R. Eric Thomas (Congratulations, the Best is Over!) on Ann Patchett and The Best Pickleball Movie
Aug 15, 2023
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Jason and Brett interview R. Eric Thomas, author of 'Congratulations, the Best is Over!', discussing Ann Patchett, Parnassus Books, and the sequel to the best pickleball movie. They also explore the choice of essays, memories and perspectives, and the impact of accents in theater.
The podcast discusses the works of Ann Patchett, including her novel The Dutch House and her ownership of Parnassus Books.
R. Eric Thomas talks about unrelated topics such as a sequel to the best pickleball movie and what Charles Dickens might've talked about over brunch.
The episode also features guest Hunter McLendon, who shares their favorite essay collections and explores the power of memoirs and essays to blend humor and tenderness.
Deep dives
The Origins of Shelf by Shelf
The name 'Shelf by Shelf' originated from the desire to have a catchy Instagram handle for book reviews. It was inspired by the show 'Step by Step', and the name just stuck.
The Beauty of Memoirs and Essays
Hunter appreciates memoirs and essays for their ability to explore subjective truths and to analyze and confront personal experiences. Books like 'Priestdaddy', 'Intimacy Idiot', and 'Congratulations, the Best is Over' demonstrate the power of these genres to blend humor and tenderness.
Favorite Memoirs and Essay Collections
Hunter mentions several favorite memoirs and essay collections, including 'Crying in the Bathroom' by Erica Elsánchez, 'I Live in the End' by Joseph Flazette, 'The Liar's Club' by Mary Carr, and 'How to Write an Autobiographical Novel' by Alexander Chee.
Thoughts on Contentment
Hunter reflects on the concept of contentment and how it is related to navigating life's challenges. They discuss their personal journey of finding contentment and the role of mindfulness practices, such as swimming, in achieving that sense of internal peace.
Upcoming Projects
Hunter shares that they have a memoir in stories titled 'I Live at the End', but are currently exploring options for publication. They are also working on a novel and continue to write and share about their own life experiences on their Instagram platform, 'Shelf by Shelf'.
Jason and Brett talk to R. Eric Thomas (Congratulations, the Best is Over!) about Ann Patchett, The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, Parnassus Books owned by Ann Patchett, and some other things entirely unrelated to Ann Patchett such as the sequel to the best pickleball movie, what Charles Dickens might've talked about over brunch, and so much more. This episode also features special guest Hunter McLendon (aka shelfbyshelf on Instagram) who joins Jason and Brett to discuss some of his favorite essay collections.
R. Eric Thomas is the bestselling author of Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America, a Lambda Literary Award finalist; and the YA novel Kings of B’more, a Stonewall Honor book. Both books were also featured as Read with Jenna book club picks on Today. He is also a television writer (Apple TV+’s Dickinson, FX’s Better Things), a Lambda Literary Award–winning playwright, and the long-running host of the Moth in Philadelphia. For four years, Thomas was a senior staff writer at Elle online, where he wrote the popular “Eric Reads the News” column. @oureric
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