Summer Reading: The Books Worth Packing This Year, with Kate, Laura and Phil • Episode #195

Looking for the perfect summer read? Kate is joined by Laura Potter and returning guest Phil Chaffee to compare recent reads before putting this year's biggest summer books to the test. Inspired by reading lists from The New York Times, The Times, Lit Hub and The Booker Prize, they decide which books are beach reads, suitcase books, and which they'd happily leave behind at the airport. Plus, they reveal the books they're packing for their own holidays.Books discussedRecently readThe Golden Mean — Annabel LyonPlato and the Tyrant — James RommGlorious Exploits — Ferdia LennonThe Game of Kings — Dorothy DunnettThe House of Niccolò series — Dorothy DunnettWe Are Green and Trembling — Gabriela Cabezón Cámara (trans. Robin Myers)Evaluating the picks from the summer reading listsHot Milk — Deborah LevyThe Eighth Life — Nino HaratischwiliA Month in the Country — J. L. CarrWhistler — Ann PatchettThe Things We Never Say — Elizabeth StroutLand — Maggie O'FarrellInstructions for a Heatwave — Maggie O'FarrellJohn of John — Douglas StuartI Want You to Be Happy — Jem CalderThe Director — Daniel KehlmannVilla Coco — Andrew Sean GreerOur holiday recommendationsThe Feast — Margaret KennedyFree Food for Millionaires — Min Jin LeeFamesick — Lena DunhamSwimming Home — Deborah LevyRadiant Star — Ann LeckieThe Balkan Trilogy — Olivia ManningWait for Me — Deborah, Duchess of DevonshireThe Pursuit of Love — Nancy MitfordAlso mentionedPachinko — Min Jin LeeShuggie Bain and Young Mungo — Douglas StuartLess — Andrew Sean GreerTranscription — Ben LernerReading Lolita in Tehran — Azar NafisiTimecodes00:00 Welcome02:44 Phil on The Golden Mean07:39 Laura on Dorothy Dunnett11:55 Kate on Green and Trembling16:54 Beach read game rules18:20 Booker picks: Hot Milk19:40 Doorstop epic The Eighth Life21:46 Classic: A Month Country23:07 NYT Beach Reads, Whistler by Ann. Patchett25:33 Elizabeth Strout and American vibes28:22 Switching to the (UK) Times list28:29 Times list features29:03 Maggie O'Farrell debate30:51 Douglas Stuart pick John of John33:05 New paperback picks35:03 Kehlmann masterpiece The Director38:28 The LitHub list of lists38:55 Villa Coco verdict41:44 Get more from the pod on Patreon43:26 Our personal holiday reads44:03 Phil recommends The Feast46:01 Min Jin Lee deep dive48:18 Lena Dunham Famesick51:44 Laura's summer stack53:56 Mitfords and Tana French01:02:20 Final wrap and farewellSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.