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!

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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!

Episode 260 - Buddy Reading with Our Mystery Man John Valeri

May 19, 2026 by Emily Fine in Our Mystery Man, Biblio Adventure, Book Cougars Podcast, Podcast Episode

Buddy Reads with Our Mystery Man John Valeri

Episode 260 Show Notes

– Newsletter Subscriber 10th Episode Giveaway –
Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For by Leonie Swann, translated by Amy Bojang
Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano
Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter by May 21 to be entered to win. The winner will be chosen by random number generator on May 22, 2026.

A couple PSA’s:
1. Learn more about Super Large Print Books
2. Correction: When Emily was talking about Blunt Instrument by Amy Bloom she mentioned Mrs. Danvers is a character in The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson but, thanks listener Kate for the correction, she is a character in Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

– Currently Reading –
Trad Wife – Saratoga Schaeffer (CW)
These Walls Remember – Dell Sandeen (CW)
From Potters Field: Scarpetta #6 – Patricia Cornwell (CW)
Three Bags Full – Leonie Swann, translated by Anthea Bell (EF)(audiobook)
Take It From Me: An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch – Alia Hanna Habib (EF)

– Just Read –
Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir (CW) (audiobook)
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe – Fannie Flagg (EF)
“Against Catharsis: Writing is not Therapy” – T Kira Madden (CW)
The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush – Susan Gregg Gilmore (EF)
Coven – Jennifer Dugan, illustrated by Kit Seaton (EF)

– Biblio Adventures –
Chris and Emily had a lot of joint jaunts over the last two weeks:
· Emily Franklin at RJ Julia’s Booksellers with her novel Love & Other Monsters.

· The Northshire Book Festival: A Weekend in Booktopia. Here are the Booktopia Staff Picks from “This Gift Card is Burning A Whole in My Pocket.”
The Authors & Books featured
o All the World Can Hold by Jung Yung
o Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan
o Crucible by John Sayles
o Dreamt I Found You by Jimin Han
o Little Movements by Lauren Morrow
o Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry
o Pollock’s Last Lover by Stephen P. Kiernan
o Take It From Me by Alia Hannah Habib
o The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush by Susan Gregg Gilmore
o Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer
o Whidbey by T Kira Madden

· Went to see the film Fried Green Tomatoes on the big screen.

· A fun visit with two listeners, Deanna and Linda. We visited the James Blackstone Memorial Library and Slackline Press in Branford. Deanna brought us books: (if you’re interested in learning more about these books, we do a show-and-tell on this video)
o A Feast of Words: The Triumph of Edith Wharton by Cynthia Griffin Wolff
o Displaying Women: Spectacles of Leisure in Edith Wharton's New York by Maureen E Montgomery M.D.
o Willa Cather: Landscape and Exile by Laura Winters
o Sizzle & Drizzle: Over 100 Essential Bakes, Recipes and Tips by Nancy Birtwhistle
o Foe by Iain Reid
o We Spread by Iain Reid

· Caroline Bicks, author of Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King, at RJ Julia’s Booksellers. We were joined at the event by Our Mystery Man John Valeria and the Gentleman Caller.

Chris had a phone call with Tina about Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke; she also had an exchange with Booktuber Britta Bohler over Voxer.

– Upcoming Jaunts –
May 28-29, Chris will be attending the 2026 BIO Conference.

Emily will be going to see The Sheep Detectives on the big screen, based on the novel Three Bags Full, and Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix based on the novel of the same name.

Chris plans to see the movie Devil Wears Prada 2.

– Upcoming Reads –
Whidbey – T Kira Madden (EF)
Sizzle & Drizzle: Over 100 Essential Bakes, Recipes and Tips – Nancy Birtwhistle (EF)
Endling – Maria Reva (EF)
Twilight Sleep – Edith Wharton (CW)
Be sure to check out Chris’s conversation with Dorian, James, and Shawn Breathes Books about Edith Wharton’s ghost stories.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe – Fannie Flagg (CW)

– Buddy Reads with Our Mystery Man John Valeri –
See prior episodes with John by visiting the Guests Page.
Books from The New Yorker article “On Crime and Creativity” recommended by Patricia Cornwell:
o The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
o The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
o In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
o The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway
o The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

We discuss the following books with John:
The Patricia Cornwell books, they have read up to The Body Farm: Scarpetta #5
True Crime: A Memoir by Patricia Cornwell
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, translated by Shanna Tan (audiobook)

John’s most recent interview with Patricia Cornwell.
John’s interview with Cornwell about her book Unnatural Death
John’s interview with Cornwell about her book Identity Unknown

True Crime review in The New York Times

Up Next: From Potters Field: Scarpetta #6

Here’s a link to Chris’s blog post so you can follow along with their Scarpetta buddy read schedule.

Chris’s review of True Crime

– Q2 Readalong –
The 2026 second quarter readalong is Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg It is the 35th anniversary of the film adaptation so it will be showing in theaters again on May 10, 2026. The Zoom conversation will take place on Sunday, June 7 at 7pm (ET). Send an email if you would like to join.

Join the Goodreads discussion thread.

In celebration of our readalong theme for 2026, we have created a Page to Screen Bingo card. Enjoy filling it out over the course of the year and email a copy by 12/31/2026 to be entered to win a gift card to Bookshop.org. Learn more about how to play the bingo card by watching this video.

All of the links below connect to our shop on Bookshop.org – support the Book Cougars and independent bookstores!

You can also purchase a Bookshop.org gift card.

– Also Mentioned –
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Friction: A Biography by Jennifer R. Vail
This Cursed House by Dell Sandeen
Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls: A Memoir by T Kira Madden
Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
Author Stephen P. Kiernan
Upstate Dispatch by Kim Van Alkemade
The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, translated by Jesse Kirkwood
Abraham Lincoln: Vampyre Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smithe, the film adaptation
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Author Pamela Toler
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-reum, translated by Shanna Tan

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 182 - Biblio Adventure Bonanza: Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

May 23, 2023 by Emily Fine in Biblio Adventure, Book Cougars Podcast, Podcast Episode

Episode One Hundred Eighty Two Show Notes
KEY: CW = Chris Wolak and EF = Emily Fine

– Currently Reading – [1:00]
Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest to Track Down the Last Remaining Lesbian Bars in America – Krista Burton (CW) release date 6/6/23
The Reading List – Sara Nisha Adams (CW)(EF)
Cat Brushing – Jane Campbell (CW)

– Just Read – [8:37]
Budmo! Recipes from a Ukrainian Kitchen – Anna Voloshyna (EF)
Shakespeare and Company – Sylvia Beach (CW)

– Biblio Adventures – [17:31]
Chris and Emily went to see the movie Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret based on the book by Judy Blume.

Chris watched Fried Green Tomatoes based on the book by Fannie Flagg.

Emily went to RJ Julia Booksellers to see Mary Beth Keane talk about her new book The Half Moon.

Chris went to Booktopia at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT. She also visited Monroe Street Books in Middlebury where she purchased: New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton, A Manual of Archive Administration by Hilary Jenkinson, and So Many Books: Reading and Publishing in an Age of Abundance by Gabrielle Zaid. On the drive home she made stops at Rodgers Book Barn in Hillsdale, NY and Oblong Books in Millerton, NY.

– Episode Sponsor – [38:58]
Episode 182 is sponsored by Rewriting Illness by Elizabeth Benedict. Learn more about Elizabeth here.

– Upcoming Jaunts – [39:52]
Chris will be celebrating World Dracula Day on May 26th with plans to work on a puzzle and listen to an audiobook of the book.

Emily is going to try watching the television series Bridgerton based on the books by Julia Quinn.

– Our Big Book Summer Reading Challenge – [43:05]
We are joining our friend Sue Jackson’s summer reading challenge by reading a book that is over 400 pages. The challenge runs from May 25 – September 4. Learn more on her blog.

Ulysses – James Joyce (CW)
(check out the Buddy Read link on Goodreads)

Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of New America – Gilbert King (EF) (audio)
(check out the Buddy Read link on Goodreads)

Novels that Emily is considering:
Fellowship Point – Alice Elliott Dark
The Great Reclamation – Rachel Heng
Three – Valérie Perrin
Properties of Thirst – Marianne Wiggins

Chris might read The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American American Romanticism by Megan Marshall.

– Out Now – [54:54]
Life B: Overcoming Double Depression – Bethanne Patrick
Summer Stage – Meg Mitchell Moore

– Also Mentioned –
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffeneger
Bison Books
Joyce Maynard
Katherine May: Enchantment and Wintering
Ask Again, Yes – Mary Beth Keane
Marian Engel
Fresh Water for Flowers – Valerie Perrin
Horace Mann
Nathaniel Hawthorne

You can help support the Book Cougars via our affiliates:
Libro.fm audiobook platform: Follow this link and use promo code: bookcougars
Shop on Bookshop.org – support the Book Cougars and independent bookstores!

If you’d like to help financially support the Book Cougars, please consider becoming a Patreon member. If you would prefer to donate directly, email for instructions.

Join our Goodreads Group!

Check out our BookTube Channel and be sure to subscribe!

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter.