Chatter on Books

“Intimate and profound.” Torie, David, “Bath Haus” author P.J. Vernon, and awesome storyteller Nghi Vo kick around Dan Snyder selling the Commanders (finally!), whither Twitter and the future of social media. Torie shares yet another Dolly tribute, this time a $100 million award for courage and civility. Then they (finally) turn to books. Hugo award winner and epic storyteller, Nghi shares “Into the Riverlands,” her physically small but thematically huge novella.

“More than you think.” David, Torie and Jamie kick things off with> Dolly, and November notables. They debate “Gone With the Wind’s Pulitzer status. Author Susan Coll zooms in to share “Bookish People.” Think books, relationships, cancel culture gone bad, and appliances with lives of their own.  It’s terrific!

“Enablers” Chatter welcomes back the one and only Jeanne McManus. She joins David and Torie to talk painting and scary stories.COB Hall of Famer Mark Leibovich zooms in to share “Thank You for Your Servitude,” his searing account of how once seemingly respectable politicians lost their way, joined a cult and enabled the unthinkable. If you read only one book on politics, this is the one.

“The silence was the problem.” Chatter kicks off October with David, Torie and Jamie. Book news covers Maggie Haberman’s new book on Trump (probably won’t buy) and Tom Hanks’ first novel. The pop quiz is on required reading for first years in college. David wins! LaToya Watkins zooms in with “Perish,” her debut novel about family, trauma, race, class, and dysfunction. As many have said, it’s hard to read but impossible to put down.

“All things short fiction” Claude, David and Torie go a mile wide and an inch deep. They cover COB housekeeping, listener emails, and career advice from David. COB faves Dawnie Walton (“The Final Revival of Opal and Nev”) and Deesha Philyaw (“Secret Lives of Church Ladies”) zoom in. In addition to writing, publishing, and teaching, they’ve launched “Ursa”, a podcast dedicated to all things short fiction and underrepresented writers. Take a listen; it’s really good!

“Complicated” Marc joins David and Torie for a breakdown on the U.S. Open, the Queen’s funeral, and should we all know who Collen Hoover is?  David Maraniss zooms in with “Path Lit By Lightning,” another remarkable book in the Pulitzer Prize winner’s collection of definitive biographies. He goes beyond Thorpe’s legendary athletic accomplishments to capture in riveting detail the story of a complex cultural icon and the broader American Indian experience.

“Like an otter....” David, Torie and Jamie talk back-to-school, but David’s drop off of the first born went well. They talk Dolly, of course, and Claude has a great spinoff idea for the goddess. Best selling author Ann Leary Zooms in to share “The Foundling”. Its back story is as fascinating as the book itself, a fast-paced story of friendships, loyalty and the all-too real institutions that embraced eugenics as a widely accepted practice in the 1920s.

Torie, David and Jamie kick off Chatter’s last show until after Labor Day. DiCaprio, Reeves and Scorsese team up to bring COB fave Erik Larson’s book “Devil in the White City to Hulu. David wins the pop quiz on early female authors. They finally get to Alec Wilkinson’s “A Divine Language”  -- revisiting academic failure makes Torie break out in hives. Zoologist, filmmaker and brilliant writer Jackie Higgins Zooms in from the UK to discuss her wonderful “Sentient: What Animals Reveal About Our Senses.” Extraordinary and diverse animal senses reveal much about how we experience the world around us. There are peacock shrimps who see multiple colors, vampire bats that share life-saving blood and owls that see prey with their ears. It’s astounding.

“A love story.“ Chatter kicks off August with David, Torie and Chatter’s favorite Mayor, Jud Ashman. They talk about Barack Obama’s summer reading list – it includes three COB books. David breaks down Spike Lee’s decision to make a docuseries of COB author Chris Herring’s book “Blood in the Garden,” and Jud pitches local author Anthony Marra. CNN star Zain Asher zooms in to talk about “Where the Children Take Us,” the remarkable tribute to her mother who overcame tragedy and seemingly insurmountable odds to raise four highly successful children.

“Serving other people.” Marc Sterne joins David and Torie as Chatter rolls through a very hot July. Marc debriefs the upcoming Citi Open. Torie predicts another best seller for Michelle Obama, and everyone talks self-help. Best selling author Alex Kershaw zooms in with “Against All Odds,” his gripping account of four of the most decorated soldiers of World War II. A master of detail and the battle narrative, Kershaw knows why soldiers fight and what’s important.