The Book XChange Podcast

Episode 51: The BXC Review of ”The Candy House” by Jennifer Egan

The great and unclassifiable American novelist and journalist JENNIFER EGAN takes center stage in Episode 51 of the Book XChange podcast, and this is an episode co-hosts Jude and John Lovell had been looking forward to for a long time. Her 2010 novel 'A Visit to the Goon Squad' won the Pulitzer Prize, and now 12 years later Egan returns to some of the same characters in this follow-up she terms a 'sibling novel' to that earlier effort. This fascinating novel of interlocking stories riffs on social media, technology, human psychology, memory and identity, and yet somehow manages to be a page-turning and surprisingly funny read that digs into some truly compelling questions. Egan is a writer of great intelligence and curiosity, but does it all add up to a novel we'd recommend? Gotta stream, download or save for later to find out! Thanks for everyone's patience on this one, and continued support of the BXC!
**MUSIC BY VOIDZ PANDA & YOUNG WOLF**
Send your email: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com Leave us a voicemail: anchor.fm/book-xchange
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'All Men Are Brothers: Stories,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
'Leadership in Turbulent Times,' Doris Kearns Goodwin -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
An undisclosed novel -
'Cujo,' Stephen King -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Candy House,' 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' and various other books by Jennifer Egan -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
For episode 52, John and Jude will be looking down the tunnel at the rest of the year 2022 and talking about the books still to come this year that we are most looking forward to. If we do our jobs right, you'll have some new titles and writers on your reading radar for the rest of your summer and heading into the Fall!

Episode 50: Re:Verse

Poetry is on the menu for this milestone 50th episode of the Book XChange - and why not? The world's only double-barreled bibliophile podcast takes on the challenge of reading poetry in our hyper-fueled, attention-challenged 21st century: is reading poetry worth the struggle? What is the value of slowing down, focusing one's attention and taking on poets and poems you've never tried before? And of course, who are some of the poets who have impacted us, changed our view of reading poetry and maybe even changed our way of seeing the world? Reading poetry can be an immensely powerful and insightful experience for those who have the patience and curiosity to give it a try. Remember, the mind is like a parachute: it works a lot better when it's open. We hope you'll join us as we talk about the individual poems, poets and experiences we've had listening to poets reading their work that have stayed with us, in many cases, for years.
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Omeros,' Derek Walcott -
'The Bad Guys Won!,' Jeff Pearlman -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Soulstorm: Stories,' Clarice Lispector -
'The Candy House,' Jennifer Egan -
Poets/Poems discussed in this episode:
Mary Oliver -
Seamus Heaney, "Personal Helicon" and "Postscript" -
Louise Glück -
Walt Whitman -
Yusef Komunyakaa, "Thanks" and "Ode to the Maggot" -
R. S. Thomas, "The Belfry," "Kneeling," "The Empty Church" -
Richard Wilbur -
Derek Walcott, "Omeros" -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
We will be on a brief hiatus for the rest of May, but plan to return some time during the month of June with Episode 51, a review of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan's new novel, 'The Candy House.'

Episode 49: The Fate of the Planet

In this (quite literally) world-spanning episode, Jude and John look at books that dare to confront one of the most vexing and critical issues of our time: the impact our race is having on the physical environment. Our "common home" (in the phrase favored by Pope Francis) literally hangs in the balance due to a whole series of choices we've made as a species, and we wanted to read more from both the fiction and non-fiction sides of the aisle about what this means (and could mean) for the future of humanity. In a very real sense, few subjects are more worth educating ourselves about more than this one. We talk about speculative science fiction, popular scientific and nature writing, pioneering novelists who have been sounding the alarm for years and yes, we even bring up a well-timed and surprisingly accessible Papal encyclical. We found it to be a wide-ranging, eye-opening and fascinating subject to dive into, and hope our listeners will too - if we do our job right, this one will provide plenty of food for thought, if nothing else. Thanks as always for listening to and supporting this homegrown effort!
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'World Made By Hand,' James Howard Kunstler -
'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Wake,' Paul Kingsnorth -
'Stella's Carpet,' Lucy E. M. Black -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy,' Michael McCarthy -
'The Overstory,' Richard Powers -
'The Road,' Cormac McCarthy -
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
'Last Chance to See,' Douglas Adams -
'The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History,' Elizabeth Kolbert -
'Dune,' Frank Herbert -
'The Stand,' Stephen King -
'The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,' Dan Egan -
'Storm,' George R. Stewart -
'2312' & 'New York 2140,' Kim Stanley Robinson -
'Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home,' Pope Francis -
'Fiskadoro,' Denis Johnson -
'A Canticle for Leibowitz,' Walter M. Miller, Jr. -
'A Friend of the Earth' & 'When the Killing's Done,' T. C. Boyle -
'The Geography of Nowhere,' 'The Long Emergency' & 'World Made By Hand,' T. C. Boyle -
'Flight Behavior,' Barbara Kingsolver -
'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 50 is called "Re:Verse," and for the first time, the Book XChange will take on poets and poetry: the value and challenges of reading it, why it matters, favorite poets and epics written in verse, etc.

Episode 48: Giving Essays A Try

In the 16th century, Michel de Montaigne created a new form of literary self-expression. He called these short pieces "essays," from the French verb "essayer" - "to try." In Episode 48 of everyone's favorite literary podcast hosted by genetic duplicates, Jude and John "try" to explain the appeal of essays to them, and why they find it to be one of the most satisfying and thought-provoking of all literary forms. We then go on to recommend some of our personal favorite collections and writers of essays, which ones we badly want to read and just haven't gotten to, and which writers are regarded as masters of the craft. Essays can be about anyone or anything, and that's why this is such a rich literary rabbit hole to get lost in. We hope you enjoy this all non-fiction episode of the Book XChange podcast!
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Orphans: Essays,' Charles D'Ambrosio -
'The Wake,' Paul Kingsnorth -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Shepherd's Hut,' Tim Winton -
'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Essays,' Michel de Montaigne -
'Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose,' Flannery O'Connor -
'A Stay Against Confusion,' Ron Hansen -
'Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher,' Lewis Thomas -
'Orphans: Essays,' Charles D'Ambrosio -
'Pulphead: Essays,' John Jeremiah Sullivan -
'Interior States: Essays,' Meghan O'Gieblyn -
'Faith and Violence: Christian Teaching and Christian Practice,' Thomas Merton -
'This is The Story of a Happy Marriage,' Ann Patchett -
'The Best American Essays of the Century,' Ed. Joyce Carol Oates -
'The Cathedral of Imagination: Essays and Reviews,' Jude Joseph Lovell (FORTHCOMING) -
'Seek: Reports from the Edges of America & Beyond,' Denis Johnson -
'The Tunnel at the End of the Light: Essays on Movies and Politics,' Jim Shepard -
'What's Wrong With the World,' G. K. Chesterton -
The Essays of E. B. White -
'The Solace of Open Spaces,' Gretel Ehrlich -
'Upstream,' Mary Oliver -
'Playing in the Dark,' 'Mouth Full of Blood,' 'The Source of Self-Regard,' Toni Morrison -
'How to Travel with a Salmon,' 'Kant and the Platypus,' - Umberto Eco -
'God in the Dock,' C. S. Lewis -
'The Memory Chalet,' Tony Judt -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"The Fate of the Planet" will be the title of Episode 49, and will feature books that relate in some fundamental way to the environment and the consequences of not taking care of our home.

Episode 47: Novels with Spiritual Journeys

This time around, the brothers are looking at novels with overt spiritual themes - novels in which the main character, or characters, undergo some type of transformation or evolution (or devolution?) in what they believe and how they look at life. As we say in our introductory comments, the "Big Questions" and spiritual themes are something we've never shied away from on this podcast. Now, these thorny questions take center stage. Mind you, we're not going to solve any of them for you - but we're fascinated when writers have the guts to take them on and send their characters on a spiritual journey in some way. Ranging from ancient texts to contemporary stage plays, picaresque tales and dark allegories, this episode isn't afraid to dive into the deep end of the pool.
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse -
'In The Eye of The Wild,' Nastassja Martin -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Obsidian,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
'So You Wanna Be a Teacher: A Memoir,' Peter Kravitz -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse -
'Laurus,' Eugene Vodolazkin -
'Les Miserables,' Victor Hugo -
Various works of Marilynne Robinson, Wendell Berry -
'In This House of Brede' and 'Black Narcissus,' Rumer Godden -
'The Violent Bear it Away,' Flannery O'Connor -
'The Epic of Gilgamesh' -
'The Sunset Limited,' Cormac McCarthy -
'Heaven's My Destination,' Thornton Wilder -
'The Damnation of Theron Ware,' Harold Frederic -
'The Sojourn,' Andrew Krivak -
'Obsidian' and 'Little Fathers,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
In Episode 48, Jude and John will share their favorite collections of essays/essay writers, which will go in all kinds of interesting directions. Next time on the XChange...

Episode 46: Dealer’s Choice - Annie Proulx

Both Jude and John agree that it's high time, and a distinct pleasure, to dedicate one of our "Dealer's Choice" episodes to a female writer - in this case, the esteemed and unique American author Annie Proulx. For those new to the show, a Dealer's Choice episode is when your humble hosts choose a writer whose work means a lot to us, and is well worth recommending, and taking an in-depth look at their entire oeuvre. One of us first came to Proulx's work through her most famous novel (The Shipping News), one through her acclaimed series of stories set in Wyoming, but it didn't take either of us long to count ourselves as dedicated members of the Annie Proulx fan club. What makes her work unique, valuable, fascinating and worth your time? That is what we aim to unpack in Episode 46 of the Book XChange podcast. Whether you've read several of her books or know nothing about her, this is an episode - and a writer - not to be missed. (You're gonna have to trust your favorite book-loving brothers on this one.)
Website: anchor.fm/book-change
Email address: bookxchangetwins@gmail.com
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Laurus,' Eugene Vodolazkin -
'The Terminal Man,' Michael Chrichton -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Accordion Crimes,' Annie Proulx -
'Narcissus and Goldmund,' Hermann Hesse -
Works by Annie Proulx discussed in this episode:
'Heartsongs' (stories) -
'Postcards' (novel) -
'The Shipping News' (novel) -
'Accordion Crimes' (novel) -
'Close Range' (stories) -
'Bad Dirt' (stories) -
'Fine Just the Way It Is' (stories) -
'Barkskins' (novel) -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 47 will features novels/fiction that take its characters on a spiritual journey, which can be defined in any number of ways...

Episode 45: Monsters!

What is with the human family's fascination with MONSTERS and supernatural creatures? We try to unpack that perennial question and topic of interest in Episode 45 of America's favorite double-barreled books and reading podcast, The Book XChange. The Brothers Lovell reach deep back into the past with classics like "Frankenstein" and "Beowulf," but also mention some of our favorite modern-day contributions to the conversation. Along the way we talk about how monsters reflect darker parts of the human psyche, why the line between "man" and "monster" is sometimes blurry, and the astounding imagination/erudition of a 19-year-old girl. Though this topic may not be for everyone, those who appreciate a good monster tale will find a feast here that they can really sink their claws, tentacles, or teeth into. Thanks to all of our listeners, as always, for keeping this party rolling! -J & J
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Fine Just the Way It Is: Wyoming Stories 3,' Annie Proulx -
'Bird Cloud,' Annie Proulx; 'A Visit to the Goon Squad,' Jennifer Egan -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Shipping News,' Annie Proulx -
'Akenfield: A Portrait of an English Village,' Ronald Blythe -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Pardon My Fangs,' Elizabeth Starr Hill -
'Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus,' Mary Shelley -
Various works of H. P. Lovecraft, including 'At the Mountains of Madness,' 'The Dunwich Horror' and 'The Shadow over Innsmouth'
'Beowulf,' Anonymous/'Grendel,' John Gardner -
'Blood Meridian' & 'No Country for Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy -
'Gargantua and Pantagruel,' Francois Rabelais -
'It,' Stephen King -
'Borne,' Jeff Van Der Meer -
'Railsea,' China Meiville -
'Jaws,' Peter Benchley -
'Obsidian,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
'Day of the Triffids,' John Wyndham -
'The Essex Serpent,' Sarah Perry -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Next time up, we'll take a deep dive into the work of Annie Proulx as one of our "Dealer's Choices" episodes. An incredible writer, you don't want to miss this one - or her books!

Episode 44: The Working Life

Episode 44 begins with the classic strains of Bruce Springsteen's "Factory"... why? Because this time out, we are exploring books that are all about "the work, the work, the working life." For the vast majority of adults, work takes up much of our waking hours and in some ways (for better or worse) defines who we are. So it makes sense that innumerable books, both fiction and non-fiction, delve into how it shapes and impacts our lives. From office drones gutting through the tedium of their daily tasks, to African-Americans migrating north in search of work to provide independence and a better life, to writers grappling to express their ideas, to elite chefs managing the chaos of hellish Manhattan kitchens - we take a look at both the drudgery, and the dignity, of labor as manifested through great books.
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'What Are We Doing Here?: Essays,' Marilynne Robinson -
TBD -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A Month in the Country,' J. L. Carr -
'The Shipping News,' Annie Proulx -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Bartleby, the Scrivener,' short story by Herman Melville -
'Gig: Americans Talk About Their Jobs,' Ed. John Bowe, Marisa Bowe & Sabin C. Streeter -
'Independent People,' Halldór Laxness -
'Blood on the Forge,' William Attaway -
'Working Days,' 'Journal of a Novel' and 'In Dubious Battle,' John Steinbeck -
'Laborem Exercens (On Human Work),' Pope John Paul II -
'Moby-,' 'White Jacket' and 'Redburn,' Herman Melville -
'Microserfs,' Douglas Coupland -
'The Circle,' Dave Eggers -
'The Soul of a New Machine,' Tracy Kidder -
'The Jungle,' Upton Sinclair -
'Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,' Anthony Bourdain -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 45 can be summed in one word: MONSTERS! Come on back in about two weeks' time to find out more...

Episode 43: And Now for Something a Little Different: The BXC 2022 Kick-Off Show

After a 33-day hiatus, which felt really long for us if not for our listeners, the BXC brothers return and finally kick off 2022 with a looser, less structured episode filled with a little of this and that. First, in response to a suggestion from a listener, we share what books we gifted each other for Christmas at the end of last year (and why). Second, we kick around the idea of setting "resolutions" for the upcoming year in reading, and share a few of the ones we made for ourselves. And finally (there's a reason we titled this episode "something a little different") we cross over to another medium entirely and offer short reviews of two excellent, recent movies adapted from literary works: 'The Tragedy of MacBeth' and 'The Green Knight.' Hope you enjoy this grab bag of an episode, and we're looking forward to continuing "the great conversation" with you all through 2022 and beyond...
MUSIC BY VOIDZ PANDA, YOUNG WOLF
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome,' Mary Beard -
'Transcendent Kingdom,' Yaa Gyasi -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Bleak House,' Charles Dickens -
'The Death and Life of the Great Lakes,' Dan Egan -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
CHRISTMAS XCHANGE PICKS -
Jude gave to John: 'Perchance to Dream,' Charles Beaumont; 'The Sea Trilogy,' Rachel Carson -
John gave to Jude: 'Paradise,' Abdulrazak Gurnah; 'The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo,' Tom Reiss -
THE BXC TWINS' READING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022 -
Jude: Listed first 12 books to read in 2022; read 3 BIG books from his shelf; read 2 "Collected Stories" volumes from major fiction writers; read 3 biographies -
John: continue spiritual reading and vacillating between fiction and non-fiction; read more books about the natural world in 2022 -
THE BXC TWINS' SURPRISE MOVIE REVIEWS/RECOMMENDATIONS:
'The Green Knight,' directed by David Lowery, based on the anonymously-written medieval epic poem -
'The Tragedy of MacBeth,' directed by Joel Coen, based on the play by William Shakespeare -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 44 is once again... TBD! (Sorry folks, we will get back on track with teasing upcoming episodes very soon)

Episode 42: The BXC’s Best Books of 2021

For our final episode of 2021, we decide to broaden out a personal tradition and share it with listeners... we each share our 10 favorite reading experiences of the year, and discuss why these books made a lasting mark on us. Our choices are not at all limited to books that came out in 2021, but could be any book of any genre from any year. These books were "buried in our heads like a stinger" (to borrow from Flannery O'Connor) and just would not let go, no matter what else we might have consumed. We want to offer a sincere THANK YOU to anyone who chose to spend some of their valuable time listening to us blather on about books this year... we do not take your listening for granted, and while the twinly conversation would go on regardless, it has been humbling and heartening to receive all of your positive feedback about the show. We wish you all a very happy and restorative holiday season, and we'll be talking to you again in 2022!
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ PANDA
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'White Line Fever,' Lemmy Kilmister (w/ Janiss Garza) -
'A Prayer for the Dying,' Jack Higgins -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,' Anonymous, trans. by W. S. Merwin
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
JUDE's BEST BOOKS OF 2021 -
1. 'Extraterrestrial,' Avi Loeb -
2. 'Walking with Ghosts,' Gabriel Byrne -
3. 'The Songlines,' Bruce Chatwin -
4. 'The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allen Poe and the Forging of American Science,' John Tresch -
5. 'The Five Wounds,' Kristin Valdez Quade -
6. 'Klara and the Sun,' Kazuo Ishiguro -
7. 'Challenger: A Major Malfunction - A True Story of Politics, Greed and the Wrong Stuff,' Malcolm McConnell -
8. 'Night Boat to Tangier,' Kevin Barry -
9. 'Solar Bones," Mike McCormack -
10. 'Close Range: Wyoming Stories,' Annie Proulx -
JOHN's BEST BOOKS OF 2021 -
1. 'Via Negativa,' Daniel Hornsby -
2. 'The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World,' Wade Davis -
3. 'Exhalation: Stories,' Ted Chiang -
4. 'Fragments of an Infinite Memory: My Life with the Internet,' Maël Renouard -
5. 'The Mission: A True Story,' David W. Brown -
6. 'Bad Dirt: Wyoming Stories 2,' Annie Proulx -
7. 'The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories, Vol. 1,' Ed. by James D. Jenkins & Ryan Cagle -
8. 'Cockfighter,' Charles Willeford -
9. 'Interior States: Essays,' Meghan O'Gieblyn -
10. 'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 43... TBD!