Talk of Iowa Book Club

Dec 21 2022 20 ep. 10

Talk of Iowa Book Club Podcast artwork

We love to read! We know many of you do too. That’s why we created a book club at Iowa Public Radio. Hear about the themes, characters and big picture questions raised by the titles on our reading list. Get a copy of the books, find a comfortable chair, and read or re-read with us.The Talk of Iowa Book Club podcast is sponsored by Western Home Communities and Cultivating Compassion: The Dr. Deming Foundation.

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Yaa Gyasi's novel provides a painful look at slavery on an intimate, individual level

This month's Talk of Iowa book club pick is Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel Homegoing.

Exploring identity, friendship, racism and breakdancing in Iowa

On the Talk of Iowa book club, host Charity Nebbe is joined by expert readers to discuss Chuy Renteria's coming-of-age memoir about identity, friendship, racism and breakdancing: We Heard it When We Were Young.

'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian' and its complicated legacy

Expert readers discuss Sherman Alexie's controversial YA novel.

'The Hate U Give' grapples with themes of identity, racism and police violence through the eyes of a Black teenager

Angie Thomas' 2017 novel The Hate U Give is the story of Starr Carter, a 16-year-old who is present when her childhood best friend is shot and killed by a police officer.

Jane Smiley's take on 'King Lear' still resonates with Iowa audiences 30 years after its release

On this episode of the Talk of Iowa Book Club, host Charity Nebbe speaks with author Jane Smiley, the A Thousand Acres opera director, Kristine McIntyre, and author Mary Swander.

T.C. Boyle on novels, short stories and hope

Host Charity Nebbe talks with the prolific, best-selling writer about his work and whether he's hopeful about the future.

Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah: Breaking down barriers and keeping stories alive

Host Charity Nebbe discusses "Thomas and Beulah" with former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove and expert readers for this April meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club.

When COVID came to Okoboji

Host Charity Nebbe talks with medical anthropologist and Iowa Native Emily Mendenhall about her new book Unmasked: COVID, Community and the Case of Okoboji.

Poetry collection explores trauma and wellness in a Cincinnati neighborhood

Charity Nebbe talks with Emily Spencer (now known as E. Yetunde Ahn,) about her award-winning poetry collection "East Walnut Hills."

New book explores the radical power of personal narrative

Host Charity Nebbe talks with memoirist Melissa Febos about her new book, Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative