Academia Plus Elves

Jenn Northington Jul 6, 2017

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Amanda and Jenn discuss Scotland reads, Cuban fiction, mind-blowing YA, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by The Separatists by Lis Wiehl and Libby.

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Questions

1. Hi Ladies!

I’ve always wondered if I’d have a need to send in a request to tap into your endless knowledge of books, and the need arose this week! I have been clerking for a federal judge for the past year. My time is quickly coming to an end in early August. Chambers is a tight-knit family of four. I’d love to give a book to each of my colleagues as a going away present and would love help with that!

Judge: Is an AVID golfer. I mean really avid. Do you have any good recommendations for golf coffee table books or a narrative nonfiction book about golf? Or really anything golf related? If that is too niche, he also enjoys legal thrillers a la John Grisham, but I would like to recommend him something in that vein but perhaps less mainstream?
Judicial assistant: She LOVES to cook. And she is a healthy eater. I think she would enjoy something that focuses on fresh, organic ingredients. She’s also from Florida. Do you have any great cookbook recommendations?
Co-clerk: Loves the outdoors and national parks. Avid hiker. I’m thinking a memoir where the author goes on a hiking trip or writes about their time exploring nature etc.
I hope that’s descriptive enough and appreciate any help you can offer!

Best,
–Chantalle

2. I am traveling to Washington D.C. for work at the end of July and I would like some D.C. related reads. These can be fiction or non-fiction but something historical would be nice.
–Ashley

3. Hi Ladies!

I recently discovered the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon a little over a year ago and just finished reading the 8th book at the end of August. Ever since I opened that first book I have been obsessed with anything and everything related to Scotland. Since it will be 3-4 more years before the next book comes out I would like to read more books set in Scotland to make the waiting easier lol. I’m not a huge reader of nonfiction but would love to try recommendations for fiction and nonfiction on this topic. I have read At The Water’s Edge by Sarah Gruen and I really enjoyed it. I am really enjoying the podcast and my TBR is getting longer and longer everyday.

Thanks!
–Leslie

4. Hi! I love the show! I would love a recommendation for a fiction book set somewhere in 20th century Latin America. A book with a great story, but also some historical/geographical tidbits in the background. I usually read fantasy or mystery, but I’m up for any genre. Thanks again!
–Janine

5. I am so happy this podcast exists! I have been looking for some help with recommendations for ages. My favourite books have all been about women in academia and the world, specifically in the earlier 20th century. I’ve read The Group, but maybe I am looking for a sort of female version of A Separate Peace or Dead Poets Society if you kind of understand what I mean. Sort of like book versions of the Julia Roberts movie Mona Lisa Smile.
Thank you so much 🙂
–Jennifer

6. I am looking for book recommendations for someone dealing with infertility. While I was struggling to get pregnant and then while I was in fertility treatments, I had a hard time finding books that made me feel less alone and broken. After a long process, I finally have my beautiful boy, but I still want to know what kinds of works are out there that could maybe be a comfort for someone who is going through a similar situation. When I was looking, I was interested in fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. They don’t necessarily have to feature characters with fertility issues, but I’m looking for books that can be a comfort and let you know that you aren’t alone in this. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
–Amanda

7. I have a very eclectic reading taste. I’ve recently been going through my contemporary YA fiction phase. I love Jandy Nelson and Melina Marchetta. I’m looking for another story with characters that will blow my mind. I want to feel like my life just changed when I’m done reading it. Can you help?
–Krista

8. I try very hard to read a number of books with diverse characters and authors, but I realized somewhere along the way I completely forgot to read books that represent my own culture/heritage. I’m a Cuban American and I realized I haven’t ONCE come across a novel where the main character is Cuban. I’ve read a good amount of books/authors of other hispanic origin, but not my own. The only things I’ve read have been two non fiction books- Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas, and a biography of Che Guevara.
Do you guys have any recommendations? I’d really like some fiction to read, but if you know of any good non fiction literature I’d be happy to know of those as well!
All the best, and thank you.
— Celia

Books Discussed

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter (November 9 2017)

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat

Murder in the Rough, edited by Otto Penzler

The Hour of the Land by Terry Tempest Williams

The Residence by Kate Anderson Brower

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean

Scotland: The Autobiography by Rosemary Goring

Death Going Down by Maria Angelica Bosco, translated by Lucy Greaves

The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark