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All About Books

English, Literature, 1 season, 159 episodes, 1 day, 6 hours, 25 minutes
About
A weekly NET Radio book review and discussion program hosted by Pat Leach, Director of Lincoln City Libraries, Lincoln, NE. Updated Thursdays.
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"Tell Me Everything" by Erika Krouse

Erika Krouse has one of those faces that invite confessions from complete strangers. This led to her becoming a private investigator assisting law firms with their cases. Her book “Tell Me Everything” combines autobiography with True Crime as she details her investigation of a college student’s sexual assault by football players at major university.
2/21/20249 minutes, 53 seconds
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Guest reader Rev. Dr. Jim Keck on re reading religious texts

The books most people come back to again and again are religious texts. This week “All About Books” welcomes Senior Minister of First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln, Reverend Dr. Jim Keck. He’ll speak to why people re read the Bible in ways similar, and yet different from other books.
2/14/202417 minutes, 13 seconds
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“The End of Drum Time” by Hanna Pylväinen

A remote village in the Scandinavian tundra is not a place you’d expect a writer to tell an epic love story. This harsh environment, over 150 years ago, is the setting for the novel, “The End of Drum Time” by Hanna Pylväinen. Learn more about this story of a Lutheran minister trying to convert the native reindeer herders with their culture of age-old traditions.
1/31/20248 minutes, 2 seconds
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“Dinners with Ruth" by Nina Totenberg

NPR’s long-time legal correspondent Nina Totenberg has written a memoir of her personal successes, struggles, and close relationships, including her friendship of nearly fifty years with the lawyer who would become Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.“Dinners with Ruth: a Memoir on the Power of Friendships.”
1/24/202410 minutes, 12 seconds
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"The Mysteries" by Bill Watterson

Cartoonist Bill Watterson has largely been out of the public eye for nearly 30 years, ever since retiring from his hugely popular "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip. He’s back with a new and completely different project, “The Mysteries.” described as a fable for grownups. UNL Professor Richard Graham, a graphic novel expert, introduces this mysterious and beautiful work,
1/17/202412 minutes, 51 seconds
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Part 2 of our conversation with UNL English Prof. Steve Buhler

Part 2 of our conversation with of Aaron Douglas Professor of English at UNL, Stephen Buhler. He talks about why we re-read and teach certain books. He’ll discuss Shakespeare, how time and age change our reading, and his favorite books to read again.
1/10/202412 minutes, 46 seconds
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UNL Professor of English Stephen Buhler on why we re-read.

An English Literature class typically reads classic works as generations of students have before. Why do we re-read these books? We asked this question of Aaron Douglas Professor of English at UNL, Stephen Buhler. He’ll talk about re-reading to teach and how time changes the reader- if not the book.
1/3/202414 minutes, 19 seconds
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"All My Knotted Up Life" by Beth Moore

Not long ago, Beth Moore was filling arenas as a popular speaker and Bible teacher, especially to women in the Southern Baptist church. Her memoir, “All My Knotted Up Life”, reveals her abusive childhood and how evangelicals embrace of Trump eventually led to her leaving the church.
12/29/20239 minutes, 50 seconds
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Guest reader Eric Buchanan on his favorite books to read again

Eric Buchanan is an avid reader who’s enjoyed introducing his reading group and his adult sons to books he’s passionate about. He gained new insight into his favorite books by the different things these readers picked up on.
12/20/202315 minutes, 56 seconds
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An introduction to Agatha Christie and her works by Scott Clark

She was one of the most successful novelists and playwrights of our times who inspired generations of writers. On this week’s “All About Books”, an overdue introduction to Agatha Christie from Scott Clark a Christie enthusiast and expert.
12/13/202318 minutes, 24 seconds
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Leslie Huerta returns with book suggestions for holiday gifts.

The annual guide to holiday gift giving for all the readers and pre-readers in your life. Leslie Huerta returns with book suggestions for every interest: fiction, non-fiction, history, cookbooks, sports, and titles for young adults and children.
12/6/202317 minutes, 47 seconds
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“Ted Kooser: More Than a Local Wonder" by C. Ketner & P. Wallace

Carla Ketner’s son came up with the idea when she had difficulty choosing the subject for her first children’s book. Why not tell the life story of fellow Seward resident and friend, Ted Kooser? Hear an interview with author Carla Ketner and Omaha artist Paula Wallace as they collaborated in the creation of “Ted Kooser: More Than a Local Wonder"
11/29/202317 minutes, 32 seconds
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Guest reader Mary Kay Roth on sharing books with adult children.

Reading to small children is a cherished part of family life, but introducing books to older children can also be a rewarding activity. Guest reader Mary Kay Roth joined host Pat Leach this week to talk about re-reading and discussing favorite books with adult children.
11/15/202317 minutes, 17 seconds
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An interview with John J Waters about his novel "River CIty One"

Omaha writer John J. Waters is a former U.S. Marine and Afghanistan and Iraq veteran. His novel, “River City One” follows a former soldier adrift who finds the hardest part of going to war might be coming home. Hear his conversation with host Pat Leach about the novel’s creation.
11/8/202314 minutes, 15 seconds
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Nebraska State Peot Matt Mason on re-reading his favorite books.

He travels to schools and libraries across the state presenting poetry, he teaches, writes and finds time to read too. Busy as he is, Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason keeps returning to certain books- find out what they are and how raising kids offeres another opportunity to re-read great books.
11/1/202317 minutes, 35 seconds
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“It Goes So Fast: the Year of No Do Overs.” by Mary Louise Kelly

As co-host of NPR’s “All Things Considered”, Mary Louise Kelly finds herself in the common conflict between a demanding career and being present for her 2 teen-age children. Their time together before they leave home is running out. The story of this struggle is found in her book, “It Goes So Fast: the Year of No Do Overs.”
10/25/202310 minutes, 45 seconds
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Author Tosca Lee on her favorite books she returns to.

New York Times best-selling author Tosca Lee is a Nebraska writer and avid reader. She joins host Pat Leach this week to share the books she keeps returning to and her reasons for doing so.
10/18/202316 minutes, 30 seconds
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An interview with Bison rancher and writer Dan O'Brien

South Dakota rancher Dan O’Brien knows a lot about bison. He’s operated a bison ranch for decades and was asked by the University Nebraska Press to write a book on the topic. Host Pat Leach talked to O’Brien about his book, "Great Plains Bison" and his appearance in the upcoming Ken Burn’s documentary, “The American Buffalo..”
10/11/202315 minutes, 30 seconds
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“In Old God’s Time” by Sebastian Barry.

“In Old God’s Time” by Sebastian Barry is a novel of love, trauma, memory and loss set along the Irish Sea. Hear a review of this novel which was short-listed for the Booker Prize.
10/4/20238 minutes, 2 seconds
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Guest reader JoAnne Young talks about why she re-reads

Are there books you return to again and again? “All About Books” is asking readers which ones they revisit, and why. Writer, reader… and re-reader, Joanne Young joins host Pat Leach to talk about the books she keeps reaching for and what she’s learned from reading a good book again.
9/27/202315 minutes, 41 seconds
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“His Name is George Floyd" by Robert Samuels & Toluse Olorunnipa

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction, “His Name is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and Struggle for Social Justice” reveals the systemic racism that shaped Floyd’s life, his family history, and his tragic end.
9/20/20238 minutes, 47 seconds
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“The Best Strangers in the World” by Ari Shapiro

He’s interviewed Presidents from Air Force One and followed Syrian refugees fleeing war, “All Things Considered” host Ari Shapiro shares the stories behind the reporting in his first book. “The Best Strangers in the World” Stories from a Life Spent Listening” Hear a review on this week’s “All About Books”
9/13/20239 minutes, 1 second
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"The Mystery of Hunting's End" by Mignon Eberhart

The One Book, One Nebraska selection has been named- “The Mystery of Hunting’s End” by Lincoln native Mignon Eberhart. “All About Books” welcomes Nebraska Wesleyan Professor Rick Cypert to introduce both the novel and life of this very popular early 20th century Nebraska author.
9/6/202319 minutes, 17 seconds
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“The Crane Wife: a Memoir in Essays” by C.J. Hauser

“The Crane Wife: a Memoir in Essays” by C.J. Hauser, are frank and funny reflections on love and intimacy. Incorporating friends, lovers, family and chosen family, it’s a new more expansive definition of love.
8/30/20238 minutes, 29 seconds
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“Nebraska Volleyball: The Origin Story” by John Mabry

The beginning was bleak. There was no dedicated practice space and they had to raise money themselves for uniforms. Nebraska Women’s Volleyball has come a very long way. Hear an interview with journalist and author John Mabry about what happened behind the scenes in this rags to riches sports story. His new book is, “Nebraska Volleyball: The Origin Story”
8/23/202314 minutes, 44 seconds
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“Bitch: On the Female of the Species” by Lucy Cooke

Since Darwin, evolutionary biologists have described the males of the animal kingdom as dominating and promiscuous, while females are dull, passive, and devoted. A new book takes a fresh look at animal behavior with less bias. Hear a review of “Bitch: On the Female of the Species” by Lucy Cooke
8/16/20238 minutes, 21 seconds
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“Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus.

Leading a team of chemists as woman in the corporate world of the 60’s was unusual. Elizabeth Zott is the unusual main character in the novel “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. In store for Zott are single motherhood and hosting the countries best-loved cooking show. It's a witty take on mid century feminism.
8/9/20238 minutes, 49 seconds
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“Birding While Indian: a Mixed Blood Memoir” by Thomas Gannon

Bird watching is the starting point for UNL Professor Thomas Gannon to visit other important topics. Enduring childhood poverty and prejudice, Indian Boarding School in South Dakota, and transcendent moments encountering birds of the Great Plains. Hear an interview with Gannon about his new book, “Birding While Indian: a Mixed Blood Memoir”.
8/2/202315 minutes, 2 seconds
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“Horse” by Geraldine Brooks

“Horse” by Geraldine Brooks is a novel that leaps from 1850 to 1950 and finally to our time. It features an extraordinary race horse and the enslaved groom who helps him win and a painting of them both which haunts a modern art historian.
7/26/20239 minutes, 11 seconds
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An interview with Michael James about Alzheimer's caregiving.

When a Lincoln man and his wife realized they were about to deal with Alzheimer’s together, there wasn’t a book that adequately explained everything they were to face. “Dear Judy: a Love Story Rewritten by Alzheimer’s” is the book Michael James wrote to help others make this journey.
7/19/202317 minutes, 57 seconds
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“Trust” by Hernan Diaz

The aptly named novel, “Trust” is about a man who accumulated a fortune in the early 20th century stock market. The flimflam nature of the stock market, its collapse in ’29 and even the unreliable nature of the story the author tells, are elements of this book that won the Noble Prize for Literature. “Trust” by Hernan Diaz
7/12/20237 minutes, 41 seconds
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"Easy Beauty" by Chloe Cooper Jones

“Easy Beauty” is philosophy professor and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Chloe Cooper Jones memoir. It’s a frank depiction of her life with a congenital condition that affects her height, how she moves and her life with continuous pain- both physical, and always being seen as lesser.
7/5/20239 minutes, 14 seconds
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"Elsewhere: a Novel" by Alexis Shaitkin

In a mysterious, isolated town, motherhood has a different dimension- mothers sometimes disappear. In the novel “Elsewhere” author Alexis Schaitkin has written an allegory exploring motherhood, individual and community identity.
6/28/20238 minutes, 48 seconds
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An interview with Nebraska author Tosca Lee

Three good friends leave Alabama to join the Army, eventually they're stationed in the exotic paradise of Manila. Then Pearl Harbor happened. What followed for U.S. servicemen in the Pacific was horrific. Nebraska author Tosca Lee has co-written a work of historical fiction about this time and place, “The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific” by Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee.
6/21/202313 minutes, 39 seconds
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“Take All to Nebraska” by Sophus Keith Winter

It’s not often host Pat Leach reviews something other than a recently published book, but a novel from 1936 was mentioned to her that tells part of Nebraska’s story “Take All to Nebraska” by Sophus Keith Winter is the first in a trilogy about a family from Denmark who settled in Nebraska and struggled to adjust to a new land and culture.
6/14/20239 minutes, 36 seconds
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"The Rabbit Hutch" by Tess Gunty

During a sweltering week in July, we learn about the people who live in the "Rabbit Hutch", a low-cost housing complex in a decaying Indiana town. The novel “The Rabbit Hutch" by Tess Gunty is a beautiful and funny snapshot of contemporary America.
6/7/20238 minutes, 14 seconds
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“Seeking Fortune Elsewhere: Stories” by Sindya Bhanoo.

“Seeking Fortune Elsewhere: Stories” by Sindya Bhanoo. A collection of short stories featuring women who’ve emigrated from Southern India. The collection contains themes universal to the immigrant experience- the cost of staying or leaving your home.
5/31/20237 minutes, 54 seconds
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Rachel Olsen talks about the 68th Annual Cather Conference

Since it's the 150th Anniversary of Nebraska writer Willa Cather's birth, the guest on this week’s program is Rachel Olsen Director of Education and Outreach at the Cather Center. She’ll talk about their upcoming Spring conference which will spotlight both Cather’s story “A Lost Lady” and her essay "Nebraska: The End of the First Cycle."
5/24/202318 minutes, 50 seconds
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"The Maid" by Nita Prose

Molly is a maid at a luxury hotel who struggles with social skills and understanding the intentions of others. She’s also the chief suspect of “The Maid” by Nita Prose, an uplifting murder mystery.
5/17/20236 minutes, 55 seconds
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“The Blue Window” by Suzanne Berne

A therapist finds herself caught in the caregiver sandwich of trying to help her elderly mother as well as her college-age son. Both her mother and son refuse to communicate for their own hidden reasons. The novel is “The Blue Window” by Suzanne Berne.
5/10/20238 minutes, 16 seconds
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“Under the Skin” by Linda Villarosa

Linda Villarosa’s new book “Under the Skin” lays out the forces in American healthcare, and society, that cause Black people to “live sicker and die quicker” compared to white Americans.
5/3/20238 minutes, 28 seconds
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An interview with history professor and author Jim Downs

This week on “All About Books” an interview with History Professor Jim Downs about his research into how modern disease research began and the unsuspected factors that played a role. His book is, “Maladies of Empire: How Colonialism, Slavery, and War Transformed Medicine.”
4/24/202316 minutes, 10 seconds
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“The Escape Artist" by Jonathan Freeland

Only a handful of Jews ever managed to escape the Auschwitz concentration camp. Rudolph Vrba was the first in April of 1944. The remarkable story of how Vrba planned and carried it out is told in the book, “The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World” by Jonathan Freeland. It’s reviewed this week on
4/19/20238 minutes, 46 seconds
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“The Furrows” by Namwali Serpell

12-year old Cassandra is unable to save her young brother from a tragic accident and his body is never found. This event rends the family apart and the grown Cassandra sees her missing brother everywhere in the faces of strangers. “The Furrows” by Namwali Serpell is a noel as elegy dealing with memories and grief.
4/12/20236 minutes, 49 seconds
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"The Swimmers" by Julie Otsuka

Alice is just one of the swimmers at the indoor pool who has a private, daily routine. When the pool is shut down for repairs, we learn how valuable this comforting routine was in holding off Alice’s encroaching dementia.,“The Swimmers” a novel by Julie Otsuka.
4/5/20238 minutes, 3 seconds
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“Also a Poet” by Ada Calhoun

When Ada Calhoun came across research her father had collected 40 years ago in his unfinished quest to write a biography of his friend the poet Frank O’Hara, she resolved to finish it herself. The book Calhoun wrote, “Also a Poet” combines literary history, memoir and an honest appraisal of her complicated relationship with her father.
3/29/20239 minutes, 3 seconds
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"Bad Actors" by Mick Herron

It’s an office of intelligence operatives that will never be mistaken for James Bond. This is the cynical and grubby world of best-selling author Mick Herron. His latest installment in the Slough House spy series is called “Bad Actors”
3/22/20238 minutes, 43 seconds
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An interview with "My Nebraska" author Bob Wirz

It’s a journey back to small town life through memories, with Nebraska-native Bob Wirz (weerz). He's written a love-letter to the state he grew up in, “My Nebraska: Rich Memories of Growing Up in Rural Nebraska Decades Ago”. Join "All About Books" host Pat Leach for a conversation with the author,
3/15/202314 minutes, 1 second
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“Pickard County Atlas” by Chris Harding Thornton.

Set in the Nebraska Sandhills, “Pickard County Atlas” is a slow-burning thriller of 6 fateful days that begin at a murdered boy's tombstone. "All About Books" host Pat Leach has a review of this debut novel by Nebraska author Chris Harding Thornton.
3/8/20237 minutes, 25 seconds
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"The Memory of Souls" by Cliff Taylor

Ponca tribal member Cliff Taylor wanted to give back to his community. He collected stories told to him by members of his family resulting in the book, “The Memory of Souls". Cliff joins “All About Books” to share his motivation for writing and his thoughts on the books that best describe Nebraska to him.
3/1/202314 minutes, 51 seconds
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"Ducks" by Kate Deaton and "Acting Class" by Nick Drnaso.

You’ll find realistic and interesting lives in two new graphic novels introduced by Traci Glass Assistant Library Dir for Lincoln City Libraries. “Ducks: 2 Years in the Oil Sands” by Kate Deaton and “Acting Class” by Nick Drnaso
2/22/202315 minutes, 31 seconds
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“Constructing a Nervous System” by Margo Jefferson

Combining cultural examination and autobiography, Pulitzer-Prize winning author Margo Jefferson’s new book pursues many threads at once- music, beauty, celebrity. Hear a review of her new book, “Constructing a Nervous System”
2/15/20239 minutes, 45 seconds
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An inverview with Ladette Randolph,author of "Private Way"

Online harassment forces a woman offline for a while. She heads to the place she felt safe as a child- to her late Grandmother’s city of Lincoln, Nebraska. This week’s “All About Books” features an interview with Nebraska author Ladette Randolph, she talks to host Pat Leach about her new novel, “Private Way”
2/8/202316 minutes, 38 seconds
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“Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver

This novel is Charles Dicken’s Victorian epic of grim poverty, cruelty and survival brought to the American rural south. “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver is a page turner of a story which follows a resilient boy born into systemic poverty.
2/1/20238 minutes, 18 seconds
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“Prairie Up!” by Benjamin Vogt

Because of extreme weather and drought, landscaping your home with native plants has gone from a niche area of gardening to the sustainable future. Benjamin Vogt, a master gardener and writer here in Nebraska, has just published, “Prairie Up!: an Introduction to Natural Garden Design” It’s a photo-rich guide to reviving plant and wildlife diversity in the neighborhood.
1/25/202315 minutes, 40 seconds
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“Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St John Mandel

With characters from the past and the distant future, the best-selling novel “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St John Mandel is a work of speculative fiction playful and puzzling.
1/18/20238 minutes, 35 seconds
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“Field Guide to a Hybrid Landscape” by Dana Fritz

The Nebraska National Forest at Halsey is the largest hand-planted forest in the Western Hemisphere. UNL Professor of photography Dana Fritz joins Pat Leach to talk about her new book about this unique ecosystem. “Field Guide to a Hybrid Landscape” is filled with environmental essays, maps as well as historical and contemporary photographs.
1/11/202318 minutes, 12 seconds
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Guest Don Macke offers his ideas for the This is Nebraska series

Many of the books suggested by listeners which describe Nebraska best for them have been literature or history. This week Don Macke joins host Pat Leach to suggest titles that offer a sociopolitical description of our state as part of the series, "This is Nebraska - Books That Tell Our Story"
1/4/202314 minutes, 49 seconds
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“Bittersweet" by Susan Cain

If you’ve wondered why some people find pleasure in sad songs, this week’s program offers some insight. Host Pat Leach talks about the New York Times best-seller, “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole” by Susan Cain.
12/29/202210 minutes, 27 seconds
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"The Marriage Portrait" by Maggie O’Farrell

Take a trip back to Renaissance Italy and into the family at the center of everything. A new novel by best-selling author Maggie O’Farrell offers a fictional take on a teenage girl who married into the d’Medici family- “The Marriage Portrait”
12/21/20228 minutes, 47 seconds
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Clark Whitehorn of UNL Press on books that tell Nebraska's story

Pat Leach talks with Clark Whitehorn, Senior Editor with the University of Nebraska Press about which books he thinks best describe our state.
12/14/202216 minutes, 42 seconds
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Holiday gift suggestions for younger readers

More holiday gift suggestions but this time aimed at younger readers. Vicky Wood, Youth Services Coordinator at Lincoln City Libraries brings suggestions for kids of different ages.
12/7/202214 minutes, 33 seconds
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The annual Holiday Gift Guide for book lovers

The annual Holiday Gift Guide for book lovers airs this week on "All About Books." Special guest Leslie Huerta of "Francie and Finch" book store has suggestions in many categories including: novels, memoirs and history as well as titles for people with an interest in birds, engines or ancient Egypt.
11/30/202220 minutes, 40 seconds
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"Confluence" a biography of John Gottschalk by George Ayoub

Nebraska journalist, George Ayoub, has written a biography of Omaha World Herald CEO John Gottschalk. Hear an interview with the author about the research and writing of “Confluence: John Gottschalk’s Life or Duty, Service and the Business of News.”
11/16/202220 minutes, 54 seconds
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A History / True Crime book, "Hell's Half Acre" by Susan Jonusas

In 1873, a small community in south eastern Kansas made a grisly discovery. Buried in the cabin cellar and property of a family of homesteaders, were the remains of countless bodies. The book, “Hell’s Half Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders, a Serial Killer Family on the American Frontier” traces the mystery that fascinated the nation after the Civil War.
11/9/20229 minutes, 2 seconds
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“The Evening Hero” by Marie Myung-Ok Lee

After the Korean War a medical doctor leaves his homeland for rural Minnesota where he works at a hospital living the quiet, American dream for 50 years. Then, a letter arrives from Korea which may expose the lie the doctor’s life was built upon. “The Evening Hero” is a new novel by Marie Myung-Ok Lee.
11/2/20228 minutes, 56 seconds
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Dan Nieman offers suggestions for One Book - One Nebraska

This week’s guest isn’t an author or reviewer but a listener. Dan Nieman from South Sioux City wrote in with good suggestions for the “One Book – One Nebraska" series. He’ll be on this week offering several contemporary novels which capture Nebraska best for him.
10/26/202212 minutes, 48 seconds
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“The Sweet Remnants of Summer” by Alexander McCall Smith

A good portion of the reading world always looks forward to the next novel from Alexander McCall Smith. You can also count as a fan this week’s guest reviewer, Vicky Wood. She and host Pat Leach have both read his latest Isabel Dalhousie story called, “The Sweet Remnants of Summer”
10/19/202212 minutes, 51 seconds
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"Sleepwalk" by Dan Chaon

In the novel “Sleepwalk” the main character is a man who exists off the grid with no significant relationships. His life of wandering doing shady jobs for a ruthless organization is interrupted by a call on his burner phone from a young woman claiming to be his daughter. A review of this novel of intrigue by Dan Chaon..
10/12/20227 minutes, 38 seconds
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“How the Word is Passed” by Clint Smith

Named the best book of 2021 by almost every outlet, “How the Word is Passed” by Clint Smith is a tour of the landmarks that tell the story of how slavery has been central in shaping this nations collective history and identity.
10/5/20228 minutes, 57 seconds
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"Accelerated" by Brian Ardinger

This week Pat Leach looks into the world of business innovation with guest Brian Ardinger Director of Innovation at Nelnet and the author of a new book on navigating disruption, "Accelerated: a Guide to Innovating at the Speed of Change."
9/28/202213 minutes, 54 seconds
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"French Braid" by Anne Tyler

In the summer of 1959 a Baltimore family take their first and last family vacation. Best-selling author Anne Tyler’s new novel “French Braid” is both heartbreaking and hilarious.
9/21/20227 minutes, 55 seconds
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“Lucy by the Sea” by Elizabeth Strout

Early in the Pandemic a woman leaves Manhattan to shelter in a small Maine town with her ex-husband. The couple’s complex past is forced upon them trapped in a small house by the swirling sea. “Lucy by the Sea” by Elizabeth Strout
9/9/20227 minutes, 38 seconds
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“Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr

Pulitzer Prize–winning author of “All the Light We Cannot See”, Anthony Doerr’s new novel is “Cloud Cuckoo Land” An inventive and uplifting novel about children becoming young adults in times of peril.
9/7/20228 minutes, 18 seconds
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“Trailed" by Kathryn Miles

In 1996 two women who were experienced outdoor leaders didn’t return from a week’s remote camping in Virginia. Park rangers found them brutally murdered in their sleeping bags. Journalist and outdoor expert Kathryn Miles discovered many problems with the investigation. “All About Books” has a review of her book “Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders”
8/31/20227 minutes, 35 seconds
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Omaha writer Ted Wheeler on contemporary Nebraska authors

Ted Wheeler- writer, bookseller and college professor from Omaha joins “All About Books” host Pat Leach to talk about contemporary writers and how they describe this region. As part of the ongoing series, “This is Nebraska- Book That Tell Our Story” Wheeler will discuss contemporary authors writing about Nebraska today.
8/23/202213 minutes, 20 seconds
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"Rebel with a Clause" by Ellen Jovin

If you have a grammar question, Ellen Jovin is the person to ask. She’s traveled to every state where she sets up a card table on the street, inviting people to bring her their grammar questions. These language adventures became a book, "Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian” Hear an interview with the author
8/17/202216 minutes, 17 seconds
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"Deer Season" by Erin Flanagan

It’s opening day of deer season for a small farming community in Nebraska and a teenage girl goes missing. That’s the setting for this year’s winner of the Edgar Award for best new mystery novel, “Deer Season” by Erin Flanagan published by the University of Nebraska Press.
8/10/20229 minutes, 57 seconds
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“This is Nebraska – Books that Tell Our Story”

What book would you suggest to someone who’s never visited Nebraska to help them understand our state and its people? This week’s “All About Books” explores that question with special guest Ron Hull, Senior Advisor to Nebraska Public Media. It’s the first in a series called “This is Nebraska – Books that Tell Our Story”
8/3/202216 minutes, 14 seconds
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A look back at Willa Cather's 1922 novel "One of Ours"

100 years ago, Willa Cather wrote the novel “One of Ours” which won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. This week “All About Books” welcomes Cather scholar Becky Faber to discuss the significance of the novel in its era and how modern readers might relate to it today.
7/27/202216 minutes, 1 second
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"Poet Warrior: A Memoir" by Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo, the first Native American to serve as U.S. poet laureate. Her new memoir “Poet Warrior” reveals how she came to write poetry of compassion and healing while finding truth and demanding justice.
7/20/20228 minutes, 55 seconds
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“The People of Lincoln” by Randy Bretz

What’s the difference between a city and a community? What makes a place home? These topics are explored through the stories of people living in the Capitol City. It's all in a new book written by longtime Lincoln resident Randy Bretz. He’s the guest on this week’s “All About Books” where he introduces his book, “The People of Lincoln: The Framework of Community.”
7/13/202215 minutes, 38 seconds
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“The Five Wounds” by Kirstin Valdez-Quade

Several generations of a family in rural New Mexico have both deeply layered relationships as well as their struggles. In the novel “The Five Wounds” by Kirstin Valdez-Quade shows the fragility and resilience of family.
7/6/20228 minutes, 14 seconds
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“A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence” by Mary Pipher

Best-selling Nebraska author Mary Pipher didn’t plan on writing another book, until the Covid lock down forced an inspiration upon her. All About Books host Pat Leach sat down with Pipher to learn about her latest work which deals with loss and change over time while always seeking the light. Learn about “A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence” with Lincoln author Mary Pipher.
6/29/202214 minutes, 52 seconds
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“75 Years on 4 Strings” by UNL Professor Hans Sturm

He was a self-taught musician from Syria who astonished the music world with his innovative technique on the double bass. With his new style, Francois Rabbath could play with ease what should have been impossible. UNL Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies Hans Sturm is the guest on this week’s All About Books where he’ll talk about his biography of Rabbath “75 Years on 4 Strings”
6/22/202218 minutes, 51 seconds
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“Pastoral Song” by James Rebanks

James Rebanks and his family have been farmers in England’s Lake District for generations. In his book “Pastoral Song” he tells how the global transformation of agriculture has impacted the environment and even the human relationship to the land. Learn about how this farmer is trying to restore the life that vanished from his small farm on
6/15/20229 minutes, 8 seconds
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“At the Corner of Fantasy and Main” by Matt Mason

Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason joins “All About Books” host Pat Leach this week to introduce his new collection “At the Corner of Fantasy and Main” Disneyland is the touchstone for these poems where midlife and memories come together.
6/8/202213 minutes, 36 seconds
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The One Book-One Lincoln finalists.

The 3 finalists for this year’s community reading event “One Book- One Lincoln” were announced this week. David Smith, the facilitator for the selection committee, joins Pat Leach to introduce each title and share why it’s a book definitely worth reading with others this summer.
6/1/202215 minutes, 13 seconds
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“Matrix” by Lauren Groff

Based on the life of a real woman cast out of the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Marie de France winds up in England in charge of an impoverished abbey. Lauren Groff’s latest novel, “Matrix” reveals the power of female creativity in a corrupted 12th century.
5/25/20228 minutes, 27 seconds
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“Shadow Migration: Mapping a Life.” by Suzanne Ohlmann

Suzanne Ohlmann was raised in Seward Nebraska, then traveled far away only to keep returning during her careers in singing and then nursing. As an adopted newborn, she had a shadow she needed to deal with. Hear an interview with Suzanne Ohlmann about this lifelong journey detailed in her book, “Shadow Migration: Mapping a Life.”
5/18/202216 minutes, 44 seconds
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"The Wrong End of the Telescope" by Rabih Alameddine

Winner of this year’s Pen/Faulkner award for Fiction, author Rabih Alameddine’s latest novel sees a Lebanese doctor arriving at a Syrian refugee camp to help. It's a portrait of ordinary people trapped in horrific circumstances. Hear a review of “The Wrong End of the Telescope”
5/11/20227 minutes, 8 seconds
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“The Doctors Blackwell" by Janice Nimura

In 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in America to receive a medical degree. A few years later her younger sister Emily also earned her M.D. Together, the sisters started the first hospital staffed entirely by women. A new biography details these and other accomplishments, “The Doctors Blackwell.” Author Janice Nimura joins host Pat Leach.
5/4/202216 minutes, 19 seconds
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“Now Is the Time for Trees" by Dan Lambe

Trees are not only beautiful, they help keep our homes cool in the summer and improve air quality. They’re key to fighting the negative effects of climate change. Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation joins Pat Leach this week to talk about the book, “Now Is the Time for Trees: Make an Impact by Planting the Earth’s Most Valuable Resource”
4/27/202211 minutes, 56 seconds
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“Eat Your Woolly Mammoths!" by James Solheim

From the unbelievable to the barely digestible, Nebraska author and illustrator James Solheim’s upcoming book is a treat for young readers hungry for something fun. “Eat Your Woolly Mammoths!: Two Million Years of the World's Most Amazing Food Facts, from the Stone Age to the Future” Hear an interview with the author.
4/20/202213 minutes, 33 seconds
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An interview with author B.J. Hollars and his son Henry.

B.J. Hollars and his six-year-old son, Henry, struck out on a 2,500-mile road trip retracing the Oregon Trail. They ate at truck stops, camped out in a tent and leaned about the country, our history and each other. B.J. and his son Henry stopped by the studio to tell All About Books host Pat Leach about their adventures and their book, Go West, Young Man”
4/13/202214 minutes, 29 seconds
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A look at the epidemic of loneliness“Seek You” by Kristen Radtke

Something you can readily find in the largest urban cities as well as the smallest rural towns- is loneliness. Writer and illustrator Kristen Radtke looks at the silent epidemic and the friction between people’s inner lives and public selves. It's in her new book, “Seek You”.
4/6/20227 minutes, 31 seconds
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"Lincoln" from the Postcard History Series. E. Zimmer & J. McKee

Long before cameras were found in every cell phone, if you wanted show your friends what you were up to, you mailed a penny postcard. The post card may be disappearing but two local historians have put together a book featuring Nebraska’s capital city from their large collection old postcards. Ed Zimmer and Jim McKee talk about their new book, “Lincoln” from the Postcard History Series
3/30/202217 minutes, 13 seconds
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“A World on the Wing" by Scott Weidensaul.

Thanks to recent advances in research, our understanding of the navigation and physical feats performed by migratory birds has exploded. These amazing far-traveling birds from around the world are showcased in the book, “A World on the Wing: the Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds” by Scott Weidensaul.
3/23/20228 minutes, 25 seconds
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“Painting Time” by Maylis de Kerengal

Paula is a young artist enrolled at a famous school in Brussels where students learn the painstaking techniques to paint realistically the grain of wood or the look of old marble. This week a review of the novel, “Painting Time” by Maylis de Kerengal. A story of technical painting and a young woman who brings her skills and craft to unique jobs around the world.
3/16/20229 minutes, 36 seconds
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“Oh William!” by Elizabeth Strout

A successful writer agrees to help her ex-husband on a road trip to deal with a family secret. “Oh William!:a Novel” by Elizabeth Strout confronts the mystery of people even in our close relationships.
3/9/20227 minutes, 54 seconds
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"Relcamation" by Lisa Tschauner

Nebraska author Lisa Tschauner (shawn ur) joins Pat Leach to talk about her novel “Reclamation.” It’s the story of two Nebraska college students who take a gap year to travel overseas only to be caught up in crime abuse and human trafficking.
3/2/202215 minutes, 36 seconds
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“The Future We Choose" by Figueres and Rivett-Carnac

“The Future We Choose: the Stubborn Optimist’s Guide to the Climate Crisis.” The book offers two scenarios for the planet’s destination in 30 years. One, should we fail to meet the Paris Agreement’s climate targets, and the other the transformation of the world to have net-zero emissions. Contained is an argument to meet the climate crisis head-on and what needs to happen.
2/23/20227 minutes, 50 seconds
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"Velvet Was the Night" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A secretary in 1970’s Mexico City leads a dull life compared to the beautiful art student who lives next door. The novel “Velvet Was the Night” moves into classic noir territory when the neighbor goes missing under mysterious circumstances. Hear a review of the new work by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
2/17/20227 minutes, 30 seconds
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"On Juneteenth" by Annette Gordon-Reed

Annette Gordon-Reed grew up in Texas. In her book “On Juneteenth” she brings together American history, her family chronicle and a historian’s view of the path for the nation that started in Galveston Texas on June 19th, 1865.
2/9/20227 minutes, 57 seconds
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“Red Comet” by Heather Clark

This week on “All About Books” a monumental biography of the writer Sylvia Plath that focuses on her literary and intellectual achievements. “Red Comet: the Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath” by Heather Clark
2/2/20227 minutes, 45 seconds
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“Rhinos in Nebraska” by Alison Pearce Stevens

Inspired by her work at the University of Nebraska State Museum, Dr. Alison Pearce Stevens has written a book about the Ashfall Fossil Beds suitable for younger readers. Hear an interview with the author of “Rhinos in Nebraska” a new book of engaging science writing interesting to older readers too.
1/26/202212 minutes, 27 seconds
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“Libertie” by Kaitlyn Greenidge.

A novel based on the life of one of the first female African American doctors in the country, “Libertie” by Kaitlyn Greenidge. It’s the story of a young girl born in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn attempting to find a place where she can fully be herself.
1/19/20227 minutes, 46 seconds
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“Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda Lo

17-year old Lilly is a Chinese American girl growing up in San Francisco’s China Town. In the novel “Last Night at the Telegraph Club” 1950’s America during the Red Scare is not a safe place for a Chinese girl like Lily to fall in love with another girl. Hear a review of Malinda Lo’s new novel
1/12/20227 minutes, 27 seconds
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“A Town Called Solace” by Mary Lawson

Each of the 3 characters is in a different stage of life and each is struggling with loss. “A Town Called Solace” by Mary Lawson is a novel that patiently follows small-town lives.
1/5/20226 minutes, 18 seconds
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"Yellow Bird" by Sierra Crane Murdoch

A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, it’s the true story of a murder on a South Dakota Indian reservation, and the unforgettable native woman who becomes obsessed with solving it. “Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country” by Sierra Crane Murdoch
12/29/20217 minutes, 30 seconds
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“Zorrie” by Laird Hunt,

It’s a poetic novel of rural, small town life. “Zorrie” by Laird Hunt, is the life story of woman born in Depression-era Indiana and a powerful portrait of longing and community of the American Midwest
12/22/20218 minutes, 18 seconds
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Holiday gift ideas for adult readers

Last week we presented book suggestions for kids, this Thursday it’s gift ideas for adult readers. Special guest Leslie Huerta of "Francie & Finch" book store has recommendations for:history, fiction, detective, science and cook books.
12/15/202114 minutes, 14 seconds
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Holiday Gift ideas for young readers with Vicky Wood

The gift of books to children can have a lasting positive impact. This week's program welcomes Youth Services Coordinator for Lincoln Public Libraries, Vicky Wood, who returns with book recommendations for young people. Learn about great holiday gifts ideas for toddlers to middle schoolers.
12/8/202112 minutes, 33 seconds
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“The Lincoln Highway: a Novel” by Amor Towles

In the summer of, 1954, 18-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he served fifteen months. With only a younger brother left, he plans for them to go to California and start over. Fate and friends from the work farm have other plans for Emmett. “The Lincoln Highway: a Novel” by Amor Towles
12/1/20218 minutes, 59 seconds
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“China Room” by Sunjeev Sahota

The novel tells the story of family connections across time and place- from 1929 rural India to modern Britain. How a place, or objects in a room, can hold stories of the past waiting to be discovered by a new generation. Hear a review of “China Room” by Sunjeev Sahota
11/17/20218 minutes, 48 seconds
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“Cokie: A Life Well Lived.” by Steve Roberts

Cokie Roberts was a fixture on NPR and television for 40 years. She was author of 5 bestselling books and inspiration for generations of young female journalists. On “All About Books.” Host Pat Leach talks with Steve Roberts, Cokie's husband of 53 years about his book remembering her friendships and daily acts of generosity. “Cokie: A Life Well Lived.”
11/10/202115 minutes, 21 seconds
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“The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larsen.

Winston Churchill leading the British through the German blitz is well-known history, but a new book uses Churchill’s diaries to offer a fresh perspective of those dark days. Guest reviewer Carl Eskridge looks at, “The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larsen.
11/3/202113 minutes, 35 seconds
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“The Secret to Super Human Strength” by Alison Bechdel

Artist and writer Alison Bechdel has had a life-long obsession with every exercise craze of the last 50 years. In her new book, “The Secret to Super Human Strength” she examines physical self-improvement, ageing and transcendence.
10/27/202113 minutes, 1 second
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“Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke

The setting of this novel is as strange as any you’ll find- a labyrinth of countless statues where sea tides fill rooms and then retreat. This is the otherworldly home of a solitary man. A look at the New York Times best-selling fantasy novel “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke
10/20/20217 minutes, 53 seconds
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"Nebraska History Moments" by David Bristow

If you can spare just a few minutes, you can learn something interesting about Nebraska history. That’s the idea behind a new release from the University of Nebraska Press. “Nebraska History Moments” a photo-filled book meant to be browsed. Author David Bristow is the guest on this week’s program.
10/13/202115 minutes, 35 seconds
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"The Perfume Thief" by Timothy Schaffert

It’s a story of crime in an unlikely place- the high fashion world of Nazi occupied Paris. UNL English Professor Timothy Schaffert is the guest on this week’s "All About Books" as he talks with host Pat Leach about his new novel, ‘The Perfume Thief”
10/5/202114 minutes, 17 seconds
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The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennet

In the novel “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett, twin sisters fleeing their small town life, head to New Orleans where one sister discovers she can pass as white. Here begins a fracture that will separate them in this story of sisterhood and black personal identity.
9/28/20216 minutes, 18 seconds
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“The Only Wonderful Things" by Melissa Homestead

Most Nebraskans are familiar with Willa Cather’s novels, but a new book by UNL Professor of English Melissa Homestead reveals new information on how Cather wrote her stories. Her book is, “The Only Wonderful Things: The Creative Partnership of Willa Cather & Edith Lewis”
9/22/202115 minutes, 31 seconds
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The “Friend Zone” series by Abby Jimenez.

With Labor Day past, there’s little time left for summer reading. This week’s program features guest reviewer Kiersten Hill who looks at 3 modern Romance novels which are both funny and innovative. The “Friend Zone” series by Abby Jimenez.
9/15/202111 minutes, 41 seconds
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“Carville's Cure: by Pam Fessler”

In rural Louisiana was a place locals called simply, Carville. It was the only Leprosy colony in the United States. There, for generations, afflicted people were isolated, often against their will. A review of, “Carville's Cure: Leprosy, Stigma, and the Fight for Justice” by Pam Fessler”
9/13/20218 minutes, 17 seconds
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“Tomatoes for Neela” by Padma Lakshmi

Preparing food is the time-honored way to help young people learn about their family and culture. Guest reviewer Dylan Teut Executive Director of the Plum Creek Literacy Festival, shares a children’s title, “Tomatoes for Neela” by Padma Lakshmi from TV's “Top Chef”
9/1/202112 minutes, 16 seconds
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“Temporary” by Hillary Leichter

A playful satire on life and work in the gig economy. The novel, “Temporary” by Hillary Leichter is a surreal trip through the anxieties of late-stage capitalism.
8/25/20216 minutes, 38 seconds
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"The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson

Guest reviewer Shirley Sneve introduces "The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson, a novel told through the voices of 4 generations of native women of the Northern Great Plains. It tells of the preservation of family and culture through hardships, aided by the safekeeping of traditional seeds.
8/18/202111 minutes, 45 seconds
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"A Knock at Midnight” by Brittany Barnett

In her day job she moved billion-dollar deals. At night, she worked pro bono in near hopeless legal battles. As a successful young black-professional, Brittany Barnett used her talents and time to help those caught in the racial injustice of the courts. Her life story is told in "A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom.”
8/11/20218 minutes, 5 seconds
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Introduction to Nebraska author, Mari Sandoz

Students growing up in Nebraska, may have read Mari Sandoz, but not everyone knows her books. This week on All About Books, special guest Lynn Roper from the Mari Sandoz Historical Society will introduce the life and works of the Nebraska author.
8/4/202112 minutes, 56 seconds
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"Oak Flat" by Lauren Redniss.

A high elevation mesa in Arizona is a battleground between Apache people, the United States government and 2 of the world’s largest mining firms.The story is told in “Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land in the American West” by Lauren Redniss.
7/28/20217 minutes, 15 seconds
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"Hamnet: the Story of a Plague" by Maggie O'Farrell

On this week's program part 2 of UNL English Professor Stephen Buhler's summer reading list which features, "Hamnet: the Story of a Plague" by Maggie O'Farrell. A novel imagining William Shakespeare’s marriage, family and the death of one of his sons.
7/21/202112 minutes, 16 seconds
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UNL English Professor Stephen Buhler's summer reading list.

What does an English professor read during summer vacation? As you’d expect, a variety of very good books. UNL’s Stephen Buhler is the guest on this week’s program sharing his summer reading list which includes travel, poetry, song, and of course something on Shakespeare.
7/14/202114 minutes, 19 seconds
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“Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan Alam

A family renting a home in remote Long Island are startled by the return of the owners fleeing a black out in New York City. The novel “Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan Alam keeps readers off balance while dealing with family, race and home.
7/7/20217 minutes, 10 seconds
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“Code Girls” by Liza Mundy.

They were recruited, trained and they worked completely in secret. More than 10 thousand young women worked for the US Army and Navy breaking enemy codes during World War 2. On this week’s “All About Books’ guest reviewer Lynn Roper shares a book that reveals the untold history of young women who quietly helped win the war, “Code Girls” by Liza Mundy.
6/29/202115 minutes
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"Wilmington's Lie" by David Zucchino

By the 1890s, Wilmington North Carolina was that states largest city and a shining example of a mixed-race community. But white supremacist Democrats plotted to take back the state legislature “by the ballot or bullet or both.” This week on Nebraska Public Media’s “All About Books” a review of the Pulizer Prize winning book "Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy” by David Zucchino
6/23/20217 minutes, 27 seconds
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“Deacon King Kong” by James McBride.

An irritable, old church deacon shoots a drug dealer in broad daylight. This begins the action of the novel, “Deacon King Kong” by James McBride. The story reveals the reasons behind the shooting and the consequences to the 1960's New York neighborhood.
6/16/20217 minutes, 49 seconds
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"Breasts and Eggs" by Mieko Kawakami.

Three Japanese women living in a tiny Tokyo apartments struggle to find peace in their lives as they deal with issues of partners, children and appearance. Hear a review of the novel “Breasts and Eggs” by best-selling Japanese author Mieko Kawakami.
6/9/20218 minutes, 5 seconds
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"Transcendent Kingdom" by Yaa Gyasi.

The city-wide reading project, "One Book- One Lincoln" has announced the 3 finalists. On this week's "All About Books" David Smith from the selection committee will introduce one of the 3, "Transcendent Kingdom" by Yaa Gyasi.
6/2/202112 minutes, 35 seconds
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“Children of the Land”, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo

He and his family lived by hiding in plain sight, hoping never to be truly seen. In his memoir, “Children of the Land”, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo tells of their survival in a system that treated them like criminals for seeking safe, normal lives.
5/26/20218 minutes, 5 seconds
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“Rural Rebellion" by Ross Benes

Brainard, Nebraska native Ross Benes found himself trying to explain to his New York City friends what the people of rural American were really like. His thoughts and experiences bridging rural and urban America led to his new book, “Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold.” On this week’s “All About Books” he talks about growing up in Nebraska as it politically moved to the right and why that happened.
5/19/202115 minutes, 28 seconds
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“Interior Chinatown” by Charles Yu

An Asian actor stuck generic roles longs to move his career forward. With this character, novelist Charles Yu skewers cultural stereotypes with humor and insight in his novel, “Interior Chinatown”
5/12/20218 minutes, 12 seconds
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“Pickard County Atlas” by Chris Harding Thorton

A boy from the Nebraska Sandhills was murdered decades ago but his body was never found. In the suspense novel, “Pickard County Atlas.” UNL Lecturer Chris Harding Thorton has written a book combining menace and dark humor. On this week’s "All About Books” the author shares her Nebraska background and influences that helped shape the novel
5/5/202112 minutes, 58 seconds
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“Hidden Prairie" by Chris Helzer

If forests, mountains and oceans are extroverted environments that demand our attention- the prairie has a more quiet voice. Photographer, author and the Nature Conservancy’s Director of Science in Nebraska, Chris Helzer, has written, “Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter.” It explores the diversity and activity of plants and animals on just a small patch of the prairie.
4/28/202114 minutes, 2 seconds
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“Hidden Valley Road” by Robert Kolker.

To their neighbors in Colorado Springs, the Galvins seemed to be a large, happy, baby boom family. Over the years 6 of the 12 children would be diagnosed with schizophrenia. How this could have happened this happened is the subject of the new book “Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family” by Robert Kolker.
4/21/20219 minutes, 26 seconds
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"The Least Interesting Place." by Matt Steinhousen

It may be the first of its kind: a coffee-table book of Nebraska photographs designed, written, published and even printed entirely in Nebraska. Amateur photographer and self-published author, Matt Steinhousen joins host Pat Leach to talk about his book, "The Least Interesting Place."
4/14/202116 minutes, 14 seconds
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“Run Me to Earth” by Paul Yoon

Beginning in 1960’s Laos, “Run Me to Earth” by Paul Yoon is a novel spanning decades. It tells the story of 3 orphans who risk their lives collecting medical supplies across a nightmare landscape of unexploded bombs.
4/7/20217 minutes, 51 seconds
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"More in Time" a tribute to NE poet Ted Kooser

He’s been awarded a Pulitzer Prize, named U.S. Poet Laureate twice, and now Nebraska poet Ted Kooser has a tribute from his colleagues and students in a new book. “More in Time” from the University of Nebraska Press is a celebration of Ted Kooser as teacher, mentor and friend. All About Books host Pat Leach is joined by one of the book’s editors, Timothy Schaffert.
3/24/202112 minutes, 17 seconds
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“Becoming Wild” by Carl Safina

Humans have traditions and cultures, but is it possible that animals do too? A new book explores the animal world from a fresh perspective. On this week’s “All About Books” a review of “Becoming Wild” by Carl Safina. A revelatory look at how animals function beyond our typical assumptions.
3/17/20218 minutes, 16 seconds
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“The Lives of Edie Pritchard” by Larry Watson

This novel presents a Montana woman who seems to have much going for her. But throughout her life she struggles to define herself while others seek to possess her in relationships that often contain violence. “The Lives of Edie Pritchard” by Larry Watson
3/10/20216 minutes, 14 seconds
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The secret life of birds. "The Bird Way" by Jennifer Ackerman.

Scientist are coming to understand that birds have intelligence for activities we previously considered uniquely human. Behaviors like deception, manipulation, as well as collaboration and play. This week’s All About Books presents, "The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think” by Jennifer Ackerman.
3/3/20218 minutes, 12 seconds
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Author Steven Wingate and his new novel "The Leave-Takers"

The University of Nebraska Press has just published South Dakota writer, Steven Wingate’s new novel, “The Leave-Takers.” On this week’s “All About Books”, host Pat Leach talks with Wingate about the book and his patient style of writing.
2/24/202114 minutes
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“Afterlife” by Julia Alvarez

Anotonia Vega is a professor of English and an immigrant, she confronts the loss of her husband in the novel, “Afterlife” by Julia Alvarez. The story follows Vega as she continues to seek inspiration from literature to guide her though new challenges.
2/17/20218 minutes, 5 seconds
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"Redhead by the Side of the Road: a Novel" by Anne Tyler.

A technology expert who enjoys a dependably quiet routine is upended by a suddenly homeless girlfriend and a teenage boy claiming to be his son. It's all in, "Redhead by the Side of the Road: a Novel" by Anne Tyler.
2/10/20217 minutes, 10 seconds
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. “The Confessions of Frannie Langton” by Sara Collins

A mixed-race woman born into slavery on a Jamaican plantation ends up in London at the center of a murder case. “The Confessions of Frannie Langton” by Sara Collins is a mystery written with careful attention to the history of the novel's setting..
2/3/20216 minutes, 38 seconds
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“Minor Feelings” by Cathy Park Hong

“Minor Feelings” is a collection of essays described as honest, funny, and provocative. A look at poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong's cultural observations involving everything from racial identity to art and family.
1/27/20218 minutes, 43 seconds
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“Here We Are” by Graham Swift

In the summer of 1959, three young performers come together for a variety show in sea side town of Brighton England. “All About Books” reviews the short novel “Here We Are” by Graham Swift, which delves into the love, family and memory of all the characters.
1/20/20218 minutes, 1 second
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“Paper Bullets” by Jeffrey Jackson

Two women of the Paris Avant Garde art world were living on the British Channel Island of Jersey when the Nazis invaded. A new book tells how these artists resisted the occupation and imprisonment in their own unique way. “Paper Bullets” by Jeffrey Jackson
1/13/20219 minutes, 6 seconds
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“The Less You Know About Us” by Axton Betz-Hamilton

In the early 1990’s, an average Indiana family had their identities stolen, crippling the couple and their young daughter’s life. That young girl became a professor and expert on identity theft, eventually discovering the culprit. "All About Books" reviews this true-crime story, “The Less You Know About Us” by Axton Betz-Hamilton.
1/6/20218 minutes, 34 seconds