Two Demi-Gods Going For A Walk

Jenn Northington Feb 15, 2018

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Amanda and Jenn discuss immigrant stories, royalty, close friendships, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by Here We Lie by Paula Treick DeBoard and Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi.

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The show can also be found on Stitcher here.

Questions

1. Hello!
I am wondering if you have any recommendations of any books about royalty in other countries besides the U.S. and Britain. I would prefer fiction, but am open to non fiction too!
Thanks for all your amazing recommendations!
–Marissa

2. Hi!

I recently pick up reading more voraciously again after a several year drought. I started listening to this podcast from the beginning and have already devoured a whole bunch of the recommended comics. I typically fall into a pattern of reading through whole series very quickly because I’m a tad bit obsessive, you could call me a binge reader in that sense.

I was hoping you could provide some recommendations that will challenge me from a story perspective (not a writing style), with some more deep/emotional themes. I’m kind of over the mystery thriller, vampires, Harry Potter type books.

Thanks,
–Courtney

3. I am a lover of books and read since I was a child, now that I have children of my own I want to pass that on to my girls. My dilemma is my 11yo doesn’t love to read, or even like to unless she has to for school. So my question is, can you recommend some books that will maybe jump start her love of reading. She just finished Eragon for school and claims she didn’t like it, but I know better, she was talking to the book. She’s a very girly girl if that helps.
–Melli

4. Hi guys,
I was hoping you could recommend me some fiction that focuses on the immigrant experience in America. I recently read and loved Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue and I would love to find more like it. I’m currently reading Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie but I’m not sure where else to look.
Thanks!
–Katherine

5. Basically: I’m looking for fiction in which the characters a) have extremely close friendships and b) take care of each other’s mental/physical health.

If that makes sense?

Examples: A Little Life and the ways in which everyone takes care of Jude, or The Rest of Us Just Live Here and the ways in which, well, everybody in that book takes care of everybody else.

Caveats: In spite of the example above, I generally don’t like YA.
–Alex

6. Hi Amanda & Jenn,

Love the show, especially how enthusiastic you are about all the books you are recommending!

I would like a recommendation myself. In the summer I love walking/hiking and climbing outdoors. Now that it’s winter I’m spending more time with a book on the couch. It would be great to read about the activities I’m missing.

I loved Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Into the Wild. Also love books with extensive walking like The Hobbit (Fantasy is definitely allowed) and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I haven’t been able to find many novels about climbing/with climber(s), so that would be a bonus. Not a big fan of non-fiction, although I thought The Places in Between by Rory Stewart was amazing.

Thanks so much!
–Lea

7. I stopped reading for awhile (blame Netflix and Hulu) and have recently gotten back in the habit. I’ve watched a lot of mob movies/shows lately so my first request would be any books about any type of mob, fiction or nonfiction (I do seem to have a thing for the Irish mob though).

My second request would be, since I’ve been reading mostly crime/murdery, darker type books, I’m looking for a break from that. I loved shotgun love songs by nickolas butler, a visit from the goon squad and sweetbitter. I do like music related fiction, the found family trope, romantic subplots and complicated women.
–Kate

Books Discussed

After the Flare by Deji Bryce Olukotun

Winston’s War by Max Hastings

The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole (out Feb 27)

Gather the Daughters by Jennie Malamed (trigger warning: sexual assault, eating disorders)

Gemsigns by Stephanie Saulter

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo