African American families - Fiction; Racially mixed people - Fiction; African Americans - Fiction; New Orleans (La.) - Fiction; Los Angeles (Calif.) - Fiction
Jervey Tervalon discusses his book, “Lita.” He begins by discussing his previous book, "Dead Above Ground" and how this book begins where the last one ended. Tervalon explores the plot of this new book which follows the protagonist Lita Du...
Jews - Germany - History - 1800-1933; Germany - Rural conditions; Germany - Ethnic relations; Rose, Emily C. - Family; Jews, German - Illinois - Chicago - History - 19th century
Emily C. Rose discusses her book, “Portraits of Our Past.” She begins by talking about her own German-Jewish background, and how she became interested in researching her family after seeing two portraits hanging at her grandmother’s house. ...
Gooch, Brad, 1952-; Spirituality - United States; United States - Religion
Brad Gooch discusses his book, “Godtalk.” He begins by explaining the new religious phenomenon of Urbantia, a book that was supposedly sent down to a farmer in Chicago by aliens in the 1920s. He talks about traveling around America and how he...
Galicia (Poland and Ukraine) - Fiction; Aristocracy (Social class) - Fiction; Intelligence officers - Fiction; Jewish preaching - Fiction; Revolutionaries - Fiction; Conspiracies - Fiction; Rabbis - Fiction; Europe - History - 1871-1918 - Fiction
Michael André Bernstein discusses his novel, “Conspirators.” He begins by explaining how he is a professor in Berkeley, CA and teaches English and comparative literature. He describes the plot of his book: a play writer who must go back over...
Class reunions - Fiction; Women - United States - Fiction; Friendship - Fiction
Rona Jaffe discusses her novel, “After the Reunion.” She begins by explaining that this book is a sequel to her novel, “Class Reunion,” and follows the same group of characters. She talks about how she wanted to explore strong women in...
Terrorism - United States - Fiction;
Conspiracy - Fiction
Jess Walter discusses her novel, “The Zero.” She begins by talking about her main character who is paid to clean up at Ground Zero after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. She discusses how America stopped remembering the violent parts of...
African American neighborhoods - Fiction;
Real estate business - Fiction;
Real estate agents - Fiction;
Gentrification - Fiction;
Ex-convicts - Fiction;
Journalists - Fiction;
Harlem (New York, N.Y.) - Fiction
Mat Johnson discusses his novel, “Hunting in Harlem.” He begins by explaining that his book is a story about the recreation of Harlem and bringing in a new community. He introduces his 3 main characters who are released from prison and...
Children of interfaith marriage - Germany - Biography;
Jews - Germany - History - 1933-1945;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) - Germany - Personal narratives;
Germany - Biography
Cynthia Crane discusses her book, “Divided Lives.” She begins by explaining how she studied in Germany and wanted to interview people who were half Jewish and half Christian. She describes her own personal experience finding out that her...
Kate Braverman discusses her novel, “The Incantation of Frida K.” She begins by talking about how she was able to adapt her poetry into a full-length novel. She talks about the life of artist Frida Kahlo, her marriage to fellow painter Diego...
Molly Chappellet discusses her book, “A Vineyard Garden.” She begins by explaining that she and her husband bought a vineyard in Napa Valley, California. She discusses how she has learned to design, cook, and entertain there. She shows...
Gibson, Carole Ann (Fictitious character) - Fiction; African American women lawyers - Fiction
Penny Mickelbury discusses her book, “The Step Between,” which is about a corporate attorney Caroline, whose husband was killed. Motivated to find the killer, Caroline begins her own private investigation firm. Penny has developed this story...
Young women - Fiction;
Cerebrovascular disease - Fiction;
Jewish women - Fiction;
Venice (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Elisa Albert discusses her novel, “The Book of Dahlia.” She begins by explaining her book is about a young woman who learns she is dying from a brain tumor. She talks about how her character collects self-help books and attempts to understand...
Giacometti, Alberto, 1901-1966; Artists - France - Biography
Laurie Wilson discusses her book, “Alberto Giacometti.” She begins by explaining the early life of the Surrealist sculptor Alberto Giacometti. She talks about how the artist grew up in Switzerland, and decided to become an artist because his...
Alain Elkann discusses his novel, “Piazza Carignano.” He begins by explaining that his book is about a young Italian man who finds out that his uncle was a Fascist and a Jew. He describes why many Italian Jews went to Concentration Camps. ...
Conflict of generations - Fiction; Parent and adult child - Fiction; Brothers and sisters - Fiction; Fathers - Death - Fiction; Trials (Murder) - Fiction; Painters - Fiction; New England - Fiction
George Minot discusses his novel, “The Blue Bowl” He shares the plot of the book, which follows a young painter, Simon Curtis, who becomes the prime suspect in his father’s murder trial. In the novel, Minot portrays children scarred by their...
Leonard Wolf discusses his novel, “The False Messiah.” He begins by explaining that his book takes place in the year 1630 and follows a real man named Shabbethai Tzevi who believed he was the second coming of the Messiah. He describes the...
Bible. O.T. - Antiquities - Fiction; Women archaeologists - Fiction; Archaeological thefts - Fiction; Christian antiquities - Fiction
Steve Shagan discusses his novel, “The Discovery.” He begins by explaining that his book is about two archaeologists who fall through a desert hole in Syria and find hidden temples. He talks about how this is a true story of how two...
Mark Bloom discusses his book, “J. K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 1989.” He begins by explaining that he is an accountant and a spokesperson for the J. K. Lasser Tax Institute. He discusses the subtle changes in tax forms each year that people...
Families - Fiction;
Mothers and daughters - Fiction;
Parent and adult child - Fiction
Rhea Kohan discusses her book, “Hand-Me-Downs.” She begins by explaining that her book is about four generations of women who bond through parenting and family instincts. She talks about her relationship with her own family and her mother’s...
Job hunting;
College students - Employment;
Students - Employment;
Summer employment
Lawrence Graham discusses his book, “Jobs In the Real World.” He begins by explaining that he is a job counselor at Princeton and wrote the book out of his own experience and from what other people have told him. He talks about the problems...
