The Book Case
- Episodes
- 235
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
Are you stuck in a reading rut? The Book Case makes the case for books outside of your usual genre. Wander the aisles of your local bookstore with Kate and Charlie Gibson and meet fascinating characters who will open your appetite to new categories while deepening your hunger for books. This weekly series will journey cover to cover through the literary world, featuring interviews with best-selling authors, tastemakers, and independent bookstore owners. New episodes post every Thursday. Subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ for ad-free listening, early access to new series, exclusive bonus content, and hundreds of episodes from the 20/20 true crime vault. Visit apple.co/2020truecrime to subscribe now.
Episodes 235
Chad Harbach and the Art of Female Perspective
Chad Harbach hasn’t published a new novel in 15 years…until now. We could not be more excited, because his novel The Art of Fielding was one of our all time favorites. This time he brings us back to the campus …
Show notes
Chad Harbach hasn’t published a new novel in 15 years…until now. We could not be more excited, because his novel The Art of Fielding was one of our all time favorites. This time he brings us back to the campus of Westish College for The Brightness, a novel about female friendships, the complexities of the female struggle, and the art of being a woman. This is no easy feat for a male author and he does it beautifully. A worthy successor to The Art of Fielding, The Brightness is a wonderful piece of fiction and we loved talking to him about how he produced it. In this show we also talk to Comma, a Bookshop (the owner is Victoria Ford). We will be talking to bookshops in one city and town at a time to find out how the support their communities, and how they support each OTHER in the community in which they operate, and Comma is our first in a series of Twin Cities independent booksellers. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Brightness by Chad Harbach
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
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Nathaniel Philbrick Brings Us The Rush
Nathaniel Philbrick has written a lot of books putting American History into perspective. His latest, The Rush, is about the CA gold rush, which, much to our surprise, was a determining factor in jump starting …
Show notes
Nathaniel Philbrick has written a lot of books putting American History into perspective. His latest, The Rush, is about the CA gold rush, which, much to our surprise, was a determining factor in jump starting the Civil War. How was the Gold Rush a reflection of America’s struggle with race? How did it cause the railroad to be built across the country? Exactly how much gold was there and how much fighting occurred as a result? If CA is so huge, why is it not two states? We answer all these fascinating questions and more, learning from Nathaniel Philbrick, one of America’s premiere history authors. We also talk to an old friend of Kate’s, Andrea Carson, who takes independent bookstore road trip trail vacations all over the country. Join us! Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Rush: California Gold, The Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World by Nathaniel Philbrick
Travels with George by Nathaniel Philbrick
Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick
In the Hurricane’s Eye by Nathaniel Philbrick
Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick
Who Read Moby Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick
A Way off Shore by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
Sea of Glory by Nathaniel Philbrick
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel PhilbrickFollow Andrea’s Bookstore Travels at @neverendingbookstorecrawl
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Horror Greats for Halloween
Charlie challenged Kate to get him to consider horror literature. And she did just that. We assembled Stephen Graham Jones, Jennifer McMahon and Victor LaValle to talk about why horror speaks to them and how …
Show notes
Charlie challenged Kate to get him to consider horror literature. And she did just that. We assembled Stephen Graham Jones, Jennifer McMahon and Victor LaValle to talk about why horror speaks to them and how they write it so well. It’s an extended and deeper conversation of what aired on GMA a week ago, and we just love this conversation. Join us if you dare!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
My Heart is a Chain Saw by Stephen Graham Jones
Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones
Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones
Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle
The Changeling by Victor LaValle
Big Machine by Victor LaValle
The Ecstatic by Victor LaValle
Stay Buried by Jennifer McMahon
The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
Burntown by Jennifer McMahon
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Bonnie Garmus and the Unique World of Peck & Peck
Bonnie Garmus’ follow up to GMA Book Club Pick Lessons in Chemistry, called Peck & Peck, is a wild and funny foray into the world of poetry. Compulsively readable with unforgettable characters, the novel …
Show notes
Bonnie Garmus’ follow up to GMA Book Club Pick Lessons in Chemistry, called Peck & Peck, is a wild and funny foray into the world of poetry. Compulsively readable with unforgettable characters, the novel centers around Batter, a poetry editor who ends up at a world renown poetry publication, called Peck & Peck. What is the world of poets and their editors occupy? What do they have to believe in to do well? We ask the author. Also, we are joined by Periwinkle books, a new store in Bronxville NY. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The General’s Daughter by Nelson DeMille
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
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Yiyun Li and the Music of Writing
When we visited with Ann Patchett a few months ago, she talked almost non stop about Yiyun Li’s newest, MUSIC AGAINST THE NIGHT, which she called “close the perfect novel”. We went right home and read it and …
Show notes
When we visited with Ann Patchett a few months ago, she talked almost non stop about Yiyun Li’s newest, MUSIC AGAINST THE NIGHT, which she called “close the perfect novel”. We went right home and read it and booked Yiyun for her earliest availability, because she was right. Yiyun Li, the writer of MUSIC AGSINST THE NIGHT, joins us to talk about her beautifully written new book, and why she felt, at this stage in her career, she felt comfortable tackling a literary trilogy. We also talk to a not for profit, BINC, whose purpose is to financially support independent booksellers for any variety of reasons. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li
Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li
Wednesday’s Child by Yiyun Li
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li
Where Reasons End by Yiyun Li
The Vagrants by Yiyun Li
Gold Boy, Emerald Girl by Yiyun Li
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li
Whistler by Ann Patchett
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
Turtle Diary by Russell Hoban
The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard
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TWO FOR ONE: Robert Kolker AND Chloe Benjamin
This week we have to terrific authors in one show. Robert Kolker’s newest, The Vanishing Family, is a look at a family afflicted with an early onset dementia, and how this family could revolutionize the way we …
Show notes
This week we have to terrific authors in one show. Robert Kolker’s newest, The Vanishing Family, is a look at a family afflicted with an early onset dementia, and how this family could revolutionize the way we think about the aging mind. Chloe Benjamin was GMA’s September Book Club pick, and although we are late to the party, we are proud to get to attend at all. It’s a mind-blowing book about time flowing backwards, and forwards. Join us for a sit down with two great authors and their two great books.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Understory by Chloe Benjamin
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
The Anatomy of Dreams by Chloe Benjamin
The Vanishing Family by Robert Kolker
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
Lost Girls by Robert Kolker
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Catherine Grace Katz: the Hindenburg and the Humanity
Up until now, there hasn’t really been a complete compendium on the Hindenburg disaster. Catherine Grace Katz gives it us in SHADOW BEFORE THE FLAME, and it is a page turner. Filled with top notch research …
Show notes
Up until now, there hasn’t really been a complete compendium on the Hindenburg disaster. Catherine Grace Katz gives it us in SHADOW BEFORE THE FLAME, and it is a page turner. Filled with top notch research, Katz drops readers squarely in the 1930’s so that they experience the majesty, mystery and looming fascism that cloaked the Hindenburg’s journey from Germany to the US. Something the size of three football fields was destroyed in 34 seconds. What did the people see on the ground? What did the passengers feel and see as it combusted? Did anyone live? These are all questions asked and answered on this week’s podcast. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War by Catherine Grace Katz
The Daughters of Yalta by Catherine Grace Katz
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
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Jennifer McMahon and the Allure of Haunted Towns
Jennifer McMahon has been called the Shirley Jackson of her generation. Her newest, Stay Buried, is a fascinating look at what can happen to a small town when beset with an almost inhuman pandemic, and how they …
Show notes
Jennifer McMahon has been called the Shirley Jackson of her generation. Her newest, Stay Buried, is a fascinating look at what can happen to a small town when beset with an almost inhuman pandemic, and how they turn on each other as the diseases claims victim after victim (sound familiar?). Come join us for a great conversation with Jennifer in which we talk abut her ides, her process, and how there is a touch of the scary in so many of the classics we love.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Stay Unburied by Jennifer McMahon
The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
Kin by Tayari Jones
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Hamlet by William ShakespeareLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jodi Picoult Talks Hollow Bones
Jodi Picoult’s newest, Hollow Bones, is probably more topical than even she would have wanted. A book that heart wrenchingly twists the anniversaries of 9/11 along with a serious look at Post Partem Psychosis …
Show notes
Jodi Picoult’s newest, Hollow Bones, is probably more topical than even she would have wanted. A book that heart wrenchingly twists the anniversaries of 9/11 along with a serious look at Post Partem Psychosis, Picoult acknowledges how relevant this story may be in the shadow of the Lindsay Clancy trial. She of course, could not know how riveting and frightening that trial would be for so many Americans to read about and watch, and this book treats the subject with sensitivity and care. Join us as we talk to Picoult about how she feels about PPP as a mother herself (and grandmother) and how the medical system needs to do better for new moms.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books featured in this episode:
Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
Vanishing Act by Jodi Picoult
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult
Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
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Harlan Coben Gives Us a Writing Class
Plot Twist by Harlan Coben is a non fiction book that focusses on writing: the desperation, the inspiration, the execution…it’s all here. And it’s compulsively readable and wonderfully conversational, just like …
Show notes
Plot Twist by Harlan Coben is a non fiction book that focusses on writing: the desperation, the inspiration, the execution…it’s all here. And it’s compulsively readable and wonderfully conversational, just like Harlan. Join us as we ask him about his tips and tricks, and why there is no substitution for getting your heart and mind on the page.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books featured in this episode:
Plot Twist: Life, Craft and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben
Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon
Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben
Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
Drop Shot by Harlan Coben
Fade Away by Harlan Coben
Back Spin by Harlan Coben
One False Move by Harlan Coben
The Final Detail by Harlan Coben
Darkest Fear by Harlan Coben
Promise Me by Harlan Coben
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Ashley Kahn and the Wonder of Paul Simon’s Graceland
Graceland, by the great Paul Simon, was always a big deal in our house. From the Boy in the Bubble to the Myth of Fingerprints, it was on almost constant repeat, the soundtrack of my childhood. Ashley Kahn’s …
Show notes
Graceland, by the great Paul Simon, was always a big deal in our house. From the Boy in the Bubble to the Myth of Fingerprints, it was on almost constant repeat, the soundtrack of my childhood. Ashley Kahn’s book, Days of Miracle and Wonder, is a thorough, beautifully researched compendium of how the album was made. A real examination of Simon’s genius, this book breaks down the album and its effects on the music industry and the world. Join us as we discuss a seminal moment in music history, and a terrific book.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Days of Miracle and Wonder by Ashley Kahn
A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane’s Signature Album by Ashley Kahn
The House that Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records by Ashley Kahn
Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece by Ashley Kahn
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Why Catcher in the Rye Still Captures Us
We love doing “classics” episodes. And since The Catcher in the Rye is turning 75 this year, it seems that lots of folks in the book world are talking about it and we thought we would hop on board. Our two …
Show notes
We love doing “classics” episodes. And since The Catcher in the Rye is turning 75 this year, it seems that lots of folks in the book world are talking about it and we thought we would hop on board. Our two distinguished guests for this conversation are Kenneth Slawenski, one of the world's foremost historians on J.D. Salinger, and Stephen B. Shepard, a magazine editor who penned a fascinating book on the complexities of Salinger’s character. We hope you will join us in thinking about how our readings of Catcher in the Rye change over the years, and how the novel continues to touch the souls of so many readers.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction by J.D. Salinger
J.D. Salinger: A Life by Kenneth Slawenski
Salinger’s Soul: His Personal and Religious Odyssey by Stephen B. Shepard
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Meg Richardson and the True Voice of Adolescence
This is an interesting show, because the person who really championed the read this week was Arlene Gibson, the matriarch of the Gibson Family. A lifelong school teacher and administrator for girls’ schools …
Show notes
This is an interesting show, because the person who really championed the read this week was Arlene Gibson, the matriarch of the Gibson Family. A lifelong school teacher and administrator for girls’ schools, she fell in love with Paradise Pawn by Meg Richardson. And when Arlene tells us to do something, we do it. Paradise Pawn in the story from the perspective of a young 14 year old girl named Jackie who works in a Pawn Shop in Florida. Full of humor, heart and an adolescent voice that is sincere and true to a very difficult age, this is a great book. If the age of young teenagers confuse you (maybe you are a mom, dad, caregiver or yourself a 14 year old girl) this book is an eye opener and a heartbreaker. We talk to both Arlene and Meg. Join us!
Find books mentioned in The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this episode:
Paradise Pawn by Meg Richardson
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Chris Bohjalian Writes His Most Personal Novel
Chris Bohjalian is prolific to say the least. With about 25 novels under his belt, he hits the bestseller list often with his unforgettable characters and twisty plots. But his newest, The Amateur, is his most …
Show notes
Chris Bohjalian is prolific to say the least. With about 25 novels under his belt, he hits the bestseller list often with his unforgettable characters and twisty plots. But his newest, The Amateur, is his most personal novel to date. The narrator, Mira, was a caddy, just as Chris was for most of his high school career. And she is a writer, just like Chris, her sense of humor and feelings about writing are pure Chris. It’s a page turner with some terrific writing. And we talk to Elderberry and Plum, a new bookstore in Springfield, Illinois. Join us!
Find books mentioned in The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this episode:
The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian
The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian
The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian
The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian
The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian
The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
The World According to Garp by John Irving
Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov
All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
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Stephanie Soileau and the Richness of Cajun History
Should the Waters Take Us a is a novel of great beauty…centered around the swamp letters in the south of Louisianna. Whereas so many novels focus on story and character-this one focusses on place and how this …
Show notes
Should the Waters Take Us a is a novel of great beauty…centered around the swamp letters in the south of Louisianna. Whereas so many novels focus on story and character-this one focusses on place and how this place has shaped the lives of the characters that live there. As climate change shifts the land beneath our feet and oil companies have raided the Acadian swamps for their natural resources, the Cajun background is ever changing, and often full of tragedy. We also talk to Final Draft, the bookstore in Kansas that JUST opened. We check in to see how their opening went and how they are feeling now. Join us!
Find books mentioned in The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this episode:Should the Waters Take Us by Stephanie Soileau
Last One Out Shut Off the Lights by Stephanie Soileau
On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
The Hill by Harriet Clark
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
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An Injustice in the Justice System
Pamela Colloff is an accomplished investigative journalist and has written "Catch the Devil" about a frighteningly prolific jailhouse snitch. Paul Skalnik testified in dozens of cases that inmates in Florida …
Show notes
Pamela Colloff is an accomplished investigative journalist and has written "Catch the Devil" about a frighteningly prolific jailhouse snitch. Paul Skalnik testified in dozens of cases that inmates in Florida prisons had confessed their guilt to him. Often prosecutors won convictions based largely on Skalnik’s testimony including four cases where he was instrumental on putting men on Florida’s death row. One of them, Jim Dailey, was convicted of murdering a 14 year old girl. Despite evidence that has come out since Dailey’s conviction, he sits on Florida’s death row. He has been there over 40 years unable to get a new trial. Colloff repeatedly met Skalnik who said he would tell her the truth about all his testimonies. He never did. But Colloff has reported the story in brilliant detail and writes about how often prosecutors use jailhouse snitches knowing their testimony may be tainted. Skalnik’s repeated claims of jailhouse confessions defied credulity... so why did prosecutors continue to put him on the stand? Why didn’t judges disallow his testimony? Why did appellate courts accept his word? It’s a compelling story - worth a reader’s time.
Find books mentioned in The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this episode:Catch the Devil by Pamela Colloff
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Double Header: Jenny Jackson and Scott D. Reich
Jenny Jackson’s newest, The Shampoo Effect, tells the story of an insular gang of year-round beach residents who have known each other all their lives. Until one member of their clique begins to date outside of …
Show notes
Jenny Jackson’s newest, The Shampoo Effect, tells the story of an insular gang of year-round beach residents who have known each other all their lives. Until one member of their clique begins to date outside of the group-they are generally an exclusive “they go out on and off” type of friends. So how will they handle a new girlfriend they don’t know or with whom they have so little in common? The book is nuanced, funny and asks the question: what does marriage mean in the current world? We also talk to Scott D. Reich whose book One Day in September tells the story of a historic baseball game that evolved into the All-Star game we know today. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode:
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
One Day in September by Scott D. Reich
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Paul Tremblay: AI and the Not So Distant Future
Paul Tremblay has written a science fiction book that will prompt all sorts of important questions about AI, the role of consciousness in humanity, and how writers might have to work around AI in order to keep …
Show notes
Paul Tremblay has written a science fiction book that will prompt all sorts of important questions about AI, the role of consciousness in humanity, and how writers might have to work around AI in order to keep their work original and sustainable and it’s called DEAD BUT DREAMING OF ELECTRIC SHEEP. We love a book that poses important questions like these while still being a good page turner, and this is one of those. This is the story of Julia, a semi professional video gamer asked to take remote control of a body in a vegetative state. It’s suspenseful, strange, and will leave you with all sorts of questions about the age in which we live. We also talk to Final Draft Books in Wichita Kansas, which is opening this weekend (TAKE NOTE WICHITA). This husband and wife owner team bring a starry eyed excitement to the store that will charm the pants of all our listeners. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep by Paul Tremblay
Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
The Pallbearer’s Club by Paul Tremblay
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Phillip K. Dick
The Feeling of Life Itself: Why Consciousness Is Widespread but Can't Be Computed by Christof Koch
2666 by Robert Balano
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez
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Kevin Powers and the Art of Writing War
Kevin Powers’ Children of the Wild is a book about Roy and Ennis, two friends on a farm who sign up for WWI, one excited for battle, one a feral child baffled by war. What does war do to friendship? To the …
Show notes
Kevin Powers’ Children of the Wild is a book about Roy and Ennis, two friends on a farm who sign up for WWI, one excited for battle, one a feral child baffled by war. What does war do to friendship? To the minds of men? We talk to Kevin, a veteran of the war in Iraq, about his ability to write war so well and the effects of PTSD on his characters. We also talk to Bartleby Books in Vermont…join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Children of the Wild by Kevin Powers
A Line in the Sand by Kevin Powers
A Shout in the Ruins by Kevin Powers
Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting by Kevin Powers
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist
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Our Favorites of 2026….So Far
2026 is half over. And Kate turned 50 on June 16th. So in honor of all of this half life, we decided to talk about our favorite books so far of 2026. Tana French, Tayari Jones, Ann Patchett and Allegra Goodman …
Show notes
2026 is half over. And Kate turned 50 on June 16th. So in honor of all of this half life, we decided to talk about our favorite books so far of 2026. Tana French, Tayari Jones, Ann Patchett and Allegra Goodman all made the list, but there are so many books we have loved this year that we think we mention just about all of them. Then we quiz each other on rapid fire and get sort of gooey about it. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Kin by Tayari Jones
The Keeper by Tana French
This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman
Whistler by Ann Patchett
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving
The Hero Next Door by Martha Raddatz
On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward
More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen
The Things We Do Not Say by Elizabeth Strout
Python’s Kiss by Louise Erdrich
Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott
The Power Broker by Robert Caro
The Holy Bible
Martyr by Kaveh Akbar
There, There by Tommy Orange
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
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Carlos Barragan Shows Us Why Online Scams Work
Carlos Barragan’s book The Yahoo Boys schooled us on the huge and terrifying world of online moneymaking scams. From the romance scams (pretending to be a man or woman you are not, wooing others into sending …
Show notes
Carlos Barragan’s book The Yahoo Boys schooled us on the huge and terrifying world of online moneymaking scams. From the romance scams (pretending to be a man or woman you are not, wooing others into sending you money), to celeb scams (pretending to be a celebrity for money), all the way to adoption scams (send us money, we will get you a baby). As horrible as these schemes are, Barragan takes an in depth look at the scammers, specifically in the community of Ikotun, Nigeria, painting a thorough portrait of the scammers and the loneliness in our world that allows them to thrive.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode:
The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception and the Real Lives of Nigeria’s Romance Scammers by Carlos Barragan
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Martha Raddatz Recognizes the Heroes Next Door
Martha Raddatz is a war correspondent, one of the biggest household names in front line reporting. Her newest book, The Hero Next Door tells the story of the service men, women and the caregivers who bring …
Show notes
Martha Raddatz is a war correspondent, one of the biggest household names in front line reporting. Her newest book, The Hero Next Door tells the story of the service men, women and the caregivers who bring honor to the uniform. From celebrations to heartbreak, these are the stories that have stayed with Martha throughout her decade of brave work, shadowing families and soldiers both on and off the battlefield. We are also talking to a mother daughter team that run LALA Books in Lowell, MA. Join us for two great conversations!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The Hero Next Door by Martha Raddatz
The Long Road Home by Martha Raddatz
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
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Ann Patchett and an Audience!
Ann Patchett has written a new novel, and if you are a listener to this show, you know we are both huge fans of her work. Her newest, Whistler, is beautiful book about grace, kindness, the relationships we …
Show notes
Ann Patchett has written a new novel, and if you are a listener to this show, you know we are both huge fans of her work. Her newest, Whistler, is beautiful book about grace, kindness, the relationships we can’t let go and what we learn of ourselves in a crisis. When we asked if we could come down to Parnassus in Nashville TN, she said yes. So, with great enthusiasm we hopped on planes and did The Book Case in front of a live audience at her Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville. We also have the tail end of our interview with Jesmyn Ward. I mean…Jesmyn Ward AND Ann Patchett? Doesn’t get better than that. Join us.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Run by Ann Patchett
This is the Story of a Marriage by Ann Patchett
Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Taft by Ann Patchett
Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
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Jesmyn Ward on Pain and Beauty
Jesmyn Ward is arguably one of the most important writers of our generation. She has won two National Book Awards before fifty (first woman to do that and first Black woman to do that). And in this, her new …
Show notes
Jesmyn Ward is arguably one of the most important writers of our generation. She has won two National Book Awards before fifty (first woman to do that and first Black woman to do that). And in this, her new essay book, ON WITNESS AND RESPAIR, she writes essays on everything from Faulkner to Hurricane Katrina. This book is in part a look back at some of her most impactful essays, speeches, and book introductions-but this is also a remarkable book full of pain, fascination and joy. Join us in our conversation with one of the generations most thoughtful and talented writers.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode:
On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward
Let us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward
Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Heavy by Kiese Laymon
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The Years by Nicholas Delbanco
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J. Ryan Stradal Edits and Delivers
It has been quite a few months since we checked in with J. Ryan Stradal, our writer in residence. He is in his editing stage, making sure that the latest draft he delivers is the best he can do. AND, he has a …
Show notes
It has been quite a few months since we checked in with J. Ryan Stradal, our writer in residence. He is in his editing stage, making sure that the latest draft he delivers is the best he can do. AND, he has a title-NEXT WEEK WHEN THINGS CALM DOWN (we love this title). We talk to him about where he is, why it takes so long to get a book out and how is feeling about this very personal novel. We also talk to The Nook in Lancaster PA about how and why they got into the book business. Join us.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
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Laurie Frankel, Impossible Realism and Caroline Bicks’ Childhood Ghosts
Today The Book Case has another two for one. Laurie Frankel’s newest, ENORMOUS WINGS is funny, thought provoking and will have you questioning the vitality of choosing everything in your life from those first …
Show notes
Today The Book Case has another two for one. Laurie Frankel’s newest, ENORMOUS WINGS is funny, thought provoking and will have you questioning the vitality of choosing everything in your life from those first steps towards independence to dying with dignity. An incredible read you won’t want to put down. Caroline Bicks talks to us about her newest, MONSTERS IN THE ARCHIVES. In it, she explores the archives of Stephen King’s early works and tells us why he is enormously popular and worthy of academic study. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel
One, Two, Three by Laurie Frankel
Family Family by Laurie Frankel
This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel
The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel
Goodbye For Now by Laurie Frankel
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King by Caroline Bicks
Shakespeare, Not Stirred by Caroline Bicks and Michelle Ephraim
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Elizabeth Strout Tries Something New
Elizabeth Strout has departed from Olive Kittredge, Lucy Barton and Burgess Boys; she has even departed from Maine. Her newest, THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY, introduces us to Artie Dam, a teacher in Massachusetts …
Show notes
Elizabeth Strout has departed from Olive Kittredge, Lucy Barton and Burgess Boys; she has even departed from Maine. Her newest, THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY, introduces us to Artie Dam, a teacher in Massachusetts who is just as full of depth, pain and laughter as any character Strout has ever written. Haunted by the divisiveness that has beset our nation, he searches for meaning in his family and his work, and is upended by a secret he never saw coming. A wonderful book full of Strout’s amazing ability to explore the follies and foibles of the human mind, THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY will charm you and such you in. Join us for a conversation about why she chose to depart from her already beloved characters to explore someone new.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Lucy By the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Oh William! By Elizabeth Strout
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kittredge by Elizabeth Strout
Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout
Winter by Elizabeth Strout
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin
Love and Summer by William TrevorLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Books for Mother's Day
If you had a mother who was a strong influence in your life, we wanted to honor her with this week’s Book Case episode. Sometimes we want to find all the right words to tell mom how much she meant to us and we …
Show notes
If you had a mother who was a strong influence in your life, we wanted to honor her with this week’s Book Case episode. Sometimes we want to find all the right words to tell mom how much she meant to us and we can’t find them. This week we share some great books that would make terrific gifts for Mother’s Day. From Mary Laura Philpott to Niall Wiliams to Whoopi Goldberg, there is something in this week’s Book Case for every type of mom. Grab a pen and paper and join us to make your Mother’s Day shopping easy this year. Join us!
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's show:
Where Rivers Part by Kao Kalia Yang
Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg
The Time of the Child by Niall Williams
Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg
Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott
Class Clown by Dave Barry
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Jason Reynolds on Music, Reading and Writing
Jason Reynolds is one of the best young adult writers of our generation. But don’t let the label fool you into thinking that young adult writing hasn’t provided some of the most important books in the American …
Show notes
Jason Reynolds is one of the best young adult writers of our generation. But don’t let the label fool you into thinking that young adult writing hasn’t provided some of the most important books in the American Literary Canon (Catcher in the Rye? To Kill a Mockingbird?). His latest, Soundtrack, explores the life of teenagers busking great music in New York subway stations. It is also about the fact that even though we are born into a family that never leaves us, our chosen family of friends is just as important. Funny, gritty and brilliantly written, this is a book that brings to you all the sights and smells of New York City, both above and underground. Jason speaks so beautifully also about writing and the importance of reading…well, we got addicted to just listening to him. Join us and you will see why.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's show:
Soundtrack by Jason Reynolds
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
Miles Morales, Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds
The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
When I was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Coach by Jason Reynolds
Patina by Jason Reynolds
Sunny by Jason Reynolds
Lu by Jason Reynolds
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Black Boy by Richard Wright
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jasmyn Ward
Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
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Why Are Boys Falling Behind On Reading?
The Book Case is largely about talking to authors, yes, but we believe that reading is critical for everyone. We believe it is most important for kids, that raising readers is one of the most important duties a …
Show notes
The Book Case is largely about talking to authors, yes, but we believe that reading is critical for everyone. We believe it is most important for kids, that raising readers is one of the most important duties a parent can perform. But we read a study recently that said boys reading scores are lower than girls. And not just in the US, boys reading scores are lower internationally as well. Why? What is the key to teaching boys to read, and to love it for life? We are joined by Dr. Sean Reardon at Stanford author of the study as well as Dr. Nakia Townes President of Accelerate, which is studying how to turn and research into action for our kids. Finally, we are joined by Brayden Piper and his mom Lauren, who have been helped by Accelerate’s efforts to elevate boys love of reading. We had a piece on Good Morning America a few weeks ago that touched on these issues, but in this podcast we take a deep dive. Join us for this important discussion.
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