Episodes

  • 155 Canada-Palooza with Mark Lefebvre

    155 Canada-Palooza with Mark Lefebvre
    Oct 16 2023
    My dear friend Mark Lefebvre is back this week to teach me all about Canadian Literature, eh? Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram    Guest: Mark Lefebvre Website/Instagram   Editor: Emily Zumchak Website/Email   Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!   Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.   Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.   Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style. Discussed in this episode:   Bob and Doug McKenzie The Handmaids Tale and Others by Margaret Atwood Louise Penny The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis World of Wonders by Robertson Davies Fifth Business by Robertson Davies Generals Die in Bed by Charles Yale Harrison Farley Mowat To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice A Matter of Will by Rod Carley Kinmount by Rod Carley Lives of Girls and Women and Others by Alice Munroe Steven Leacock The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot The Embroidered Book by Kate Hartfield The Hollow Boys by Douglas Smith The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee Changing Vision by Julie E. Czerneda Flash Forward Robert J Sawyer Flashforward TV series Rollback by Robert J Sawyer Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson All Those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault by James Alan Gardner Eden’s Eyes by Sean Costello Death Drives a Semi by Edo Van Belkom The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart Samantha M. Bailey Giles Blunt Michael Connolly Linwood Barclay Into The Fire by Rick Mofina Hollow Place by Rick Mofina Requiem by Rick Mofina Canadian Werewolf Series The Line Painter by Claire Cameron The Bear by Claire Cameron The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan The Color of Heaven by Julianne McClain Chasing the Wind by C.C. Humphries Someday I’ll Find You by C.C. Humphries Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill Scott Overton   (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)  
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    31 mins
  • 154 Mark Lefebvre on "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis

    154 Mark Lefebvre on "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis
    Oct 2 2023
    This week's guest is one of my favorite readers, writers and humans on the planet: Mark Lefebvre. Mark has been pushing Terry Fallis' books on me practically since we met, and I'm so glad I finally took his advice. We had a great time discussing political satire, reading slumps, and the differences between American and Canadian humor sensibilities. Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram    Guest: Mark Lefebvre Website/Instagram   Editor: Emily Zumchak Website/Email   Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!   Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time. Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list. Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style. Discussed in this episode: The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis Earth Abides by George R. Stewart BBE Episode 009 Mark Lefebvre on Earth Abides BBE Episode 058 Mark Lefebvre on Traveling Music by Neil Peart (this is one of those very rare occasions when Mark and I disagreed about a book, and let me tell you, my friends: saying something negative about Neil Peart in front of Mark Lefebvre was the riskiest thing I have ever done in my life. I am so brave.)  Fifth Business by Robertson Davies Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger BBE Episode 010 Casey Starnes on Catcher in the Rye Titles Bookstore at McMaster University High Spirits by Robertson Davies John Irving Steven Leacock McClelland and Stewart Pygmalian by George Bernard Shaw My Fair Lady (1964) Best Laid Plans TV Show Dennis Hamill Operation Angus by Terry Fallis No Relation by Terry Fallis Up and Down by Terry Fallis Poles Apart by Terry Follis The Candidate (1972) Three Cheers For Me by Donald Jack The Long Way Back by Nicole Bart Number One is Walking by Steve Martin Harry Bliss The Canadian Mounted by Mark Leslie Edo Van Belkom Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel   (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)  
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    27 mins
  • 153 Kate Reynolds on "A Day With No Words" by Tiffany Hammond

    153 Kate Reynolds on "A Day With No Words" by Tiffany Hammond
    Sep 18 2023

    This week I'm so delighted for you to meet Kate Reynolds, also known as The Lavender Librarian. Kate is a passionate advocate of inclusive storytimes for children, and she has some innovative ideas for how to share reading time with kids. 

    I was initially hesitant when Kate suggested we read a children's book for this episode - afraid that we wouldn't have enough to talk about to fill the half hour. But I was so, so wrong. Talking to librarians is always a wonderful experience, but talking to this particular one about this particular book was extra-specially magic. 



    Host: Julie Strauss

    Website/Instagram 

     

    Guest: Kate Reynolds

    Instagram/Facebook/Youtube

     

    Storytime Solidarity - Website/Patreon/Facebook Group

     

    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!

     

    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.

     

    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.

    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.

    Discussed in this episode:

     

    A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond

     

    Roald Dahl

    The Babysitters Club

    Beverly Cleary

    Mr. Rogers

    Sharon, Lois and Bram

    Sandwiches by Fred Penner

    Je suis une Pizza by Charlotte Diamond

    123 Andres

    Jim Gill

    Little Miss Anne

    Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

    Mouse by Art Spiegelman

    And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

    Tiffany Hammond’s Instagram

     

    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)

     
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    32 mins
  • 152 Lisa Dayton Petersen on Judy Blume

    152 Lisa Dayton Petersen on Judy Blume
    Sep 11 2023

    Today I am joined by Lisa Petersen, my dear friend since college. We agreed to spend the summer revisiting our favorite childhood classics by Judy Blume, and now we’re back to discuss our feelings about the books as children vs. as adults. Along the way, we talked about banned books and parenting, and how our love for Judy Blume has carried us through the years.

     

    Host: Julie Strauss

    Website/Instagram 

     

    Guest: Lisa Petersen



    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!

     

    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.

     

    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.

     

    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.



    Discussed in this episode:

     

    Judy Blume

    The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling

    The Warrior Cats Series by Erin Hunter

    A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

    Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang 

    Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

    Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume

    Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume

    Blubber by Judy Blume

    Deenie by Judy Blume

    Forever by Judy Blume

    It’s Not the End of the World by Judy Blume

    Judy Blume Forever - 2023 film

    Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret - 2023 film

    Terry Gross Interview

    In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

    You’ve Got Mail - 1998 film

    Also, for fun: 87 Books Featured in “You’ve Got Mail”

    A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

     

    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)

     
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    32 mins
  • 151 Yolanda Skeete and Vanessa Vicente on "The School for Good Mothers" by Jessamine Chan

    151 Yolanda Skeete and Vanessa Vicente on "The School for Good Mothers" by Jessamine Chan
    Sep 4 2023

    Yolanda Skeete, an avid reader and co-host of Thrillers by the Book Club SoCal, is back on the show with our book club pal Vanessa Vicente. Yolanda and Vanessa are both bookstagrammers living in Southern California who love to review thrillers, nonfiction, romance, and other genres. As mothers ourselves, we have a lot to say about the 2022 Science Fiction novel “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan. In this episode, we talk about our experiences, hardships, and joys as mothers, and the discussion ranges from KidLit to Black Mirror to Michelle Obama to questions like “Why aren’t moms allowed to be sexy??”

     

    Host: Julie Strauss

    Website/Instagram 

     

    Guest: Yolanda Skeete

    Instagram 

     

    Guest: Vanessa Vicente

    Instagram



    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!

     

    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.

     

    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.

     

    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.



    Discussed in this episode:

     

    The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

    Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2022

    Maribel’s Year and Others by Michelle Sterling

    Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds

    Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds

    Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds

    The Couch Potato by Jory John

    The Bad Seed by Jory John

    Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

    Harambe

    Black Mirror TV Show

    The Sitting Month

    The Drowning Woman by Robin Harding

    Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

    The Wife Between Us by Sarah Pekkanen

    Judy Blume

    Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Movie

    Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

    Drowning by T.J. Newman

     

    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
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    50 mins
  • 150 The ACOTAR Panel

    150 The ACOTAR Panel
    Jul 3 2023
    If you have not yet experienced the joy of the "Court of Thorns and Roses" fandom, we are going to fix that today.   Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram   Guest Panel:   Victoria Snow Instagram   Fareya Instagram/TikTok/Goodreads   Nicole Burton Instagram/Goodreads     Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!   Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.   Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.   Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.     Discussed in this episode:   A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAR) by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Wings and ruin (ACOWAR) by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOFAS) by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas ACOTAR Wiki Emma Petersen mentioned the ACOTAR books as “bird porn” when she appeared on the podcast to talk about Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang on Episode 138 A Court of Tattoos and Rosé podcast Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi House of Earth and Blood: Book one of the Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas @Kaykaysbookshelf (an awesome bookstagram account – scroll her saved stories for Sarah J. Mass mini-guides [spoiler free], maps, glossaries, etc. Her account is well worth a visit if you are a fan. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Whalefall by Daniel Kraus Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Fantasy Romance Novel by Sue Lynn Tan Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross The Ballad of Songbirds of Snakes (a Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton   (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
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    45 mins
  • 149 Marion Hill on "The Book of Strange New Things" by Michel Faber

    149 Marion Hill on "The Book of Strange New Things" by Michel Faber
    Jun 26 2023

    Today I've got my first "three-peat" guest, Marion Hill. Just like in our two previous conversations, Marion introduced me to a book that I wouldn't have picked up on my own, that I sort of dreaded reading, and that I wound up loving and thinking about nonstop after I finished!

     

    Host: Julie Strauss

    Website/Instagram

     

    Guest: Marion Hill

    Website/Instagram

     

    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!

     

    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.

     

    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.

     

    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.

    Discussed in this episode:

     

    The Book of Strange new Things by Michel Faber

    The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende

    Eva Luna: A Novel by Isabel Allende

     

    Marion’s previous picks on the podcast

    Memory and Dream by Charles de Lint, which we talked about on Episode 008

    Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, which we talked about on Episode 083

     

    The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

    Gilead by Marilyn Robinson

    Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg

    The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

    A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

    The Sportswriter: Bascombe Trilogy 1 by Richard Ford

    Independence Day: Bascombe Trilogy 2 by Richard Ford

    The Lay of the Land: Bascombe Trilogy 3 by Richard Ford

    Let Me Be Frank with You: A Frank Bascombe Book by Richard Ford

    Be Mine: A Frank Bascombe Novel by Richard Ford

    The Kammbia Series by Marion Hill

    Marion’s 25 by Marion Hill

    Marion’s 25 Volume II by Marion Hill

     

    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
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    36 mins
  • 148 Ambika Devi on "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins

    148 Ambika Devi on "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins
    Jun 19 2023

    Host: Julie Strauss

    Website/Instagram

     

    Guest: Ambika Devi

    Website/YouTube/Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/LinkedIn

     

     

    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!

     

    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.

     

    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.

     

    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.

     

     

    Discussed in this episode:

     

    Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins

    Fun With Dick and Jane

    Lilith by Ambika Devi

    The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

    Cupid is a Bastard by Ambika Devi

    Journeys Out of the Body by Robert A. Monroe

    Danielle Garrett

    Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

    Artemis by Andy Weir

    The Martian by Andy Weir

    Project Hail Mary

     

    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
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    33 mins