The Book XChange Podcast

Episode 31: ”The Intimidators” (Books We’re Afraid To Take On)

Readers around the world... admit it. We all have them. Those big, complicated, intimidating books that glare at us from our shelves, almost with an air of defiance, just daring us to take them down, dust them off, and you know... actually READ them. But for whatever reason, we haven't been able to get up the guts to do so... well, welcome to episode 31 of the Book XChange podcast, wherein America's favorite twin book nerds accept the challenge... not to read these books, you understand! Let's not get hasty. Merely to discuss those books that have to this point intimidated us enough to keep gathering dust on our shelves, rather than actually be cracked open. Why are Jude and John reluctant to take on some books, and which ones continue to deter them? Which ones have YOU yet to crack open? Come on, you know there's a list. We're sharing ours this time around, and trying to convince each other (or deter each other, as the case may be) to answer the call. This episode was brought to you by the color... YELLOW. BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Chronicles,' Bob Dylan - 'Extraterrestrial,' Avi Loeb - What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Tree of Man,' Patrick White - 'Machines in the Head: Selected Stories,' Anna Kavan - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: The 'Game of Thrones' series, George R. R. Martin - The Iliad and The Odyssey, Homer - The work of Jane Austen and Henry James - 'War and Peace,' Leo Tolstoy - 'The Silmarillion,' J. R. R. Tolkien - 'City of God,' Augustine of Hippo - 'The Gulag Archipelago,' Alexander Solzhenitsyn - 'Bleak House,' Charles Dickens - The work of William T. Vollman - 'My Struggle,' Karl Ove Knaussgard - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Roughly aligning with the 4th of July weekend in the U.S., the Book XChange brothers will talk about books that somehow deal with freedom and independence - not just from the American perspective, but as a human ideal.

Episode 30: Animal Kingdom

The Book XChange goes on safari for this, the 30th episode of the show... and discuss favorite or notable books that feature, or are about, animals. Once we got going on this topic, we realized how deep a rabbit hole (shout out to Richard Adams!) it is. Which makes sense, because if there's one thing that unites peoples of all times, places and cultures, it's a love for/fascination with our animal friends. There's a reason they are featured so heavily in our myths, cosmologies, religions and artistic efforts. How much do they really understand about us? Do animals have consciousness? culture? souls? values? How much do we really understand about them? From famous epics that pit man against beast to road novels with non-human companions - as well as non-fiction classics that aim to deepen our knowledge and appreciation for other species - this episode takes all of these fascinating topics on and more. Even fantastical creatures get their due... we're looking forward to having our listeners join us for this epic sojourn into the Animal Kingdom. Enjoy!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Tree of Man,' Patrick White -
TBD -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy,' Jane Leavy -
'Solar Bones,' Mike McCormack -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Moby ,' Herman Melville -
'Last Chance to See,' Douglas Adams -
'Travels with Charley,' John Steinbeck -
'Beyond Words: How Animals Think and Feel,' Carl Safina -
'The Whale Rider,' Witi Imihaera -
The 'Game of Thrones' series, George R. R. Martin -
'The Peregrin,' J. A. Baker -
'The Soul of An Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness,' Sy Montgomery -
'Grief is the Thing With Feathers,' Max Porter -
The 'Chronicles of Narnia' series, C. S. Lewis -
'Watership Down,' Richard Adams -
The 'Dun Cow' books, Walter Wangerin -
'H is for Hawk,' Helen Macdonald -
'Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia,' Dennis Covington -
'Platero y Yo,' Juan Ramon Jimenez -
'Animal Farm,' George Orwell -
'The Dialogue of the Dogs,' - Miguel de Cervantes -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"Books We're Intimidated By" - the brothers discuss which books they've long thought about reading, but for whatever reason have lacked the courage or motivation to take on... an entire episode on books we HAVEN'T read? Yep, that's right... should be different, anyway!

Episode 29: Spoiler Alert! (Our Favorite Endings in Literature)

Be warned! By definition, every single book discussed in this episode of the Book XChange podcast is going to be utterly spoiled... Jude and John discuss some of their favorite all-time endings in literature, and why we feel they've made such a lasting imprint on our memories. There are many ways to end a story: wicked twists in the plot, notes of ambiguity and mystery, group hugs of happiness, or shocking, tragic losses. But for most readers there are those books that linger in the mind because of the way the author "stuck the landing," bringing all of the elements of his/her tale together in a uniquely satisfying - or sometimes, maddenly unsatisfying, but memorable! - close. We came up with a long list of interesting choices for this discussion, so much so that it could easily spawn a second episode to continue the theme in the future. What book endings linger in your mind? Now you can email the show at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com to share your recommendations, observations, criticisms, or whatever you'd like! Thanks as always for listening. -J & J
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering,' Makoto Fujimura -
'Avoid the Day: A New Nonfiction in Two Movements,' Jay Kirk -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Heart of the Matter,' Graham Greene -
'The New Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein: Expanded Universe,' Robert A. Heinlein -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
John 21: 20-25 -
Matthew 28:18-20 -
'The Trial,' Franz Kafka -
'Mariette in Ecstasy,' Ron Hansen -
'Silence,' Shusaku Endo -
'The Grapes of Wrath,' John Steinbeck -
'The Lord of the Rings trilogy ("The Scouring of the Shire,"), J. R. R. Tolkien -
'The Road,' Cormac McCarthy -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"Animal Kingdom" - books featuring or about animals

(SPECIAL) Episode 28: Celebrating Year One; Books About Twins

In this special celebratory episode, your twin hosts Jude and John Lovell reflect back on the first year of the Book XChange podcast: what it's meant to us, and what we hope to continue to do with it going forward. And in a nod to the unique "hook" of our show, that is, identical twins reflecting on books and reading... we tackle books that feature, or are in some way about, twins and the phenomenon of "twinhood." Good twins, evil twins, estranged or missing or lost twins, damaged twins, "midnight twins"... there are so many great myths, novels and plays that explore the compelling and fascinating nature of this mysterious bond. We bring our own personal perspective of having lived for 50+ years as genetic duplicates to these books and stories, and unpack what each of them get right, exaggerate, and even illuminate for those who lead what you might quite accurately call "a double life." Whether you are a twin, a parent of twins, are related to a set or know some in your circle of friends/associates, this episode may have you thinking about their lived experience in a different way. A very special thank you to all of you who have ever listened to the show since April of 2020!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Shadowbahn,' Steve Erickson -
'Cornell Woolrich Omnibus: Rear Window & Other Stories; I Married A Dead Man; Waltz Into Darkness,' Cornell Woolrich -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A History of the World in 100 Objects,' Neil MacGregor -
'Summer Lightning and Other Stories,' Olive Senior -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'The Comedy of Errors,' William Shakespeare -
'Midnight's Children,' Salman Rushdie -
'East of Eden,' John Steinbeck -
'The Bridge of San Luis Rey,' Thornton Wilder -
'The Other,' Thomas Tryon -
'The Dark Half,' Stephen King -
'One and the Same: My Life As an Identical Twin and What I've Learned about Everyone's Struggle to Be Singular,' Abigail Pogrebin -
'Twins: And What They Tell Us About Who We Are,' Lawrence Wright -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"Spoiler Alert" - on Episode 29, we plan to discuss our favorite book endings! Should be a fun one...

Episode 27: Hemingway

The recently-premiered new PBS documentary "Hemingway" (from the renowned filmmaking team of Ken Burns and Lynn Novick) provided the BXC brothers with the perfect excuse to dive back into the short fiction of one of America's most celebrated and influential writers. Because the film centers on Hemingway's stories rather than his novels, John and Jude choose four of "Papa's" most famous tales, unpack them and examine how they exhibit his most impressive, intriguing and challenging qualities as a writer. Along the way we also get into some biographical details, our personal responses to Hemingway's work and how they may have changed over the years, and discuss and debate what made him both an admirable talent and a complex, tragic human being. It's all things Hemingway on Episode 27 of the XChange... we hope you'll jump on board and join us for a wild, bumpy ride through some exotic locations and pretty dark tunnels.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard -
'Ready Player Two,' Ernest Cline -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Life of Graham Green, Volume II: 1939-1955,' Norman Sherry -
TBD -
Short Stories by Ernest Hemingway discussed in this episode:
"The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber" -
"Hills Like White Elephants" -
"Big Two-Hearted River (Parts 1 & 2)" -
"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Celebrating the first anniversary of the podcast (thank you listeners!), Jude and John decide to link back to the genesis/unique 'hook' of our show to kick around books (both fiction and non-fiction) about twins.

Episode 26: The BXC Review of ”Via Negativa” by Daniel Hornsby

Episode #26 delivers the third of an occasional series of in-depth reviews of books that have caught our attention (for whatever reason) and we feel are worth extended discussion and recommendation. This time, it's another debut novel, from Memphis-based (but Indiana-born) writer Daniel Hornsby. "Via Negativa" is a fascinating, spiritually rich hybrid of road novel, revenge tale and spiritual quest - steeped in Catholic history and tradition, but also in some of the strange, kitschy, roadside Americana that anyone who has traveled cross-country through this broad-shouldered land will recognize. As the homeless mendicant Fr. Dan wrestles with several morally complex, heart-breaking decisions and mistakes of his priesthood, he may also be bringing to light some of the most thorny and important questions that face the Catholic Church in the third millennium. Jude and I find a lot of quirky humor, pathos, and genuine spiritual insight to consider during this fascinating and fun discussion.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Labyrinth of Solitude,' Octavio Paz -
'The Drowned World,' J. G. Ballard -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Life of Graham Green, Volume II: 1939-1955," Norman Sherry -
'The Hemingway Stories: As Featured in the Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on PBS,' Ernest Hemingway -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Via Negativa' by Daniel Hornsby
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Examining the short stories of Ernest Hemingway, in conjunction with the forthcoming PBS documentary on Hemingway by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (premiers April 5 in the U.S.)

Episode 25: ’Story Like You Mean It’ with Dr. Dennis Rebelo (Interview)

The BXC co-hosts welcome a very special guest to the program for a fascinating and wide-ranging interview: Dr. Dennis Rebelo, professor, national speaker, career coach, mentor to CEOs and entrepreneurs and family man. Dr. Rebelo is about to release a brand new book that he has been researching and writing for the past decade, 'Story Like You Mean It: How to Build and Use Your Personal Narrative to Illustrate Who You Really Are.' Jude, John and "Dr. D" get deep into why it's important to know and understand your own personal narrative; storytelling as a path towards personal growth and transformation; mining your own life experiences to prepare for "high stakes moments;" the effects of social media on self-understanding; and more. This conversation was a rich experience for us and we hope our listeners will enjoy this "XChange" of ideas, and spread the word about this enlightening and engaging book!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Tyll: A Novel,' Daniel Kehlmann -
'My Lost Mexico: The Making of a Novel,' James Michener -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy," Michael McCarthy -
'The Relive Box and Other Stories,' T. C. Boyle -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Story Like You Mean It: How to Build and Use Your Personal Narrative to Illustrate Who You Really Are,' Dr. Dennis Rebelo (INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR)
**Available for pre-order on Amazon now, available widely on March 16**
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Episode 26 will be our third "BXC Review" episode, where we take a deeper dive into one particular book... in this case, it's Daniel Hornsby's debut novel 'Via Negativa'

Episode 24: Thriller!

The tension is palpable in Episode 24 of the BXC podcast, as we discuss some of our favorite books and writers that might fall under the broad category of "Thriller." Every reader loves a story that keeps your posterior nailed to the chair and your fingers flipping pages, almost automatically, to find out what happens next. Jude and John talk about what makes a thriller, how the term is really more of a broad category vs. a genre, and serve up plenty of examples of "unputdownable" books. This is an episode sure to generate a multitude of opinions and plenty of discussion... and we've love to hear from our listeners about their examples of books that kept them riveted! As usual, thanks for listening, wherever you are located... and keep reading!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Look at Me," Jennifer Egan -
'Sweeney Astray: A Version from the Irish,' Seamus Heaney (trans.) -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Five Wounds,' Kirsten Valdez Quade -
'Via Negativa,' Daniel Hornsby -
Books/Writers discussed in this episode:
'Sphere,' 'Jurassic Park,' Michael Crichton -
'Final Flight,' Stephen Koontz -
'The Eagle Has Landed,' Jack Higgins -
'No Country for Old Men,' Cormac McCarthy -
The novels of John Le Carré -
The novels of Tom Clancy -
'The Quiet American,' 'The Third Man,' Graham Greene -
'Underground,' Haruki Murakami -
'And Then There Were None,' Agatha Christie -
Various short stories of Daphne du Maurier -
The novels of Patricia Highsmith -
'Killers of the Flower Moon,' David Grann -
'Endurance,' Alfred Lansing -
'DeliverMe,' Jude Joseph Lovell -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
A special episode coming up! The Book XChange welcomes Dr. Dennis Rebelo to the podcast, as we discuss his forthcoming new book 'Story Like You Mean It' (March 16, available for pre-order now on Amazon)

Episode 23: Landscape as Character

Buckle up... because in this globetrotting episode, the twin hosts of the Book XChange podcast take you to locations far and wide: the orchards of California, islands in Polynesia, the ancient moors of England, northwest Canada, coastal fishing villages in Maine, the Antilles in the Caribbean, the Swiss Alps, and more. In Episode 23, Jude and John offers their recommendations of books that utilize landscape as character - meaning, the physical environment these stories are set in are so fundamental to the reading experience, they become "characters" in themselves. It's a fascinating topic, one we think generated a rich and entertaining discussion... we hope you'll think so too. Are there novels or stories that you can't forget, in part because of their setting? If so, then this episode is for you!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Right Stuff," Tom Wolfe -
'The Bones of St. Pierre,' Steven Knapp -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Citizen: An American Lyric,' Claudia Rankine -
'The Wayfarers: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World,' Wade Davis -
Jude's Recommendations of Books that Utilize Landscape as a Character:
'In Dubious Battle,' John Steinbeck -
'Mardi,' Herman Melville -
'The Orenda,' Joseph Boyden -
'The Bayou Trilogy,' Daniel Woodrell -
'The Sport of Kings,' C. E. Morgan -
John's Recommendations of Books that Utilize Landscape as a Character:
'The Hound of the Baskervilles,' Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -
'Close Range: Wyoming Stories,' Annie Proulx -
'The Country of Pointed Firs,' Sarah Orne Jewett -
'Rock Crystal,' Adalbert Stifter -
'Omeros,' Derek Walcott -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
TBD!

Episode 22: Dealer’s Choice - T. C. Boyle

The second installment of our "Dealer's Choice" occasional series - in which your Book XChange podcast hosts decide to feature a particular writer whose work we feel deserves in-depth discussion and recommendation. This time around, it's one of America's most acclaimed and energetic living writers, Thomas Coraghessan (T. C.) Boyle. Widely known and appreciated for his prolific output, cultural satire, environmental themes and rollicking, often biting sense of humor, Mr. Boyle is the author of some 18 novels and 12 short story collections across 40+ years. But Jude and John have at times had different reactions to his work, and this makes for a lively and multi-faceted discussion that we hope listeners with find both illuminating and entertaining.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Haj,' Leon Uris
'The Right Stuff,' Tom Wolfe
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Atlas of A Lost World: Travels in Ice Age America,' Craig Childs
'The Getaway,' Jim Thompson
Works by T. C. Boyle discussed in this episode:
'Descent of Man' (stories)
'The Women' (novel)
'Tooth and Claw' (stories)
'When The Killing's Done' (novel)
'Water Music' (novel)
'World's End' (novel)
'After the Plague' (stories)
'Budding Prospects' (novel)
'The Relive Box' (stories)
'A Friend of the Earth' (novel)
'Without A Hero' (stories)
'Greasy Lake' (stories)
'East is East' (novel)
T. C. Boyle Stories (Vol. 1)
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Books featuring landscape as a character