So Many Damn Books

Christopher and Drew can't contain their excitement - the short list for the Morning News' ToB 2016 is here, and they are discussing every title. They also explain this whole tournament business, talk snubs and loves, and teach you a new cocktail to make. Amongst other things. 15 seconds of a song: A Band of Bees "Chicken Payback" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew and Christopher talk about what books they were given for Christmas, 2016 reading goals, experimentally designed books they love, and then Eli Horiwitz's The Pickle Index which they tried to experience it every which way it came out. App recommendations commence. Review us on iTunes! Share! Retweet! 15 seconds of a song: Jim Dooley's Pushing Daisies Score Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The damn hosts choose 4 books they loved in 2015, and one book each that the other didn't read/love. Also, one to grow on. Bye-bye, 2015! You were a year. 15 seconds of a song: The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie-Helene Bertino stops by the deck hall'd Damn Library in full seasonal good cheer to talk about her novel, 2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas. Holiday music is played. A Little Life is discussed. Butter is pondered. Gifts are given! A very happy holiday from So Many Damn Books! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Britt stops by the Damn Library to explain the deeper meanings of why Luke Skywalker Can't Read (which is also the title of his new essay collection). The guys then discuss a classic Star Wars novel - Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn - over Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters. They also cover Christmas. And Ryan pitches a Dickens movie. 15 seconds of a Song: R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexandra Kleeman takes So Many Damn Books down the rabbit hole as Drew and Christopher discuss her novel, You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine, as well as the novel The Blind Owl. Everyone gets unsettled. 15 Seconds of a Song: Lucy Rose - Middle of the Bed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two nonmaj/muggles discuss Harry Potter spinoffs, whether or not they listen to music when they read, and Carrie Brownstein's memoir Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl. ~15 seconds of a song: Sleater-Kinney "The Fox" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher institutes a new buying books rule for himself, Drew likes scary books, and they both have very different opinions on City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg and Purity by Jonathan Franzen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gentlemen discuss their favorite book they've read for the podcast so far, a few books they'd like to see in the next Tournament of Books, and tell you how to win a copy of City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg. Amongst other things.   15 seconds of a song: Selena Gomez - Birthday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Drew under quarantine (he caught the plague), the guys call on Will Chancellor to step in. He returns to the Damn Library to go deep with Christopher on Jesse Ball's latest novel, "A Cure for Suicide". 15 Seconds of a Song: Del Amitri, "Roll to Me" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanessa Manko drops in to talk about how writing is like dancing, her novel The Invention of Exile's editing journey, and they all discuss The English Patient, and suggest a novel they'd like to see made into a movie.   Fifteen seconds of a song: Fountain's of Wayne, "Mexican Wine" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaac Fitzgerald skates by the Damn Library and joins the guys to talk about his Pen & Ink series, Kathleen Alcott's "Infinite Home", and the joys of recommending books. Hilarity ensues. Also maybe some 80s metal.   Fifteen Seconds of a Song: Belle & Sebastian, "Wrapped Up in Books" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys introduce a new segment ("Reading Comprehension"), which leads to some serious questions. They also discuss their summer reading habits, the Man Booker longlist, and Christopher continues to shame Drew for not reading "A Little Life".  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Drew and Christopher wonder what spumoni is (it's ice cream), talk about the books they bought, discuss Elena Ferrante and the first book in her Neapolitan saga, and they recommend books to each other, like usual.   15 seconds of a song: Mama by Lunchmoney Lewis   also featured: Money by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer break is over and the guys return to the Damn Library to discuss graphic novels, comics, brimping, and Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky's "Sex Criminals".   15 Seconds of a Song: "Desire", Years & Years Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BuzzFeed Literary Editor Saeed Jones drops by the Damn Library to talk about his PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award-winning collection "Prelude to Bruise", Claudia Rankin's incendiary "Citizen: An American Lyric", and whether or not art can change the world.  15 Seconds of a song: AG Cook, "Beautiful" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Lev Grossman visits the Damn Library to talk about his Magicians trilogy and (one of his) favorite book(s) of all time: Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway". 15 Seconds of a Song: "Magic" by Ben Kweller Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Guys discuss the business of recommending books, then they discuss Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, a @biblioracle recommendation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Catherine Lacey (author of "Nobody is Ever Missing") drops by the Manhattan branch of the Damn Library! Drinks are made, bathtubs are revealed, and escape is discussed (among many other things). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys chat with ToB Commish Kevin Guilfoile about the ToB and his writing, then get some friends from the commentariat on the phone including Neighbors73, BradMcGinty, Melanie, and itsonlyzach.  The ToB is over, long live the ToB! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.