Episode 268 - Goodbye Big Book Summer, Hello Shorty September!

Episode 268 Show Notes

NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
250 West Main Street, Suite 304
Branford, CT 06405

Sharon sent us a copy of her page-to-screen Bingo Card. She has achieved several Bingo’s on her card. Here are some of her books/adaptations:
Death Comes for Pemberley by P.D. James, with an adaptation on PBS
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, and the film adaptation
A Low Country Heart by Pat Conroy that mentions Fannie Flagg

– Big Book Summer Reading update –
Emily read:
American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee release date 9/29/2026
Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier with illustrations AJ Dungo
The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman release date 9/8/2026
Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution by Denise Kiernan
Land by Maggie O’Farrell

Chris read:
Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier with illustrations AJ Dungo
All We Hide by Robyn Gigl
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution by Denise Kiernan
Point of Origin: Scarpetta #9 by Patricia Cornwell
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Roots by Alex Haley
American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee release date 9/29/2026

– Currently Reading –
This Explains Everything: A Psychiatrist’s Guide to Navigating Adult ADHD – Dr. Kieran Kennedy (CW)(audiobook)
The Practice of Not Reacting: Zen Wisdom for a Happy Life – Ryushun Kusanagi, translated by Haydn Trowell (EF)
Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football – Rich Cohen (CW)
The Pirate Queen – Ariel Lawhon (EF) release date 9/8/2026
American Hagwon – Min Jin Lee (EF) release date 9/29/2026

– Just Read –
American Hagwon – Min Jin Lee (EF) release date 9/29/2026
Very Good Hats – Emma Straub, illustrated by Blanca Gómez (EF)
Point of Origin: Scarpetta #9 – Patricia Cornwell (CW)
“Don’t Look Now” from the collection After Midnight – Daphne du Maurier (EF)

– Biblio Adventures –
Chris met Our Mystery Man John Valeri to continue their buddy read discussion of Point of Origin: Scarpetta #9 by Patricia Cornwell.

Chris and Emily hosted the August Reading Salon where the discussion topic was three books you would take with you if stuck on a desert island. Emily’s three books: You Could Make this Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith, The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman, and Larousse Gastronomique. Chris chose: The Power Broker by Robert Caro, annotated versions of Dracula by Bram Stoker, and One of Ours by Willa Cather. Send us an email to let us know your three desert island books.

Emily watched the new PBS documentary Mary Oliver: Saved By the Beauty of the World.
Ruth Franklin’s article in the New Yorker “What Mary Oliver Critics Don’t Understand.”

– Upcoming Jaunts –
On September 17th, Chris registered for a virtual event via the The National Willa Cather Center with Richard Norton Smith discussing My Mortal Enemy. The event is free, but registration is required.

Emily plans to watch the 1973 film Don’t Look Now based on the short story by Daphne du Maurier.

The 2026 Maine Lit Fest runs from September 30 through October 9th. Emily has purchased tickets to see Min Jin Lee in conversation with Richard Russo on October 3rd, this is a ticketed event.

The 2026 Cape Cod Book Festival runs from October 24-25 is the Cape Cod Literary Festival. Tickets are available here.

– Upcoming Reads for Shorty September–
Zorrie – Laird Hunt (EF)
Kitchen – Banana Yoshimoto (EF)
Morning Star: Growing Up with Books – Ann Hood (EF)
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader – Anne Fadiman (EF)
Heart Berries – Terese Marie Mailhot (EF)
Tokyo Ueno Station – Miri Yu, translated by Morgan Giles (EF)
Consider the Oyster – M.F.K. Fisher (EF)
When the Emperor was Divine – Julie Otsuka (EF)
My Mortal Enemy – Willa Cather (CW)
Murder at the Tavern: A Guilford Mystery – Juliana Harris (CW)
(Don’t) Call Mum – Matt Wesolowski (CW)
The Night Library of Sternendach: A Vampire Opera in Verse – Jessica Lévai (CW)
Gibbons or One Bloody Thing After Another – James Morrison (CW)
Cinder House – Freya Marske (CW)

– Q4 Readalong –
Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko and the film adaptation.

The Zoom conversation will take place on December 6th at 7pm (ET). Send us an email if you would like to join us. You can join the online conversation anytime via the Goodreads discussion thread.

– Also Mentioned –
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World by Nathaniel Philbrick
Also by Julie Otsuka: The Buddha in the Attic and The Swimmers
Shawn Breathes Books Booktube channel

Help support the Book Cougars via our affiliates:
Libro.fm audiobook platform: Follow this link and use promo code: bookcougars

Help support the Book Cougars by becoming a Patreon member.
If you would prefer to donate directly, email for instructions.
Sponsor an episode of the podcast or the newsletter.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Join our Goodreads Group!

Check out our BookTube Channel and be sure to subscribe!

Episode 263 - Author Spotlight with Denise Kiernan

June 30, 2026 by Emily Fine in Author Interview, Author Spotlight, Biblio Adventure, Book Cougars Podcast, Podcast Episode, Readalong

Episode 263 Show Notes

– Q3 Readalong –
The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Anjali Singh.
Learn more about the film here.
Companion read: Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier with illustrations AJ Dungo.

Listen to this interview with Marjane Satrapi.

The Zoom conversation will take place on Sunday, August 16 at 7pm (ET).
Please send an email if you would like to join us.

Join the online conversation on Goodreads.

– Currently Reading –
Hunger and Thirst – Claire Fuller (CW)(EF)
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter – Seth Graham-Smith (CW) (audiobook)
Margo’s Got Money Trouble – Rufi Thorpe (EF) (audiobook)
Roots: The Saga of an American Family – Alex Haley (CW)

– Just Read –
Table 4 at the River Café: Conversations about Food and Life – Ruthie Rogers (EF)
11/22/63 – Stephen King (CW)
Land – Maggie O’Farrell (EF) (audiobook)
“The Summer People” in the collection Dark Tales – Shirley Jackson (CW)
When She Was Ours – Anna Nordberg (EF) release date 8/1/2026
Cause of Death: Scarpetta #7 – Patricia Cornwell (CW)
Whistler – Ann Patchett (EF) (audiobook)
Listen to the conversation between Emma Straub and Ann Patchett.
“My Three Fathers” essay by Ann Patchett in The New Yorker.
Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution – Denise Kiernan (CW)(EF)

– Biblio Adventures –
Chris took a swing through Mystic, CT. Her first stop was the Mystic Seaport Museum where she browsed the Maritime Bookshop and picked up a copy of Jaws by Peter Benchley. Then she went to Bank Square Books, No Other Book Like This, and Alice’s Little Haunted Bookshop where she enjoyed reading the children’s book Vampire Jam Sandwich by Casey Lyall and purchased a copy of The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas.

Emily had a Couch Biblio Adventure and watched the movie Foe based on the novel of the same name by Iain Reid.

– Upcoming Jaunts –
June 25, Emily will attend event at RJ Julia Bookseller with Soon Wiley, author of Cece Downings Start Over Summer.

June 30, Emily is registered for The Rumpus Book Club with Debbie Millman in conversation with Ann Patchett.

July 22, Chris and Emily are registered for an event at Mystic Seaport featuring Christopher Shaw: “Robert Shaw: The Misunderstood Genius behind JAWS.” You can register for the event here. Learn more about Christopher’s book, Robert Shaw: An Actor’s Life on the set of JAWS and Beyond.

– Upcoming Reads –
When the Stammer Came to Stay – Maggie O’Farrell, illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini (EF)
Jaws – Peter Benchley (CW)(EF)
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Timothy Snyder (EF)
On Tyranny Graphic Edition: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Timothy Snyder, illustrated by Nora Krug (EF)
Charity & Sylvia – Tilly Walden (CW)
Selling Opportunity: The Story of Mary Kay – Mary Lisa Gavenas (CW)(EF)
Conversation with Mary Lisa Gavenas on Drafting the Past podcast.

– Author Spotlight with Denise Kiernan –
We talk with Denise about Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution. Denise narrated the audiobook.

Check out the website to learn more about Denise and follow her book tour.

– Also Mentioned –
Novels and film adaptations by Kazuo Ishiguro:
The Remains of the Day; and the movie
Never Let Me Go; and the movie
Klara and the Sun; and the movie
Foreword Magazine – Magi book
Alice Henderson Alex Carter series
Charter Books in Newport, Rhode Island
Also by Ann Patchett: Bell Canto, Run, State of Wonder, Tom Lake, and The Dutch House
The Frugal Muse
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise
Fresh Air Interview with Maggie O’Farrell
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Help support the Book Cougars via our affiliates:
Libro.fm audiobook platform: Follow this link and use promo code: bookcougars

Help support the Book Cougars by becoming a Patreon member.
If you would prefer to donate directly, email for instructions.
Sponsor an episode of the podcast or the newsletter.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Join our Goodreads Group!

Check out our BookTube Channel and be sure to subscribe!

Episode 262 - Q2 Readalong: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

June 16, 2026 by Emily Fine in Biblio Adventure, Book Cougars Podcast, Readalong

Episode 262 Show Notes

– Currently Reading –
Land – Maggie O’Farrell (EF) (audiobook)
11/22/63 – Stephen King (CW)
Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution – Denise Kiernan (CW)(EF)

– Just Read –
Swimming Studies – Leanne Shapton (EF)
Emily bakes with olive oil on Ingredient One
Twilight Sleep – Edith Wharton (CW)
Foe – Iain Reid (EF)
Sizzle & Drizzle: Over 100 Essential Bakes, Recipes and Tips – Nancy Birtwhistle (EF)
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe – Fannie Flagg (CW)(EF)
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block – Jesse Q. Sutanto (EF)

– Biblio Adventures –
Chris attended the 2026 BIO Conference in New York City. She got the opportunity to tour The Century Association. Highlights included seeing Natalie Dykstra, Sara Catterall, Janice Nimura, and Bill Goldstein – all of whom have been featured via Author Spotlights on the podcast, meeting Diane Diekman author of Randy Travis: Storms of Life, a conversation between Brenda Wineapple, Ron Chernow and moderator Brian Kerrigan, and attending the announcement of the Plutarch award winner – Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife by Francesca Wade.

Emily had her buddy read of The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler with Russell from Ink and Paper Blog. She watched the movie based on the novel.

Chris renewed her New York Public Library card. She was excited to find a copy of Twilight Sleep by Edith Wharton that had friendlier font size.

Chris and Emily attended an event at RJ Julia Booksellers with Amy Bloom talking about her new mystery novel Blunt Instrument. Amy was featured in an Author Spotlight on Episode 153.

We had a great time talking with listeners on our Zoom conversation about the Q2 readalong Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, and the movie based on the novel.

Chris watched the movie Project Hail Mary based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir.

Chris attended a virtual event via the National Willa Cather Center featuring Rebecca Romney discussing “Willa Cather, the Archival Chain, and the Making of a Literary Legacy.” The video is available for a short time here.

– Upcoming Jaunts –
July 22, Chris and Emily are registered for an event at The Mystic Seaport featuring Christopher Shaw: “Robert Shaw: The Misunderstood Genius behind JAWS.” You can register for the event here. Learn more about Christopher’s book, Robert Shaw: An Actor’s Life on the set of JAWS and Beyond.

Emily is planning a Couch Biblio Adventure to watch the movie Foe based on the novel of the same name by Iain Reid.

– Upcoming Reads –
Jaws – Peter Benchley (EF)
The Butterfly Lampshade – Aimee Bender (EF)
Hunger and Thirst – Claire Fuller (CW)(EF)
“The Summer People” in the collection Dark Tales – Shirley Jackson (CW)
Cause of Death: Scarpetta #7 – Patricia Cornwell (CW)
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter – Seth Grahame-Smith (CW)
If you’re interested in joining Chris for a buddy read and movie watch send an email.

– Also Mentioned –
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Also by Jesse Q. Sutanto: The Vera Wong series and the Dial A for Aunties series
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje and the movie based on the novel
The Martian by Andy Weir
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist (translated by Ebbe Segerberg) and the movie based on the novel

Help support the Book Cougars via our affiliates:
Libro.fm audiobook platform: Follow this link and use promo code: bookcougars

Help support the Book Cougars by becoming a Patreon member.
If you would prefer to donate directly, email for instructions.
Sponsor an episode of the podcast or the newsletter.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Join our Goodreads Group!

Check out our BookTube Channel and be sure to subscribe!