Reading the Room

Feb 06 2024 3
Reading the Room Podcast artwork

A literary podcast featuring author interviews and discussions with bookish content creators, hosted by Jaylen (aka @thebarandthebookcase on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok).

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Sheila Heti, "Alphabetical Diaries"

Feb 06 2024 43 mins  
Reading the Room is BACK. The first episode of 2024 is an interview with one of my all-time favorite writers: Sheila Heti. Her new book, “Alphabetical Diaries,” is available today from @fsgbooks.

Alice McDermott, "Absolution"

Nov 07 2023 51 mins  
Alice McDermott, National Book Award winner and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, joins me to discuss her new novel, "Absolution," available now from FSG.

Beauty, Drag, & Halloween w/ Mona Awad ("Rouge")

Oct 31 2023 47 mins  
A Halloween special! Mona Awad returns to the pod to discuss her new novel, "Rouge," available now from Marysue Rucci Books.

Bryan Washington, "Family Meal"

Oct 24 2023 50 mins  
An interview with Bryan Washington about his new novel, "Family Meal," available now from Riverhead Books.

Justin Torres, "Blackouts"

Oct 10 2023 42 mins  
An interview with Justin Torres about his new novel, "Blackouts," a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction, available now from FSG.

Body Horror, Religion, & Working Class Narratives w/ Elle Nash ("Deliver Me")

Oct 03 2023 47 mins  
An interview with Elle Nash about her new novel, "Deliver Me," available now from Unnamed Press.

Body-Swapping, Marriage, & Art w/ Isle McElroy ("People Collide")

Sep 26 2023 46 mins  
An interview with Isle McElroy about their new novel, "People Collide," available now from HarperVia.

Monstrous Women w/ Deesha Philyaw, Chana Porter, Chantal V. Johnson & Kristel Buckley ("Peach Pit")

Sep 19 2023 43 mins  
A discussion with a handful of authors and a co-editor of PEACH PIT, an anthology of fierce and dangerous women, available now from Dzanc Books, edited by Molly Llewellyn and Kristel Buckley.

Survival, Solitude, & Middlemarch w/ Lauren Groff ("The Vaster Wilds")

Sep 12 2023 25 mins  
An interview with Lauren Groff about her new novel, "The Vaster Wilds," available now from Riverhead Books.

Sacred Queer Books & Merch Collab w/ CJ Reads

Sep 08 2023 38 mins  
CJ Reads, owner of Sunny's Books, joins me to discuss the origin of our merch collab (the "I Got Saved by Queer Books" tee, available now!), opening a queer bookstore in Yuma, AZ, and some of our favorite queer books.