Thomas Schlesser is a French Art Historian whose new novel, Mona’s Eyes is a brilliant way of exploring the great museums of Paris. When Mona, his title character, is in danger of losing her sight, her grandfather, Henri, decides to show her one work of art a week for a year in the hopes that she can absorb all the beauty of the world before she goes blind. It is not just the touching story of a wonderful French girl and her grandfather visiting art, but also an amazing course in Art History. From Botticelli to Basquiat, Thomas will tell you the history and stories behind some of the world’s greatest. Join us as we talk to him about these fifty two works, his unforgettable characters and why it took him ten years to write.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned on this week's episode:
Mona’s Eyes by Thomas SchlesserLuminous Loves by Thomas Schlesser
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34:05
Kathy Wang Believes in Satisfaction
Kathy Wang’s newest, The Satisfaction Café is the story of Joan Laing, her compromises, her victories, her loves and her loneliness. In this memorable story, Joan and her reflections lead us through the journey of her life…culminating in the opening of a unique, strange and lovely café.. Kathy’s writing is poignant, subtle, and Joan, her protagonist is flawed yet inspiring. Take a seat at the Satisfaction Café with us as we talk to Kathy about how she does what she does, and why she believes “satisfaction” may spell out true happiness.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang
Imposter Syndrome by Kathy Wang
Family Trust by Kathy Wang
The World According to Garp by John Irving
Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
Monogamy by Sue Miller
Villain by Shūichi Yoshida
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
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32:11
Our Writer in Residence Finishes His First Draft
J. Ryan Stradal is our Writer in Residence, if you have been following along. What does that mean? Well, we have been with him from step one since he started his fourth novel, as yet unnamed. A deeply personal novel that imagines the third act his mother might have lived if she had progressed past the age of 55. She was J.’s person, his guiding light and his North Star. He has now finished his first draft and we talk to him as he tackles notes and thinks about bringing the novel to market. Also joining us is Jonah Zimiles, one of our all-time favorite booksellers with his mission based independent bookstore, Words in Maplewood. Join us for a great show with old friends.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
The Sportswriter by Richard Ford
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39:28
Classics Series: Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man is a feverishly paced, lyrical portrait of an unnamed African American man in the 1930’s. Hauntingly beautiful and raw, this book changed how Americans think about race. Immediately popular and the winner of the National Book Award in 1953, Ralph Ellison’s classic does not fit neatly in any literature genre (is it satire? Is it fiction? Is it historical fiction?). We sit down with two professors from Ellison’s alma mater, Tuskegee University, Dr. Zanice Bond and Dr. Caroline Gebhard to discuss Ellison’s legacy, and the legacy of his most famous work. Join us.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison
The Collected Essays of Ralph Ellison edited by John F. Callahan
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Post Bellem, Pre Harlem: African American Literature and Culture
1877-1919 by Barbara McCaskill and Caroline Gebhard
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36:12
Adriana Trigiani’s Romance with Italy
Adriana Trigiani is a true joy, and her new novel, The View from Lake Como, is a love letter to Italy. Italian by birth, Italy always plays a big role in Adriana's books, and in this novel, Italy is the central character. This book contains unforgettable characters, subtle and complex relationships with the artisan beauty of marble thrown in…Adriana writes it all with authenticity and heart. Join us while we talk about what makes Italy…well Italy, and stick around for a great bookstore in Delaware, the Hockessin Bookshelf.
Find books mentioned on The Book Case:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302
Books mentioned in this week's episode:
The View from Lake Como by Adriana TrigianiThe Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana TrigianiLucia, Lucia by Adriana TrigianiThe Good Left Undone by Adriana TrigianiVery Valentine by Adriana TrigianiBig Stone Gap by Adriana TrigianiBig Cherry Holler by Adriana TrigianiMilk Glass Moon by Adriana TrigianiViola in the Spotlight by Adriana TrigianiViola in Reel Life by Adriana TrigianiThe Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana TrigianiAll the Stars in Heaven by Adriana TrigianiBrava, Valentine by Adriana TrigianiKiss Carlo by Adriana TrigianiTony’s Wife by Adriana TrigianiA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensHamlet by William ShakespeareA Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret AtwoodMoby Dick by Herman Melville
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Are you stuck in a reading rut? The Book Case makes the case for books outside of your usual genre. Wander the aisles of your local bookstore with Kate and Charlie Gibson and meet fascinating characters who will open your appetite to new categories while deepening your hunger for books. This weekly series will journey cover to cover through the literary world, featuring interviews with best-selling authors, tastemakers, and independent bookstore owners. New episodes post every Thursday.
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