Red Fern Book Review by Amy Mair
72 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsFind your book club picks and get your literary fix here. I lead bookish discussions with authors, friends and family minus the scheduling, wine, charcuterie board and the book you didn’t have time to finish. My tastes skew toward the literary but I can’t resist a good thriller or the must-read book of the season. If you like authors like Donna Tartt, Ann Patchett, Jonathan Franzen, Marie Benedict and Rachel Hawkins this podcast is for you.
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Episodes
Wellness and The Bee Sting
February 23, 2024 03:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBI dive into two very long books that are also worth the investment. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray tells the story of a contemporary Irish family that has fallen on hard times and is full of secrets. Contemporary family saga Wellness by Nathan Hill is set in the suburbs of Chicago an explores the malaise of middle age marriage. It is also a send up on our preoccupation with the wellness industry. Both books have deep character backstories and are considered tragicomic novels. Books and reso...
Asking for a Friend and Holiday Gift Giving Recommendations.
December 08, 2023 08:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MBBook Blogger and author Kerry Clare joins the podcast to discuss her new book Asking for a Friend. It is a novel about intense female friendship and how key relationships created in our youth endure or break apart. We also chat about her blog Pickle Me This and her role as editor of the book recommendation site 49th Shelf. We wrap up with five hot books perfect for all the people on your holiday gift giving list. Follow Kerry: Instagram: @kerryreads Blog: Pickle Me This Book Recommendati...
Anna Kloots and My Own Magic
November 24, 2023 08:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBLifestyle Instagrammer and best selling author Anna Kloots joins the podcast to discuss her new memoir My Own Magic. She talks about new beginnings in the face of divorce, her love of pumpkin pie, and of course, how to make your own magic. Follow Anna: Instagram: @annakloots Follow Red Fern Book Review: Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.com Instagram: @redfernbookreview Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/ Newsletter: https://www.redfernbo...
The Five-Star Weekend, Tom Lake and Truth & Beauty
November 03, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBA discussion of Ann Patchett's latest novel Tom Lake as well her memoir Truth & Beauty about her deep friendship with writer Lucy Grealy. Elin Hilderbrand's latest novel, The Five-Star Weekend, is also discussed. Follow Red Fern Book Review: Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.com Instagram: @redfernbookreview Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/ Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter
Mountain Runaways
October 27, 2023 06:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBAward-winning Young Adult fiction novelist Pam Withers stops by the podcast to discuss her latest book Mountain Runaways. This fast-paced novel tells the story of the three kids, Jon, Korka and Aron, who lose their parents in an avalanche and decide to run away into the mountains and fend for themselves until the oldest sibling, Jon, turns 18 and can become their legal guardian. They have to deal with illness, injury, wild animals and each other. Pam talks about why YA fiction has such cros...
Fall Reads 2023 with Susan Matheson
October 06, 2023 02:00 - 43 minutes - 30 MBBook blogger Susan Matheson returns to the podcast with her line up of must have fall reads. We also discuss a book that we both disagreed upon: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. Susan's Top Picks for Fall 2023 The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok The Class by Ken Dryden A New Season by Terry Fallis The Golden Gate by Amy Chua A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road by Darryl Jones Talking at Night by Claire Deverley Follow Bedside Table Books: Instagram: @bedside_table_books Website: https://beds...
To Track a Traitor
September 22, 2023 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MBAward-winning mystery writer Iona Whishaw drops by the podcast to discuss the latest book in her Lane Winslow mystery series. To Track a Traitor spans both world wars and is a tale of sibling rivalry, infidelity and espionage. Iona's backstory is just as compelling as her writing. Her books are inspired by the British Columbia town of her childhood and her mother's experience as a World War II spy. She talks about her journey to becoming a novelist and how the question "Why Not Me?" gave he...
The Librarianist and You Could Make This Place Beautiful
September 08, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBAmy kicks off Season Four of the podcast with a discussion of the literary novel The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt and the memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful by poet Maggie Smith. The Librarianist is the story of retired librarian Bob Comet. Hoping to fill a void in his life, he volunteers at a senior's centre. Amid a community of strange peers, Bob reflects on his past and his character is revealed. You Could Make This Place Beautiful is a firsthand account about the breakdown of...
Bonus Episode: The TallMikeWine Podcast/The Books Episode with Amy Mair
July 17, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 41.3 MBHi Red Fern Listeners! I was recently a guest on a fabulous wine podcast called The TallMikeWine Podcast. Host Mike Stone and I talk about, what else, but books and wine. I offer up a mini summer reading list and Mike explains how he comes up with all those wine adjectives. Mike is a self-professed wine geek who creates fun, relatable conversations around wine. And did I mention that he is a former disc jockey? Enjoy, and I will be back in the fall with a new lineup. Follow Mike Stone Web...
What to Read Summer 2023
May 26, 2023 06:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBBook blogger Susan Matheson stops by the podcast to talk about her favourite reads for summer. Her selections range from a cozy mystery to a contemporary memoir. Books and Resources discussed: Go as a River by Shelley Read The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bingley Darling by India Knight The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford The House of Lincoln by Nancy Horan Loving Frank by Nancy Horan March by Geraldine Brooks Th...
Pineapple Street and Ghost Music
May 19, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBAmy and Geoff review the popular fiction novel Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and literary fiction novel Ghost Music by An Yu. Pineapple Street is a bird's eye view into the moneyed Brooklyn Heights family The Stocktons. Sasha, a middle-class New England girl, marries into the family and tries to find her way. Set in Beijing, Ghost Music is a quiet book that examines the sad life of retired concert pianist Song Yan. A mysterious parcel of mushrooms begins arriving at her door each week an...
Frankenstein
April 21, 2023 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MBRetired English Professor Dr. Mason Harris drops by the podcast to discuss one of his favourite books Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. This book combines elements of Gothic, Horror and Romantic literature. Dr. Harris delves in to Shelley's scandalous background and draws parallels between the Romantics and 1960s radicalism. Books and Resources discussed: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley The Villa by Rachel Hawkins Listen to my episode on the Villa here: The Age of Vice and The Villa, Season 3, E...
Age of Vice and The Villa
April 07, 2023 04:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBWe review two of the buzziest books of early 2023: Fast-paced gangster novel set in India Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor and friendship travel story/thriller with Daisy Jones and the Six (by Taylor Jenkins Reid) vibes The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. Age of Vice is a contemporary novel set in India. It is equal parts thriller and family saga and centres around the Wadia crime family. The book is about gangsters, lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance and corruption. The Villa is a classic b...
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and This Time Tomorrow
March 17, 2023 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBWe review one of our favourite books of last year Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin as well as This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is the story of three friends Sadie, Sam and Marx and their foray into the video gaming industry. It is a campus novel as well as a look at video gaming as high art. This Time Tomorrow is a fun, nostalgic read with the main character, Alice, travelling back in time to the '90s. The book is a look at father...
Astra
March 03, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBAuthor Cedar Bowers joins the podcast to discuss her 2021 debut novel Astra. The book follows the life of a young woman who is born on a B.C. commune from the perspective of 10 different people. Cedar discusses life growing up in a remote community, the failed promise of the back-to-the land movement and if we can ever really know somebody. Books and Resources discussed: Astra by Cedar Bowers A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt The Island of Forgetting by Jasmine Sealy We Measure the Ea...
Sea of Tranquility and When They Lost Their Heads
February 17, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBI review two novels by current Canadian literary stars Emily St. John Mandel and Heather O'Neill. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel is a science fiction novel about art, time, travel, love and plague that takes readers from 1912 Vancouver Island to a dark colony of the moon 500 years later. The author also incorporates references to her earlier award-winning novels Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel. When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill is a historical fiction, satirical nov...
Superfan
February 03, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBVancouver author Jen Sookfong Lee joins the podcast to talk about her latest book Superfan. Jen uses her lifelong obsession with pop culture as a lens to explore family, grief, the power of female rage, Asian fetish, and what it costs to resist the trap of being a “good Chinese girl.” I pines over Andrew McCarthy and Jen muses over whether Kanye West will get a second chance in the court of public opinion. Listen to a previous interview with Jen here: The Shadow List, Season 2, Episode 8 ...
The White Ship and The Splendid and the Vile
January 20, 2023 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MBFantasy Fiction lover turned historian David Gates is back on the podcast to discuss two English history books: The White Ship by Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer and The Splendid and the Vile by journalist Erik Larson. The White Ship is an examination of the 1120 shipwreck that threw the future of the crown into question. The Splendid and the Vile is a riveting account of Winston Churchill and his first year in office when he is trying to keep the Germans at bay and get the Americ...
We All Want Impossible Things
January 06, 2023 05:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MBMy dear friend Alison Schmelke joins the podcast, perhaps a bit reluctantly, and together we interview our idol author and blogger Catherine Newman. We reminisce about Catherine's column Ben & Birdy and how it got us through the early days of parenthood. Catherine discusses her poignant, hilarious and nostalgic novel, We All Want Impossible Things. It is the story about two best friends Edi and Ash and Edi's last days in hospice. Follow Catherine Newman: Instagram: @catherinewman Websit...
Books Set in Paris
December 16, 2022 05:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBGeoff and Amy's trip to Europe Part Two. They are back home and reflecting on their recent trip to Paris. They discuss four books set in the City of Light including one book that pushes the podcast's PG rating! Books and Resources Discussed: Ticket to Paradise, movie 2022 Earful Tower https://theearfultower.com/ Marie Antoinette, movie 2006 Henry and June by Anaïs Nin Murder in Clichy by Cara Black Jacqueline in Paris: A Novel by Ann Mah The Margot Affair (debut novel) by Sanaë Lemoine ...
Books set in Amsterdam
December 02, 2022 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBAmy and Geoff discuss their trip to Amsterdam and review books and movies set in this gorgeous, progressive city. Tulip Fever is a historical novel set in 17th-century Amsterdam during the rise of tulip trade. The Dinner is a contemporary domestic thriller that takes place over the course of one meal at a high-end restaurant. Books and Resources discussed: Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach Tulip Fever, movie 2017 Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier The Dinner by Herman Koch The Dinn...
Junie
November 18, 2022 05:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBAuthor Chelene Knight joins the podcast to discuss her debut novel Junie. The book is set in Hogan's Alley, the once thriving Black and immigrant community located in Vancouver's East End. Junie is a creative, observant child who moves to the alley with her mother Maddie who is an aspiring jazz singer and alcoholic. Chelene discusses Black Joy, Black stereotypes and how the quiet, introspective Junie is a stereotype busting character. Junie is part of the Red Fern Book Review's latest book ...
Return to Solitude
November 04, 2022 04:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBThe summer may be over but British Columbia treasure Grant Lawrence visits the podcast to discuss his latest book Return to Solitude about life in Desolation Sound. It's been over a decade since renowned broadcaster and indie rock musician Grant Lawrence launched his writing career with the award-winning Adventures in Solitude, yet some things never change - including the winding Sunshine Coast Highway, close calls at the BC Ferries ticket office and carsick children. But this time, Lawren...
What to Read Fall 2022
October 21, 2022 04:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBSusan Matheson of Bedside Table Books discusses her top reads of the fall season. Amy and Susan talk about how to match books with your travels Books and Resources Discussed The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier The Snow Goose: A Story of Dunkirk by Paul Gallico Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico Eiffel, Movie Netflix To Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice Colin The Mutual Friend by Carter Bays Tomorrow, ...
Lookout: Love, Solitude, and Searching for Wildfire in the Boreal Forest
October 07, 2022 04:00 - 41 minutes - 28.6 MBWildfire Lookout Trina Moyles joins the podcast to talk about her memoir Lookout: Love, Solitude and Searching for Wildfire in the Boreal Forest. She joins direct from her remote lookout tower in Northern Alberta. Lookout is a book about isolation, the environment, wildlife and love. The book has been compared the book to Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Trina and Amy are interrupted by the weather report and Trina explains how sometimes you can feel more connected when you are alone. Lookout is j...
Fresh Water For Flowers and Painting Time
September 23, 2022 04:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBFriend and music teacher Cynthia Friesen returns to the podcast to discuss two books by French authors: Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin and Painting Time by Maylis de Kerangal. We discuss the art of translation and whether decorative art is an art or a science. Cynthia pulls up to the piano and plays a song. Listen to my previous episode with Cynthia The Prague Sonata, Season 1, Episode 14 Books and Resources Discussed The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow Duo Lingo app Paintin...
The Candy House
September 09, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MBSeason 3 of the Red Fern Book Review kicks off with a review of one of the biggest books of the year: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan. Geoff is back on the podcast with a new job title. Amy and Geoff decide whether or not The Candy House is sci fi and if it surpasses the book's precursor: A Visit from the Goon Squad. Books and Resources Discussed: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan Dog (2022), Apple TV Casual (2015), Netflix Julia (2022) HBO Julia (2022) CNN My Life in France by Julia Ch...
Summer Reads!
June 17, 2022 04:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBBook Blogger Susan Matheson is back to discuss her top picks to stuff in your beach bag this summer. Her selections range from frothy to serious. Amy and Susan discuss the power of book cover art. Books and Resources Discussed: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Evening by Susan Minot The Dutch House by Ann Patchett Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh You Had Me at Pet-Nat: A Natural Wine-Soaked Memoir by Rachel Signer Buttermilk Graffiti by Edwa...
Bentlily
June 03, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBPoet Samantha Reynolds is on the podcast to talk about her practice of writing one poem a day. And that isn't even her day job! We talk parenting, observation, what to share and not share. Sam even fits in a reading or two. Follow Sam: Website: https://bentlily.com/ Instagram: @bentlily Follow Red Fern Book Review: Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.com Instagram: @redfernbookreview Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/ Newsletter: https://w...
Rock Paper Scissors and Sometimes I Lie
May 27, 2022 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBBookstagrammer Danielle Peters joins the podcast to talk about her favourite genre: thrillers. Danielle reviews Rock Paper Scissors and Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney, reveals what she looks for in a suspense novel and how she incorporates reading into her everyday life. Books and Resources Discussed: The River at Night by Erica Ferencik Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict The Mysterious Affair at Styles by ...
Our Country Friends and Bel Canto
May 20, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBPhotographer and friend Brian McConville is back on the podcast to talk about books and captivity. Amy and Brian discuss Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart. Set in the rolling hills of upstate New York, this satirical novel focuses on a group of friends who gather in a country house to wait out the pandemic. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is also discussed. This beloved, modern classic novel tells the story of a band of gun-wielding terrorists and a group of international guests who forge u...
Lost in Translation and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
May 13, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBAmy's resident artsy friend Myriam is back on the podcast. This time the topic is screenplays as literature. A screenplay is a cross between a book and a play. Unlike a favourite book, Myriam says that reading a screenplay is complement to watching a movie. Amy and Myriam both agree that reading about harder topics like fights and violence can be easier to read than watch on the Big Screen. Books and Resources discussed: Mend the Living (The Heart) by Maylis de Kerangal Lost in Translati...
Mindful of Murder
April 22, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBBest selling author Susan Juby is on the podcast to talk about her delightful murder mystery Mindful of Murder. The novel features Helen Thorpe as a smart, preternaturally calm and insightful butler who uses her sleuthing skills to unravel the mystery of the death of her former employer. Susan talks about the joys of owning her first Instant Pot and how her British Columbian upbringing informs her writing. Mindful of Murder is part of the Red Fern Book Review book subscription box. Books a...
Early Morning Riser
April 15, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBAmy interviews bestselling author Katherine Heiny about her hilarious, big-hearted novel Early Morning Riser. The book features a cast of lovable characters in a small town whose lives are forever changed after an accident. Katherine talks about literary influences from Anne Tyler and Stephen King and relives her 20s when she one day wore a bridesmaid dress to work. Books and Resources discussed: Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny Single, Carefree,...
Crossroads and Mayflies
April 08, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBGeoff is in the house to discuss one of his favourite authors, Mr. Difficult himself, Jonathan Franzen. Franzen's latest book, Crossroads, is discussed. Set in the 1970s, this book is the story of a Midwestern family at a pivotal moment of moral crisis. Amy and Geoff also discuss Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan. This poignant and at times fun book looks at a group of lifelong friends as they set out for the concert of their lives. It is story of male friendship and what it means to grow up. Bo...
The Book of Form and Emptiness, Parakeet and Lincoln in the Bardo
March 18, 2022 04:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBThree magical realism novels, The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki, Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino and Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, are reviewed. Books and Resources Discussed: Only Murders in the Building, Hulu and Disney+ Everything is Alive, podcast The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman Like Water for Chocolate by ...
The Starless Sea and The Shadow of the Wind
March 11, 2022 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBFantasy Fiction aficionado and Instagram mixologist Jeanette Bruce joins Red Fern to discuss fantasy fiction and a classic thriller. The Starless Sea is a luminous fantasy novel heavy on imagery and lighter on world building. The Shadow of the Wind is a timeless, modern classic set in Barcelona about a young man who owns a copy of a rare book at his own peril. Jeanette and Amy discuss cocktails and tea, what constitutes a fantasy novel and the role of women in The Shadow of the Wind. Books ...
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and The Mysterious Affair at Styles
March 04, 2022 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBHistorical novel The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict delves into the mysterious, real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie. I compare this novel to Christie’s first book The Mysterious Affair at Styles. It's been over 100 years since the mystery queen penned her first book but it is a page turner. Books and Resources discussed: The Red Fern Book Review Spring Book Box The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie The Christie ...
Romance Novels, Part 2
February 18, 2022 05:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBWomen and Literature expert Reema Faris is back to look at contemporary romance fiction and adaptations. Reema and Amy discuss the continued proliferation of romance fiction and if there is such a thing as one true love. Books and Resources discussed: Bridgerton, Netlix The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn Dune (2021), movie The Wheel of Time, Amazon Prime The Bennett Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende Forgotten in Death by J.D. Ro...
Romance Novels, Part 1
February 11, 2022 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBWomen and literature academic Reema Faris joins Red Fern to discuss the enduring popularity of romance fiction. In this first of a two-parts series, the history of romance novels is examined. Amy makes an argument for Hallmark Christmas movies. Books and resources discussed: A Natural History of the Romance Novel by Pamela Regis Pamela by Samuel Richardson Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss Something Wonde...
The Friend and The Pull of the Stars
February 04, 2022 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBWriter and academic Suzanne Scott drops by the podcast to discuss two books that inspire her as a writer. The Friend is an experimental book that Suzanne describes as a jazz piece riffing and improvising on the themes of suicide, writing and dogs. The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue is a gripping historical novel set during the Spanish Flu at a Dublin maternity hospital. Suzanne reveals how The Chair accurately captures an academic environment and The Secret Life of Writers podcast is a s...
David Copperfield
January 28, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBEnglish teacher Liz Kelsey is back in the house to discuss David Copperfield. The most autobiographical of all of Dickens' works, David Copperfield is a blend of truth and fiction. The novel offers up an early example of the found or unconventional family as well as an array of eccentric characters who are very supportive and happy. There is also a clash in the representation of nasty predators and hyper caregivers that keeps the plot moving along. Books and Resources discussed: David Coppe...
Lady Susan
January 21, 2022 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBFriend and academic Liz Kelsey joins Amy in a two part episode on the classics. In the first episode Liz explores Jane Austen's lesser known work Lady Susan. The novella was was written when Jane was a teen and published after her death. It centres around the life of beautiful, racy widow Lady Susan Vernon who is often described as the most accomplished coquette in England. Liz explores why Jane Austen is so popular today and discusses modern print and movie adaptations that have contribute...
Great Circle and The Barbizon
January 14, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBAmy reviews two books focused on 20th-century women who broke barriers in their careers and personal lives. Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead is a historical novel centred around the lives of famed aviator Marian Graves. The Barbizon: The Hotel that Set Women Free by Paulina Bren is a social history of the world's most famous women's hotel. Located in Manhattan, the hotel has been the home to starlets, writers, models and secretaries. Streaming show Why Women Kill on Amazon and novel Recipe f...
Who is Maud Dixon? and Apples Never Fall
January 07, 2022 05:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBHappy New Year and welcome back to the Red Fern Book Review! Amy reviews two of the biggest books of 2021: Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews and Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. Both are bestselling mysteries that are executed very differently. Who is Maud Dixon? is a clever thrill ride that combines an edgy whodunit reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith with the fun and accessibility of Sophie Kinsella. Apples Never Fall is the much anticipated novel by the author of Big Little Lies a...
Dusk, Night, Dawn and The Best of Me
December 10, 2021 05:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBAmy looks at two short story collections by well-known essayists and humourists Anne Lamott and David Sedaris. In Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage, Anne Lamott examines how to get joy and hope back in this crazy world. Her answer is a dash of spirituality and a lot of humour. The Best of Me is a greatest hits by quirky, impulsive, awkward and loveable writer David Sedaris. Also discussed, the political documentary Boys State and radio show/podcast This American Life. Books and Reso...
The Spectacular, All's Well, Nightbitch
December 03, 2021 05:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBFellow bibliophile Lorraine Weir joins the podcast to talk about Vancouver Writers Festival event The Spectacular Complexity of Womanhood with authors Mona Awad, Zoe Whittall and Rachel Yoder. All three authors have written fresh, new novels borne out of their own life struggles. The books are also all anchored by strong female protagonists who also happen to be artists. Lorraine and Amy talk knitting, travel and book recommendations. Books and resources discussed: Into the Abyss by Caro...
All In and Brat: An '80s Story
November 26, 2021 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBAmy reviews two memoirs by childhood idols Billie Jean King and Andrew McCarthy. One person surpasses her expectations and the other does not. All In by Billie Jean King charts the iconic tennis player's rise from her working class roots to No. 1 tennis player and groundbreaking feminist. Brat: An '80s story outlines the meteoric rise and fall of teen idol Andrew McCarthy. A bit of an unlikely hero, he struggled with his fame. He dishes about his co-stars, but perhaps not enough. Amy learns...
The Shadow List
November 19, 2021 05:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBWriter and poet Jen Sookfong Lee joins the podcast to discuss her debut poetry collection The Shadow List. Messy, raw and passionate Jen looks closely at women and desire. She reveals how poetry enables her to incorporate more of her true self into her writing and discusses her love of pop culture. She is a regular on CBC Radio One, a moderator for the Vancouver Writers Festival and has her own literary podcast Can't Lit. Books and Resources discussed: A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Ha...
The Kingdoms
November 12, 2021 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBFantasy Fiction enthusiast David Gates joins Amy in a discussion about Natasha Pulley's The Kingdoms. This is the story of Joe Tournier who arrives in the city of Londres in the French Colony of England in 1898 with no memory of who he is and how he got there. When Joe steps off a train he has a postcard in his pocket written in forbidden English, with a postmark dated 1805 though it inexplicably bears the image of a recently-constructed lighthouse. Joe’s search for his identity leads him t...