The Book XChange Podcast

Episode 21: Celebrating the Short Story/”Door in the Air” Launch Party

The Book XChange Podcast celebrates short stories in general - and, the release of co-host Jude Joseph Lovell's brand new story collection, "Door in the Air" - in this special episode. Jude has been writing and releasing short stories off and on for over 20 years, with two previous short story collections to his credit... and now, he's just published his "New and Selected Stories, 1999-2020." John interviews Jude about writing short fiction, putting together the new collection and how his writing has evolved over the years. After that, the twins discuss what makes short stories such a compelling form of fiction, and bring up some of their favorite examples and masters of the craft. Thank you all for following and supporting the BXC Podcast into 2021!

Episode 20: Top Books of the Year, Part 2 (Fiction)

NOTE: In this episode, after we completed recording, we experienced a problem with the audio that we were not aware of during recording. It appears the timing of our responses is compressed or shifted, so that in many cases our voices overlap by a few seconds. You can still follow the conversation, but in several situations our voices seem to be talking over each other. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope we will not experience this problem in future episodes. Thanks for your forebearance!
Happy 2021, listeners! Jude and John have returned for a second year of podcasting, and to kick off the new year right, we naturally look back at the one that just passed... and continue with our two-part series of "Top Reads of 2020." This time, we focus on fiction, and each bring our favorite novel (or story collection) from last year to the table for a rich and in-depth discussion. We also talk about which books we've dipped into to start our own personal year in reading, and end with an exciting teaser for a forthcoming release from one of your humble co-hosts... we hope you'll join in the great, ongoing conversation to hear what that is, and more! Cheers to all!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Invisible Scar,' Caroline Bird -
'Invaders: 22 Tales from the Outer Limits of Literature,' Jacob Weisman -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
Various favorite short story collections -
Either 'I, Rigoberta Menchú' by Rigoberta Menchú, OR 'The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood,' Sam Wasson -
John's Top Fiction Read of 2020:
'Cry the Beloved Country,' Alan Paton -
Jude's Top Fiction Read of 2020:
TIE: 'The Turning' & 'The Shepherd's Hut,' Tim Winton -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
In celebration of the impending release of BXC co-host Jude's new collection of stories (21 years in the making!), 'Door in the Air,' we'll celebrate the genre with a discussion about reading and writing short stories, and also reveal some of our favorite masters of the form.

Episode 19: Top Books of the Year, Part 1 (Non-Fiction)

To close out our first year in podcasting, your Book XChange hosts offer a two-part series of episodes highlighting our favorite non-fiction and fiction titles of 2020. As always with our show, titles are not limited to those released in 2020 - they could be from any era, as long as they were read by one of us this year. Part 1 covers non-fiction: we each choose one book that stood out during our year in reading, and get a little more in-depth about why it stood out. In our next episode, we'll cover our favorite fiction reads of the year. As the year comes to a close, we want to sincerely thank all of you listeners who gave a little of their time to listen and read along with us this year, we've greatly appreciated all the feedback and support. Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas/Happy New Year to you all!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Making It in America," Barbara Ehrenreich -
Short story collection TBD soon -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,' James Joyce -
TBD -
Jude's Top Non-Fiction Read of 2020:
'The Swerve: How the World Became Modern,' Stephen Greenblatt -
John's Top Non-Fiction Read of 2020:
'The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity,' Douglas Murray -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Part 2 of our End of Year series: the BXC co-hosts choose and discuss their top fiction reads of the year.

Episode 18: Writers We’re Thankful For

So you thought Thanksgiving 2020 was over?? Not so fast... at the Book XChange podcast, we extend the gratitude and feasting for at least another week, as Jude and John list some of the writers they are most thankful for. This episode goes off in all kinds of different directions and was a lot of fun to record... so pull up a chair and dig in: you're definitely invited to the banquet, and there's more than enough provisions to go around for everybody! You may even get a "take home box" out of it, jam-packed with writers and books you'll want to enjoy at home at another time! Speaking of thanks... we are grateful to all who choose to spend a little time listening to us blather on about books. We sincerely hope these discussions have helped you get through what's been a brutal year pretty much all around the world. Cheers, and remember our unofficial motto: "Read in order to live."
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Barkskins," Annie Proulx -
'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,' James Joyce -
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Flying Inn,' G. K. Chesterton -
'Land's Edge: A Coastal Memoir,' Tim Winton -
Jude's List of Writers He's Thankful For:
Denis Johnson; Thomas Merton; Ron Hansen; Jack Kerouac; Charles DIckens -
John's List of Writers He's Thankful For:
G. K. Chesterton; Joseph Ellis; Michael Pollan; Wendell Berry; Jude Joseph Lovell -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
The BXC co-hosts choose and discuss their top fiction and non-fiction reads of the year.

Episode 17: The BXC Review of Tommy Orange’s ”There There”

The bibliophile brothers return with an in-depth discussion/review of Native American writer Tommy Orange's debut novel, 'There There.' Our second episode in an occasional series, in which your twin hosts will dedicate an entire episode to one book, digging into what makes it important, unique, special, noteworthy, odd, or otherwise worth reading - or not! (Warning: important plot points and story/character arcs from throughout the novel are discussed in this episode, so if you intend to read 'There There' at some point, you may want to come back to this episode and listen to the conversation once you have.)
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Being Dead,' Jim Crace -
'The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton,' Thomas Merton -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Pictures from Italy'/'Night Walks,' Charles Dickens -
'Barkskins,' Annie Proulx -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
(COMING SOON)

Episode 16: Recommended Debut Novels

In this "return to form" Book XChange episode, your identical hosts recommend some of our recommended picks for first-time novels. There are so many instances of famous writers hitting home runs in their first trip to the plate - think Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" or Stephen King's "Carrie" - but there are also many great examples of debut novels that fascinatingly reveal the developing talent of a future master of the craft. Jude and John both select novels contemporary and classic, and discuss why these books left a mark on us as readers. As always, a great pile of books find their way into this conversation, so we hope listeners come away with some new titles to dive into! Enjoy, and thank you as ever for listening...
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Young Skins: Stories,' Colin Barrett -
'Democracy in America, Vol. 2,' Alexis de Tocqueville -
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Love in the Time of Cholera,' Gabriel Garcia Marquez -
'There There,' Tommy Orange -
Debut novels recommended by Jude:
"Meditations in Green," Stephen Wright -
"The Sin Eater," Alice Thomas Ellis -
"Madame Bovary," Gustave Flaubert -
"City of Bohane," Kevin Barry -
"Dune," Frank Herbert -
Debut novels recommended by John:
"Then We Came to the End," Joshua Ferris -
"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," James Joyce -
"Wolf in White Van," John Darnielle -
"Invisible Man," Ralph Ellison -
"The Yellow Birds," Kevin Powers -
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
A sort of "Part 2" to this episode's discussion... we will take a deep dive into and review Native American writer Tommy Orange's acclaimed debut novel, "There There."

(SPECIAL) Episode 15: ”50 Years of Reading”

Two weeks before their 50th birthday, the Book XChange brothers/co-hosts had the ultra-rare opportunity to get together in an isolated location, celebrate that we've somehow made it through a half-century, and talk books and reading face to face. The result was this one-time only, special episode of the podcast: a free-form, no holds barred, personal discussion about our lives as readers, how great books and writers have changed and challenged us across various stages in our lives, and the ultimate value and utility of reading. We won't often get so personal and self-reflective as in this show, but for this special occasion, we thought it would be appropriate to celebrate all that the Book XChange has meant to our lives, going back literally decades before the internet and podcasting enabled us to expand the conversation across the globe! We hope you will indulge us for this unique episode and give it a chance - it may even get you thinking about your own journey as a reader, and where it might be headed. As ever, thank you one and all for listening! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE: literally too many to mention, considering we are covering a combined 100 years of reading (!)... but trust us, a LOT of interesting ground is covered! What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Mosquitoes,' William Faulkner; 'Love in the Time of Cholera,' Gabriel Garcia Marquez; What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Budding Prospects: A Pastoral,' T. C. Boyle; 'The Swerve: How the World Became Modern,' Stephen Greenblatt Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: Favorite and notable Debut Novels

Episode 14: On The Nobel Prize in Literature

Each year in early October, the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded by by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. For the BXC podcast brothers, this event sparks an annual "Xchange" of reactions and thoughts over who won it, how familiar we are with the writer and whether we think it was warranted. It also reminds us of the work of other Nobel laureates we cherish, read and re-read, and want to recommend to others. In this episode we talk a bit about the prize in general, congratulate American poets Louise Glück on her recent honor, and then discuss the work of some of our favorite Nobel laureates. The work of past Nobel winners present to readers a rich and diverse pool of amazing writing, so we invite all listeners to dive in with us... you may just find some new books to read, learn from and possibly treasure. As always, thank you for listening to our little show!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Giant,' Edna Farber
'Manual of Painting and Calligraphy,' José Saramago
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Fiskadoro,' Denis Johnson
'Arabia Felix: The Danish Expedition 1761-1767,' Thorkild Hansen
Nobel Laureates Recommended by Jude:
José Saramago
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
William Faulkner
Nobel Laureates Recommended by John:
Seamus Heaney
Halldor Laxness
Rabindranath Tagore
Nobel Laureate "Should Haves" (now deceased) from John:
James Joyce
Leo Tolstoy
Graham Greene
Jorge Luis Borges
Tarjei Vesaas
Richard Wilbur
Nobel Laureate "Recommended Picks" from Jude:
Cormac McCarthy
Joyce Carol Oates
Jane Smiley
Billy Collins
T. C. Boyle
Isabel Allende
Hillary Mantel
Tim Winton
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
"100 Years of Reading": The BXC Co-Hosts Discuss A Lifetime of Reading Across 50 Years (Times 2)

Episode 13: BXC Goes to the Movies (Book-to-Film Adaptations)

Here comes a fun "crossover" episode, in which your Book XChange co-hosts go multimedia and talk about some of their favorite (and maybe not-so-favorite) book-to-movie adaptations. The brothers discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with adapting a well-known or beloved book for the screen, and kick around a broad assortment of choices - some very famous, others a little more obscure. What makes an adaptation truly noteworthy and interesting? What are some of your favorite films made from books? What are some of the reasons book adaptations fail? All of this, plus plenty of movie recommendations to fill your queues or satisfy your quarantine viewing needs, are coming your way in lucky Episode 13 of the Book XChange podcast...
MOVIE ADAPTATIONS DISCUSSED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE (and what they're adapted from):
'No Country for Old Men,' directed by the Coen Brothers (from the Cormac McCarthy novel);
'True Grit,' directed by the Coen Brothers (from the Charles Portis novel);
'Silence,' directed by Martin Scorsese (from the Shusaku Endo novel);
'Hugo,' Martin Scorsese (from the Brian Selznick novel);
'Shutter Island,' Martin Scorsese (from the Dennis Lehane novel);
'The Age of Innocence,' Martin Scorsese (from the Edith Wharton novel);
'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,' Andrew Dominik (from the Ron Hansen novel);
'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,' by Peter Weir (from multiple Patrick O'Brian novels);
'The Grapes of Wrath,' John Ford (from the John Steinbeck novel);
'The Sister Brothers,' Jacques Audiard (from the Patrick deWitt novel);
'The Road,' John Hillcoat (from the Cormac McCarthy novel);
'The Big Short,' Adam McKay (from the Michael Lewis non-fiction book);
'The Shining,' Staley Kubrick (from the Stephen King novel);
'2001: A Space Odyssey,' Stanley Kubrick (from the Arthur C. Clarke novel);
'Barry Lyndon,' Stanley Kubrick (from the William Makepeace Thackeray novel);
'A Clockwork Orange,' Stanley Kubrick (from the Anthony Burgess novel);
'Rosemary's Baby,' Roman Polanski (from the Ira Levin novel);
'Oliver Twist,' Roman Polanski (from the Charles Dickens novel);
'Death and the Maiden,' Roman Polanski (from the Charles Dickens novel);
'Carnage,' Roman Polanski (from the Yasmina Reza play);
'The Innocents,' Jack Clayton (from the Henry James novella 'The Turn of the ' - adaptation written by Truman Capote);
'Ran' and 'Throne of Blood,' Akira Kurosawa (from the William Shakespeare plays);
'High and Low,' Akira Kurosawa (from the Ed McBain novel 'King's Ransom');
'Roshomon,' Akira Kurosawa (from the Ryūnosuke Akutagawa short story);
'Enemy,' Denis Villenueve (from the Jose Saramago novel 'The Double');
'Dune,' Denis Villenueve (from the Frank Herbert novel);
'Arrival,' Denis Villenueve (from the Ted Chiang short story 'Story of Your Life');
'Fantastic Mr. Fox,' Wes Anderson (from the Roald Dahl novel);
'The Iron Giant,' Brad Bird (from the Ted Hughes novel 'The Iron Man');
'A Scanner Darkly,' Richard Linklater (from the Philip K. novel);
'Bernie,' Richard Linklater (from the Texas Monthly article 'Midnight in the Garden of East Texas' by Skip Hollandsworth);
'Fast Food Nation,' Richard Linklater (from the non-fiction book by Eric Schlosser);
'In Cold Blood,' Richard Brooks (from the non-fiction book by Truman Capote);
'Adaptation,' Spike Jonze (from the non-fiction book 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean - adaptation written by Charlie Kaufman);
'Kristin Lavransdatter,' Liv Ullman (from the trilogy by Sigrid Undset);
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
We discuss some of our favorite Nobel Prize for Literature winners!

Episode 12: Dealer’s Choice - Jim Shepard

Introducing "Dealer's Choice," an 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. In the inaugural installment, we dive into the work of one of America's finest writers, Jim Shepard. "Who is Jim Shepard, and why should I be reading him?" is exactly what we aim to address, and we hope our listeners will trust us enough to listen in and find out. The brothers couldn't possibly recommend the novels, essays and especially the short stories of Mr. Shepard any higher. Tune in to this jam-packed episode as we unpack his work, discuss what makes it thrilling and unique, and examine why reading Shepard "makes you feel as if you're becoming a better human being."
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:
'Nightmares and Dreamscapes,' Stephen King
(Future read withheld by request of the co-host!)
What John is currently reading/plans to read next:
'The Sisters Brothers,' Patrick deWitt
Works by Jim Shepard discussed in this episode:
'Like You'd Understand, Anyway' (stories)
'You Think That's Bad' (stories)
'Love and Hydrogen: New and Collected Stories'
'The World to Come' (stories)
'Paper Doll' (novel)
'Project X' (novel)
'You've Got to Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories that Held Them in Awe' (edited by Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard)
Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:
Book-to-Film Adaptations