Comments on: Book Reviews Are Moving from Print to Podcasts http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/ A National Blog of Literature & Discussion Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:47:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Holloway McCandless http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/#comment-2631 Holloway McCandless Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:02:17 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=1269#comment-2631 The Guardian (UK) Books podcast has long, rangy interviews that can be quite entertaining (Zoe Heller's from Sept is on iTunes but it's about to expire). The BBC (UK) World Book Club podcast is also good, though it can devolve into adulation when the audience asks questions. I tend to subscribe on iTunes but only download the authors I'm interested in. If you like to listen to short stories, the New Yorker Fiction podcast is great (you can listen to Junot Diaz reading his "How to Date..." podcasted on 6/1/07, though usually the stories are read by other NYer authors, with mini interviews by Deborah Treisman). PRI: Selected Shorts podcasts are also good for shorter timespans--usually two stories in one hour-long podcast. On litagogo.com I do reviews & some links to podcasts, though the most recent posts are all poetry-related because of V's Day. The Guardian (UK) Books podcast has long, rangy interviews that can be quite entertaining (Zoe Heller’s from Sept is on iTunes but it’s about to expire). The BBC (UK) World Book Club podcast is also good, though it can devolve into adulation when the audience asks questions. I tend to subscribe on iTunes but only download the authors I’m interested in. If you like to listen to short stories, the New Yorker Fiction podcast is great (you can listen to Junot Diaz reading his “How to Date…” podcasted on 6/1/07, though usually the stories are read by other NYer authors, with mini interviews by Deborah Treisman). PRI: Selected Shorts podcasts are also good for shorter timespans–usually two stories in one hour-long podcast. On litagogo.com I do reviews & some links to podcasts, though the most recent posts are all poetry-related because of V’s Day.

]]> By: Bobby Styles http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/#comment-2623 Bobby Styles Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:30:20 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=1269#comment-2623 To someone who doesn't listen to podcasts, this was very informative. Thank you, Mr. Silverman! To someone who doesn’t listen to podcasts, this was very informative. Thank you, Mr. Silverman!

]]> By: Jeff http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/#comment-2621 Jeff Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:07:51 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=1269#comment-2621 I like the concept of podcasts but I rarely listen to any. Maybe one every few months. It just doesn't fit into my daily life. Actually, as for book reviews, I prefer just one short paragraph. Most book reviews of fiction tell me way more about the book's plot than I want to know. As for reviews being literary criticism, I only want to read that after I've read a book. I do love long reviews of non-fiction but usually come away with a satisfied feeling that I no longer need to purchase the book. I like the concept of podcasts but I rarely listen to any. Maybe one every few months. It just doesn’t fit into my daily life.

Actually, as for book reviews, I prefer just one short paragraph. Most book reviews of fiction tell me way more about the book’s plot than I want to know. As for reviews being literary criticism, I only want to read that after I’ve read a book. I do love long reviews of non-fiction but usually come away with a satisfied feeling that I no longer need to purchase the book.

]]> By: Jacob Silverman http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/#comment-2619 Jacob Silverman Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:05:31 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=1269#comment-2619 Thank you all for the suggestions. I've subscribed to the CBC Radio: Writers & Company podcast (I love David Grossman's work and see that they've interviewed Cees Nooteboom; that's enough for me). And I'm a bum for not noticing that "Book Lovers" room. Thanks for pointing that out, Scott. Thank you all for the suggestions. I’ve subscribed to the CBC Radio: Writers & Company podcast (I love David Grossman’s work and see that they’ve interviewed Cees Nooteboom; that’s enough for me). And I’m a bum for not noticing that “Book Lovers” room. Thanks for pointing that out, Scott.

]]> By: Brian Sholis http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/#comment-2618 Brian Sholis Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:22:50 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=1269#comment-2618 To your lists I would add CBC Radio's "Writers & Company." The show's host, Eleanor Wachtel, is as thoughtful an interviewer as KCRW's Michael Silverblatt. Her recent interview with David Grossman, taped before a live audience in Vancouver, is wonderful. I would also add XM's <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=268584710" rel="nofollow">Bob Edwards Weekend</a> (iTunes link), which covers many topics (like Fresh Air or Leonard Lopate); the podcasts of the <a href="http://www.gilderlehrman.org/wp/?p=5" rel="nofollow">Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History</a> (web link), which consistently features the history profession's most eminent members; the <a href="http://www.itunes.com/podcast?id=284527588" rel="nofollow"><i>New York Review of Books</i></a> podcast (iTunes link); and <a href="http://nigelwarburton.typepad.com/philosophy_bites/downloading-episodes.html" rel="nofollow">Philosophy Bites</a> (web link), which features topic-specific brief interviews with philosophers from around the world. To your lists I would add CBC Radio’s “Writers & Company.” The show’s host, Eleanor Wachtel, is as thoughtful an interviewer as KCRW’s Michael Silverblatt. Her recent interview with David Grossman, taped before a live audience in Vancouver, is wonderful.

I would also add XM’s Bob Edwards Weekend (iTunes link), which covers many topics (like Fresh Air or Leonard Lopate); the podcasts of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (web link), which consistently features the history profession’s most eminent members; the New York Review of Books podcast (iTunes link); and Philosophy Bites (web link), which features topic-specific brief interviews with philosophers from around the world.

]]> By: Waldo Jaquith http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/#comment-2617 Waldo Jaquith Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:38:12 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=1269#comment-2617 I used to listen to a lot of straight-up podcasts, but increasingly I find that I'm only listening to podcasts that were originally broadcast on the radio; that is, ones that are just time-shifted by their comparatively well-heeled creators: <a href="http://www.sciencefriday.com/" rel="nofollow">Science Friday</a>, <a href="http://www.thislife.org/" rel="nofollow">This American Life</a>, and <a href="http://www.wnyc.com/shows/radiolab" rel="nofollow">Radio Lab</a>. Also, <a href="http://www.ted.com/" rel="nofollow">TED</a> and <a href="http://www.themoth.org/" rel="nofollow">The Moth</a>. I also subscribe to <a href="http://weekendamerica.publicradio.org/" rel="nofollow">Weekend America</a> and <a href="http://www.studio360.org/" rel="nofollow">Studio 360</a>, but never actually listen to those unless I'm driving a long way and have exhausted all other options (which might be an accidentally-astute commentary on the cancellation of the former). I used to subscribe to <a href="http://coverville.com/" rel="nofollow">Coverville</a>, but I really prefer to cherry-pick those episodes, since I've never heard of half of the songs or artists. Not a literary one in the bunch, now that I look them over. But, hey, why take my work home with me? :) Thanks for those suggestions, Scott. Were I smarter, it would have occurred to me to consult you on this topic beforehand! I used to listen to a lot of straight-up podcasts, but increasingly I find that I’m only listening to podcasts that were originally broadcast on the radio; that is, ones that are just time-shifted by their comparatively well-heeled creators: Science Friday, This American Life, and Radio Lab. Also, TED and The Moth. I also subscribe to Weekend America and Studio 360, but never actually listen to those unless I’m driving a long way and have exhausted all other options (which might be an accidentally-astute commentary on the cancellation of the former). I used to subscribe to Coverville, but I really prefer to cherry-pick those episodes, since I’ve never heard of half of the songs or artists.

Not a literary one in the bunch, now that I look them over. But, hey, why take my work home with me? :)

Thanks for those suggestions, Scott. Were I smarter, it would have occurred to me to consult you on this topic beforehand!

]]> By: ScottSimpson http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2009/02/10/favorite-podcasts/#comment-2616 ScottSimpson Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:26:18 +0000 http://www.vqronline.org/blog/?p=1269#comment-2616 Also in iTunes, there's a room devoted to book-related (and otherwise literary) podcasts called "Book Lovers": http://is.gd/j3DQ/iTunes One of my favorite language-related podcasts is PRI's "World in Words," a fun and insightful look at how language works: http://is.gd/j3Fn On a slightly more philosophical bent, "Entitled Opinions" is pretty great: http://is.gd/j3FS Finally, the podcast version of the BBC's "In Our Time" is the best gift from Britain since basketball (they invented basketball, right?): http://is.gd/j3Gb Also in iTunes, there’s a room devoted to book-related (and otherwise literary) podcasts called “Book Lovers”:

http://is.gd/j3DQ/iTunes

One of my favorite language-related podcasts is PRI’s “World in Words,” a fun and insightful look at how language works:

http://is.gd/j3Fn

On a slightly more philosophical bent, “Entitled Opinions” is pretty great:

http://is.gd/j3FS

Finally, the podcast version of the BBC’s “In Our Time” is the best gift from Britain since basketball (they invented basketball, right?):

http://is.gd/j3Gb

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