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In this episode, I’m continuing our tour through The Jiffy-Mart – my online bodega and members’ lounge – and this time, we’re stepping through the forest refrigerator straight into the Catskill Mountains. I’m bringing back my series "Tree Minute" to finally learn what I’m looking at out there in the woods. To help, I’ve teamed up with Giovanna D’Angelo, an education forester with the Catskill Forest Association, who graciously agreed to teach me how to tell a yellow birch from a black birch and why some aspens quake that way.

Then, I visit my friend, novelist Tom Grattan, to hear what he’s been reading lately. He’s got four summer books to recommend, from a queer coming-of-age classic to a smart novella about the illusions of perfection – and the page-turner set in upstate New York that everybody's been talking about for the past year.

Books We Talk About

• "Tramps Like Us," by Joe Westmoreland
• "The Hive and the Honey," by Paul Yoon
• "The God of the Woods," by Liz Moore
• "Perfection," by Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie Hughes

Links & Resources

• Browse The Jiffy-Mart: thejiffy.xyz/jiffy-mart
• Follow me on Instagram: @jamescave
• Follow Catskill Forest Association: @catskillforest
• Follow Tom Grattan: @tomgrattan

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I’ve been thinking about blurbs (those endorsements you see on book covers) and I’d love to know: What would your blurb be about this podcast? You can text me your blurb (there’s a link in the show notes), and maybe I’ll share a few on the next episode.

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Until next time, I'll see you on the Instagram feed.

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"The Jiffy Audio Newsletter Podcast" is an audio documentary zine – the official podcast of The Jiffy – exploring the odd histories, cozy mysteries, and surprising characters of upstate New York. Each episode is a small adventure, told with curiosity, humor, and the occasional text message from a stranger.

New episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, share, and take the scenic route with us.

Follow James on Instagram: @jamescave

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