Political Witch Nuns

Jenn Northington Feb 1, 2018

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Amanda and Jenn discuss Moroccan authors, secret societies, nonfiction audiobooks, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert and our library cart giveaway.

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Questions

1. Hi!

I’m going on a trip to Morocco in March and I’m looking for some books to read to get me in the mood and help me better appreciate the culture/history as I travel. I read most genres apart from sci fi and horror, but would particularly like something in the land of literary/historical fiction or nonfiction. Even better if it is by a Moroccan author. Thanks in advance for the recs and I love the show!
–Sara

2. Hi Jen and Amanda!

My friends and I have toyed with the idea of starting a book club for years, and I was finally able to corral everyone into one group text to schedule our first meet-up (which will be around mid-January)! All the details have been decided, except for the most important item, which is choosing the actual book that we’ll read. My friends believe that, because I reached out and organized the event, I should also have the responsibility of selecting the first book. I can’t handle the pressure of this first world problem, so I’m asking for your help.

We’re all women in our mid-twenties who are in various stages in our careers and personal lives, but we’re all in agreement about the genres we’re into: romance, mystery/thriller, and travel/adventure.

Any suggestions on how to kick off our book club would be greatly appreciated! Bonus points if these books tackle the awkward quarter-life crisis themes that we all experience in our mid-twenties.

Thanks!
–Colby

3. Hello!
I am looking for your thoughts/recommendations on the read harder challenge task of “classic of genre fiction.” I was thinking of doubling up on this task and Oprah’s book club pick “I Know This Much Is True” by Wally Lamb” Would it count for classic ? Do you have any other recommendations for this task ?
–Stef

4. Hello,

I am looking for novels about things like conspiracy theories and secret societies and such–kind of like the Da Vinci code, but well written (and I guess a bit more “literary”). I tried The Name of the Rose, but found it way too dry, and also didn’t like the Rabbit Back Literature Society. I’ve read and enjoyed all of Marisha Pessl’s books, and Mr. Penumbra’s 24 hr bookstore. The Dante Club is on my TBR.
–Danielle

5. I love the recommendations you guys give. I love nonfiction audiobooks. But I have trouble finding new ones to listen to. My favorites are The Gene and The Emperor of all Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Quiet:The Power of introverts, Grit by Angela Duckworth, and THe End of Average by Todd Rose. I am just not sure where to go from here. I have Isaac’s Storm and When Breath Becomes Air on my TBR.
–Stacey

6. Hello! I love all things book riot, but especially this podcast! Your recommendations fuel my never ending TBR list, and it brings me so much joy to hear others as excited about books as I am! Now I would love to hear your thoughts on cozy mysteries! I am in grad school right now for occupational therapy, so these light hearted stories (aside from all the murder and deception) seem like something that I could really get into to distract me from my persistent neurofatigue.

This is a new genre that I have delved into recently, specifically the magic potion mystery series by Heather Blake. I love the aspects of the small town, hitching post, that is depicted in the series, and the quirky characters.

Are there any specific cozy mystery series you guys love? I think I stared at the shelf in the mystery section of the bookstore for a solid hour before I settled on Heather Blake’s series. There is so much out there! I need more direction!

Thanks so much,
–Brittany, tired grad student

7. Hello all!

I recently discovered the show and am loving all of the good, odd-to-find recommendations I wouldn’t normally have heard of. I am the solo mom of a beautiful toddler who is both American and African (her father is from Ethiopia where I used to live). Do you know of any books that talk about raising strong, proud biracial or bi-cultural children? TIA!
–M

Books Discussed

I Thought It Was Just Me by Brene Brown

Pit Bull by Bronwen Dickey

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami

The Happy Marriage by Tahar Ben Jelloun, translated by Andre Nafis-Sahely

Laila Lalami on Moroccan literature

Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman (trigger warning: sexual assault)

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

Dune by Frank Herbert