Book mail! The latest Olga Ravn from my New Directions new classics subscription (can’t wait!) and an amazing gift from the always lovely @wendywhidden.bsky.social based on our mutual love of Indian literature!

The books I read (or finished) in September. Several will surely make my end of year list! Not pictured: My Heart Is A Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones

In this episode @mookse.bsky.social and l are joined by @lorifeathers.bsky.social, using The Portrait of a Lady as our foundation to explore what makes a work abundant. We move through other examples, asking what defines abundance, how it differs from size or ambition, and why these books matter.

This week @mookse.bsky.social and I are joined by translator @maxlawton.bsky.social to celebrate the release of Michael Lenz’s Schattenfroh from @deepvellum.bsky.social. But rather than focus only on this one book, we open the conversation to a wider theme: the joy of reading books that resist.

The books I read, reread and finished during August Some great ones for #witmonth and two big fellas that will stick with me for years.

The eagle (albatross? elephant?) has landed! After spending the past few months reading the e-ARC ahead of our upcoming conversation with @maxlawton.bsky.social , it’s so nice to see the physical book in all its glory. @willevans.bsky.social @deepvellum.bsky.social

This week, @mookse.bsky.social and I tackle the fun—and stressful—task of creating starter libraries. We’re joined by @johnwilliams.bsky.social to each pick 10 books that someone can use as a starter library. We compare approaches, confess struggles, and take our best shots! Which would you pick?

The smart hosts and big readers @mookse.bsky.social and @bibliopaul.bsky.social were kind enough to have me on their podcast to discuss my subject of choice: starter libraries. What does that mean? I thought I knew until I started completing the task...

Good news: I spent a lot of time this weekend in bookstores, trading in and giving away a bunch of books. In other news, these followed me home. My shelves are ... not impressed. @archipelagobooks.bsky.social @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social @citylightsbooks.bsky.social

The last two books from my @charcopress.com 2025 bundle arrived this week. Can’t wait to dive in! I’ve said it many times before, but book subscriptions from indie publishers are one of my favorite things. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Wonderful surprises scattered throughout the year!

@mookse.bsky.social and I are back for a favorite time of year: Women in Translation Month! Each August, readers celebrate books written by women and translated into English, highlighting voices that too often go unheard. We each pick 5 titles we’re planning to read this month. How about you?

Library sales are dangerous… I mean, what was I supposed to do, not spend eleven bucks?!

So excited about these two from @dorothyproject.bsky.social ! One is “grotesquely inventive & amusing, like a corner torn from a Hieronymus Bosch painting.” The other resurrects a Gertrude Stein book to “to tell a different story of queer love, life, & artistic collaboration.” Can’t wait to dive in!

The books I read (or reread) during July.

These have been calling to me for a long time. I held out for quite a while, but...

Thanks Tom and Mike for so many wonderful hours, great book discussions, and tons of laughs. I’m not someone who laughs out loud very often and you two always managed to do it. Hope you love whatever is next - I’ll really miss hanging out with you guys.

For the first time ever, @mookse and I met in person! Join us as we take the show on the road—through bookstores, libraries, and an unforgettable day of literary wandering. We apologize for the audio, but hope you enjoy this day out with us. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

I've been waiting to get my hands on Dorothy Richardson's Pilgrimage for years, fueled by raves from @joiedevivre9.bsky.social @neglectedbooks.com and others. Thrilled that Brad and @asterismbooks.bsky.social made this happen. Be sure to support them and get your own copies of these gorgeous books!

Such a great episode from @mookse.bsky.social and @bibliopaul.bsky.social on favourite last lines in novels. I was reminded of books I have loved and as always picked up some great new suggestions. Everything you want from a books podcast! #BookSky 📚💙

Had a ton of fun finally meeting my buddy @mookse.bsky.social in person last week while in Utah for a work trip. As you might have guessed, we hit a few bookstores and had a blast - including spending time with one of Jane Austen’s candlesticks! You can tag along during our upcoming episode!

It's on sale now: copies of the new US edition of Dorothy Richardson's Pilgrimage can now be ordered from @asterismbooks.bsky.social. asterismbooks.com/product/pilg...

In our latest episode, @mookse and I dive into final sentences that left us stunned, satisfied, or haunted. We’re celebrating the art of the last line—and how a final passage can reshape everything that came before. What’s a last line that you’ll never forget? mookse.substack.com/p/episode-11...

The books I read during June Not pictured: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This - Omar El Akkad We Are Light - Gerda Blees My 2025 reading has featured a lot of big books, so I had fun reading shorter stuff this month. I expect several to end up on my end of year list.

In this episode, @mookse.bsky.social and I are joined by Kate from The Book Club Review podcast for a discussion about funny books. We explore the kinds of books that make us laugh and why comic novels deserve a place on every bookshelf. Let us know which books have made you laugh the most.

Another trip to Boulder, another bookstore trip (Boulder Bookworm). This stack was heavily influenced by @thebigbookproject.bsky.social and the gang over @onebrightbook.bsky.social

These are the books I pulled from my shelves based on the numbers @mookse.bsky.social called out. All unread & an excellent start to my summer stack. @bibliopaul.bsky.social

Had a great time in Boulder this weekend. Great discoveries @boulderbookstore.bsky.social 📚 burgers & beer at the Mountain Sun and had a blast at Boulder Pridefest! 🏳️‍🌈 @dalkeyarchive.bsky.social @archipelagobooks.bsky.social @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social @ndbooks.bsky.social @sevenstories.bsky.social

Happy Pride Month! In this episode @mookse.bsky.social and I share favorite LGBTQIA+ books (and films) and discuss the importance of lifting up these voices—especially in a moment when so many are under threat. What are some of your favorite LGBTQIA+ books? mookse.substack.com/p/episode-10...

Jules gets it!

Why yes, I did desperately need a third copy of Moby-Dick - thanks so much for asking! Can you blame me? This @ucpress.bsky.social edition is gorgeous!

The books I read/finished during May Not pictured: A Rather Haunted Life - Ruth Franklin

In this episode, @mookse and I check on our 2025 reading goals-where we've succeeded, faltered, and how they’re impacting our reading. We dive into positives and discuss what's working for us. Plus, we announce our May giveaway winner and our June challenge! open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

In our new episode @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I are shaking things up with Bookshelf Roulette! Tune in for some unexpected literary discoveries, personal stories, and maybe even a few surprises as we take a fresh, unplanned look at what’s on our shelves. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

l've often recommend the annual fiction bundles from @charcopress.com (including on our recent Charco Press episode). My latest batch just arrived - can't wait to dig in! open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

In this episode, @mookse.bsky.social and I are joined by Chris Via of @leafbyleaf.bsky.social to celebrate big books. We share stories, favorite strategies, the books that stretched us as readers, and reflect on why some big books stay with us for life. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

The books I read (or reread) in April Not pictured: Frantumaglia - Elena Ferrante I Who Have Never Known Men - Jacqueline Harpman

And to think I used to be a one-book-at-a-time reader... (and this doesn't even include my longtime companions: Miss Macintosh, My Darling and Schattenfroh!) I blame my wife and @mookse.bsky.social

In our new episode, @mookse and I discuss what makes Hanne Ørstavik’s books so haunting, powerful and beautiful. Have you read any of Ørstavik’s work? Which novel struck you most—or which are you most curious to read? @archipelagobooks.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

Book mail from @openletterbooks.bsky.social ! Really excited about these two. (Photo shoot courtesy of our son, Josh)

Cleared a little shelf space this weekend by trading in a stack of books. Immediately replaced them with these. So it goes...

For our latest publisher episode, @mookse and I talk about the brilliant @charcopress! We dive into what makes them stand out, each share 3 titles we love and 3 more we can't wait to read. We also announce our March giveaway winner and introduce a new prize for April: a 2025 Charco Press bundle.

New episode! This week @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I are joined by @rohanmaitzen.bsky.social to discuss one of her great passions: historical fiction! open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

In our new episode we’re kicking off a fun new project! @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I talk about reading groups and introduce the M&G Novella Reading Group. First book in April—come join us! The link is in the show notes, and I’ll also share it in a reply here. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

Come celebrate with us! For our 100th episode, @mookse.bsky.social and I answer all kinds of listener questions (mostly about books) during this three-hour extravaganza. Here’s to the next 100! Thanks for listening! open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

U think @mookse.bsky.social and @bibliopaul.bsky.social have timed there 100th episode to match the New Yorker perfect timing lol

I'm listening to @mookse.bsky.social and @bibliopaul.bsky.social 's 100th episode and I just want to say I'm a yes for their literary tour, whenever they make it a real thing. 📚❤️

Some (more) new additions to our library from the past month or so.

This delightful conversation kept me company last night - what an interesting topic, and interesting and sometimes surprising books on their lists.

We’re joined by poet and essayist Elisa Gabbert to discuss the books that we think about all the time. We each share 3 books that are always on our minds and discuss the many reasons some works become such an important part of who we are. Which ones would you pick? open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

Back on our old BS - a much needed date day in Boulder.