Anthony Swofford, Joseph O'Neill Round Out Season

Listen to John and Marc's most recent episode with Anthony Swofford, author of Hotels, Hospitals, and Jails and Jarhead, as Marc can't help but reference a Gyllenhaal.  Your humble co-hosts also discuss relationships that failed because of books -- compared to those that failed for other reasons -- and narratives about cars.

Up Next is Joseph O'Neill, author of recently released The Dog and Netherland, which won the 2009 Pen / Faulkner Award for Fiction.  Marc and John will also discuss holiday reading and narratives of war -- in separate discussions -- with a tribute to our service men and women on Veteran's Day.

Thank you for listening.  John will repay you in shrewd witticism and Marc, well, he's trying.

Next Up: Neal Pollack and Our Halloween Spooktacular!

Join Marc and John for Episode 35 and guest author Neal Pollack as they ask him about one of his two favorite leisure activities, yoga, along with the hundreds of books and millions of articles he's published in the last three years alone.  But mostly they just want to know:  who's cooler, Alex Trebek or Dave Eggers?

Listen in the first and second segments as they discuss scary stuff, also known as horror fiction.  They'll be sure to touch on all the staples:  Poe, Dahl, Lovecraft, King . . . and Dunham.

Then we'll ask Marc to take off the scary mask he's been wearing for the last twelve years . . .

Guest Authors Tod Goldberg and Patricia McCormick!

Listen to Episode 33 with Gangsterland author Tod Goldberg, and Episode 34 with I Am Malala cowriter and author of Sold Patricia McCormick!

In Episode 33 we also discuss the Nobel Prize winners and books about music, from Bach to Mötley Crüe (both of equal standing in our books);  in 34 we'll talk about the Man Booker Prize and the Man National Book Award and the Man Read First Ask Later Award -- all are open to women of course -- and Doris Kearns Goodwin and historical accounts, not to be confused with Marc and John's interactions on air -- those accounts are hysterical!

Read.  Listen.  Call.  Ask.

Episode 32: Julie Schumacher and Her Novel in Letters . . . of Recommendation!

What?!  American academia ripe for satire and humor?  Listen in as Julie Schumacher joins John and Marc for a discussion of her novel, Dear Committee Members, offered in letters of recommendation by beleaguered English Professor Jason Fitzger.  How beleaguered, you ask?  He's so beleaguered he makes Marc and John look fastidious!

But before that, John and Marc will discuss the "Alt Lit" scene in much the same intonation as their parents dismissed "Gorbachev" and their grandparents referenced "Rock-N-Roll," and they'll try to figure out Haruki Murakami's writing like a spatially challenged child (Insert:  John and Marc as children) trying to figure out a Rubik's Cube, but hopefully without the tantrums and flying objects.

Then, just try to call us and stump us with a question about books.  Just try it!

Author Ted Thompson (Not the GM of the G.B. Packers): Episode 31!

Join Marc and John this Tuesday with guest author Ted Thompson, author of The Land of Steady Habits and salon.com contributor and NOT the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers.  (It'll be interesting to see his sales numbers in Wisconsin, however.)

Marc and John will also make the argument that books SHOULD be banned;  we're just choosing the wrongs ones.  (Wink, pause . . . wink again.)  Then listen as Marc offers his fancy schmancy theoritalization on Kiese Laymon's Long Division and postmodernism overall while John "oohs" and "ahs" and "ah-huhs" while pretending he understands what the heck Marc is talking about.

Podcast and sense of euphoria to follow . . .

Joshua Ferris podcast, Joanna Rakoff LIVE!

Episode 2 of Season 3 is up in our archive.  Listen as Marc and John talk with Man Booker Finalist Joshua Ferris about his novel To Rise Again at a Decent Hour, literary humor, technology and religion (whew!).  Your hosts also discuss the Future Library Project and the writing of Herman Koch (pronounced like the carbonated, sugary beverage . . . just to clarify).

Episode 3 features My Salinger Year author Joanna Rakoff!  Listen live (with the podcast to follow) as Marc and John also discuss The National Book Award longlists and the confessional memoir.

Or don't.  What do we care?  Actually we care a great deal.  We mean it.  Just listen and you'll see!

Steve Almond is Everywhere! / Joshua Ferris Favored (By Us) to Win the Man Booker!

Episode 1 of Season 3 is up in our archive!  There you can listen to the incredible Steve Almond comment on his book, Against Football, at least when he's not housing the opposition on CNN.  Listen as we also discuss our fall book preview and the work of Andre Dubus III, and as my father praises Almond's book while pledging to remain on his couch on Sundays.

Next up:  MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST, JOSHUA FERRIS!  PARDON US BUT OUR KEYBOARD AND VOICES ARE STUCK IN CAPS!!!