Ep. 9: Scott & Marla Talk About Murakami and more

from Let's Talk About Text with Scott Okamoto, Blake Chastain & Friends · host R. Scott Okamoto, Blake Chastain

In this episode, Blake is out and Scott Okamoto is joined by Marla Taviano to discuss books, reading, baseball, and more! Scott's book: The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor Marla's book: Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami Find all previous picks - and support our show - by buying from our bookshop.org page! 00:00 Introduction to Let's Talk About Text 00:33 Meet Marla Aviano: A Prolific Reader 02:51 The Joy of Physical Books vs. E-Readers 03:58 Audiobooks: A Different Experience 05:10 School and Reading: A Love-Hate Relationship 05:57 Discovering a Favorite Book 14:06 Haruki Murakami: Novelist as a Vocation 30:32 Expressing Passion and Authenticity 31:34 Breaking Free from Evangelical Christianity 33:27 The Power of Simple Language in Writing 35:24 The Impact of Great Teachers 36:00 Exploring Flannery O'Connor's Work 38:37 The Beauty and Heartbreak of Gloria Naylor's Writing 43:41 The Joy of Reading and Writing 51:37 Finding Passion in Unexpected Places 56:42 Marla's Writing Journey and Future Goals 59:58 Conclusion and Podcast Invitation

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This episode was published on August 5, 2025.

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