That Stack Of Books with Nancy Pearl and Steve Scher - The House of Podcasts

That Stack of Books listeners, I am back with an interview with none other than Nancy Pearl. Nancy has written her first novel, "George and Lizzie." It's a love story, with one partner, Lizzie, trying to figure out just how committed she is to George, who seems to be going along with a heart full of love and a head full of patience. We met in Seattle at the Bryant Corner Cafe, our ongoing book club haunt, to talk about her foray into fiction.

Here are some books that should appeal to the fan and the skeptic of science fiction.

Teens at Lake Forest Park's King County Library talk about what they are reading and why.

Award Winning writer Stewart O'Nan on his newest novel and on the craft of writing

Books that take the reader into the darkest places of the human experience.

We have had wonderful weather the past few April days. It made us happy and had us reaching for books that made us happy.

Toure writes about what it is like to be a black person in America now. It is tough.

Nancy wanted to talk about two books that delve into America's civil rights history. But there are so many more books and ideas to consider, we couldn't stop at two.

Rasputin has become a mini-industry. Scholar Douglas Smith gained access to archives that shed new understanding of his place in Russian history.

The recovery of nature is every bit as fascinating as the eruption itself.

The American political system needs a few good books. Not for throwing, for reading.

We are lucky that so many great writers live in the Pacific Northwest.

Throughout this show we debate the difference between thriller and mystery and crime novels and end up suggesting, like always, that maybe we should stop categorizing every thing. But, really, how can we stop. It is what we humans do. Well actually there are two categories of humans, ones who make categories and ones who don’t

How do you respond when a love one is diagnosed with cancer? Steve Scher talks with author Abbe Rolnick about her collection of essays and poems she write while her husband and her dealt with his cancer

What is the difference between a love story and a romance? Which do you prefer? We sat down at the Bryant Corner Café to talk about love. Valentines Day had everyone thinking about it, but we got into a pretty substantive discussion about the difference between love stories and romances. Finally, different kinds of love, between different people emerge as our main theme. Nancy started out, however, by calling our attention to a recently published novel she found remarkable by an author she follows. “A God In Every Stone,” by Kamila Shamsie, is the story of a young English woman who goes on an archeological dig in what would become Pakistan just before WW1 just breaks out. Nancy says, “What we get in this wonderful, wonderful novel is a perspective on WW1 from the Indian soldiers who went to fight for the British and died in great numbers.” It is also a story of the beginnings of the fight for independence on the sub-continent. She says it opens up a period of history as only fiction can, bringing new insights and revealing the roots of our present turmoil in the struggles of the past. It is a challenging book for the way the story is told and for the subject matter, but she says it fabulous. Here are the books we talked about. Some are romances. Most are love stories. What do you think, what is the difference? “Gone With The Wind,” by Margaret Mitchell “Romeo and Juliet,” by William Shakespeare “Soulless” by Gail Carriger, a romance about a young woman who is rudely attacked by a vampire. Nancy loved it. “Astrid and Veronika,” by Linda Olson. Sharon says two women, one young, one old, share a love, but not a sexual love. “Me Before You,” by JoJo Moyes. A young woman takes care of a wheel-chair bound man. Nancy loved it because JoJo Moyes doesn’t give into the easy way out andturned what mighthave beenaromance into a love story. “Plainsong,” by Ken Haruf a love story between two old men and the young girl they care for. “Dancing Alone Without Music” by Larry Gildersleeve, who is a friend of Jenny’s. She says it’s an evolution of different loves. Diana Galbadon’s long and involved books. “Life After Life” by Kate Atkinson. Judy says it is about love within a family. “Boys In The Boat,” by Daniel James Brown. Judy said that what amazed her was the love of Mr. Pocock for the boats themselves and the young men in the boat. So now, when defined so broadly, what book isn’t a love story? “Angle of Repose,” by Wallace Stegner, in which Nancy asks, who loves whom? ( well, she said “who loves who,” but you know how autocorrect can be.) Another love story by this definition can be Stegner’s “Crossing to Safety.” “Still Alice,” by Lisa Genova “Cocoon of Cancer” An Invitation to Love Deeply,” by Abbe Rolnick with Jim Wiggins “Chocolat,” by Joanne Harris is Roz’s choice. That prompts Nancy to plug her other books, which she says don’t get the attention they deserve. She recommends “Gentlemen and Players.” “Like Water For Chocolate,” by Laura Esquivel “Bettyville,” by George Hodgman is the story of a son who leaves his life to take care of his 90 year old mother. Susie says it is funny and delightful. “Cold Mountain,” by Charles Fraser “Atonement,” by Ian McEwan “Love In The Time of Cholera,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez “Love Again,” by Doris Lessing. Not about romantic or erotic love, but about the trembling between them says Elwyn. He also loves the episode in Tom Sawyer where he explores his passion of Becky Thatcher. “Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand,” by Giaconda Belli “Middlemarch,” by George Eliot Wrapping, we had shout outs for Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache mysteries, Dorothy Sayers’ romance between Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane and to get into the western genre, “Shane,” by Jack Shaefer about the love of a young boy for his father and the man who rides in to help. “Bridges of Madison County,” by Robert Waller, or “Fanny Hill,” by John Cleland, but now we are getting pretty far afield...

Eli Sanders delved into the failures of US Criminal Justice and Mental Health that led to a horrific crime in Seattle. Steve Scher interviews"While the City Slept" author about the people grappling with the aftermath.

Martha Hawkins is a successful restaurateur. She struggled to achieve her success.

Books have a special power to make a reader sad. We often come back to them for their honesty and power.

A survey of just a few of the new fiction coming out in 2016. Much more to come in upcoming episodes. This year many major American writers are coming out with new work.

Nick Licata set out to be a citizen activist long before he took his politics into the Seattle City Council. He continues the work now that he is retired, writing, raising alarms and encouraging the next generation of activists. Licata believes you can fight city hall, and you can join it. Elected politicians respond to citizens who organize, rally and compromise. Licata fought and lost a lot of battles during his 5 terms on the council but his voice shaped many debates and policies. He wants more people to step up and enter the battle and to that end he has written “Becoming A Citizen Activist: Stories, Strategies and Advice for Changing Our World.” We sat down to talk at the Greenlake coffee shop, Revolutions Espresso. Nick Licata’s book, published by Sasquatch Press, is available online and at bookstores. He is taking the stage at Town Hall January 19th to talk about his book and through stories, inspire to get involved. Permalink