So Many Damn Books

To celebrate the 75th episode of So Many Damn Books, Christopher and Drew bring the Damn Library to the FSG offices to talk to Robin Sloan about his novel Sourdough and Eugene Lim's Dear Cyborgs. Food vs tech, analog vs digital, specific pop culture details vs vague description, and many other divergences are all discussed. Robin Sloan makes a very important proclamation about art projects within novels. Don't miss this one. And thanks for being here for episode 75! 15 seconds of a song: The Go! Team - The Wrath of Mikey contribute! patreon.com/smdb check out book lists, drink recipes, and more, over at somanydamnbooks.com   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Amelia Gray stops by the Damn Library, Christopher turns a drink blue again, and they discuss her new book, Isadora. Particularly: what it was like to write a book about a dancer during a time when she wasn't dancing. A quote about dancing is misattributed. Plus, we get into Nell Zink's fearlessness in her novel, Nicotine, about activists and squat housing. Also: Amelia Gray starts an exquisite corpse in our iTunes reviews. book lists, drink recipes, and more over at somanydamnbooks.com contribute at: patreon.com/smdb 15 seconds of a song: Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Without a guest, the guys make good on their TMN Tournament of Books bet- Drew chose Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn. They talk about what matters in a noir, Lethem tackling Tourette's, and enjoying a book about where you live, amongst other subjects. Also: Patreon listener recommendations!contribute: patreon.com/smdbdrink lists, book lists, and more: somanydamnbooks.com15 seconds of a song: Lounger - Dogs Die in Hot Cars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Samantha Hunt drops by the Damn Library, the guys try to put a shadow in her drink but just end up with something more blood colored. They discuss her story collection, The Dark Dark, the Normas in one's life, and ticks, as well as transcending genre. The story collection she suggested, Chavisa Woods' Things to Do When You're Goth in the Country, also transcends genre, and the trio can't stop deciding on favorite stories.  15 seconds of a song: Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh support the show! patreon.com/smdb book lists/drink recipes at somanydamnbooks.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the Damn Library, Christopher gets an egg white cocktail egg-zactly right for Rachel Khong, author of Goodbye, Vitamin and also All About Eggs. He and Drew also chat with Rachel about the inner/outer voice of the critic, using family as inspiration, and eschewing categorization. Then they all dish on how much they liked Mary Robison's Why Did I Ever. 15 seconds of a song: The Magic Numbers - Don't Give Up The Fight contribute over at patreon.com/smdb! get book lists, drink recipes, and more over at somanydamnbooks.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosecrans Baldwin, who indirectly provided the beginning for the SMDB podcast, stops by the Damn Library to talk about his exceptional "HBO series of a novel," The Last Kid Left. Youth is discussed, as well as getting characters right, stopping into a memory-laden Barnes and Noble, and reading The Economist in bed. Also, Rosecrans tells a story about how reading Graham Greene helped him meet his wife, before he and the guys discuss Brighton Rock. Tequila is consumed. contribute and get extra content! http://patreon.com/smdb drink recipes and book lists at http://somanydamnbooks.com 15 seconds of a song: Beulah - If We Can Land a Man on the Moon, Surely I Can Win Your Heart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MARLENA MARLENA MARLENA! Julie Buntin drops into the Damn Library to talk her terrific debut novel, Marlena, and gets into whether she's a Marlena or a Cat, if there's a real Spicy Bob's Pizza, and what she was hoping to get to at the core of her characters. Plus, she and the guys get really into Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki, which isn't a noir even if it seems like it. 15 seconds of a song: Chet Faker - Gold contribute and help the show: patreon.com/smdb find drink lists and recipes at somanydamnbooks.com! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alissa Nutting, author of Made for Love (and also Tampa) joins the guys in the Damn Library to talk surveillance state and let the guys bring up the dolphin sex, and the importance of first sentences. They also talk about Randa Jarrar's Him, Me, Muhammad Ali, a collection of short stories that includes both crows and reading your Mom's diary, amongst other subjects. Crassness is celebrated, and everyone has a dolphin delightful time. get cool stuff, contribute to our patreon: patreon.com/smdb book lists and drink recipes at somanydamnbooks.com 15 seconds of a song: I Am Not a Robot - Marina & The Diamonds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elif Batuman joins Christopher and Drew in the Damn Library, and they all imbibe a drink called "The Dissertation" which can smack the words off the tip of your tongue. They discuss Batuman's The Idiot, and being nicer to your college self, and how you can end up a Dostoyevsky acolyte by accident, almost. They also delve into Swann's Way, the first volume of Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time (translated by Lydia Davis) and answer: how is this Paris if there isn't the Eiffel Tower? 15 seconds of a song: Vampire Weekend - Campus hey, support the show: http://patreon.com/smdb  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys decide to participate in One Book One New York, get on the bandwagon, and finally read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah. They discuss Obama, getting bloggers right, and what it's like for a city to read along together. Plus, they launch a patreon. support the show if you'd like! https://www.patreon.com/smdb book lists and more at http://www.somanydamnbooks.com/episodes//episode-sixty-six-onebookny-americanah Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.