Poured Over

These two new novels ask a crucial question: who gets to tell our stories? Keziah Weir's The Mythmakers follows one young journalist as she seeks answers within the unpublished manuscript of a recently dead author while her own life starts to crumble. Weir joins us to talk about likeable female characters, what makes the literary canon, AI storytelling and more. My Murder by Katie Williams is a fast-paced, inventive mystery where the victims of a serial killer are brought back to life to solve the case. Williams talks with us about how she came to write her book, including technology in her fiction, what she learns from teaching and more. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): The Mythmakers by Keziah Weir My Murder by Katie Williams The Guest by Emma Cline The Idiot by Elif Batuman American Pastoral by Philip Roth Beowulf translated by Maria Dahvana Headley The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson The Wife by Meg Wolitzer Delicious Foods by James Hannaham Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Muse by Jessie Burton The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

These two novels transport readers into rich, vivid historical settings — whether it's a journey from colonial India to Europe, or through the canals of 18th century Venice. Loot by Tania James follows one young artist from his homeland across the world to retrieve a stolen wooden tiger in an engrossing adventure. James joins us in conversation about the choice to write historical fiction, the vast web of colonization and empire (including stolen art), how she came to the voice of the novel and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. Obsession meets ambition in Julia Fine's Maddalena and the Dark, with two teenage girls set to bargain for their futures — whatever the price. Fine joins us to talk about the particular politics of Venice, the distinct nature of teen girl friendship, highlighting contemporary issues through the past and more with guest host Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): Loot by Tania James Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Beloved by Toni Morrison Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel The Passion by Jeanette Winterson

Powerful women, families of all kinds, fantastical adventures and so much more unite these two spellbinding tales. Juno Dawson's The Shadow Cabinet is the second installment in her series of witches, intrigue and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Dawson joins us to talk about the importance of complex female characters, the response to This Book is Gay, the strength her characters find together and more with Poured Over guest host, Marie Hendry. Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs finds two estranged sisters tasked with protecting the most important thing of all: the books in a magical library. Törzs talks about the challenging dynamics of writing about family, fairy tale tropes, her favorite things about writing fantasy and more with Poured Over guest host, Kat Sarfas. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Marie Hendry and Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran You Need to Chill by Juno Dawson The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

Either/Or, Elif Batuman's sequel to Pulitzer Prize finalist The Idiot, is the humorous and relatable ongoing story of a Turkish American surviving college in the 90s. Batuman joins us to talk about her approach to writing fiction, how her own life influences her work, analyzing literature and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Idiot by Elif Batuman Either/Or by Elif Batuman Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert The Possessed by Elif Batuman In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

"This is the place; this is the right place for me, it's home." Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver's Pulitzer Prize-winning return to Appalachia, is the story of a young boy growing into adulthood amid the struggle and beauty of this oft-overlooked corner of America. Kingsolver joins us to talk about the truth of Appalachian culture, how journalism made her the novelist she is today, the politics of art and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver Dopesick by Beth Macy Raising Lazarus by Beth Macy Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe Dreamland by Sam Quinones Cannery Row by John Steinbeck The Leavers by Lisa Ko Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks

"What if we could do anything? Should we do it? What are the consequences?" Ramona Ausubel's new novel The Last Animal asks big questions about motherhood, grief and our responsibility to the planet. And there's a woolly mammoth. Ausubel joins us to talk about the realities of working in male dominated fields, the differences in writing novels and short stories, the power of storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) Featured Books (Episode): The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel A Guide to Being Born by Ramona Ausubel Pastoralia by George Saunders Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

These two authors tackle important subjects with new research and keen insight. Héctor Tobar's Our Migrant Souls delves into the "Latino" identity with thorough analysis of history, culture and extensive interviews. Tobar joins us to talk about the concepts of ethnicity and race, hearing stories from people across the country and more. King: A Life is the comprehensive new biography of Martin Luther King Jr. compiling new information with in-depth research to create a definitive portrait of this brilliant and complicated figure. Jonathan Eig joins us to talk about new declassified documents that aided his work, what surprised him about this project and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): Our Migrant Souls by Héctor Tobar King: A Life by Jonathan Eig The Barbarian Nurseries by Héctor Tobar Bearing the Cross by David Garrow G-Man by Beverly Gage The Sword and the Shield by Peniel Joseph Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Dead are Arising by Les Payne Women in the Picture by Catherine McCormack

Starring strong female characters in rich, captivating, historical settings, we can't wait for you to dive into these two new novels we love. Our June B&N Book Club Pick is Good Night, Irene by Pulitzer Prize finalist Luis Alberto Urrea. Inspired by the life of his mother, this is the story of the bravery of women on the frontlines of WWII. Urrea joins us to discuss connecting his writing to his own family, what surprised him as he wrote and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig is our June Discover Pick, full of pirates, adventure and intrigue as one woman becomes a queen of the high seas in early 19th century China. Chang-Eppig talks with us about erasure of female stories, morally grey characters, and more with Poured Over guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Tom Hanks (yes, that Tom Hanks) returns to the world of fiction with The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece — a loving look at what (and who) it takes to make a movie, told through the lens of America's changing history. Hanks joins us to talk about why he writes, how he finds his voice and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman

"I've become increasingly cynical about the industry's ability to change itself and how it deals with representation and marginalization." R.F. Kuang's new novel, Yellowface, tackles cultural appropriation, the challenges of the world of publishing and what it means to be a writer with a wit all her own. Kuang joins us to talk about what lead her to writing this novel, who gets to tell our stories, publishing her first literary fiction novel and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Babel by R.F. Kuang The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu Jade City by Fonda Lee