Red Fern Book Review by Amy Tyler

Send us Fan MailThe Red Fern Book Review is back!We begin with a look at the Japanese cult favourite Butter by Asako Yuzuki. It is a sharp, unsettling novel that explores appetite, obsession, and the cultural weight of food and femininity.We then turn to my personal favourite book of 2025, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans—a quietly powerful and deeply moving epistolary novel about connection, memory, and the surprising intimacy of written words.Also featured in this episode:The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie ChangThe House of Belonging by David WhyteFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailThis episode wraps up my series featuring the 2024 Canadian Book Club Award winners. I sit down with two children’s book authors, a YA author, and an anthology author for a wide-ranging conversation about cats, creativity, and the power of books to make us feel less alone. I also share the origin story of the Red Fern Book Review name and discover how early reading experiences sparked a lifelong love of storytelling in each of us.Books discussed:awfully hilarious: period pieces by Heather HendrieThe Quiet Limit by Trista LundquistMy S's Are Messes by Sherry McMillanSecrets of the Under-Under World: Water by P.S. WhateverAbout The Canadian Book Club Awards:Canada's largest reader's choice awards Open to all authors, regardless of publishing type (self published, hybrid, traditional)Readers just want good books!Submissions for the 2025 awards are open Sign up to be a verified reader and help select 2025 finalists books Follow Heather:Website: https://awfullyhilarious.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awfullyhilariousFollow Trista:Website: https://www.tristalundquist.ca/#/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by.tristalundquist/Follow Sherry:Website: https://sherrymcmillan.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherry_mcmillan_writes/Follow P.S. Whatever:Website: https://www.underunderworld.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/underunderworldbooks/?hl=enFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailI had the chance to talk with four of the 2024 Canadian Book Club Award Winner about the writing and publishing process. We talk titles, character development and backstory. Each of the authors has written in a different genre, which made for a compelling discussion. Our conversation was far-reaching—from sex parties and trips to Mars to roadkill and stately homes.Books discussed:Love Ad Lib by Evie AlexanderFortune Favors the Dead by Susan Jane WrightWhat the Living Do by Susan E. WaddsAres by Jayson AdamsAbout The Canadian Book Club Awards:Canada's largest reader's choice awards Open to all authors, regardless of publishing type (self published, hybrid, traditional)Readers just want good books!Submissions for the 2025 awards are open Sign up to be a verified reader and help select 2025 finalists books Follow the Canadian Book Club Awards:Instagram: @thecanadianbookclubawardsWebsite: canadianbookclubawards.caFollow the Authors:Evie AlexanderWebsite: eviealexanderauthor.comInstagram: @eviealexanderauthorSusan Jane WrightWebsite: susanjanewright.caInstagram: @susanjjwrightSusan E. WaddsWebsite: writeyourwayin.caJayson AdamsWebsite: jaysonadams.comFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailI was thrilled to join The TallMikeWine Podcast for the third time to talk about two of my favourite things: reading and wine! We chatted about perfect summer reads, and I even got a mini wine education—turns out there's more to wine than just red and white. Ever heard of orange wine? Tune in for book recs, wine talk, and lots of laughs.Wines discussed:2024 Saintly, The Good Rose , British Columbia2020 Tolaini Cabernet Sauvignon, "Legit", IGT ToscanaBooks discussed:The Wedding People by Alison EspachTable for Two by Amor TowlesReal Americans by Rachel KhongFortune Favors the Dead by Susan Jane WrightPodcasts discussed:Monica Lewinsky - ReclaimingFail Better with David DuchovnyFollow Mike Stone:Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1435309Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tallmikewine/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailOxford Professor of Law and AI Regulation Ignacio Cofone joins the podcast to talk about his book The Privacy Fallacy: Harm and Power in the Information Economy. Ignacio is a 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards Winner in the Non-Fiction/Education category. He talks about what we need to think about when we sign data consent forms and convinces me that computers are not overtaking the world anytime soon. Books discussed:The Privacy Fallacy: Harm and Power in the Information EconomyAbout The Canadian Book Club Awards:Canada's largest reader's choice awards Open to all authors, regardless of publishing type (self published, hybrid, traditional)Readers just want good books!Submissions for the 2025 awards are open Sign up to be a verified reader and help select 2025 finalists books Follow the Canadian Book Club Awards:Instagram: @thecanadianbookclubawardsWebsite: canadianbookclubawards.caFollow Ignacio:ignaciocofone.comFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailI had the opportunity to sit down with three recipients of The Canadian Book Club Awards and discuss vulnerability and accessibility in writing as well as explore what it means to be a Canadian author. This episode is part of a four part series on The 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards that will run throughout the summer. Books discussed:Output by Ben SporerJane's Jam by Jane EnrightStill I Cannot Save You by Kelly S. ThompsonAbout The Canadian Book Club Awards:Canada's largest reader's choice awards Open to all authors, regardless of publishing type (self published, hybrid, traditional)Readers just want good books!Submissions for the 2025 awards are open Sign up to be a verified reader and help select 2025 finalists books Follow the Canadian Book Club Awards:Instagram: @thecanadianbookclubawardsWebsite: canadianbookclubawards.caFollow Ben: Instagram: @outputbookFollow Jane:Instagram: @janeenright.authorWebsite: janeenrightauthor.comFollow Kelly:Instagram: @kellysthompsonwriterWebsite: kellysthompson.comFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailFriend and first time author Suzanne Scott Tomita joins the podcast to discuss her debut novel Until Even the Angels. Her book is the story of Mei Mei Goh, a domestic servant to the wealthy Hamilton family, and her unlikely friendship with her young mistress, Honour Hamilton, and the teenage gardner, Pashunath Roy. Set in 1950s Singapore and contemporary London, Until Even the Angels is part mystery, historical fiction, social commentary. Suzanne has a PhD in Education from the University of British Columbia and completed The Writer's Studio Creative WRiting Certificate at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. She was born in Tunisia and raised in Venezuela, Germany, Indonesia, Canada and Australia. Her writing inclues personal essays on the topics of motherhood, mid-life and marriage, home and belonging.Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailFellow book nerd and special projects manager for Book Warehouse, Mary-Ann Yazedijan, joins the podcast to talk about her top reads for the holiday season. We discuss books new and old for holiday gift giving or your own TBR list.Books discussed:Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell The Grey Wolf by Louise PennyIntermezzo by Sally RooneyThe Life Impossible by Matt HaigThe Serviceberry by Robin Wall KimmererThe God of the Woods by Liz MooreThe Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel  by Anna JohnstonFollow Book Warehouse:Instagram: @bookwarehousevancouverWebsite: https://blackbondbooks.com/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailI drop by the recent Vancouver Writers Festival event and share insights on a panel discussion with three authors who specialize in writing about subterfuge and deceit. Ann Cleeves is a British mystery novelist known for perfecting the police procedural. Beverley McLachlin is the former chief justice of Canada who now pens legal thrillers and Nita Prose has is the master of the comedic, locked room mystery.Book discussed:The Long Call by Ann CleevesThe Dark Wives by Ann CleevesThe Maid by Nita ProseThe Mystery Guest by Nita ProseThe Maid's Secret by Nita Prose Proof by Beverley McLachlinFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBook blogger Susan Matheson stops by the podcast to share her top picks for the fall season.Books discussed:Apeirogon by Colum McCannThe Trade Off by Samantha Green WoodruffAbsolution by Alice McDermottTime of the Child by Niall WilliamsThe Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland AllenBig in Sweden by Sally FransonFollow Bedside Table Books:Instagram: @bedside_table_booksWebsite: https://bedsidetablebooks.com/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailI discuss two hot memoirs of the fall season: Be Ready When Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten and Connie: A Memoir by Connie Chung. Both trace the trajectory of two strong, independent women who came of age during the 1960s and are leaders in their respective fields. Ina Garten is an American television cook author while Connie Chung is an American journalist who has been a news anchor and reporter for ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC.Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailDebut novelist Scott Alexander Howard drops by the podcast to discuss his eerie literary work, The Other Valley. We discuss Ferrante, Atwood and the story behind the term speculative fiction.The Other Valley tells the story of Odile, an awkward, quiet girl, vying for a coveted seat on the Conseil. If she earns a spot, she'll decide who may cross her town's heavily guarded border into the next valley over. There, it is the same valley and same town, but to the east, the town is 20 years ahead in time. To the west, its 20 years behind.Scott holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard where he studied the relationship between memory, emotion and literature. Follow Scott Alexander Howard:Website: scottalexanderhoward.comInstagram: @scottalexanderhoward.comFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailThe New York Times has released their Top 100 Books of the 21st Century so far. I discuss. Book discussed:Gilead by Marilynne RobinsonNever Let Me Go by Kazuo IshuguroThe Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead2666 by Roberto BolanoThe Corrections by Jonathan FranzenThe Known World by Edward P. JonesWolf Hall by Hilary MantelThe Warm of Other Suns by Isabel WilkersonMy Brilliant Friend by Elena FerranteStation Eleven by Emily St. John MandelTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinEducated by Tara WestoverPachinko by Min Jin LeeThe Goldfinch by Donna TarttA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesAll the Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverBel Canto by Ann PatchettLincoln in the Bardo by George SaundersMiddlesex by Jeffrey EugenidesH is Hawk by Helen MacdonaldCloud Atlas by David MitchellThe Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove DitlevsenOverstory by Richard PowersThere There by Tommy OrangeAmerican Wife by Curtis SittenfeldPrep by Curtis SittenfeldHamnet by Maggie O’FarrellDevil in the White by Erik LarsonGone Girl by Gillian FlynnCrazy Rich Asians by Kevin KwanFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBook blogger Susan Matheson is back with her picks for summer reading and I have a new name!Books discussed:The Glassmaker by Tracy ChevalierSandwich by Catherine NewmanWives Like Us by Plum SykesYou Are Here by David NichollsAnxious People by Fredrik BackmanThe Other Valley by Scott Alexander HowardFollow Bedside Table Books:Instagram: @bedside_table_booksWebsite: https://bedsidetablebooks.com/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailHi Red Fern Listeners! I was recently lucky enough to be a return guest on The TallMikeWine Podcast and I wanted to share the episode with you.  We discuss summer reading and red wine.  Mike is a self-professed wine geek who creates fun, relatable conversations around wine. And did I mention that he is a former disc jockey? Books  discussed:Swan Song by Elin HilderbrandLong Island by Colm ToibinThe Women by Kristin HannahWine discussed:2021 Librandi "Segno" Cirò Rosso Classico2015 Dovecote Syrah, Thompson Vineyard, Alisos Canyon, Santa BarbaraFollow Mike StoneWebsite: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1435309Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tallmikewine/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailI dive into two very long books that are also worth the investment. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray tells the story of a contemporary Irish family that has fallen on hard times and is full of secrets. Contemporary family saga Wellness by Nathan Hill is set in the suburbs of Chicago an explores the malaise of middle age marriage. It is also a send up on our preoccupation with the wellness industry. Both books have deep character backstories and are considered tragicomic novels. Books and resources discussed:One Day (2024), NetflixMillionaire Matchmaker, NetflixThe Bee Sting by Paul MurrayWellness by Nathan HillFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBook Blogger and author Kerry Clare joins the podcast to discuss her new book Asking for a Friend. It is a novel about intense female friendship and how key relationships created in our youth endure or break apart. We also chat about her blog Pickle Me This and her role as editor of the book recommendation site 49th Shelf. We wrap up with five hot books perfect for all the people on your holiday gift giving list. Follow Kerry:Instagram: @kerryreadsBlog: Pickle Me ThisBook Recommendation Site: 49th ShelfFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailLifestyle Instagrammer and best selling author Anna Kloots joins the podcast to discuss her new memoir My Own Magic. She talks about new beginnings in the face of divorce, her love of pumpkin pie, and of course, how to make your own magic.  Follow Anna:Instagram: @annaklootsFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailA discussion of Ann Patchett's latest novel Tom Lake as well her memoir Truth & Beauty about her deep friendship with writer Lucy Grealy.  Elin Hilderbrand's latest novel, The Five-Star Weekend, is also discussed. Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAward-winning Young Adult fiction novelist Pam Withers stops by the podcast to discuss her latest book Mountain Runaways. This fast-paced novel tells the story of the three kids, Jon, Korka and Aron, who lose their parents in an avalanche and decide to run away into the mountains and fend for themselves until the oldest sibling, Jon, turns 18 and can become their legal guardian. They have to deal with illness, injury, wild animals and each other. Pam talks about why YA fiction has such crossover appeal and how to get boys to read. She has created the website www.yadudebooks.ca as a resource for young male readers and is the author of Jump Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Reader Find Success in School and Life.Follow Pam:Instagram: @pamwithersauthorWebsite: www.yadudebooks.caFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBook blogger Susan Matheson returns to the podcast with her line up of must have fall reads. We also discuss a book that we both disagreed upon: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang.Susan's Top Picks for Fall 2023The Leftover Woman by Jean KwokThe Class by Ken DrydenA New Season by Terry FallisThe Golden Gate by Amy ChuaA Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road by Darryl JonesTalking at Night by Claire DeverleyFollow Bedside Table Books:Instagram: @bedside_table_booksWebsite: https://bedsidetablebooks.com/ Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAward-winning mystery writer Iona Whishaw drops by the podcast to discuss the latest book in her Lane Winslow mystery series. To Track a Traitor spans both world wars and is a tale of sibling rivalry, infidelity and espionage. Iona's backstory is just as compelling as her writing. Her books are inspired by the British Columbia town of her childhood and her mother's experience as a World War II spy.  She talks about her journey to becoming a novelist and how the question "Why Not Me?" gave her the conviction to pursue her dreams in her 60s. Follow Iona Whishaw:Website: https://ionawhishaw.caInstagram: @ionawhisawauthorFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAmy kicks off Season Four of the podcast with a discussion of the literary novel The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt and the memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful by poet Maggie Smith. The Librarianist is the story of retired librarian Bob Comet. Hoping to fill a void in his life, he volunteers at a senior's centre.  Amid a community of strange peers, Bob reflects on his past and his character is revealed. You Could Make This Place Beautiful is a firsthand account about the breakdown of a marriage and the rebirth of a person. Told through gorgeous prose, the memoir is sad, funny and hopeful. Amy also discusses the Netflix comedy Fisk and the podcast I've Had It.Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailHi Red Fern Listeners! I was recently a guest on a fabulous wine podcast called The TallMikeWine Podcast. Host Mike Stone and I talk about, what else, but books and wine.  I offer up a mini summer reading list and Mike explains how he comes up with all those wine adjectives. Mike is a self-professed wine geek who creates fun, relatable conversations around wine. And did I mention that he is a former disc jockey? Enjoy, and I will be back in the fall with a new lineup.Follow Mike StoneWebsite: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1435309Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tallmikewine/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBook blogger Susan Matheson stops by the podcast to talk about her favourite reads for summer. Her selections range from a cozy mystery to a contemporary memoir.Books and Resources discussed:Go as a River by Shelley ReadThe Golden Spoon by Jessa MaxwellAll the Beauty in the World by Patrick BingleyDarling by India KnightThe Mitford Affair by Marie BenedictThe Pursuit of Love by Nancy MitfordThe House of Lincoln by Nancy HoranLoving Frank by Nancy HoranMarch by Geraldine BrooksThe African Samurai by Craig ShreveOne Night in Mississippi by Craig ShreveFollow Bedside Table Books:Instagram: @bedside_table_booksWebsite: https://bedsidetablebooks.com/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAmy and Geoff review the popular fiction novel Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and literary fiction novel Ghost Music by An Yu. Pineapple Street is a bird's eye view into the moneyed Brooklyn Heights family The Stocktons. Sasha, a middle-class New England girl, marries into the family and tries to find her way. Set in Beijing, Ghost Music is a quiet book that examines the sad life of retired concert pianist Song Yan. A mysterious parcel of mushrooms begins arriving at her door each week and suddenly her life changes. Geoff also talks about his third failed attempt at reading Cormac McCarthy.Books and Resources discussed:The Passenger by Cormac McCarthyStella Maris by Cormac McCarthyThe Road by Cormac McCarthyAll the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthyPineapple Street by Jenny JacksonGhost Music by An YuBraised Pork by An YuWiser than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, podcastThe Diplomat, NetflixFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailRetired English Professor Dr. Mason Harris drops by the podcast to discuss one of his favourite books Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. This book combines elements of Gothic, Horror and Romantic literature. Dr. Harris delves in to Shelley's scandalous background and draws parallels between the Romantics and 1960s radicalism.Books and Resources discussed:Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyThe Villa by Rachel HawkinsListen to my episode on the Villa here: The Age of Vice and The Villa, Season 3, Episode 15. Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailWe review two of the buzziest books of early 2023: Fast-paced gangster novel set in India Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor and friendship travel story/thriller with Daisy Jones and the Six (by Taylor Jenkins Reid) vibes The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. Age of Vice is a contemporary novel set in India. It is equal parts thriller and family saga and centres around the Wadia crime family. The book is about gangsters, lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance and corruption. The Villa is a classic beach and escapist read. It is popular fiction with backstory and a bit of a bite.Books and resources discussed:Age of Vice by Deepti KapoorThe Villa by Rachel HawkinsParty Down, CraveShantaram by Gregory David RobertsShantaram, Apple PlusFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailWe review one of our favourite books of last year Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin as well as This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is the story of three friends Sadie, Sam and Marx and their foray into the video gaming industry. It is a campus novel as well as a look at video gaming as high art. This Time Tomorrow is a fun, nostalgic read with the main character, Alice, travelling back in time to the '90s. The book is a look at father/daughter relationships and a love letter to the '90s. It answers the question: Would you change the past if you could?Books and Resources Discussed:Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinThis Time Tomorrow by Emma StraubThe Midnight Library by Matt HaigThe Last of Us (Netflix)Shrinking (Apple Plus)Only Murders in the Buliding (Disney Plus)Check out our episode on the Midnight Library here:The Midnight Library, Klara and the Sun and Hamnet, Season 1, Episode 13Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAuthor Cedar Bowers joins the podcast to discuss her 2021 debut novel Astra. The book follows the life of a young woman who is born on a B.C. commune from the perspective of 10 different people.  Cedar discusses life growing up in a remote community, the failed promise of the back-to-the land movement and if we can ever really know somebody.Books and Resources discussed:Astra by Cedar BowersA Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray BelcourtThe Island of Forgetting by Jasmine SealyWe Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom LamaThe Stone Angel by Margaret LaurenceFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailI review two novels by current Canadian literary stars Emily St. John Mandel and Heather O'Neill. Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel is a science fiction novel about art, time, travel, love and plague that takes readers from 1912 Vancouver Island to a dark colony of the moon 500 years later. The author also incorporates references to her earlier award-winning novels Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel.When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill is a historical fiction, satirical novel about 19th-century Montreal. It takes readers into the brutality of factory life and the opulent lives of Montreal’s wealthy while exploring sex, desire and class.Books and Resources Discussed:Significant Others, podcastBorgen, NetflixDicte, Prime VideoSea Tranquility by Emily St. John MandelWhen We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'NeillStation Eleven by Emily St. John MandelStation Eleven, HBOThe Glass Hotel by Emily St. John MandelCloud Atlas by David MitchellNever Let Me Go by Kazuo IshiguroHeavenly Creatures, movie (1994)The Virgin Cure by Ami McKayFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailVancouver author Jen Sookfong Lee joins the podcast to talk about her latest book Superfan. Jen uses her lifelong obsession with pop culture as a lens to explore family, grief, the power of female rage, Asian fetish, and what it costs to resist the trap of being a “good Chinese girl.” I pines over Andrew McCarthy and Jen muses over whether Kanye West will get a second chance in the court of public opinion.Listen to a previous interview with Jen here:The Shadow List, Season 2, Episode 8Books and Resources discussed:The Joy Luck Club by Amy TanThe White Lotus, HBONormal People by Sally RooneySuperfan by Jen Sookfong LeeThe End of East by Jen Sookfong LeeFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailFantasy Fiction lover turned historian David Gates is back on the podcast to discuss two English history books: The White Ship by Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer and The Splendid and the Vile by journalist Erik Larson. The White Ship is an examination of the 1120 shipwreck that threw the future of the crown into question.  The Splendid and the Vile is a riveting account of Winston Churchill and his first year in office when he is trying to keep the Germans at bay and get the Americans in his back pocket. Larson uses primary source documents to construct a very readable non fiction story that reads like a thriller.Books and Resources Discussed: The White Ship by Charles SpencerThe Splendid and the Vile by Erik LarsonThe Spy and the Traitor by Ben McintyreA Spy Among Friends by Ben McintyreColditz: Prisoners of the Castle by Ben McintyreCheck out a previous episode with David:The Kingdoms, Season 2, Episode 7Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailMy dear friend Alison Schmelke joins the podcast, perhaps a bit reluctantly,  and together we interview our idol author and blogger Catherine Newman. We reminisce about Catherine's column Ben & Birdy and how it got us through the early days of parenthood.  Catherine discusses her poignant, hilarious and nostalgic novel, We All Want Impossible Things. It is the story about two best friends Edi and Ash and Edi's last days in hospice.Follow Catherine Newman: Instagram: @catherinewmanWebsite:  catherinenewmanwriterFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailGeoff and Amy's trip to Europe Part Two. They are back home and reflecting on their recent trip to Paris. They discuss four books set in the City of Light including one book that pushes the podcast's PG rating!  Books and Resources Discussed:Ticket to Paradise, movie 2022Earful Tower https://theearfultower.com/Marie Antoinette, movie 2006Henry and June by Anaïs NinMurder in Clichy by Cara BlackJacqueline in Paris: A Novel by Ann MahThe Margot Affair (debut novel) by Sanaë LemoineAtonement by Ian McEwanFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAmy and Geoff discuss their trip to Amsterdam and review books and movies set in this gorgeous, progressive city. Tulip Fever is a historical novel set in 17th-century Amsterdam during the rise of tulip trade. The Dinner is a contemporary domestic thriller that takes place over the course of one meal at a high-end restaurant. Books and Resources discussed:Tulip Fever by Deborah MoggachTulip Fever, movie 2017Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy ChevalierThe Dinner by Herman KochThe Dinner, movie 2017Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAuthor Chelene Knight joins the podcast to discuss her debut novel Junie. The book is set in Hogan's Alley, the once thriving Black and immigrant community located in Vancouver's East End. Junie is a creative, observant child who moves to the alley with her mother Maddie who is an aspiring jazz singer and alcoholic.  Chelene discusses Black Joy, Black stereotypes and how the quiet, introspective Junie is a stereotype busting character. Junie is part of the Red Fern Book Review's latest book subscription box with Book Warehouse.Books and resources discussed:Junie by Chelene KnightBraided Skin by Chelene KnightDear Current Occupant by Chelene KnightHogan's Alley, Vancouver Historical Society For more information on Chelene Knight:Website: https://cheleneknight.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nourishing.word/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailThe summer may be over but British Columbia treasure Grant Lawrence visits the podcast to discuss his latest book Return to Solitude about life in Desolation Sound.It's been over a decade since renowned broadcaster and indie rock musician Grant Lawrence launched his writing career with the award-winning Adventures in Solitude, yet some things never change - including the winding Sunshine Coast Highway, close calls at the BC Ferries ticket office and carsick children. But this time, Lawrence returns as a husband and father, not as the vomiting and nerdy kid dragged along by his athletic and unflappable parents.Grant shares how to get Wi-Fi in Desolation Sound and what people from Savary Island actually think of him.Adventures in Solitude by Grant LawrenceReturn to Solitude by Grant LawrenceFollow Grant Lawrence:Instagram: @grantlawrencebcFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailSusan Matheson of Bedside Table Books discusses her top reads of the fall season.  Amy and Susan talk about how to match books with your travelsBooks and Resources DiscussedThe Miniaturist by Jessie BurtonTulip Fever by Deborah MoggachGirl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy ChevalierThe Snow Goose: A Story of Dunkirk by Paul GallicoMrs. Harris Goes to Paris by Paul GallicoEiffel, Movie NetflixTo Capture What We Cannot Keep by Beatrice ColinThe Mutual Friend by Carter BaysTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinAll The Lonely People by Mike GayleThe Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie LyonsA Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanWe are the Light by Matthew QuickSilver Linings Playbook by Matthew QuickThe Woman in the Library by Sulari GentillA Natural History of the Senses by Diane AckermanBittersweet by Susan CainQuiet by Susan CainFollow Bedside Table Books:Instagram: @bedside_table_booksWebsite: https://bedsidetablebooks.com/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailWildfire Lookout Trina Moyles joins the podcast to talk about her memoir Lookout: Love, Solitude and Searching for Wildfire in the Boreal Forest. She joins direct from her remote lookout tower in Northern Alberta. Lookout is a book about isolation, the environment, wildlife and love. The book has been compared the book to Wild by Cheryl Strayed.Trina and Amy are interrupted by the weather report and Trina explains how sometimes you can feel more connected when you are alone.Lookout is just out in paperback and Trina has been awarded the 2022 Alberta Literary Award for Best Memoir. Most importantly, it is part of the latest Red Fern Book Review Book Box with Book Warehouse. Books and Resources Discussed:Lookout: Love, Solitude and Searching for Wildfire in the Boreal Forest by Trina MoylesWild by Cheryl StrayedFollow Trina Moyles:Website: http://www.trinamoyles.com/Instagram: @trinariannemoyles  Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailFriend and music teacher Cynthia Friesen returns to the podcast to discuss two books by French authors: Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin and Painting Time by Maylis de Kerangal. We discuss the art of translation and whether decorative art is an art or a science. Cynthia pulls up to the piano and plays a song.Listen to my previous episode with CynthiaThe Prague Sonata, Season 1, Episode 14Books and Resources DiscussedThe Prague Sonata by Bradford MorrowDuo Lingo appPainting Time by Maylis de KerangalMend the Living by Maylis de KerangalFresh Water for Flowers by Valérie PerrinBirth of a Bridge by Maylis de KerangalThe Cook: A Novel by Maylis de KerangalThree by Valérie PerrinAll The Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrCloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony DoerrFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailSeason 3 of the Red Fern Book Review kicks off with a review of one of the biggest books of the year: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan. Geoff is back on the podcast with a new job title. Amy and Geoff decide whether or not The Candy House is sci fi and if it surpasses the book's precursor: A Visit from the Goon Squad. Books and Resources Discussed: The Candy House by Jennifer EganDog (2022), Apple TVCasual (2015), NetflixJulia (2022) HBOJulia (2022) CNNMy Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’hommeA Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer EganManhattan Beach by Jennifer EganFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBook Blogger Susan Matheson is back to discuss her top picks to stuff in your beach bag this summer. Her selections range from frothy to serious. Amy and Susan discuss the power of book cover art.Books and Resources Discussed:The Thirteenth Tale by Diane SetterfieldEvening by Susan MinotThe Dutch House by Ann PatchettLessons in Chemistry by Bonnie GarmusHarriet the Spy by Louise FitzhughYou Had Me at Pet-Nat: A Natural Wine-Soaked Memoir by Rachel SignerButtermilk Graffiti by Edward LeeSave Me the Plums by Ruth ReichlThe Measure of My Powers: A Memoir of Food, Misery, and Paris by Jackie Kai EllisLetter to a Stranger: Essays to the Ones Who Haunt Us by Colleen KinderWe Measure Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom LamaCarolina Built: A Novel by Kianna AlexanderHorse by Geraldine BrooksYear of Wonders by Geraldine BrooksCaleb’s Crossing by Geraldine BrooksMarch by Geraldine BrooksLeft on Tenth by Delia EphronFollow Bedside Table Books:Instagram: @bedside_table_booksWebsite: https://bedsidetablebooks.com/Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailPoet Samantha Reynolds is on the podcast to talk about her practice of writing one poem a day. And that isn't even her day job! We talk parenting, observation, what to share and not share. Sam even fits in a reading or two. Follow Sam:Website: https://bentlily.com/Instagram: @bentlilyFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBookstagrammer Danielle Peters joins the podcast to talk about her favourite genre: thrillers. Danielle reviews Rock Paper Scissors and Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney, reveals what she looks for in a suspense novel and how she incorporates reading into her everyday life.  Books and Resources Discussed:The River at Night by Erica FerencikRock Paper Scissors by Alice FeeneySometimes I Lie by Alice FeeneyThe Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie BenedictThe Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha ChristieBefore I Go to Sleep by S.J. WatsonGone Girl by Gillian FlynnVerity by Colleen HooverThings We Do in the Dark Jennifer HillierThe Arc: A Novel by Tory Henwood HoenRun Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James PattersonStill Life by Sarah WinmanThe Ballerinas: A Novel by Rachel Kapelke-DaleThe Silent Patient by Alex MichaelidesThe Maidens by Alex MichaelidesFollow Danielle Peters:Instagram: @deebibliophiliaAffiliate LinksI participate in affiliate marketing programs where I receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on my website. Your cost remains unchanged. Thank you for supporting Red Fern Book Review by clicking on these links to make your purchases!Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailPhotographer and friend Brian McConville is back on the podcast to talk about books and  captivity. Amy and Brian discuss Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart. Set in the rolling hills of upstate New York, this satirical novel focuses on a group of friends who gather in a country house to wait out the pandemic. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is also discussed. This beloved, modern classic novel tells the story of a band of gun-wielding terrorists and a group of international guests who forge unexpected bonds. Amy helps Brian come up with a new book to break out of his reading rut.Books and resources discussed:Our Country Friends by Gary ShteyngartBel Canto by Ann PatchettVivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny by Ann MarksThe Rules of Civility by Amor TowlesA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesThe Lincoln Highway by Amor TowlesThe Storyteller: Tales of the Life and Music by Dave GrohlListen to a previous episode with Brian: Season 1, Episode 2, Night MovesFollow Brian:brianmcconville.photography.com@mcconguyFollow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAmy's resident artsy friend Myriam is back on the podcast. This time the topic is screenplays as literature. A screenplay is a cross between a book and a play.  Unlike a favourite book, Myriam says that reading a screenplay is complement to watching a movie. Amy and Myriam both agree that reading about harder topics like fights and violence can be easier to read than watch on the Big Screen.Books and Resources discussed:Mend the Living (The Heart) by Maylis de KerangalLost in Translation, movie (2003), written and directed by Sofia CoppolaOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, movie (2019), written and directed by Quentin TarantinoOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, book by Quentin TarantinoCODA, movie (2021), directed by Sian HederFargo, movie (1996), written and directed by Joel and Ethan CoenFurther recommendations from Myriam Beague:Collected Screenplays 1 by Ethan and Joel CoenThe Screen-writer's workbook by Syd FieldThe Before Trilogy screenplays by Richard LinklaterJules and Jim by Francois TruffautDay for Night by Roger CrittendenFinal Draft, Screenwriting Software Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailBest selling author Susan Juby is on the podcast to talk about her delightful murder mystery Mindful of Murder. The novel features Helen Thorpe as a smart, preternaturally calm and insightful butler who uses her sleuthing skills to unravel the mystery of the death of her former employer. Susan talks about the joys of owning her first Instant Pot and how her British Columbian upbringing informs her writing. Mindful of Murder is part of the Red Fern Book Review book subscription box.Books and Resources Discussed:Mindful of Murder by Susan JubyThe Woefield Poultry Collective (Home to Woefield) by Susan JubyAlice, I Think by Susan JubyNice Recovery by Susan JubyRepublic of Dirt: Return to Woefield by Susan JubyMe Three by Susan JubyThe Thursday Murder Club by Richard OsmanFollow Susan Juby:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanjubyWebsite: https://susanjuby.com/ Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailAmy interviews bestselling author Katherine Heiny about her hilarious, big-hearted novel Early Morning Riser. The book features a cast of lovable characters in a small town whose lives are forever changed after an accident. Katherine talks about literary influences from Anne Tyler and Stephen King and relives her 20s when she one day wore a bridesmaid dress to work.Books and Resources discussed:Early Morning Riser by Katherine HeinyStandard Deviation by Katherine HeinySingle, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine HeinyCrossroads by Jonathan FranzenThe Accidental Tourist by Anne TylerBridget Jones’s Diary by Helen FieldingHigh Fidelity by Nick HornbyStrawberry Spring, podcastHeartburn by Nora EphronEarly Morning Riser, song by Deb Talan, Steve Tannen and The WheepiesMisery by Stephen KingOn Writing by Stephen KingSuccession, HBOInsecure, HBOMurder in Illinois, podcastBrood by Jackie PolzinTig and Cheryl: True Story, podcastAffiliate LinksI participate in affiliate marketing programs where I receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on my website. Your cost remains unchanged. Thank you for supporting Red Fern Book Review by clicking on these links to make your purchases!Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter

Send us Fan MailGeoff is in the house to discuss one of his favourite authors, Mr. Difficult himself, Jonathan Franzen. Franzen's latest book, Crossroads, is discussed.  Set in the 1970s, this book is the story of a Midwestern family at a pivotal moment of moral crisis. Amy and Geoff also discuss Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan. This poignant and at times fun book looks at a group of lifelong friends as they set out for the concert of their lives.  It is story of male friendship and what it means to grow up.Books and Resources discussed:The Alpinist, Amazon PrimeMr. Difficult, podcastMayflies by Andrew O’HaganThe Corrections by Jonathan FranzenPurity by Jonathan FranzenFreedom by Jonathan FranzenCrossroads by Jonathan FranzenAffiliate LinksI participate in affiliate marketing programs where I receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on my website. Your cost remains unchanged. Thank you for supporting Red Fern Book Review by clicking on these links to make your purchases!Follow Red Fern Book Review:Website and to leave a voicemail: https://www.redfernbookreview.comInstagram: @redfernbookreviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/redfernbookreview/Newsletter: https://www.redfernbookreview.com/newsletter