The Book Case

Kevin Powers’ Children of the Wild is a book about Roy and Ennis, two friends on a farm who sign up for WWI, one excited for battle, one a feral child baffled by war. What does war do to friendship? To the minds of men? We talk to Kevin, a veteran of the war in Iraq, about his ability to write war so well and the effects of PTSD on his characters. We also talk to Bartleby Books in Vermont…join us!

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:

Children of the Wild by Kevin Powers

A Line in the Sand by Kevin Powers

A Shout in the Ruins by Kevin Powers

Letter Composed During a Lull in the Fighting by Kevin Powers

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Barabbas by Par Lagerkvist

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2026 is half over. And Kate turned 50 on June 16th. So in honor of all of this half life, we decided to talk about our favorite books so far of 2026. Tana French, Tayari Jones, Ann Patchett and Allegra Goodman all made the list, but there are so many books we have loved this year that we think we mention just about all of them. Then we quiz each other on rapid fire and get sort of gooey about it. Join us!

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:

 Kin by Tayari Jones

The Keeper by Tana French

This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

Whistler by Ann Patchett

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving

The Hero Next Door by Martha Raddatz

On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen

The Things We Do Not Say by Elizabeth Strout

Python’s Kiss by Louise Erdrich

Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott

The Power Broker by Robert Caro

The Holy Bible

Martyr by Kaveh Akbar

There, There by Tommy Orange

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlos Barragan’s book The Yahoo Boys schooled us on the huge and terrifying world of online moneymaking scams. From the romance scams (pretending to be a man or woman you are not, wooing others into sending you money), to celeb scams (pretending to be a celebrity for money), all the way to adoption scams (send us money, we will get you a baby). As horrible as these schemes are, Barragan takes an in depth look at the scammers, specifically in the community of Ikotun, Nigeria, painting a thorough portrait of the scammers and the loneliness in our world that allows them to thrive.

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:

The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception and the Real Lives of Nigeria’s Romance Scammers by Carlos Barragan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Martha Raddatz is a war correspondent, one of the biggest household names in front line reporting. Her newest book, The Hero Next Door tells the story of the service men, women and the caregivers who bring honor to the uniform. From celebrations to heartbreak, these are the stories that have stayed with Martha throughout her decade of brave work, shadowing families and soldiers both on and off the battlefield. We are also talking to a mother daughter team that run LALA Books in Lowell, MA. Join us for two great conversations!

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 Hero Next Door by Martha Raddatz

The Long Road Home by Martha Raddatz

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ann Patchett has written a new novel, and if you are a listener to this show, you know we are both huge fans of her work. Her newest, Whistler, is beautiful book about grace, kindness, the relationships we can’t let go and what we learn of ourselves in a crisis. When we asked if we could
come down to Parnassus in Nashville TN, she said yes. So, with great enthusiasm we hopped on planes and did The Book Case in front of a live audience at her Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville. We also have the tail end of our interview with Jesmyn Ward. I mean…Jesmyn Ward AND Ann Patchett? Doesn’t get better than that. Join us.

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:

Whistler by Ann Patchett

Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

These Precious Days by Ann Patchett

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Run by Ann Patchett

This is the Story of a Marriage by Ann Patchett

Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Taft by Ann Patchett

Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices