Episode 572 || What Would Susie Read?
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie chats with her mom, Susie, about books for readers with PG-13 tastes. You get 10% off the Susie-approved reads mentioned in this episode when you use code SHOPMOMSELECTS at checkout online and in-store!
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 572), or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff
Hurricane Season by Lauren K Denton
The Chancellor's Mansion: A Renovation Story of Family, Home, History, and Mystery by Jamie Arty
A Change of Habit: Leaving Behind My Husband,Career, and Everything I Owned to Become A Nun by Sister Monica Claire
Awake: A Memoir by Jen Hatmaker
Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony
Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn
Something to Look Forward To by Fanny Flagg
Marce Catlett: The Fore of a Story by Wendell Berry
My Beloved: A Mitford Novel by Jan Karon
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
The Sisters of Book Row by Shelly Noble
100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke
More Than Enough by Anna Quindlan
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found below.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is listening to Annie is reading Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan. Susie is reading The Little Bookshop by the Harbor by Jean Stone.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Beth, Cammy Tidwell, Gene Queens, Jammie Treadwell, Joseph Shorter IV, Kimberly, Linda Lee Drozt, Nicole Marsee, Stephanie Dean, and Wendi Jenkins.
Transcript:
Welcome to From the Front Porch, a conversational podcast about books, small business, and life in the South.
Sadness can make us bitter or wise. We get to choose. -Alan Levi, Theo of Golden.
I'm Annie Jones, owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in beautiful downtown Thomasville, Georgia. And this week, I'm finally back talking to my mom, a beloved guest, about books for readers with PG-13 tastes. Do you love listening to From the Front Porch every week? Spread the word by leaving a review on Apple podcasts. All you have to do is open up the podcast app on your phone, look for From the Front Porch, scroll down until you see 'Write a Review', and then tell us what you think. Here's a recent review from Brandy. My favorite comfort podcast. Our lives are complicated and hard enough and there is always so much chaotic energy around us. I am grateful for a comforting podcast that never fails to wrap its arms around me like a warm hug. This podcast is perfect for those that enjoy a calm, comforting listening experience while also gaining a mile long TBR list. Five stars.
Thank you, Brandi, for truly understanding the purpose of our show. We're thankful to all the listeners who've left kind words and thoughtful reviews for From the Front Porch. We're so grateful any time you share the show with your friends. Thank you for spreading the word about our podcast and our indie bookstore too. Hi mom.
Susie Jones [00:01:50] Hi Annie.
Annie Jones [00:01:51] Welcome back.
Susie Jones [00:01:52] It's so good to be back.
Annie Jones [00:01:53] It's been a long time.
Susie Jones [00:01:55] There's been book and a baby, just nothing much. A grand mommy, and so just a lot going on.
Annie Jones [00:02:02] So we're on episode 572, that's today's episode, the last time you were was 535.
Susie Jones [00:02:10] Wow.
Annie Jones [00:02:10] So you've probably read a lot of books.
Susie Jones [00:02:12] I did read a lot of books.
Annie Jones [00:02:14] So if you are a new listener to From the Front Porch, mom comes on the show. I do think this year you're coming two or three times. I've got you on the books. But she comes on board to talk. We have determined it's not PG. That's really not fair. And also that's just difficult. That would have to be a kid's book really. But PG-13 or books. Well, I think we decided redemptive stories. I think you did not like the phrase, books for sensitive readers.
Susie Jones [00:02:44] I know. Because I think that's even more limiting.
Annie Jones [00:02:48] Yeah, and I don't think it's always true for you.
Susie Jones [00:02:51] No.
Annie Jones [00:02:51] So anyway, books with redemptive storylines, books for those with PG-13 tastes who maybe are paying attention to, I don't know, violence, gore, language, sex, et cetera. So we have had mom on for episodes 398. 416, 433, 447, 468, 485, 520, and 535. You can find that full list in the show notes with links to those episodes. If you want to go listen to some backlist episodes, you're basically a pro.
Susie Jones [00:03:22] Well, it's been a while so we'll see.
Annie Jones [00:03:24] Okay, so why don't you talk to us about some books? Go ahead and get started.
Susie Jones [00:03:28] Okay, well actually it's been so long that I was worried I had forgotten.
Annie Jones [00:03:33] Well there's quite a list here.
Susie Jones [00:03:35] So the first one I want to talk about is a you book.
Annie Jones [00:03:38] Recommended by me?
Susie Jones [00:03:41] Perhaps, but it's a very you-ish book. It's called Hello Beautiful by Anne Napolitano who wrote Dear Edward.
Annie Jones [00:03:53] Which you liked.
Susie Jones [00:03:53] Which I loved. This is dark and gritty.
Annie Jones [00:04:00] Is it?
Susie Jones [00:04:00] Yes, it is gritty! Don't you remember The Scandal? They say it's kind of like The March Sisters.
Annie Jones [00:04:08] Yes, which I thought was interesting.
Susie Jones [00:04:10] And I did too because I'm not as a Little Woman aficionado as you are, but I did love the book. And so this was an Oprah's Book Club back in 2023.
Annie Jones [00:04:23] Oh, wow. Okay.
Susie Jones [00:04:23] I know. And I just saw it on your shelf, so this is actually my copy.
Annie Jones [00:04:28] I love that book.
Susie Jones [00:04:29] I knew you would.
Annie Jones [00:04:30] And it's got like a basketball element.
Susie Jones [00:04:32] I know I didn't see how you can remember and I was like, wait, what was that? I loved that. What was that about?
Annie Jones [00:04:38] This is what I say, remember how we had a minister who used to say, people won't remember what you said or what you did, but how you made them feel. That's what I feel about books. I don't necessarily remember character names or like I don't know the scandal you're talking about, but I remember how that book made me feel. I loved it.
Susie Jones [00:04:57] It was such a well-written book, and so I wanted to mention it even though it had been a long time because I just thought, well, first of all, I didn't know you had read it until I just got here today and saw it on your shelf. But I thought, oh, this is an Annie book; I'll have to tell her. It's kind of not actually a me-ish book in the sense that it's all this happy...
Annie Jones [00:05:27] You're right.
Susie Jones [00:05:29] It's complex family, and that's what you love. And I'm like, I love--.
Annie Jones [00:05:35] A little bit of dysfunction.
Susie Jones [00:05:37] Yes, and I love Little House on the Prairie. Everyone loves each other and...
Annie Jones [00:05:41] Maybe. We don't know. There might've been some dysfunction hidden under there.
Susie Jones [00:05:45] Well, probably.
Annie Jones [00:05:46] But I see what you're saying. Hello Beautiful definitely had complicated relationships, but I'm glad you read it. And you liked previous book a lot.
Susie Jones [00:05:55] I did, so I'm glad I read it too. Next on my list, I don't have it because you lent it to me, so you'll help me out with this, but it's The Duchess of Bloomberry Street.
Annie Jones [00:06:06] Did you bring it back for me?
Susie Jones [00:06:07] I already gave it back. I don't have it.
Annie Jones [00:06:09] Are you sure?
Susie Jones [00:06:10] I'm sure. And I loved it because she wrote 84 Charing Crossroads. And then this is a story about her actually getting to go to London.
Annie Jones [00:06:22] Which she kept talking about in that first book in those letters, but she never did.
Susie Jones [00:06:27] And then was it Frank?
Annie Jones [00:06:30] I don't remember his name.
Susie Jones [00:06:31] But he died.
Annie Jones [00:06:33] Yes.
Susie Jones [00:06:33] But she goes anyway and she meets up with some of his family and she goes to all the-- you go too.
Annie Jones [00:06:40] Yes.
Susie Jones [00:06:40] Now you've been, but I haven't.
Annie Jones [00:06:42] But you got to through her.
Susie Jones [00:06:44] That's what I loved about that book. I felt like that's kind of how Patty Callahan makes me feel.
Annie Jones [00:06:52] Sometimes she just goes by but Henry sometimes. I don't know.
Susie Jones [00:06:54] But anyway, her writing takes me to the place she's writing about.
Annie Jones [00:07:01] And now we know it's because she does so much research. I had no idea.
Susie Jones [00:07:05] She does. She's amazing. But anyway, I loved, loved, loved that book and it's short.
Annie Jones [00:07:09] I was about to say these books are so-- if you've never read 84 Charring Crossroads, you must. But they are so short that you kind of are sad when they're over. You could keep reading. And they're epistolary, non-fiction. These are true. These are real letters that Helene Humph wrote. The first book is her correspondence with a bookseller.
Susie Jones [00:07:27] I think I'm going to have to buy these books for myself.
Annie Jones [00:07:29] You should own them, for sure.
Susie Jones [00:07:30] I think they're the kind that you could actually just go, oh gosh, life feels so heavy I want to go back and read this.
Annie Jones [00:07:36] Yeah, or just read a letter or two.
Susie Jones [00:07:38] And no wonder I love The Correspondent. No wonder I loved that. Because that reminds me. Anyway, it's a great, great Susie book. people will love it.
Annie Jones [00:07:48] Yes, so good.
Susie Jones [00:07:49] So the next on my list was a Shelf Subscription. So I hope people-- going into my bag now.
Annie Jones [00:07:56] Yeah, she's got a bag with her books. Maybe you'll be able to hear if you don't know.
Susie Jones [00:08:02] So this was called The Chancellor's Mansion.
Annie Jones [00:08:04] I'm so glad you talked about this because this cover is awful.
Susie Jones [00:08:07] Well, I was really disappointed. I mean, listen, it's beautiful, and they're a beautiful family. They're very pretty people. It's beautiful. But to me the cover doesn't tell what the book is truly about.
Annie Jones [00:08:21] That's what I mean. The cover almost makes it look like they're a reality show family and I don't think they are.
Susie Jones [00:08:24] Exactly. I was kind of hoping they would change. Now I only have the ARC for this and I was hoping they were going to change the cover and when it came in they didn't. I hope they'll change. Maybe they'll change it for the paperback. I bet it'll come out in paperback soon.
Susie Jones [00:08:38] Some people won't go for it because they'll think it's a story and certainly it talks about her family but mostly it's about the reno of this very old home. It was actually used in the Underground Railroad.
Annie Jones [00:08:57] Oh, cool.
Susie Jones [00:08:58] It's a great story. I really loved it. I hope if people got it for their Shelf Subscription that they loved it. It goes into great depth over her renovation and the history that they found in the house. And there's a mystery involved.
Annie Jones [00:09:19] Where does it set, do you remember?
Susie Jones [00:09:20] It's in New York.
Annie Jones [00:09:22] Okay. Fascinating. I remember seeing this and thought it would be interesting.
Susie Jones [00:09:28] It's really good, but the cover makes you think it might not be what it really is.
Annie Jones [00:09:33] Well, yeah, and they are a beautiful family, but it just makes you think it's like a Kardashian story [crosstalk]. Would you compare it to House Lessons?
Susie Jones [00:09:45] That's what I think I put in my blurb. If you liked House Lesson, you'd probably like this. They're different, but I think this is a great book. Especially if you like HGTV and you like watching people because you're going through her innovations with her.
Annie Jones [00:10:04] And is she like an interior designer?
Susie Jones [00:10:06] I don't think she was. I think it's just her-- again, my memory might be off, but I think just that she got this home and she's good at what she does.
Annie Jones [00:10:18] Yes. Well, I'll be interested to see if they change the paperback, but I remember for you and dad, what I typically do is give you a stack of books that I think you're going to like for possible Shelf Subscriptions, and then you guys read and make your choices. And when I put that one in your stack, I wondered if it would be good.
Susie Jones [00:10:39] And I truly almost didn't pick it because of the cover. And then I didn't have a lot of choices that month. And then I just picked it up. I went, "Let me just see." And I went, "Oh my goodness, I love this book."
Annie Jones [00:10:52] Which I think a cover it is proof that people do. I mean, I do too.
Susie Jones [00:10:57] I totally judge the book by the cover.
Annie Jones [00:10:59] And I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but it means a publisher's job is so important because I think that book could reach more readers because again it just looked like a reality show family; whereas, then when you start digging, it's a home renovation book. It's non-fiction, it's memoir, but it's also history about New York City.
Susie Jones [00:11:20] So much history. Yeah. It was incredible. I really liked it, so I hope it did well.
Annie Jones [00:11:25] So that's the Chancellor's Mansion.
Susie Jones [00:11:28] Yes. I didn't bring with me A Change of Habit.
Annie Jones [00:11:31] Okay. I did not finish that book.
Susie Jones [00:11:33] Well, I didn't bring it, but it's okay.
Annie Jones [00:11:37] It's not in my bag of tricks.
Susie Jones [00:11:39] It wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be.
Annie Jones [00:11:43] Agreed.
Susie Jones [00:11:44] And so it didn't delve into some of what I hoped it would be about the kind of life that you might live if you left your life and became a nun. I kind of wanted more about that. So I didn't bring that book with me, but it's a fine book. It's fine.
Annie Jones [00:12:05] Yeah, I'd agree.
Susie Jones [00:12:06] Okay, so my next book on the list is Jen Hatmaker's memoir Awake.
Annie Jones [00:12:13] All right, what'd you think?
Susie Jones [00:12:15] Well, I thought it was well written. Now I've read a lot of her books, but I thought she was painstakingly nice in this book.
Annie Jones [00:12:31] She was very careful, I thought.
Susie Jones [00:12:33] She was very, very thoughtful and careful about-- and I really respect her more because of that, but it's something else.
Annie Jones [00:12:45] It's something else. This is her memoir about the loss of her marriage. I mean, she also though talks a lot about her evangelical upbringing.
Susie Jones [00:12:57] Yes, she does. And why that played into so much marrying very young and all these expectations and the changes that they have both gone through together through that, coming out of that. And then they split up. I mean, it was super sad.
Annie Jones [00:13:18] I mean, the book opens, it's shocking, except we all kind of knew, but I think the details. Because I had followed Jen Hatmaker for years, so I knew she got divorced, but then to find out her husband was voice memo-ing or talking on the phone to his mistress.
Susie Jones [00:13:36] She woke up to him texting or talking.
Annie Jones [00:13:39] Wild. Yeah, I think it was talking.
Susie Jones [00:13:40] To his new girlfriend. But all throughout the book, even though it was terrible, she wasn't like she could have been. I was probably madder than maybe she was, but...
Annie Jones [00:13:55] I think she probably was mad, but I was pleased to see that the book didn't feel like voyeuristic or gossipy.
Susie Jones [00:14:02] No, it doesn't.
Annie Jones [00:14:03] It's really more her investigating herself, which is impressive.
Susie Jones [00:14:06] Yes, and I'll tell you her family the way they growl, I don't know, just makes you feel good that there's family out there to pick you up when you're in pieces.
Annie Jones [00:14:21] So she narrates the audiobook and in the book there are texts from her dad and he reads them on the audiobook. And my friends who've listened to the audiobook say it's very touching because his voice will come in and read his text.
Susie Jones [00:14:38] Because they are very close family before this. And they're very territorial. Texas baby. Mess with Texas. And so they're really tight. I come from a tight big family. And so that also resonated with me. I thought it was very well written.
Annie Jones [00:14:57] I think it is too. I think it’s her best written book, actually.
Susie Jones [00:15:00] I think it is too because she really opens her life and that's hard to do these days. So I thought it was very good.
Annie Jones [00:15:12] I liked that one too.
Susie Jones [00:15:13] The next one on my list, I'm tickled about this one because I read the book called The Portrait that was sent to me as a gift from the author.
Annie Jones [00:15:27] Which was so kind.
Susie Jones [00:15:28] And her name is Emily, but she goes by-- would you say Emilia?
Annie Jones [00:15:34] Do you think it's Emilia Kelly?
Susie Jones [00:15:36] You'll say Emilia, that sounds pretty, but it's with an E. What a delight. She is a delight. You should read her book, The Portrait, if you haven't. And I've talked about it on here before. She's just a kind person.
Annie Jones [00:15:53] Yes, this was so lovely.
Susie Jones [00:15:55] It was lovely. And so this book, A Place to Hang the Moon, was sent to me by her to the store.
Annie Jones [00:16:03] Yes, she mailed it to the store
Susie Jones [00:16:04] And she wrote me a little note on here, which just gave me all the little goose bumps.
Annie Jones [00:16:07] She kept the note, Emily. She kept it.
Susie Jones [00:16:09] I did. I kept the note in my book because it means so much to me. And she said, here's a great book with no agenda on my part because I didn't write it. So, I love World War II books. I love how people survived. I love how they came through it. And this is a book about some three kids who lived with their not so grandmotherly grandmother. Their parents have died. She is raising them. Now, I wouldn't call her very nurturing, but she was raising them so they wouldn't be orphaned and she dies.
Annie Jones [00:16:49] Oh no.
Susie Jones [00:16:50] Yes, and now they are truly orphaned. And you know during World War II there was this time I think they called it the Pied Piper. It was the kids who all had to leave London and go out into the...
Annie Jones [00:17:04] Because away from like the bombings and yeah.
Susie Jones [00:17:05] Yes, they had to go out and about like if you watch All Creatures Great and Small, places like that, which is best television, PBS the best. So these children decide and the lawyer for the grandmother is like, go, this is your only hope, go. You've got to just go and don't tell that she has died.
Annie Jones [00:17:30] I see.
Susie Jones [00:17:31] Because if they're orphaned, that would be different. So they go and they put them in different homes. This is what happens. I've read other books where they do this. They put them into homes where they're supposed to be taken care of, but typically they are put in homes where they need babysitters, farm hands, and they are not treated very nicely.
Annie Jones [00:17:50] They're put to work.
Susie Jones [00:17:51] And they were treated horribly. But they found the library and this sweet librarian, whose husband is off fighting, but I think we come to find out that he was German and she has no children. And so she just favors these children when they come in. She doesn't know they're orphans. They tell where they're living, but she can tell they're not being treated kindly. She knows they're not. And so she does little things to help them and take care of them. And I'm not going to tell the whole story, but it's awesome and it's great. It's a happy ending.
Annie Jones [00:18:30] That's good to know because I own this book.
Susie Jones [00:18:33] You do?
Annie Jones [00:18:34] Yes, I do.
Susie Jones [00:18:35] Well, I love this book!
Annie Jones [00:18:37] Somebody recommended it to me. Now, I'm looking around my bookshelves wondering where it is, but I bought this book because somebody online raved about it and I was like, oh, it's got a beautiful cover. Well, if I find my hard back, I'll give it to you because I have it somewhere.
Susie Jones [00:18:52] Great. Yeah, I loved it. I think anybody who loves historical stories like this will love it. And thank you, Emily. I hope you're listening today. Thank you. And keep sending books my way. I've loved your book and this book. so thank you so much.
Annie Jones [00:19:13] Okay, so that was A Place to Hang the Moon
Susie Jones [00:19:15] And then the next book I have on my list is The Paris Library. I've read several by her. Janet Skelsley and Charles.
Annie Jones [00:19:27] Okay. I don't remember her.
Susie Jones [00:19:29] Well, it's based on a true story. What were the other books I read by her?
Annie Jones [00:19:40] Wait, so you haven't read books by her before?
Susie Jones [00:19:43] Well, not this other book that's listed on the back. Let me say this. I have read books like this.
Annie Jones [00:19:50] Listen, it's fair. We joke at The Bookshelf. We just have a picture of her back. She's looking off into the distance. You have definitely read other books like this, but just maybe not anything by this author.
Susie Jones [00:20:04] But they were, again, wartime books, and this is about a library that they tried to save in Paris. And it's about rescuing books. And if you're a book lover, you would love this book.
Annie Jones [00:20:24] Yeah, it's about the American Library in Paris, which I think that would be fascinating.
Susie Jones [00:20:29] And so it's all about how she curates and puts together these little temporary little libraries so people can have any books because they're all being destroyed.
Annie Jones [00:20:46] And jokes about the cover aside, it was a New York Times bestseller, a Washington Post bestseller, an international bestseller.
Susie Jones [00:20:53] It was one of my favorite books. I loved it. Again, it's so pretty, I wish it was in hardback. But did I read that book? Anyway, trust me, it is a good book. And if you like, again, World War II and you like about books and based on a true story about how they kept these books from being completely destroyed, read it. It's so courageous. There were so courageous people to keep writing alive.
Annie Jones [00:21:23] Courageous average people which I do like.
Susie Jones [00:21:27] Me too. So let me see the Bookshop on the Corner is my next book.
Annie Jones [00:21:31] Another book about books.
Susie Jones [00:21:33] Yes. This is Jenny Colgan.
Annie Jones [00:21:35] You have read her before.
Susie Jones [00:21:36] And did I read this at Christmas? Okay, this is just a great easy read. It's about finding a person and about having her bookstore.
Annie Jones [00:21:55] Good little romance, but pretty clean I think, they're very PG.
Susie Jones [00:21:59] Yes, very. I love her books. I whizz through them. They're so wonderful. And I also love where they take place because it's usually in these quaint streets of England.
Annie Jones [00:22:13] Yeah, I think she's a UK author. Yeah, she lives in London and Scotland.
Susie Jones [00:22:18] Yes, so this book was very good and I really highly recommend anything by her actually.
Annie Jones [00:22:25] I think we did well with that book because it's about a bookstore and kind of picking books for the right person.
Susie Jones [00:22:30] Yes, it was very good. Okay, what's next on my list? Okay, The Women of Platform Two. I can't remember if this was one of my Shelf Subscriptions.
Annie Jones [00:22:43] No, because the next one was. I don't think this was a Shelf Sub.
Susie Jones [00:22:47] I see I don't do Shelf Subscriptions as much anymore.
Annie Jones [00:22:48] That's right. You're back to your quarterly instead of monthly or bimonthly.
Susie Jones [00:22:52] Yeah, maybe just quarterly. Yes. So I kind of get mixed up now because you still give me a stack of ARCs that I can read. So that was what this was. It's set in Dublin. She's married to a doctor who has a great reputation. He is not a nice person.
Annie Jones [00:23:21] Oh, I see. So he has a great reputation, but actually a terrible person.
Susie Jones [00:23:23] Oh, He's abusive, so terrible. And so they're trying to have a family and she can't have a child. And he just abuses her more and more verbally. And she becomes close friends with someone who has three children and they kind of keep an eye on her and take her in. Now, it's fun! You got to read this book because she ultimately wins in the end.
Annie Jones [00:23:54] Okay, so redemptive.
Susie Jones [00:23:55] Exactly. So you're going to find out that what she thinks she's always wanted, she comes across with this group of women and Is it a true story? No, it's not a true story, but it's a great story about women's strength and coming together and taking care of each other.
Annie Jones [00:24:18] Female friendship.
Susie Jones [00:24:19] It is. It's great. I loved it.
Annie Jones [00:24:21] It's got a really pretty cover.
Susie Jones [00:24:21] It does, and I bet that came out in hardback. And so that was the Women on Platform 2.
Susie Jones [00:24:27] Yes. Now, Family of Spies...
Annie Jones [00:24:29] That was your Shelf Subscription for December, I believe.
Susie Jones [00:24:32] Yes, and it's based on a true story. This is a true story.
Annie Jones [00:24:35] This is true story. This is non-fiction.
Susie Jones [00:24:37] She's written this book about her family that she had no idea.
Annie Jones [00:24:41] This was fascinating. We sold a lot of these for your Shelf Subscription and I think Erin read it and loved it. Christine Kuehn.
Susie Jones [00:24:51] Anyway, wow, some reporter calls her up one day and says, I would like to talk about your parents and their role in Nazi Germany. And she like, crank call, got the wrong person, doesn't even respond. And then they call again. And she's, like, what in the world? So she starts doing her own research because her dad cannot talk about the past. He just can't talk about it. And it's because his family helped the Nazis and got moved from Germany to Hawaii. They were there for Pearl Harbor. It's bad. It's shocking. Also, it was shocking that I didn't realize the Germans were working with the Japanese and her aunt and her grandfather and I think her grandmother too were deeply involved with helping the Nazis. And her uncle was in the Nazi army.
Annie Jones [00:26:11] Oh, wow. And she had no idea.
Susie Jones [00:26:13] No, and she tried to go back and meet with people, meet with the aunt. And most people were just like, leave it. But she kept digging and this is a great book. It's a shocking book.
Annie Jones [00:26:27] I don't think I knew what it was about. That is shocking.
Susie Jones [00:26:29] It's very shocking that you can be-- so she asked her 70 year old father what possibly could have happened. He did not want to talk about it. So, she just kept digging and I mean she did a lot of research. Well, and that's it's impressive because it's not too thick of a book. No, it's not. But an enormous amount of research and to tell the story. I had no idea that's what it was about. To tell the story is brave because look how long ago that was and people still have real strong opinions and she is sharing that yikes this was my family.
Annie Jones [00:27:06] The role her family played.
Susie Jones [00:27:07] Yes wow and I didn't even I didn't even realize that detail of working behind the scenes between Germans and the Japanese. It was very good. I hope people really liked it.
Annie Jones [00:27:22] Dad would also have liked that, did he read it?
Susie Jones [00:27:24] As a matter of fact, this was in his group to read, and he picked a different book. And I was like, where'd that come from? Let me have that. And then I loved it. I couldn't put it down. It was really well written and very good. Okay, so we'll talk real quickly about Fanny Flag. If you just want a little book where you can just pick up and read a story, that's the book for you. It's just tiny little unrelated.
Annie Jones [00:27:50] So it's a short story collection?
Susie Jones [00:27:52] Occasionally, there might be a book it's called something to look forward to and I read it at night when I was busy and I didn't have anything else going, so I would just read a story or two.
Annie Jones [00:28:06] That's nice.
Susie Jones [00:28:07] Nothing earth shattering, just easy peasy.
Annie Jones [00:28:12] Okay, I've been speculating on recent episodes of From the Front Porch because I have read probably in the last two months, so just since January, I think I've read four connected short story collections. So they're novels, but they're being told in short story format. I mean, those have always existed, but I do wonder if we're going to see more of that as our attention spans wane.
Susie Jones [00:28:36] That's what that is.
Annie Jones [00:28:37] Don't you think?
Susie Jones [00:28:38] Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
Annie Jones [00:28:40] I think we're seeing a lot more of that.
Susie Jones [00:28:42] Which is sad.
Annie Jones [00:28:42] But the short story format is amazing. I'm in awe of short story writers, and there have always been short stories. But I do feel like I personally, as a bookseller, have seen an uptick in the number. And I do just wonder if it's because we can't handle-- and me neither-- long chapters.
Susie Jones [00:29:03] Well, I got her book simply because I'm taking care of the baby, I'm busy. And so I'm like I just need a little something I can pick up and put down. But I don't want it to replace, I can't shut the book. I can stop reading, it's so good.
Annie Jones [00:29:20] There's a place for that, for sure.
Susie Jones [00:29:22] Exactly. And I think also, Annie, it's not just our attention span, it is our world. It's a train wreck.
Annie Jones [00:29:29] So many things vying for our attention.
Susie Jones [00:29:32] Yes, and so you sit down and you're like you just need so these were just--
Annie Jones [00:29:36] Yeah, feel good.
Susie Jones [00:29:37] Yeah, little stories and some of them connected and most of them didn't. And then that leads me to Marce Catlett: The Force of a Story by Wendell Berry. Okay. Now if you want to slow down, read Wendel Berry. That's why I love him. And I was thinking this morning, well who's going to do that for us? Who's going to do this for us who subtly reminds us of the natural actually how it's happening to our environment, to farming, to the land, to the family farm. Who's going to tell us about this anymore? Who's going to remind us?
Annie Jones [00:30:18] That's a good question.
Susie Jones [00:30:19] Because we need to be reminded. This is where most everybody comes from. Almost everybody came from some sort of family farm or I'll just say a lot of us did. And they've died off and he has just brought us through with his stories, these family stories, but always reminding us of an environmental impact. And that impact on the structure of a family. And so, this is a short book, but it's a slow book because you don't read Wendell Berry fast. He writes in a way that you need to sit with it and get into his flow of his language.
Annie Jones [00:30:59] I think that's why I've had a hard time, as I think in my pre-Bookshelf life, I would have loved reading. And I have had a had a time, I think it's why gravitate towards his poetry because I started Hannah Coulter and loved it, but I was like, I've got to be able to read this and nothing else, instead of reading 12 books last month. Or if you read Wendell Berry...
Susie Jones [00:31:24] It would be hard for you because this is one you pour yourself a cup of hot tea, you sit on the porch swing and you sit with it.
Annie Jones [00:31:31] I don't even know the last time I've done that.
Susie Jones [00:31:32] And you have to get into the flow of his language.
Annie Jones [00:31:34] Yes, you do.
Susie Jones [00:31:35] And so I wonder how Chet, if he's listening to this, I wonder if he is the one that I think introduced us to Wendell Berry. And wonder if he still reads it.
Annie Jones [00:31:46] Right, in his current life stage, with kids and a job.
Susie Jones [00:31:49] With kids and working.
Annie Jones [00:31:51] Or if because he's read him before, can he just go back and revisit?
Susie Jones [00:31:55] Because this strikes me as you would be out in your truck in the mountains, mountain guiding, and you're by yourself in the campfire and you could sit and read Wendell Berry, which is how he probably discovered him. And so, but I have a whole collection of his now.
Annie Jones [00:32:11] And this one's short.
Susie Jones [00:32:12] It is short.
Annie Jones [00:32:13] But do you have to read it-- it's a Port William novel.
Susie Jones [00:32:15] No, you don't have to. Actually, none of it. I've read them so out of order, but all the people are still all the peoples and so they all reconnect but you don't have to read it in any sort of order or anything.
Annie Jones [00:32:29] I've always asked Chet this, but where do you think if you were new to Wendell Berry, where would you start?
Susie Jones [00:32:35] Now I'd have to look. I started with this day, his poetry book, and then I think I started with, it was either, I'd have to see a list, it was one of the characters.
Annie Jones [00:32:46] Was it Jaber Crowe
Susie Jones [00:32:47] I think it was Hannah Coulter.
Annie Jones [00:32:48] I think Chet told us to start with Hannah Coulter.
Susie Jones [00:32:51] And then I moved Jaber Crowe. And then I think we just cleaned out our bookcases and donated 50 something books. And so, but all my Wendell Berry's-- and guess where your book is?
Annie Jones [00:33:04] Where?
Susie Jones [00:33:05] With Wendel Berry's book.
Annie Jones [00:33:06] Thank you. Very kind. Oh, right there.
Susie Jones [00:33:10] My favorite shelves.
Annie Jones [00:33:11] What a great shelf.
Susie Jones [00:33:12] It is a great shelf.
Annie Jones [00:33:13] Thank you.
Susie Jones [00:33:14] So that brings me to my next book.
Annie Jones [00:33:16] All right.
Susie Jones [00:33:16] And if you know me at all, you know that Jan Caren is the woman who taught me to love reading at the beach. I got the book at home at Mitford because of the cover. And guess what I've done?
Annie Jones [00:33:31] Oh, yeah. Tell. This was fun.
Susie Jones [00:33:32] A lot of those books in the early years were paperback for me. Well, I love her so much. I truly just love her. I think she's a wonderful person and I love her writing and I love Mitford. And so I went into the archives into used bookstores and now I have them all in hardback.
Annie Jones [00:33:56] Fun. That's really fun.
Susie Jones [00:33:57] And I remove the covers because you know I do that. And then so they're all just beautiful on a whole shelf. They take up a whole shelf.
Annie Jones [00:34:04] Because there's a lot of them.
Susie Jones [00:34:05] There are a lot of them and when you get hardbacks, they're bigger. So I don't know if I donated my very first one this last time or not. Maybe I finally did, but I couldn't because it was the paperback I took to the beach. I was 40. I thought I need to read. And so I look at everybody sitting at the beach reading and all I could do was a country living magazine because I was too antsy. And so now she's the one who taught me to sit and love to read.
Annie Jones [00:34:34] That's so fun.
Susie Jones [00:34:35] So this one is called My Beloved. It is a big book. It's one of her bigger novels. And she is delightful. She just brings all the characters of Mitford back to life again. You pick right back up into their lives. Father Tim has asked her what she wants for Christmas. They don't need anything. They're older. They've got everything. And she says write me a letter. And because he's very poetic and he's very into poetry and so he writes her this beautiful letter, puts it in a book that he's bought for her, and leaves it out and Puny the maid comes in and picks it up accidentally or one of her boys and it goes into her bag and she takes it home and it's like what if I do this and then it gets left somewhere else. Then somebody else picks it up and he picks it up and leaves at some lady's house accidentally and it's the wrong book and she thinks he's written this love letter and she reads it and she's French and she's just thinking who would write such an intimate letter and blah, blah, blah. So it just goes follows that letter.
Annie Jones [00:35:53] That's fun.
Susie Jones [00:35:53] It was very cute I loved it. I actually started it at the end of last year but then I made myself quit reading it because I didn't want to finish it because that's how much I love it. And then so I picked it up at the beginning of the year and then I'm going to finish it.
Annie Jones [00:36:07] And so you loved it?
Susie Jones [00:36:09] Loved it. And anybody who loves Jan Cairn is going to love that book.
Annie Jones [00:36:14] All right.
Susie Jones [00:36:14] A couple more good ones here and my bag will be empty, Theo of Golden.
Annie Jones [00:36:19] All right, talk to me about this because this is is a bestseller at the bookshelf. It was independently published.
Susie Jones [00:36:27] Really?
Annie Jones [00:36:27] Yeah. And then at the end of last year, Simon and Shuster picked it up and who knows for how much money, I don't know. And so now it is a traditionally published book by Simon and Schuster.
Susie Jones [00:36:38] Is it hardback?
Annie Jones [00:36:39] No. They released it in a paperback original. And he's from Columbus, Georgia.
Susie Jones [00:36:44] I know.
Annie Jones [00:36:45] We are trying to get him at the Bookshelf.
Susie Jones [00:36:47] I wish you could. I loved this book.
Annie Jones [00:36:49] I think he is, I want to say, a caregiver. And so I think that's what I'm to understand. So getting away from Columbus is difficult. But, anyway, this is all any local person can talk about.
Susie Jones [00:37:01] Well, because it's Southern, it's very Southern and it's about a man named Theo and you don't know very much about him. He is a mystery. He comes into this small town, Golden, he comes into the very small town and he just starts kind of-- it is not really snooping or anything, he is just curious. And you don't really understand why or anything, so he's just going through the town, getting to know people, and finally wants to put down a little bit of roots. Not permanent roots, but he tells people I'm just going to be here a short while. And so he goes into this coffee shop and there are portraits hanging. And there's portraits of all the people and so he is curious about them. So he buys the portrait. And then he gifts it to the person who was painted. Okay. So then he meets the artist and now some people don't want their portrait. Yeah, some people are like I don't lke him. But so he meets people in the park on this bench at the fountain. And he starts meeting people and giving back the portraits to the rightful owners. And so now he's and nobody knows anything about him. Just Theo. Hey, Theo.
Annie Jones [00:38:23] Interesting.
Susie Jones [00:38:24] And they are very accepting and he rents a little place above is he a lawyer? I think he's a lawyer. He rents his little apartment that he has and it's great. It's tragic. It's great, it's tragic and then at the end the mystery is solved and you will know. I'm not telling because you have to read it. But after I read the correspondent, I thought, what am I going to like, and you must have recommended this.
Annie Jones [00:38:55] This is typically what we're giving to people after The Correspondent.
Susie Jones [00:38:59] And I wouldn't say that it's like the correspondent, but I would say that if you liked the correspondent you probably will like this book. But I think if you had to rank them, I'm just going to be real, you'd still say The Correspondent was your fave. But I didn't want this to end. And then I was plumped when it ended.
Annie Jones [00:39:23] Okay, so here's my question for you. You know me, this is what I do to Hunter sometimes, only in a very different way. So Hunter sometimes reads things that I probably wouldn't read, but I'll say, well, would I like that? And Hunter will tell me, honestly, yeah, you should read this, you'll really like this. So knowing what I like to read, is this too feel good for me?
Susie Jones [00:39:44] It might be too slow. There's some drama and stuff within this book and there's a twist. But I loved it, couldn't put it down. I wish you would take the time to read it.
Annie Jones [00:40:05] Well, I don't know. It's one of those books we talk about at the store where once it starts selling itself, it's like, okay, that's no longer a priority to me because I don't need to sell it. It's already selling.
Susie Jones [00:40:16] I know, which is a bummer for you.
Annie Jones [00:40:18] It is, but if my book club were to read it or something like that, I would read it.
Susie Jones [00:40:22] You won't love it like you did The Correspondent, but you'll probably go through it way faster than me. You know how I do. I mean, there's a whole movie going on in my head. I have put in people, characters with, so that's me, but I loved it. And I think people who like what I read will love it.
Annie Jones [00:40:42] All right, what next?
Susie Jones [00:40:43] All right. This is my last one I'm going to talk about today. Nope, I've got two more. This is called the Sisters of Book Row.
Annie Jones [00:40:51] Now this cover, no wonder you're confused, Mom. This looks as identical to the Jenny Colgan book. That is nuts. Those books look like no wonder you're sitting here like, now wait a minute, because they are literally identical.
Susie Jones [00:41:07] We could take a picture.
Annie Jones [00:41:09] Maybe we'll take a pictures post on Instagram.
Susie Jones [00:41:11] Please take a picture.
Annie Jones [00:41:12] Those books look exactly the same. Like down to the scalloped yellow. Wow. Listen, a publisher knows. A publisher's like, what will Susie like? Yeah, here, this is what she'll like. Okay, so tell us how the Sisters of Book Row is different from...
Susie Jones [00:41:31] This is a historical novel. And it's set in 1915. I think you would like this because this is set in Manhattan.
Annie Jones [00:41:38] Okay, well, I do like Manhattan.
Susie Jones [00:41:39] The New York Book Row. And evidently there were several.
Annie Jones [00:41:42] Yes, the book district, remember?
Susie Jones [00:41:44] Yes. And so that's where they are. None of them wanted this job, but the parents are gone. The sister that makes everything happen, Annie. She is the Applebaum sisters. And they have this Arcadia Rare Bookshop, and it's the only home they've ever known. They live above it. So Olivia is the oldest, and she restores rare--
Annie Jones [00:42:13] Okay, rare books.
Susie Jones [00:42:13] Yes, she restores them.
Annie Jones [00:42:14] Like an antique book dealer or something.
Susie Jones [00:42:16] Exactly. Daphne's the middle sister. She oversees the retail shop. And then Celia, the youngest, she dusts and catalogs things, but she really she wants to do something different. But they all know that this is what they have to do. Now, look, women owning a store, hey, that's not typical at 1915, but they're highly respected. That's a very tight circle of bookstore owners, but they have a mystery left out their front door and they don't know really what's going on. Celia, who you wouldn't think, she gets involved with women's rights issues that are going on in 1915. So she's going to 'book club' only really it's an activist club and you have to keep it very, very secret. There's a lot going on in this book. When does it come out? Did it already come out.
Annie Jones [00:43:26] Comes out in March.
Susie Jones [00:43:27] Oh, in March! Okay, I won't tell too much more about it. People will love this book.
Annie Jones [00:43:31] It's going to come out as a paperback original in March. I am curious about this. it's about the com stock laws which threatened-- it is about book banning. That's interesting.
Susie Jones [00:43:42] I think you would love this book. And he just goes around and just starts tearing up places, print shops.
Annie Jones [00:43:52] I see.
Susie Jones [00:43:53] And he has these goons that work for him, these terrible, mean people that work for him so the police doesn't even know how to handle it. But ultimately this surprise that's left outside their door turns into opening up another can of worms. And I won't tell too much about it now because I realize it's about to release. But I do think people will love it based on a true story.
Annie Jones [00:44:18] Okay, that looks good. We've got two more listed here.
Susie Jones [00:44:24] Okay. I didn't bring it with me. The 100 Rules for Living to 100.
Annie Jones [00:44:30] This is Dick Van Dyke. Did you like it?
Susie Jones [00:44:32] I did. It's just a sweet, again, short stories. Just little standalone, almost little stories of his life and his career.
Annie Jones [00:44:43] I mean, I like him.
Susie Jones [00:44:44] I do too. And he's just such an optimist.
Annie Jones [00:44:47] Well, maybe that's why he lives so well.
Susie Jones [00:44:48] It is amazing. He is amazing!
Annie Jones [00:44:53] And what he's seen. I mean, think about if you were 100, think about how many changes you've lived through.
Susie Jones [00:44:57] Everybody that were his friends, they're gone. You know what I found fascinating that would relate this to modern right now? He was very sincere best friends with Carl Reiner. And Rob Reiner, as we know, that just happened, this was at the end of last year, the first of this year?
Annie Jones [00:45:17] Like December, I think.
Susie Jones [00:45:19] Okay, he sounds exactly like his daddy. The way people talk about Rob Reiner sounds exactly the way people talk about Carl Reiner. They stood up for what they believed in, but they stood for the people that worked with them. And he was one of his very dearest friends. They spent a lot of time together over the years. The Dick Van Dyke show didn't really last very long.
Annie Jones [00:45:45] Right, when you look back.
Susie Jones [00:45:46] And I loved that show.
Annie Jones [00:45:47] We did too.
Susie Jones [00:45:48] I love reruns of that show, but I didn't realize it was just so short-lived. And humor, dancing, and just having an optimistic attitude. I think people would really love it.
Annie Jones [00:46:02] Has Nina read it?
Susie Jones [00:46:04] I gave it to her. That's why I don't have it. That is why I do not have it with me.
Annie Jones [00:46:08] Okay, and then last but not least.
Susie Jones [00:46:10] Which one?
Annie Jones [00:46:12] More Than Enough.
Susie Jones [00:46:14] Did not bring that with me.
Annie Jones [00:46:16] That's okay. It's the Anna Quindlen. What are you looking at me for? Why are you looking at me like that? You loved this book. You finished it.
Susie Jones [00:46:26] Why don't I have it? I don't even have it at my home.
Annie Jones [00:46:29] Yes, you do. It was an ARC.
Susie Jones [00:46:32] Oh, I've given it to Nina.
Annie Jones [00:46:34] But this is Anna Quindlen and the woman and her best friend, Sarah. I read this book, Erin read this book. We both loved it. And they're in a book club together. Mom is looking at me like she doesn't know what I heard. Her first name, Polly-- is it Polly and Sarah? And, anyway, they're in a book club together and the main character wants to have kids but hasn't been able to. You do not know anything about this. Where are your notes? Where are you detailed notes?
Susie Jones [00:47:10] I didn't start this book because I didn't have time.
Annie Jones [00:47:13] But you loved this one. You finished it and you were like, this was one of the best books I've ever read.
Susie Jones [00:47:18] Oh my word. And now I gave it to Nina.
Annie Jones [00:47:21] Would you recognize the cover? Excuse me while I Google. Oh my gosh.
Susie Jones [00:47:27] This is why people like Susie Reads. Oh, I did love that book.
Annie Jones [00:47:31] Yeah, I just knew you were going to talk about this one. It comes out the end of February. So by the time people listen to this, it'll already be out. Yeah, Polly, she's a high school English teacher. She is friends with Winter Book Club. She's struggling with IVF. Then she gets an Ancestry kit.
Susie Jones [00:47:49] Oh my goodness, yes! Her girlfriends, as a joke, give her an ancestry kit, and then she discovers she's got some family out there that she doesn't know. It's so good. I gave it to Nina, and that's why I forgot all about it.
Annie Jones [00:48:10] Nina is my aunt.
Susie Jones [00:48:13] Yes, that's my sister who reads like thousands and thousands of pages a year.
Annie Jones [00:48:17] Yeah, she keeps track of her page count. It's wonderful.
Susie Jones [00:48:19] And she reads like 70 books.
Annie Jones [00:48:20] Yes, but way more pages than I do.
Susie Jones [00:48:23] And huge books. Yes. I'm sorry everybody. But yes, oh my goodness, I will buy that book in hardback.
Annie Jones [00:48:32] Yes, that will come out in hardback.
Susie Jones [00:48:34] And I will buy that book. It was so good.
Annie Jones [00:48:37] Okay, I'm so sorry. Spoilers may abound here. When is your Shelf Subscription selection? What are you reading for? March or April?
Susie Jones [00:48:45] This one.
Annie Jones [00:48:49] Oh, that's the one you picked?
Susie Jones [00:48:50] This is what.
Annie Jones [00:48:53] April? Are you May?
Susie Jones [00:48:55] I'm May. Dad's April.
Annie Jones [00:48:56] Okay, well we might have to talk about that. That's a paperback. We have some things to discuss off air. This is an unscripted podcast, in case you didn't know. In case it wasn't obvious. Okay, we're going to talk about that off air. Okay, but that was a lot of books, mom, for real.
Susie Jones [00:49:21] And that's not even all of them. It's just what I asterisk the ones that to talk about. And that why when you said More than Enough I'm like what are you doing?
Annie Jones [00:49:29] Well, I'm sorry, but you talked about the Sisters of Book Row extensively, and it did not have an asterisk by it.
Susie Jones [00:49:35] Oh, that's true. See, I don't have More than Enough with me because I've lent it out.
Annie Jones [00:49:40] Yeah, you gave it to Nina. That's okay. Now you know what that book is.
Susie Jones [00:49:43] Yes. I'm buying it. I am buying it in hardback everybody. I liked it so much.
Annie Jones [00:49:48] Okay, so those are some books that mom read and loved. There are a couple of ways that you can follow along with other Susie books. If you're curious about the books my mom Susie reads and loves, here are how you can shop with her selections. First of all, as we have discussed, and as we will keep discussing off air, you can become a Shelf Subscriber through our monthly Shelf Subscription program. Each month, staffers pick their favorite books of the month, and our revolving Shelf Subscription features rotating choices from Shop Mom, Shop Dad, Nancy and Olivia. It's a great option for the eclectic reader. And so if you want more Susie, that's one way to get some of her selections. If you don't need a Shelf Subscription service, we get that. So if you more Susie selections and just want to buy the book she talks about, all of today's books are on the store website. You can shop through today's episode number. That's 572. Plus mom has her very own page on the Bookshelf's website with so many books she loves including backlist titles that she's talked about on previous episodes. So you can shop that through the link in our show notes or by visiting bookshelfthomasville.com, clicking Featured, and then choosing Susie Reads. You can also-- and this is fun, because this is a way to track who buys Susie books, you can use the 10% off code SHOPMOMSELECTS to buy her books and get 10% off. So it's a discount code. You get 10 percent off her choices. I know you're basically an influencer. You should put this on your Instagram. So you get 10% off her choices, use the code SHOPMOMSELECTS It also helps us know if we owe mom a commission or something.
Susie Jones [00:51:24] Well listen, I just solved the mystery. This is my Shelf Subscription. It's March. I'm March. And y'all The Sisters of Book Row is my Shelf Subscription. Go sign up for it.
Annie Jones [00:51:36] There you go. So that's why she loved that book and wanted to talk about it today. Okay, thank you guys so much for listening. Thank you, Mom, for being here.
Susie Jones [00:51:44] Are you sure?
Annie Jones [00:51:45] Yes. Yes. Thank you for being here. This week, I'm reading Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan. Mom, what are you reading?
Susie Jones [00:51:55] I'm reading The Little Bookshop by the Harbor by Jean Stone.