Poured Over

Poured Over is a show for readers who pore over details, obsess over sentences and ideas and stories and characters; readers who ask a lot of questions, just like Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer, a career bookseller who’s always reading. Follow us here for surprising riffs, candid conversations, a few laughs, and lots of great book recommendations from big name authors and authors on their way to being big names. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).

Nayantara Roy on THE MAGNIFICENT RUINS

The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy is a saga of secrets, lies and family ties set when a prodigal daughter returns to a hefty inheritance and relatives that deem her undeserving. Roy joins us to talk about the voices of her characters, how she came to tell this story, writing in different mediums and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth An Equal Music by Vikram Seth The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

11-21
36:41

Charles Yu on INTERIOR CHINATOWN

National Book Award winner Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu captures family, legacy, immigration and assimilation in a personal and comedic novel.  Yu joins us to talk about the adaptation of the book into a television series, writing in different genres, who gets to tell our stories and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

11-19
54:28

Peter Ames Carlin on THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS R.E.M.

The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin chronicles the band’s precipitous rise to fame, shining a comprehensive light on their journey. Carlin joins us to talk about his start in music journalism, telling important stories, the lasting influence of songs and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin Mystery Train by Greil Marcus The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

11-14
50:23

Robin Wall Kimmerer on THE SERVICEBERRY

The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer reflects with care and compassion on humanity’s reciprocal relationship with nature and the economy.  Kimmerer joins us to talk about the ways the natural world reflects human society, how we can reframe our views on the systems around us, what we can do to improve our connection to nature and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Jamie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger The Hummingbirds' Gift by Sy Montgomery

11-12
46:31

Ruth Dickey of The National Book Foundation

Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, joins us to talk about her connection to the organization, the process of judging the National Book Awards, who she is as a reader and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc, Jamie, and Donald. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  March: Book Three by John Lewis  Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward  Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward  Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson  My Friends by Hisham Matar  Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu  Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah  The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty   Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange  Featured Books (TBR Top Off):  The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard  Behind the Beautiful Forever by Katherine Boo  The Shipping News by Annie Proulx 

11-07
47:39

Malcolm Gladwell on REVENGE OF THE TIPPING POINT

Malcolm Gladwell’s Revenge of the Tipping Point revisits the author’s previous subject matter with a modern lens, dissecting what it is that pushes society over the edge, and what role we play in it. Gladwell joined us live to talk about how he started working on this book, some of the things that surprised him with the process, the ways our environments influence us and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

11-05
49:52

Glory Edim on GATHER ME

Gather Me by Glory Edim is a memoir that centers on reading, writing and the way literature can shape us and make us feel seen. Edim joins us to talk about why she wrote this book, the importance of an author’s voice, the many works that shaped her as a reader and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  Gather Me by Glory Edim  Well-Read Black Girl by Glory Edim  Hatchet by Gary Paulsen  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott  Middlemarch by George Eliot  The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates  There There by Tommy Orange  If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin  Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward  Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward  James by Percival Everett  Erasure by Percival Everett   How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith 

11-02
42:24

Susanna Clarke on THE WOOD AT MIDWINTER

The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke returns to the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell with an atmospheric fairytale about a young woman and her connection to nature. Clarke joins us to talk about why she chose to write this story now, creating her memorable characters, incorporating magic into the world we know and more with cohost Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode):    The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke  Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke  Piranesi by Susanna Clarke  The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman  The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff 

10-31
43:19

Nikole Hannah-Jones and Xaviera Simmons on THE 1619 PROJECT: A VISUAL EXPERIENCE

The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience is a new illustrated edition of the bestselling, conversation-driving anthology featuring some of our top journalists, historians, poets, essayists, and photographers examining the lasting impacts of slavery in America. Author Nikole Hannah-Jones and artist Xaviera Simmons join us live to talk about the continuation of the project, the responses from readers, the power of who gets to tell stories and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience by Nikole Hannah-Jones  The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah Jones 

10-29
41:03

Nick Harkaway on KARLA'S CHOICE

Nick Harkaway takes on his father’s iconic George Smiley series with Karla’s Choice — another thrilling journey into the world of espionage. Harkaway joins us to talk about how he came to this challenge, his time working in entertainment, how he generates ideas and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Jamie.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app   Featured Books (Episode):  Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway  The Spy Who Came in from the Cold John le Carré  Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy by John le Carré  The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen   Featured Books (TBR Top Off):  American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson  A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre 

10-26
58:19

Sabaa Tahir on HEIR

Sabaa Tahir’s Heir returns to the fractured and fraught world of her Ember in the Ashes series as 3 young people’s lives come together in surprising and heartbreaking ways. Tahir joins us to talk about revisiting familiar worlds and characters, dropping readers right in the action, writing complex heroes and villains and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  Heir by Sabaa Tahir  An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir  All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir  The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien  The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks  The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy  Featured Books (Episode):  The City in Glass by Nghi Vo  The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks 

10-24
45:26

Dava Sobel on THE ELEMENTS OF MARIE CURIE

The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobel takes a new look at the life and impacts of Marie Curie, focusing on the ways she fostered growth for other women in science. Sobel joins us to talk about why she wanted to tell Curie’s story, her research process, the importance of continuing to analyze our history and more with cohost, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobel Longitude by Dava Sobel Galileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel

10-22
38:06

Mark Haddon on DOGS AND MONSTERS

Mark Haddon’s Dogs and Monsters is a collection of stories that span a wide range of topics and themes based on Greek myth and other literary influences. Haddon joins us to talk about the way he compiles his stories, their connections to other works of literature, writing in different genres and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app   Featured Books (Episode):  Dogs and Monsters by Mark Haddon  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon  The Porpoise by Mark Haddon  To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf  A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon 

10-19
41:27

Susan Minot on DON'T BE A STRANGER

Don’t Be a Stranger by Susan Minot is a story of obsession, lust and life populated by intriguing characters and full of simmering tension. Minot joins us to talk about the start of the novel, the many ways she creates art, the fluidity of time and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  Don’t Be a Stranger by Susan Minot  Monkeys by Susan Minot   All Fours by Miranda July  Sandwich by Catherine Newman  Why I Don’t Write: And Other Stories by Susan Minot  Nocturnes for the King of Naples by Edmund White  Rememberings by Sinead O’Connor  The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner  East of Eden by John Steinbeck  Featured Books (TBR Top Off):  Vladimir by Julia May Jonas  All Fours by Miranda July 

10-17
56:21

Ta-Nehisi Coates on THE MESSAGE

In The Message, Ta-Nehisi Coates delivers a gripping account of some of our world's hardest truths all within a book that's ultimately about the craft of writing. Coates joins us to talk about the inspiration for telling these stories, the role of memory, his influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde Avengers of the New World by Laurent DuBois

10-15
44:28

Dan Jones on HENRY V

Henry V by Dan Jones takes us back in time to an age of grandeur, guts and glory with an astonishing account of a complicated king. Jones joins us live to talk about the way he crafted the book, the importance of analyzing our past, the roles of the historian and more with cohost, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): Henry V by Dan Jones The Plantagenets by Dan Jones The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones The Templars by Dan Jones The Spy Who Loved Me by Ian Fleming American Tabloid by James Ellroy

10-12
46:55

Abraham Chang on 888 LOVE AND THE DIVINE BURDEN OF NUMBERS

888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang is a debut about the coming-of-age search for love and meaning via family, friendships, education, and (especially) pop culture. Chang joins us to talk about his career in publishing, the Easter eggs he hides in his work, his ensemble of characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang  High Fidelity by Nick Hornby 

10-09
46:37

Ina Garten on BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS

Be Ready When the Luck Happens is an inspiring, heartfelt and intimate memoir chronicling the life of the one and only Ina Garten. She joins us to talk about choosing to tell her story, some of the most memorable moments, the cookbooks she loves and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten

10-08
33:06

Richard Osman on WE SOLVE MURDERS

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman is the start of a cat-and-mouse thriller series with new characters you’ll love and the humor and wit you’ve come to expect from this sharp and sly author. Osman joined us live at Barnes & Noble Union Square to talk about crafting an ensemble of voices, writing propulsive narratives, why we love mysteries and more with cohost Jenna Seery.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app  Featured Books (Episode):  We Solve Murders by Richard Osman  The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman  Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers  The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith  Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway 

10-05
42:32

Rumaan Alam on ENTITLEMENT and Danzy Senna on COLORED TELEVISION

Rumaan Alam, author of Entitlement, and Danzy Senna, author of Colored Television, join us live at The Grove to talk about liminal spaces, writing impeccable dialogue, the similarities and differences in their characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                      New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app   Featured Books (Episode):  Entitlement by Rumaan Alam  Colored Television by Danzy Senna  Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam  Caucasia by Danzy Senna 

10-03
51:11

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