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!!!

Season 3 of our Award-Winning Show and Podcast!

Marc and John are back for Season 3 of Read First, Ask Later, winner of the Read First, Ask Later Award for Best Radio Show and Podcast titled Read First, Ask Later!  Upcoming guests include author of Against Football and about a billion other publications, Steve Almond (9/9);   Booker Prize finalist and author of To Rise Again at a Decent Hour, Joshua Ferris (9/16);  My Salinger Year author, Joanna Rakoff (9/23);  author of The Land of Steady Habits and Salon.com contributor, Ted Thompson (9/30);   and Pen / Faulkner award winner and author of The Dog, Joseph O'Neill (10/7).

(Don't ask how we do it.  We think maybe they think they're getting paid.)

Listen in as we also discuss literary book news and what we're reading.  And we'll eagerly await phone calls from YOU, the remaining humble readers and listeners left in the universe, from 4:15 to 4:30 on Tuesday afternoons.

We can't wait!  Oh nevermind, it's time.

Summer Break!

We won't be broadcasting this summer (sniffle, sniffle, sob) but that doesn't mean we're avoiding books . . . or you! Marc and I simply can't talk right now since we're buried in our summer reading! And remember, you can catch up on all of our first and second seasons at the link above. We'll resume the show weekly at the end of August or beginning of September. So get your reading in now, and ask us about it later!

Season's Finales with Chad Harbach (26) and George Saunders (27)!

Listen (Right Now!) to our final episodes of Season 2, in which we discuss book accumulation and the passing of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and speak directly to the actual human voice of Chad Harbach, author of The Art of Fielding, editor of the essay collection MFA v. NYC, and founding editor of n+1 (Episode 26) . . . and our summer preview of events and book releases, along with our discussion with a man who we believe to be the actual George Saunders! (Episode 27). Or . . . if you're just catching up with us, we recommend 27 hours straight of listening. No performance-enhancement necessary; the show IS an upper. Stay in touch with us over the summer as we post what we're reading and reassess this here blog and how it may become central to your existence. Happy summer, listeners and viewers. You too are part of the Read First, Ask Later family.

Spitznagel and Bock are Up! Next: Julia Fierro!

Listen, by clicking on the link above, to Marc and John's uproarious discusion with Eric Spitznagel and their condemnation of Walter Kirn's Blood Will Out in Episode 23.  Then, as if you could handle it, hear them pontificate on Young Adult fiction and (in a separate discussion) talk to Charles Bock, author of Beautiful Children, in Episode 24.  And THEN, if you have any remaining brain matter, listen as they discuss New Journalists and talk to Julia Fierro in Episode 25 about her novel, Cutting Teeth, to be released next month!

April 1 Guests: Stephen King, Haruki Murakami, and The Easter Bunny!

Listen on April 1 as Marc and John have a four-way conference call with our guest authors . . . really . . . we're not making any of this up . . . following a discussion of book news and the recently released Blood Will Out by Walter Kirn.  If you miss it you'll be a lesser person.

World's Best Interviews Ever and of All Time: Gurganus, Lisicky!

Listen to episodes 21 and 22 of the award-winning broadcast, with guest authors Paul Lisicky and Allan Gurganus!

Also in 21, Marc and John discuss the Morning News Tournament of Books and debate who's the better recidivist male between Updike's Rabbit or Henry Bech.  One of John and Marc's cherished students, Trisha, calls in with a question, and one of Marc and John's parents, Jack Nardone, shares his thoughts on Erik Larson's Devil in the White City!

In 22, our co-hosts highlight their favorite fiction characters of all time AND ever, and they share their love of McSweeney's and other American literary magazines . . . at least those worthy of mention.  (Our co-hosts, after all, have to be aware of the ripple effects of their statements on unstable governments and fragile economies!)

Don't worry -- it's okay you missed it -- but catch up before next Tuesday!

Susan Orlean Talked to Us!

It's true.  Marc and John were skeptical but once they witnessed her proficiency on the topics of the German Shepherd breed, artistic performance on Twitter, and rare exotic flowers, they knew it had to be none other than Susan Orlean!  Listen to Episode 20 and their live interview, as well as a discussion of the Association for Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference in Seattle, WA and B.J. Novak's "One More Thing" in the context of literary humor.

Then . . . take next week to catch up on past episodes as John and Marc will be enjoying Spring Break by . . . er . . . teaching and grading.  Next up on 3/18, author Paul Lisicky and a discussion of John Updike's literary legacy!  Listen . . . and call in . . . but first read, then ask.  (Huh?)

Coming Up: Pam Houston (2/25) and Susan Orlean (3/4)!

Our episodes with outstanding author guests DJ Paul V, Helen Frost, Heather Jacobs, and Elissa Schappell are up in our archives, accessible at the link above!

This Tuesday we're ecstatic to be speaking with Pam Houston, author of Contents May Have Shifted and other works of fiction, and a renowned teacher and speaker.  We'll also be discussing the rather spectacular success or failure (depending on who you ask) of Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch . . . and we'll challenge the NY Times Bookends authors James Parker and Rivka Galchen to an arm wrestling match for not mentioning Marc and John among their literary bad boys.

AND . . .  we'll be waiting for your questions live at 4:15!

Season 2 Authors to Include Schappell, Gurganus, and Hawthorne!

Poor Marc and John.  They've been talking books since their last episode on December 17th but you haven't been listening!  Part of the reason you haven't been listening is they haven't been broadcasting!  So join them again on Tuesday, January 28th LIVE from 3:30 to 4:30 on wxlv.org and iheart.com for their next talk about books in a pretention- and cliche-free zone, or click on the link above for the podcast to follow.  Enter at your own risk!

The author lineup is nothing short of astounding, thanks to (frankly) the generosity of our authors.  We can't wait!  (It's tentative so don't get too far ahead of yourselves.)

1/28:  Paul Vitagliano, or DJ Paul V, author of "Born This Way"

2/4:  Helen Frost, author of "Keesha's House"

2/11:  Heather Jacobs, editor of "Big Fiction"

2/18:  Elissa Schappell, novelist, editor, essayist

2/25:  Pam Houston, author of "Contents May Have Shifted"

3/4:  Nathaniel Hawthorne, screenwriter, miscellaneous crew

3/11:  (Spring Break!)

3/18:  Paul Lisicky, author of "Unbuilt Projects"

3/25:  Allan Gurganus, author of "Local Souls"

4/1:  Eric Spitznagel, journalist, writer, editor

4/8:  Caketrain Editors

4/15:  Alexander Hamilton, founding father of the United States

4/22:  Aaron Burr, a better shot

The author interview is our signature segment but as you know week-to-week we'll also be covering book news and discussing what we're reading.  And don't forget to CALL IN between 4:15 and 4:30 of our live broadcasts at 610.799.4141 or 610.799.1891.  We want to hear from you!

WE'RE BACK!

The good news:  we're back!  The bad news:  climate change.

There's so much to summarize from our first season of Read First, Ask Later, including the extraordinarily wonderful authors who have called in, but I think this says it all.

In the Bridget Jones Diary trivia contest in Episode 14, Marc LOST to John (and Susan Petrole, our guest questioner) and paid the consequences.  By a hair!  Actually it was many hairs.  In short, his students were dumbfounded (most), disgusted (some), disquieted (a few), and impressed (one or two).

Thanks again to our first season authors:  Douglas James Troxell, Mark Canter, Sarah DiCello, Julianna Baggott, Alissa Nutting, Jesus of Nazareth, Elizabeth Crane, Vu Tran, A.T. Grant, Herman Melville, C.J. Hribal, Scott Beatty, Darin Strauss, Jerome Lucido, Howard Bryant, and Richard Davies.

What's coming next?  Well, as we're negotiating royalties we have to stay hush hush.  By royalties we mean effusive thank you's and the delivery of listeners / readers in Kazakhstan and Indonesia.  And by negotiating we mean begging.  And by hush hush we mean we'll tell you tomorrow.  Until then, followers and listeners.  

Now get back to your reading . . .