The Book XChange Podcast

Episode 66: Unforgettable Short Stories

Short fiction fans, here's another episode tailor-made for you. Jude and John sit down and discuss some of our personal "unforgettable" short stories - not necessarily our all-time favorites, but the ones that we just can't get out of our heads... sometimes years or even decades after having read them. A few classics are discussed here (Bierce, Lovecraft, Poe, Wharton, O'Connor) - but for the most part, we try to bring up stories that may not be as well-known or widely anthologized. What follows is a classic BXC conversation that blends the heart-breaking, horrific, hopeful and the "holy sh*t!" into a big stew. We expect it will be seasoned to your liking! 

Episode 65: Science Fiction Xtravaganza!

Welcome to the Book XChange's Science Ficiton Xtravaganza, wherein your humble twin hosts line up and discuss a plethora of science fiction titles we've read, remembered, and want to recommend. Science fiction is SUCH an incredibly broad genre to cover, and we don't even try to survey it all - rather, we list books we've read over the years that have really stayed with us for one reason or another, and that we think have something to offer to our listeners. Whether you're a sci-fi junky or only dabble in it occasionally, we think there's something here for everyone. Enjoy responsibly! 

FIXED Episode 64: The BXC’s Best Books of2023

According to our personal (and this podcast's) annual tradition, brothers and co-hosts Jude and John Lovell list their favorite reading experiences of the year that was 2023. Then we choose a few titles each to dive into at greater length, titles that didn't come up or weren't discussed in depth in any of the episodes recorded in the past year. We hope listeners discover some interesting books they may want to check out themselves... or, see if our takes on books they have read align with theirs!
As always, thanks for supporting the BXC podcast. Onward now to a whole new year in reading!

A Quick Message re: Episode 64

John delivers a quick update on Episode 64, which was accidentally uploaded out of order. Tune in so you can figure out which Episode 64 is the right one to listen to/download. Thanks for supporting the show, folks. More great content coming!

Episode 64: The BXC’s Best Books of 2023

IMPORTANT: The editing on this version of Episode 64 was messed up, sadly, and the audio was accidentally uploaded in a jumbled order. We apologize for the screw-up. If you want to hear the Episode as it was originally intended, and we hope you do - please download the "FIXED Episode 64" version of this show, which will appear in the feed very soon. 
Full title of the CORRECT version of Episode 64 is: "FIXED Episode 64: The BXC's Best Books of 2023."
Thanks for your patience with us, and for listening to the BXC podcast. -J & J

Episode 63: Memorable Female Characters in Fiction

This time out, you're listening to the BookXXChange podcast... get it? We're focused on characters bearing the XX chromosome in Episode 63, wherein Jude and John choose their most memorable FEMALE characters in fiction. It's quite a diverse list as we cover everything from literary classics to Westerns, fantasy epics, immigrant stories, and even strange Japanese tales in which women fall in love with actual brick-and-mortar stores (yes, you read that right). Some of these characters are beloved around the world, others much less known... but all have something fascinating to teach about that common pursuit we all share: being human. Hope you enjoy listening to this unique discussion even half as much as we enjoyed having it!

Episode 62: The BXC reviews ”The Rabbit Hutch” by Tess Gunty

"The Rabbit Hutch" by Tess Gunty is a debut novel by a young writer from Indiana that has taken the literary world by storm, winning the prestigious National Book Award last year and garnering ecstatic praise far and wide. But what did America's favorite book nerd twins think of this buzzy, socially conscious novel? That question gets answered in episode 62 of the Book XChange podcast, as we dive deep into this polyphonic novel about a decaying town in Middle America and various residents of a dilapidated apartment building located therein. Glad to have you along for the ride. Please like, review, share and support the podcast if you're so inclined... and thank you!

Episode 61: Stephen King, Then & Now (Part 2)

Well Constant Readers... one week later, we have made good on our promise (against all odds!) and we present to you Part 2 of our Stephen King extravaganza. We begin with an in-depth take on King's 2022 novel Fairy Tale, which we both enjoyed - and then, John lobs several King-related questions at Jude (the more experienced King reader) that are designed to get listeners thinking about their own favorites and opinions when it comes to King's books. Questions like "Which King book is the scariest?," "What are your most egregious King blind spots?," and "If forced, what would you say is the best of all King works?" So many of us are King fans in one way or another, and with good reason. So tell your friends, spread the word about the show, and belly up to the table for another heaping helping of the King!

Episode 61: Stephen King, Then & Now (Part 1)

Episode 61 of everyone's favorite twin-led book podcast is so big, it had to be split into two parts! But, when your subject is the all-time legend and prolific writer STEPHEN KING, well, then it makes sense. This double-barrelled episode has been a long time coming for your fraternal hosts, as we are of the generation that has literally grown up reading King.
But how do you take on so massive a subject as King's still-growing pile of work? Our approach is called "Then & Now" - we look at a work from very early in his career (The Long Walk), and then in Part 2, we review one of his most recent books (Fairy Tale). And along the way, we get in PLENTY of discussion about King's voluminous other work, what makes him special and unique, and why Stephen King may just be as "American" as Mom, movies, and apple pie. Enjoy the feast, "Constant Readers," and as always, thanks for being a part of this literary voyage with us...

Episode 60: The Art of the Memoir

What exactly is it about memoirs that make them so widely read and discussed, and so compelling? What distinguishes a good memoir from one that becomes a classic in the genre? What makes a person's experience or ordeal worth sharing with a wider audience, and what value can another person's trauma/survival story/struggle impart to a reader? For our 60th episode, Jude and John dig in and examine what is it about this particular form that hits a nerve with people - and share some of our own favorite examples and "wish list" reads. If you've ever been mesmerized by the narrative of someone else's life experience, this episode may be for you. Thanks as always for listening.