So Many Damn Books

In this one, the guys look to escape their lives for a bit with some epic fantasy, and they do so via a duologetic ticket to Leigh Bardugo's Grisha-verse. After they extoll the book's virtues and consider the difficulties of escapism, they jump into their Top 6 of 2016. 15 seconds of a song: Lou Rawls - "Merry Christmas Baby" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The indomitable, incomparable Lisa Lutz stops by the Damn Library for a career retrospective. Drew and Christopher very nearly contain their rabid fandom and talk the Spellman Files series, "The Passenger," "Heads You Lose," and "How to Start a Fire," as well as why it might not have been the best choice to read Georges Simenon's "Dirty Snow" right around the election. Also, the cocktail doesn't necessarily need booze in it! 15 seconds of a song: The Boy Least Likely To - "Be Gentle With Me" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew are joined by Jade Chang to chat about a road trip, writing what is most challenging, and aliens. Jade likes how cozy it is in the library and the guys love how cozy "The Wangs vs. The World" is as a novel. Then the aliens, because Margaret Wappler's Neon Green is about aliens, sort of.  15 Seconds of a Song: Ashes of American Flags - Wilco Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathleen Donohoe drops by the Damn Library to talk about her book, Ashes of Fiery Weather, and all the historical disasters contained within, as well as her personal connections to Brooklyn. Surprise '98 National Book Award winner Charming Billy by Alice McDermott is also discussed, and parallels are unlocked, like funerals! and Bridies! 15 seconds of a song: Maria Taylor's "Irish Goodbye"     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannah Pittard stops by the Damn Library to drink a classic cocktail bastardized by a substituted ingredient and discuss her book "Listen to Me" and Iain Reid's "I'm Thinking of Ending Things." Dread is discussed, as well as what makes for a good thriller, and Hannah explains why none of anything matters at all! Other fun revelations too! 15 seconds of a song - "Willow Weep for Me" by Muzzy Marcellino Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew invite Teddy Wayne to the Damn Library, and he brings along his new "zeitgeist-y" novel, Loner, as well as Rebecca Schiff's short story collection The Bed Moved. The literary reader's intelligence is praised, the drink is overtly symbolic, and technology in fiction is discussed in earnest. This is our 50th episode! To celebrate, leave us a nice rating on iTunes, and share our show with a close friend! 15 seconds of a song: Reggie and the Full Effect - "Congratulations Smack and Katy"  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew are joined by returning guest Alexandra Kleeman. They all drink a cocktail named after a character who moonlights in both her short story collection "Intimations" and, maybe, within Robert Coover's "Pricksongs and Descants." They discuss being a person-person, talk fiction-fiction, and why puzzle-stories are sometimes best left unrevisited. Amongst other things. 15 seconds of a song: Julien Dore - Les Limites Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew drink Firewhiskey Juleps and get feisty about the new story in the Harry Potter-verse. Fan fiction, Sherlock Holmes, and second Death Stars are amongst the subjects mentioned. No one gets hurt. 15 seconds of a song: Harry and the Potters, "Save Ginny" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher and Drew sit down with a whiskey drink sweetened with the blood of maraschino cherries, and discuss Donna Tartt's marginalized sophomore novel, The Little Friend. Unjustly pushed to the side? Or lesser entry in the Tartt Canon? They also briefly discuss show spin-offs.15 seconds of a song: Adam Green - "Friends of Mine"  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evan Hanczor, chef at Egg in Williamsburg, drops by the damn library with Tortilla Espanola and the tale of serving a meal inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God. The connection of food and fiction is discussed. Drew gets worked up by Hemingway, Christopher eats food to spite characters sometimes. Evan recommends cookbooks, too. 15 seconds of a song: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.