Chatter on Books

“Navigation” Torie and David welcome back Mike Croley, award winning author, teacher and golf fanatic. They break down the sale (thank heaven) of the Washington football team, guess who the best-seller on Time’s most influential list is, and play “Can we save this classic?” Cannibalism always helps. Thanks to his friendship with Mike, PEN/Faulkner finalist Matthew Salesses zooms in to share “Sense of Wonder,” his fictional take on the triumphs and challenges of NBA star Jeremy Lin’s ascendancy.  Ron Charles of The Washington Post describes it as “a remarkable feat of artistic prowess.” We call it a blast to read and about so much more than sports and entertainment.   

“Love“ Chatter rolls with David, Torie, Jamie,  and our favorite Mayor – Jud Ashman. They break down the Masters (sadly good for LIV), and Jud updates everybody on The Gaithersburg Book Festival. Think dozens of authors (including Chatter alums), events, free admission and free parking! It’s May 20 at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. NYT best selling author Ilyon Woo zooms in to share the remarkable story of Ellen and William Craft, two enslaved people who fled to freedom disguised as a white man and his slave. “MASTER SLAVE HUSBAND WIFE” is filled with illuminating details, historical precision and suspense. At its core, it’s one of history’s most important love stories. 

“Time, being and perspective.” Chatter rolls with a packed house as Angie Kim, Michael Kornheiser and Rodney Ferguson join David, Torie and Claude. Rodney’s just back from Senegal and updates the gang on his men’s book club. The countdown’s on for Angie’s new book “Happiness Falls,” out in September. Michael gives an update on the offspring (books are big with them!) and recalls Chatter’s first take on “Station Eleven.” Speaking of, author Emily St. John Mandel zooms in to share “Sea of Tranquility,” her stunning novel about time travel, love, and the very existence of life as we know it.  The New Yorker calls it “Destabilizing, extraordinary, and blood-boiling.”  Yep. 

“Seductive.” March madness is underway with Torie, David, and returning author (and secret sports fan) Ana Reyes. Chatter welcomes its youngest author, 10 year old Manny Jennings, author of “It’s OK to be Me.” It’s an inspiring book about how he stutters and how he lives his best life every day.  COB’s favorite intel author Alma Katsu returns, this time with “Red London,” the gripping and entirely plausible story of spies, turncoats, and post-Putin Russia. And a reminder: Chatter will be back at the Gaithersburg Book Festival 2023 on May 20. Dozens of authors and events, it’s at Borer Park and is free!

“Families!” Chatter rolls into March with David, Torie and Jud Ashman. Jud debriefs the 2023 Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 20 with dozens of authors and hopefully a special Chatter on Books taping. David shares his Union Station Colleen Hoover experience, and they all marvel at her staying power. Four leaders of the Child2ChildFoundation join in. Inspired by a shared love for books and a desire to help others, these remarkable young women have sent over 60,000 books to children in Nigeria and Ghana. Finally, COB favorite Ed Aymar zooms in to share “No Home for Killers,” his latest murder mystery that goes deep into the ties and tragedies of one unique family.

“Disturbing and inspiring.” Chatter wraps up February with betting, debates and a deeply provocative book. David, Torie, and Jamie revisit Super Bowl betting – the most ever – and its societal impact. They agree on the Roald Dahl censorship debate (it’s all about context). Award winning and brilliantly original Tiffany McDaniel zooms in to share “On the Savage Side.” Called “exceptionally inventive” by the New York Times, McDaniel weaves a magical tapestry of lives connected by addiction but defined by much more.

“Total page turner“ Chatter rolls with a Feb 14 special – sort of. David, Torie and Jamie break down the Super Bowl. All the guys say no romance in their reading history.  They cover book recommendations for Valentine’s Day, some are serious, and some are not. Best selling and creative writing teacher of older adults Ana Reyes zooms in. She shares her deeply disturbing and “can’t put it down” “The House in the Pines.” At turns troubling and always mesmerizing, it’s about friendships and memory and is the definition of psychological thriller.

“Commonality“ David briefs the Super Bowl. Jamie breaks down the “balloon incident.” Torie, David and Jamie play “if you liked this book on Chatter, get this one,” aka book recommendations. They fawn over COB alums Brendan Slocumb and Silas House, both finalists for the 2023 Southern Book Awards. Writer, teacher and semi-pro football player, David Wright Falade zooms in to share “Black Cloud Rising,” about a brigade of Black soldiers in the Civil War. The New York Times calls it “a straight-up page turner.”  Yes, and even more it’s a highly nuanced focus on race, identity and family. 

“The fragility of life.” Claude kicks things off with big literary news. Manny has a book! "It's Okay to Be Me!" , his uplifting story of how he doesn’t let stuttering hold him back. Jamie breaks down ChatGPT for Torie and David with real-life examples from the world of Chatter. Amita Parikh zooms in to share “The Circus Train,” her profoundly moving and entertaining saga of a European circus train under the shadows of war and persecution. Based in World War II, the questions of discrimination, bravery and love are timeless.

“Changing women’s sports for the next twenty-five years.” Chatter rolls with David, Torie and Torie’s sister from another mother Liz Clarke. They break down “Spare” – who lets somebody put some of that in print?  Award winning Andrew Maraniss zooms in to talk about “Inaugural Ballers,” the story of the first U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team. Praised for writing stories with larger social messages, Maraniss uses meticulous research and extensive interviews to tell the story of the unknowns who paved the way for generations to come.