All About Books
267 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★ - 18 ratingsA weekly book review and discussion program hosted by Pat Leach. Updated on Thursdays.
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Episodes
All About Books: "Memorial Drive: a Memoir" by Natasha Trethewey
December 16, 2020 16:00Pulitzer Price winning poet, Natasha Trethewey has written a memoir about the murder of her mother by her stepfather. On this week’s All About Books” host Pat Leach is joined by UNL Assistant Professor of English, Hope Wabuke to discuss this powerful book, “Memorial Drive”
All About Books: Holiday Gift Guide for Readers
December 09, 2020 16:00The annual "Gift Guide for Readers." Great suggestions in many categories like: biographies, nature, fiction, Nebraska authors, even cookbooks.
All About Books: Suggested books to give to young readers
December 02, 2020 16:00With the holidays fast approaching, All About Books has gift suggestions for younger readers. Vicky Wood, Youth Services Librarian, will introduce recent books for every age group- from pre school to young adults.
All About Books: "The King of Confidence” by Miles Harvey
November 18, 2020 16:00James Strang was of his time, but also very recognizable to ours. In the 1840’s he was a charismatic lawyer, politician, religious leader and confidence man. On this week’s All About Books, a spirited biography of a remarkable fraud. The King of Confidence” by Miles Harvey
All About Books: Two award-winning books for adults of interest to teen readers.
November 11, 2020 16:00Alex Award’s are given to adult fiction which may be of interest to teen readers. This week’s All About Books features two winners- “A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World” by C.A. Fletcher. A story of family, loyalty, and humanity in a ruined world. And “The Swallows” by Lisa Lutz. A New England...
All About Books: "Inge's War" by Svenja O'Donnell
November 04, 2020 16:00A woman with German and Irish parents learns from her Grandmother, Inge about her life as a young woman in Germany during the rise of the Nazis. It’s a story of regular people caught in the gears of history, inherited identity and trauma. "Inge's War: A German Woman's Story of Family, Secrets, and S...
All About Books: “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio” by Derf Backderf.
October 28, 2020 20:0050 years ago this May, 4 Kent State students were killed and 9 wounded when National Guard troops opened fire during a Vietnam protest. A new illustrated book collected extensive interviews in researching the events leading up to the tragedy. “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio” by Derf Backderf.
All About Books: “The Salt Path” by Raynor Winn.
October 21, 2020 20:00A British couple married for 32 years lose their home, their livelihood, and may have little time left together. Into their uncertain future they embark on a hiking journey of over 600 miles, along the South West coast of England. Their story is told in “The Salt Path” by Raynor Winn.
All About Books: The Caldecott and Newberry Medal winning books.
October 14, 2020 20:00Two medal winners on this week’s “All About Books” Vicky Wood of Lincoln Public Libraries shares the Caldecott Medal winner, “Undefeated” by Kwame Alexander. A poem of love for the grit and passion of African American icons. And the Newbery Medal winner, “The New Kid” by Jerry Craft. A 7th grade art...
All About Books: “All Because You Matter” by Tami Charles
October 07, 2020 20:00A special children’s book is featured on this week on “All About Books.” Host Pat Leach welcomes Dylan Teut, of the Plum Creek Literary Festival who introduces, “All Because You Matter” written by Tami Charles, with Illustrations by Bryan Collier. It’s a picture book that assures black and brown chi...
All About Books: “Elderhood” by Louise Aronson.
September 30, 2020 20:00How does a society that is anti-aging provide health care for the elderly? Not very well. Observations and ideas on how our medical system views and treats older people are the subject of the New York Times best seller, “Elderhood” by geriatrician and Professor of medicine Louise Aronson.
All About Books: "Midnight in Chernobyl" by Adam Higginbotham
September 23, 2020 20:00The name is now shorthand for the worst possible disaster. Journalist Adam Higginbotham collected interviews over 10 years for his research- which includes declassified material and eyewitness accounts. His book is, "Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
All About Books: “Lost Children Archive: a Novel” by Valeria Luiselli.
September 16, 2020 20:00It’s an imaginative new take on the great American road trip. A family in quiet crisis journeys to the Mexican border to see where the last Apache tribes made their last stand. Hear a review of “Lost Children Archive: a Novel” by Valeria Luiselli.
All About Books: "Sabrina and Corina" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
September 09, 2020 20:00Sabrina and Corina are two Latina characters of indigenous ancestry who appear in a collection of stories set in Denver, Colorado. The two characters and their stories are a loving tribute to the resilient and unbreakable native women of the West. "Sabrina and Corina" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
All About Books: “Stranger Diaries” by Elly Griffiths
September 02, 2020 20:00Mystery novels are always popular escape reading. This week’s All About Books features the Edgar Award winner, “Stranger Diaries” by Elly Griffiths. The story features an English teacher who specializes in Gothic Lit. and the novel itself is a modern Gothic thriller.
All About Books: “Everything Inside” by Edwidge Danticat
August 26, 2020 20:00If you have more free time to read lately, but find it difficult concentrating for long periods- short stories may be ideal. On this week’s All About Books, a collection of emotionally absorbing stories. “Everything Inside” by Edwidge Danticat
All About Books: An introduction to travel literature
August 19, 2020 20:00The pandemic has made many things more difficult– including vacation travel. A safer and less expensive alternative is travel books. This week on “All About Books”, guest reader Becki Roberts introduces travel literature- from American back roads with John Steinbeck to world exploration in the 1920’...
All About Books: “Leadership in Turbulent Times” by Doris Kerns Goodwin,
August 12, 2020 20:00How did Lincoln, Lyndon Johnson and the Roosevelts develop the leadership skills they needed to handle crisis in both their lives and Presidency? NET Radio’s “All About Books” welcomes guest reviewer Chris Sommerich, Executive Director of Humanities Nebraska. He reviews “Leadership in Turbulent Time...
All About Books: “The Yellow House: a Memoir” by Sarah Broom
August 05, 2020 20:00Sarah Broom’s mother bought a small house in East New Orleans in 1961. The Broom family grew up and both the neighborhood and the yellow house would change. This week on “All About Books”, the story of a black family and of a part New Orleans tourists don’t see. “The Yellow House: a Memoir” by Sarah...
All About Books: “The Topeka School” by Ben Lerner
July 29, 2020 20:00An educated family of privilege struggles to raise their son even with their many advantages. Set in 1990’s Kansas, the novel details a crisis of identity for young white men. “The Topeka School” by Ben Lerner
All About Books: “The Impeachers:The Trial of Andrew Johnson” by Brenda Wineapple
July 22, 2020 20:30The nation was incredibly fragile after the civil war. White Southerners wanted to restore pre-war society without slavery. The President seemed to share these goals. A new book looks at these dangerous times, “The Impeachers: The Trial of Andrew Johnson” by Brenda Wineapple.
All About Books: "Trust Exercise" by Susan Choi
July 15, 2020 20:00A teenage romance is observed and manipulated by a charismatic drama teacher at a highly competitive performing arts high school in the 1980’s. "Trust Exercise" by Susan Choi is a multi-layered novel of unreliable memory, friendship and truth.
All About Books: “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong
July 08, 2020 20:00The novel is a letter from a son to his mother who cannot read. “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong tells the brutally honest story of a young Vietnamese man and his immigrant family.
All About Books: "Thick: and Other Essays" by Tressie McMillan Cottom.
July 01, 2020 20:00"Thick", is a collection of 80 very personal essays on beauty, race, gender and the media from African American writer and scholar Tressie McMillan Cottom.
All About Books: “Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead
June 24, 2020 20:00The novel “Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead was inspired by an actual reform school that operated in Tallahassee Florida for over one hundred years. This week on “All About Books” host Pat Leach reviews this story of a black teenager unfairly sent to the brutal school in the 1960’s where boys were a...
All About Books: More book suggestions for pandemic home reading.
June 17, 2020 20:00More great book suggestions for reading in difficult times. This week’s All About Books offers another in the Pandemic Home Reader series, this time with UNL’s Aaron Douglass Professor of English, Stephen Buhler. He offers timely essays, detective fiction and a classic.
All About Books: The One Book - One Lincoln finalists have been announced.
June 10, 2020 20:00The 3 finalists have been named in the "One Book - One Lincoln" community reading project. The titles include novels by Anne Patchett and Anne Napolitano as well as a non-fiction story of corporate fraud and greed in Silicon Valley rivaling any novel.Davis Smith of the selection committee joins host...
All About Books: “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
June 03, 2020 20:00Hiram Walker was born into slavery in Virginia, but he does have two powerful gifts- great intelligence and a mysterious power that he uses to help free other slaves. On this week’s All About Books, a review of “The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
All About Books: "Lanny" by Max Porter
May 27, 2020 21:30A couple move to a small English village an hour from London with their whimsical son. Also in this village is a mythical figure associated with nature. "Lanny" by Max Porter is an unusual novel about a child’s disappearance.
All About Books: “Normal People” by Sally Rooney
May 20, 2020 20:00A boy and girl growing up in the same small Irish town with very different economic backgrounds and unequal social success. Their secret friendship and mutual fascination continues into college. The new novel is, “Normal People” by Sally Rooney.
All About Books: “Mama’s Last Hug” by Frans de Waal
May 13, 2020 20:00Frans de Waal spent four decades at the forefront of animal research looking at primate intelligence and now, their emotions. In his new book, “Mama’s Last Hug” he explores the rich emotional lives of animals.
All About Books: Creighton Professor Brent Spencer with book suggestions.
May 06, 2020 20:00In this time when people are trying to stay safe at home- one of the best solitary activities has always been reading. This week on “All About Books”, Creighton Professor Brent Spencer has book suggestions for the pandemic home reader.
All About Books: “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernadine Evaristo.
April 29, 2020 20:00A novel with 12 distinct British, black, mostly-female characters; who tell stories of their families, friends and lovers through the years. Winner of the Booker Prize, “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernadine Evaristo.
All About Books: “Late Migrations” by Margaret Renki
April 22, 2020 20:00Growing up in Alabama and now living in suburban Nashville, author Margaret Renki in her new book, “Late Migrations” collected short essays on family, love and loss interwoven with observations of the natural world.
All About Books: “Dominicana” by Angie Cruz.
April 15, 2020 20:00A 15-year old girl from the Dominican Republic marries without love to a man twice her age. She understands her moving with him to New York City means a valuable foothold to help her close-knit family immigrate. On this week’s “All About Books” a review of the novel “Dominicana” by Angie Cruz.
All About Books: “Cherokee America” by Margaret Verble
April 08, 2020 20:00In the aftermath of the civil war, racial and cultural tensions are on edge in the Cherokee lands. “Cherokee America” by Margaret Verble is a Western tale told from the point of view of mixed-race woman who is a wealthy farmer and the matriarch of her family.
All About Books: Guest reviewer UNL's Richard Graham with two, big, new books
April 01, 2020 20:00It’s artists and graphic novels on this week’s “All About Books.” From UNL Libraries, Richard Graham introduces a huge, 16-year project from Omaha native Chris Ware called “Rusty Brown” An early 20th century illustrator is featured in, “Madness in Crowds: the Teaming Mind of Harrison Cady.”
All About Books: “Leaving the Witness” by Amber Scorah
March 25, 2020 20:00Amber is a third generation Jehovah’s Witness moves to China with her husband to secretly spread their religion. But living outside her closed community for the first time, she experiences different perspectives leading to a new life for herself. On NET Radio’s “All About Books” a review of “Leaving...
All About Books: “Furious Hours” by Casey Cep
March 18, 2020 20:00A rural Alabama preacher was accused of murdering five of his family members for insurance money. His attorney helped him escape justice until the reverend was murdered at a funeral. In the audience of the vigilante’s trial was Harper Lee who had in mind a book about all this. “Furious Hours: Murder...
All About Books: “Stony the Road” by Henry Louis Gates Jr.
March 11, 2020 20:00Between the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Movement, is 100 years of less well-known history. On this week’s “All About Books”, “Stony the Road” by Henry Louis Gates Jr. An account of African American’s struggle for equality after the Civil War and the violent counter revolution that...
All About Books: “In Our Other Lives” by Theodore Wheeler
March 04, 2020 16:00An American missionary and ROTC cadet disappears in Pakistan only to resurface unexpectedly in a video. The FBI arrive in Omaha to talk with his sister to learn about this family and their history. Omaha-based author Theodore Wheeler is the guest on “All About Books” to talk about his new novel “In...
All About Books: “American Spy” by Lauren Wilkinson
February 26, 2020 16:00It’s new take on the Cold War spy novel. Marie is a brilliant intelligence officer in the FBI, and a young African American woman. When her career stalls in the old boys club, a new adventure opens up. “American Spy” by Lauren Wilkinson is reviewed on this week’s All About Books
All About Books: “The Women’s Hour: ” by Elaine Weiss
February 19, 2020 16:00Women have had the right to vote since the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. But that victory was hard won on the battlefield of Tennessee Legislature in the heat of August. On this week’s “All About Books” guest reviewer Lynn Roper introduces, “The Women’s Hour: the Great Fight to Win the...
All About Books: An interview with NE State Poet, Matt Mason
January 29, 2020 16:00What exactly does the Nebraska state poet do? Find out on this week’s “All About Books” when our guest is state poet Matt Mason. He shares his far-traveling mission for the job and explains Slam Poetry and its popularity with younger audiences.
All About Books: “Women Talking” by Miriam Toews
January 27, 2020 16:00A group of Mennonite women gather in secret to discuss what’s been happening to them. They’d been led to believe the attacks they suffer at night were punishment by demons, while it was really men from their own colony who had drugged and raped them. Based on real events, “Women Talking” by Miriam T...
All About Books: Two biographies on Frederick Douglass and Dr. Benjamin Rush
January 15, 2020 16:00All About Books offers two biographies- one on the best-known voices of the abolition movement, “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom”, last year’s Pulitzer Prize winner in history by David Blight. And one of the least well-known founders of the country, the pioneering physician and thinker, Dr. B...
All About Books: "Lab Girl" by Hope Jahren
January 08, 2020 16:00As a young girl, Hope Jahren grew up in her father’s science lab. In her memoir, Jahren shares her life as a geobiologist studying trees, flowers and soil. On this week’s “All About Books” we’ll look at “Lab Girl” by Hope Jahren, a celebration of a scientists life of curiosity and passion.
All About Books: Three short reviews of three short books.
December 30, 2019 16:30Three short reviews of three short novels. This week’s “All About Books” looks at “The Need” by Helen Phillips, “The Man Who Saw Everything” by Debra Levy, which prompted host Pat Leach to pick up Levy’s memoir, “The Cost of Living.”
All About Books: "Nebraksa: Poems" by Kwame Dawes
December 23, 2019 16:00How long does it take to know a place well enough to write about it? It’s a question that came up when “All About Books” host Pat Leach spoke with UNL’s Chancellor Professor of English Kwame Dawes. He joined her in the studio to discuss his new collection of poetry called, “Nebraska”
All About Books: “Disappearing Earth: a Novel” by Julia Phillips
December 18, 2019 06:00In the remote northeastern edge of Russia two young sisters go missing. The police investigation turns up nothing and the tight community deals with fear and loss. “Disappearing Earth: a Novel” by Julia Phillips is reviewed on this week’s “All About Books”