Pop Culture Happy Hour 2025 Books We Love
13 snips
Dec 29, 2025 
Andrew Limbong, host of NPR's Book of the Day, joins to discuss NPR's annual roundup of the best books. He highlights intriguing titles like Emma Petit's 'Tilt,' a sharp satire on pregnancy culture set in an earthquake thriller. Glen praises 'Florenzer,' a vivid portrayal of Renaissance Florence, while Andrew delves into 'Canon,' a graphic novel exploring friendship and identity. They also chat about the multiverse dynamics in 'The Ten Year Affair' and Jeff Hiller's humorous memoir, 'Actress of a Certain Age.' Perfect for aspiring bookworms!
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Thriller With A Motherhood Lens
- Tilt uses a tense action plot to explore the anxieties and absurdities of modern motherhood.
- Emma Petit balances thriller pacing with sharp cultural observations about pregnancy culture.
Renaissance Life Felt In The Senses
- Florenzer vividly reconstructs Renaissance Florence while grounding famous figures in sensory detail.
- Phil Melanson resists anachronistic identity framing, portraying Leonardo's queerness within historical context.
Friendship Frays Over Story Material
- Canon follows a cook named Canon juggling caregiving and work while her writer friend uses their life in fiction.
- Lee Lai presents an intimate friendship rift that interrogates identity politics and economic precarity.
