOR). Lucille Clifton's book THE BOOK OF LIGHT is a revelation, and we take our time and pick apart specific poems, their context, their language, and every nuance we can wrap our heads around. I could've talked to Leslie for hours! 

Check out Leslie's book here: https://bookshop.org/books/black-widow-a-sad-funny-journey-through-grief-for-people-who-normally-avoid-books-with-words-like-journey-in-the-title-9780316490733/9780316490719

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To read/listen to my short story: https://www.khoreomag.com/

Feb 17, 202249:16
Giovanni's Room with Marci and Ako (Hosts of the Colored Pages Book Club Podcast)

Giovanni's Room with Marci and Ako (Hosts of the Colored Pages Book Club Podcast)

We've got the world's saddest love story, y'all. Happy early Valentine's Day. But my guests, Marci and Ako of the Colored Pages Book club, add as much humor and levity to the conversation. Also, so much insight. We dive into the ins and outs of this amazing book, Baldwin's direct prose, the frustration of reading David, and seeing Blackness and Whiteness in a novel that did not attempt to address race (it definitely did). We also chat about our snack obsessions, amazing animated TV, and so much more.

Listen to Marci and Ako: https://www.thesecoloredpages.com/

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Feb 10, 202201:07:53
The Remains of the Day with Simon Jacobs (Author of String Follow)

The Remains of the Day with Simon Jacobs (Author of String Follow)

This week’s guest is Simon Jacobs, whose latest novel STRING FOLLOW is a haunting look at Midwest suburbia and the inherent isolation of being a teen. STRING FOLLOW tracks a sprawling cast of characters and their growing fascination with the bizarre and occult. Narrated by the collective 'we' of a controlling force, the novel takes us into the inner minds of scared, lonely teenagers seeking guidance and belonging in a fraught, isolated world. The result is truly shocking, but in a larger sense, not as surprising as we think.

Jacobs deviates from his horror/thriller genre to highlight a favorite book from his Anglophile days, THE REMAINS OF THE DAY by Kazuo Ishiguro. This 1988 classic is the simple tale of Stevens, a longstanding English butler who ties his innate self-worth to his service and performance. Slowly, Stevens's self-concept erodes as he takes a trip to the countryside and examines the course of his life, as well as the decisions and indecisions he's made through the years.

Jacobs shares his insight on everything from writing the modern teen to interpreting this book in a capitalist system to further reading recommendations. It's a lively episode and certainly worth a listen.

SPOILERS: Please skip 36:45-42:30 to avoid discussion of the ending

Find Simon's book at https://www.simon-jacobs.com/

Follow the podcast @yfbpodcast on instagram and twitter

Feb 03, 202254:18
Short Story Book Club: The Waltz by Dorothy Parker (with Emily Edwards)

Short Story Book Club: The Waltz by Dorothy Parker (with Emily Edwards)

This is the inaugural episode of the monthly Short Story Book Club, in which listeners can read that month's short story and tune in at the end for an in-depth discussion. This month we have THE WALTZ by Dorothy Parker, in discussion with Emily Edwards (host of Fuckbois of Literature). I'm delighted to have Emily back on the show to talk all things Dorothy Parker, including her skewed feminism, that famous Winnie the Pooh review, weird connections to Seinfeld, and much more. Emily also has exciting news to share about her upcoming cozy mystery series, and she offers some reading recommendations in that genre. Seriously, you don't want to miss this episode. And if you haven't read the story? Please do, it's only four pages

Read THE WALTZ for free: https://dickatlee.com/poetry/pdfs/waltz_dorothy_parker.pdf

Books brought up: Angela Marchmont Mysteries by Clara Benson, Skelton's Guides by David Stafford

Check out Emily's show! https://www.fuckboisoflit.com/

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Jan 27, 202237:47
Pride and Prejudice with Casey Meserve (Host of Ents and Sensibility)

Pride and Prejudice with Casey Meserve (Host of Ents and Sensibility)

Well folks, we've got a big one today! We're talking about a book that needs no introduction (and yet I gave it one), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I needed an authority for this one, so joining me is a Jane Austen Podcaster, Casey Meserve. Casey hosts Ents and Sensibility, which takes a chapter by chapter look at the world of Jane Austen and her universality. We chat about all things P&P, its adaptations, characters, as well as some hot takes. There are spoilers for this one. I mean, come on, it's Pride and Prejudice. 

Also! Stay tuned for the very end because I announce the guest that will be joining us for the first Short Story Book Club episode! As a reminder, we're reading The Waltz by Dorothy Parker. It's like three pages, come join us!

Casey's podcast: https://entsandsensibility.com/

Follow the show on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Jan 20, 202251:37
The Collected Stories of Grace Paley with Jami Attenberg (Author of I Came All This Way to Meet You)

The Collected Stories of Grace Paley with Jami Attenberg (Author of I Came All This Way to Meet You)

Welcome to a new year and a new season of Your Favorite Book! Our inaugural guest this season is Jami Attenberg, most well known for her fiction (All This Could Be Yours, The Middlesteins, and others) but she's here to talk about her memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. Jami shares her insights on book events, travel in the midst of COVID, setting boundaries with social media, and so much more. We also chat about a collection of short stories for the first time on this show, in this case the collected works of Grace Paley. We discuss her unique voice and eschewing of formal conventions, along with avoiding sentiment and cliche in writing domesticity. It's a great episode and definitely avoids spoilers, hope you all enjoy!

Jami's virtual event at Women and Children First: https://www.womenandchildrenfirst.com/event/virtual-conversation-jami-attenberg-ada-lim%C3%B3n

Buy Jami's Book: https://bookshop.org/books/i-came-all-this-way-to-meet-you-writing-myself-home-9798200851348/9780063039797

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Jan 13, 202246:16
My Favorite Books of 2021

My Favorite Books of 2021

It's a week late but here we are! My favorite books of 2021, ranked and reviewed (spoiler free of course). Some of these I've referenced on the podcast, some have entire episodes dedicated to them, and some are completely new. I also include some 2022 updates for the podcast, so please pay attention for those announcements. Books were probably the best part of last year, so why not celebrate them?

Short Story for January: https://dickatlee.com/poetry/pdfs/waltz_dorothy_parker.pdf

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Jan 06, 202229:37
On Book Podcasting with Julie Strauss (Best Book Ever Crossover)

On Book Podcasting with Julie Strauss (Best Book Ever Crossover)

In honor of 2021 coming to a close and the holiday season stressing us all out, Julie Strauss and I decided to meet again and chat about all things book podcasting. Julie is the host of Best Book Ever, a podcast with a very similar premise to mine but a totally different listening experience. Honestly, if you love my show, you'll probably love hers too! Julie and I chat about our favorite episodes, dream guests, woes and pitfalls, and our favorites in other media. I could talk to Julie for hours and I think it shows! 

Listen to Julie's podcast at https://juliewroteabook.com/

Follow Julie on instagram @bestbookeverpodcast

Follow Your Favorite Book on twitter and facebook @yfbpodcast

Dec 16, 202141:39
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass with Dr. Mark M. Hennelly

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass with Dr. Mark M. Hennelly

This week's episode is here to give you a new twist on familiar classics. We take on the Alice books, those weird little Victorian novels that Disney and Tim Burton usurped as their own, with a particularly knowledgeable guest. Dr. Mark M. Hennelly is a retired California State University professor specializing in Romantic, Victorian, Gothic, and Fantasy literature, along numerous other topics. Dr. Hennelly continues to write and has written extensively on the Alice books in recent years. We discuss whether children's literature truly exists, how to make material new year after year, what the Jabberwocky even means, and whether Turkish Delight is worth eating (spoiler, it's not). This is one of those episodes where I let my guest take the lead and I'm just here for the ride. Hope you come along with us!

Books discussed: Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein, Phantastes by George MacDonald, A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Dec 02, 202139:24
The God of Small Things with Mina Seçkin (Author of The Four Humors)

The God of Small Things with Mina Seçkin (Author of The Four Humors)

Oh boy, we're tackling a BIG one this week! This week’s guest is Mina Seçkin, whose novel THE FOUR HUMORS is a meandering and thoughtful exploration of family secrecy and cultural identity. Our main character, Sibel, is a college student visiting family in Turkey along with her white American boyfriend, and the pressures of adulthood and losing her father culminate in inexplicable headaches. Sibel becomes fascinated with the theory of the four bodily humors and ancient medicine, and slowly finds her way through not only this ancient field, but the covered-up ancient secrets of her own family. The book is compelling; equal parts coming of age and family saga, with the added texture of an at-times abrasive protagonist.

Seçkin calls Arundhati Roy's THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS one of her all time favorite books, and together she and I discuss the remarkable prose of this novel, its Faulkner-esque experiments with time, and the deep understanding of childhood trauma. There is also the matter of explaining one's cultural background without overexplaining, defining an audience for your work, picking the ideal writing snacks, and so much more discussed in this episode. There are also many, many other book recommendations, in case your list needs growing.

Books discussed: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian, The Vietri Project by Nicola DeRobertis-Theye, Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang, Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

Follow Mina on twitter @minaseckin and on instagram @littlebutta

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Nov 18, 202139:16
Exit West with SJ Sindu (Author of Blue Skinned Gods)

Exit West with SJ Sindu (Author of Blue Skinned Gods)

This week’s guest is SJ Sindu, whose second novel BLUE SKINNED GODS takes on religion and identity in a bold new way. The novel follows Kalki, raised as the tenth avatar of Vishnu due to his blue skin, and explores coming to terms with trauma and self-concept as he grows into adulthood. We travel from an ashram in Tamil Nadu to the rock scene of New York City and observe with bated breath as Kalki comes to terms with his fraught familial relationships and the conflict of his divinity. Sindu’s work is accessible to a broad audience yet specific in its references to Hindu mythology and beliefs, and the result is a satisfying, page-turning read.

Sindu cites Mohsin Hamid’s EXIT WEST as an all-time favorite book. This novel excels from a prose level, with its hallmark winding sentences and many commas. But beyond pure sentence structure, the novel is a detailed and tender character study, depicting the ebbs and flows in the relationship of its central characters. The magical realism elements of transformative doors adds not whimsy, but a dreamlike quality that only highlights the realities of immigration and finding home away from home.

Sindu also shares their thoughts on everything from bespoke gift wrapping to the purpose of chapbooks, and so much more. And this one's spoiler free!

Books we talk about: This Land is Our Land by Suketu Mehta, The Boat People by Sharon Bala, Stone Fruit by Lee Lai, The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

Sindu's website: https://sjsindu.com/

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Nov 04, 202141:58
The Shadow of the Wind with Maxwell Dunn

The Shadow of the Wind with Maxwell Dunn

That no series rule I have? Well, I may need to rethink it, if Book 1 can be as good as this. I sat down with bookstagrammer Maxwell Dunn and talked about a book he's read five times, THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Despite this book having more  Goodreads review than I ever thought possible, I hadn't heard of it and was so, so pleasantly surprised. This book is a love letter to literature, with dark academia vibes and a warm autumnal feeling. And a lot of postwar trauma. And some really crazy family dynamics. It's a complex book and we cover a lot in the episode! Huge spoiler warnings for this one, if you want to avoid spoilers, skip the parts between 25:30 to 33:00. Max and I also chat about book to movie adaptations, an ill fated trip to Barcelona, what constitutes YA literature, and so much more. 

Follow Max on Instagram @welldonebooks

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Books we discuss: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, The Angel’s Game, The Prisoner of Heaven, and The Labyrinth of the Spirits all by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Oct 21, 202144:23
The Forty Rules of Love with Sumaiya Matin (Author of The Shaytan Bride)

The Forty Rules of Love with Sumaiya Matin (Author of The Shaytan Bride)

We've talked about memoir on this show, but never have we interviewed a memoirist herself. Sumaiya Matin is a social worker and psychotherapist, as well as the author of debut memoir THE SHAYTAN BRIDE. In her book, Sumaiya details not only her childhood as a Bangladeshi immigrant in Canada, but also the traumatic events of her early adulthood. These conflicts bring to rise questions of faith, culture, gender, and the intersections therein. Sumaiya discusses the role of her Islamic faith and distinguishing between cultural norms and religious values, which gives way to the works of Turkish writer Elif Shafak. We discuss at length Shafak's first novel, THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE. This split narrative features the spiritual relationship between renowed poet Rumi and wandering dervish Shams of Tabriz, paralleling it with a modern-day love story and spiritual awakening of Ella Rubenstein, a Boston-area housewife. 

Books discussed: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak, A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum, Believing Women in Islam by Asma Barlas, Inside the Gender Jihad by Amina Wadud, Kimya Khatun by Saideh Ghods

Find Sumaiya's memoir at her website: https://www.sumaiyamatin.com/about

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Oct 07, 202101:01:13
The Palace of Illusions with Annika Sharma (Author of Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words)

The Palace of Illusions with Annika Sharma (Author of Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words)

I've always maintained that it's hard to work a full-time job, write, and run a podcast. My guest this week does it all, and more! Annika Sharma is the co-host of The Woke Desi and the author of LOVE, CHAI, AND OTHER FOUR-LETTER WORDS, an interracial romance that takes place in NYC and combines adorable bucket list hijinks with serious cultural conversations. Annika shares her insights on podcasting, evolving as a writer, finding balance day to day, and so much more. I was so pleased that she chose THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni as an all-time favorite book, because this retelling of the Mahabharata from the perspective of queen Draupadi was really something special. We gush over Amar Chitra Kathas, discuss tailoring books for certain audiences, and share other recommendations along the way. You don't want to miss this episode, and it's spoiler free!

Books discussed: Circe and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, The Women of Troy and The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, books by Indu Sundaresan

Find Annika at her website www.annikasharma.com, and follow her @annikasharma and @thewokedesi

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Sep 23, 202158:34
Thornyhold with Pitu

Thornyhold with Pitu

Today we're settling in with an underrated comfort read. My guest is Pitu, a bridal stylist and lifelong reader, who relates to THORNYHOLD by Mary Stewart for so many reasons. This book was a pleasant surprise for me, all magical realism and cottagecore vibes. Where the book is a little lacking...maybe plot and characters. But hey, when the escapism and joy is this good, who really needs those other things? Along the way, Pitu and I chat about picking out bridal gowns, living in new continents, really terrible Bollywood movies, and so much more. This is a nice, laid back episode with plenty of recommendations at the end. 

Other books discussed: Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Follow Pitu on instagram @pitusultan

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Sep 16, 202138:02
Always Coming Home with Shruti Swamy (Author of The Archer)

Always Coming Home with Shruti Swamy (Author of The Archer)

This week’s guest is Shruti Swamy, author of debut novel THE ARCHER. What does it mean to pursue art as a woman, especially when society imposes rigid goals and obstacles never cease to block the path forward? Shruti Swamy explores this in her detailed character study of a young Kathak dancer. Vidya, who wishes to devote her life to the classical Indian dance, must eke out an honest existence for herself as family, teachers, friends, and many others cast doubt along the way. With rich prose and loving interpretations of pure dance, we are transported to an India of yesterday, distinctly specific in its detail. It boldly declares that art is not only a calling, but a calling that must be heard.

Shruti, a longtime Ursula Le Guin fan, brings to the table a recent read as a new favorite book. ALWAYS COMING HOME, considered the culmination of Le Guin's cultural musings and varied influences, is by no means an easy read. This fictional ethnography of the postapocalyptic Kesh people combines anthropology, poetry, prose, linguistics, and numerous other genres to paint a portrait of this new society. It combines the agrarian with the scientific, bleakness with hope, and is one of the most unique books we've covered on this podcast.

Shruti reflects on what makes a novel a novel, what inspires her about Kathak and stories of the Mahabharata, what it means to create a culture and honor existing ones, and so much more. This is a spirited discussion full of recommendations aplenty, and no spoilers.

Find Shruti and buy the book at shrutiswamy.com

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Books discussed in this episode: The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin, The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin, Curb by Divya Victor, Kith by Divya Victor, Finding the Raga by Amit Chaudhuri

Sep 09, 202143:39
The Enchanted with Ari Honarvar (Author of A Girl Called Rumi)

The Enchanted with Ari Honarvar (Author of A Girl Called Rumi)

We're delving into some darker subject matter on the show today. This week's book, THE ENCHANTED, delves into the real-life horrors of death row inmates, with the prose and mystique of a magical realism novel. The book straddles the line between the two and the result is a wholly unique read that I had a hard time discussing. Seriously, I'm still trying to work out how I feel about this book. Ari and I also discuss her upcoming novel, A GIRL CALLED RUMI, which takes place partially in 1980s Iran. Ari shares her own experiences of this time, along with what it means for an American audience to come to terms with a conflict in which their nation played a role. This book doesn't shy away from controversial, serious subjects, but Ari and I share a few lighthearted moments along the way. After all, it's not a YFB episode without me making awkward small talk and getting at least a couple laughs.

Find Ari and pre-order A GIRL CALLED RUMI at rumiwithaview.com

Follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @yfbpodcast

Sep 02, 202146:26
The Hobbit with Merilla Michael

The Hobbit with Merilla Michael

We're coming back to books I loathed as a child and reconsidered as an adult, with JRR Tolkein's THE HOBBIT. Joining me is Merilla Michael, Boston-area scientist and Tolkein enthusiast, and we have an absolute blast. Merilla dishes on the LOTR books and movies, loving THE HOBBIT as an adult, the excellence of audio storytelling, and some well-deserved critique of the Hobbit movies. We also chat about our favorite animals, complain about no female characters in this book (seriously, not a one), and talk about other books we'd recommend for those looking beyond the Tolkein universe. I loved getting to revisit and recontextualize this book, and I hope you all love the discussion.

We do discuss the ending of this book, so if you wish to avoid spoilers, please skip past minutes 30:00 through 35:39.

Follow Merilla on instagram @merillaaa

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Please rate and review the pod on apple podcasts if you enjoy it! Seriously, reviews mean so much.

Aug 26, 202148:01
No Comebacks with MY DAD

No Comebacks with MY DAD

We're a bit outside my comfort zone with the book this week, but certainly not with our guest. My dad, Praseed Thapparambil, decided to admit that he's well-read after all and shared his favorite books on the show. This book, NO COMEBACKS by Frederick Forsyth, is a collection of short stories with thriller plots and twist endings. This book was written with entertainment in mind, but led to great discussion on characterization, racist depictions, when info-dumping works and doesn't work, and so much more. Dad shares his evolution as a reader, his love for short stories, and the audio recordings of Tamil stories he does on his own podcast, RadioPras. More than anything, we have a good time. Check it out!

Also, if you want to hear code-switching in action, my accent flows and shifts depending on topic and how directly I'm speaking to my dad. Something I've done my whole life and it always amuses me to hear it in person.

Follow Dad's show on all podcast platforms and on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/user/praseed2008

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Aug 19, 202141:17
1984 with Said Sayrafiezadeh (Author of American Estrangement)

1984 with Said Sayrafiezadeh (Author of American Estrangement)

We've got another big famous classic on our hands! This week's guest is Said Sayrafiezadeh, author of new collection AMERICAN ESTRANGEMENT. These stories explore the insidousness of boredom, apathy, frustration, and alienation while navigating day to day life in America. Some stories thrive in the mundane, such as a reception desk at an art museum. Others explore a nation just outside the realm of current reality, imagining borders between states as stifling as those between countries. All are detailed, incisive stories that do not span genres, but at times press at their delineations in new and intriguing ways.

Said cites George Orwell's classic novel NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, or 1984, as an all time favorite book, dating back to an initial reading experience as a young teen. But this book, read in classrooms all over the western world, has garnered polarizing opinions. Are the ideas of Big Brother, Newspeak, Doublethink, and Orwellian regimes just too saturated in popular culture? Or are there new and overlooked insights that can be gained from NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, years after its publication? 

Said reflects on his upbringing in the Socialist Worker's Party and how it influences his reading of the book. In his own work he discusses turning to fiction and how he discerns what to render as real or unreal. How can we convey boredom without being boring? How does a decades-old book continue to influence works to come? All these are discussed, and more, in this week's episode of Your Favorite Book.

Note: there are spoilers in this episode! To avoid discussions of the ending, please skip over minutes 41 to 47 of this episode.

Find Said and buy his book on his website at https://www.sayrafiezadeh.com/

Follow the podcast on twitter and instagram @yfbpodcast

Aug 12, 202151:26