Finally! A List of the Books Discussed on my Ben Merens Visit in April

Here's your chance to hear my discussion with Ben Merens (and many readers) on Wisconsin Public Radio in April. When the discussion of favorite books comes up, there are always a lot of calls and Facebook posts, so it winds up being a discussion.

Here's Ben's audio archive. It's Friday, April 16th, 5 PM hour.

And I think this link will lead you right to the show. If I can't get this to work, you can scroll through the other shows until you get to mid-April (how embarrassing to be so late doing this!)

Daniel's opening recommendations:
Day for Night, by Frederick Reiken

His enthusiasm for this book rivals that of:
Little Bee, by Chris Cleave

Ben's response:
Night, by Elie Wiesel

And another book to be crazy about:
The Lonely Polygamist, by Brady Udall

customer recommendation:
The Help, by Katherine Stockett

Daniel's response:
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, by Kelly O’Connor McNees

And another Amy Einhorn book:
This is Not the Story You Think it is, by Laura Munson

customer recommendation:
The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One, by William L. Black (this book is short discount and not widely distributed)

Daniel’s response:
Lords of Finance: The Bankers who Broke the World, by Liaquat Ahamed

customer recommendation:
Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer

Daniel’s response
Animal Factory. by David Kirby

With Animals, but Still Green:
In the Green Kitchen, by Alice Waters

And More about food:
Spain: A Culinary Road Trip, by Mario Batali

customer suggestion:
If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name: News from Small-Town Alaska, by Heather Lende

Don't forget about her brand new book:
Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs: Family, Friendships, and Faith in Small-Town Alaska

customer inqury:
The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
(It came out last fall, not this fall)

Daniel’s response:
Dragon Haven and Dragon Keeper, by Robin Hobb

Daniel Gets to Give a Nonfiction rec:
Yarn, by Kyoko Mori

And an Old Book to Recommend:
The Tortoise and the Hare, by Elizabeth Jenkins

Being Touted by the Author of this High-Profile Book:
Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

customer recommendation:
1984, by George Orwell
The Sparrow and Children of God, by Mary Doria Russell

customer recommendation:
The Immigrants saga. I think the caller was referring to:
The Immigrants, by Howard Fast, which is the first in a six-book series about the Lavette family

customer recommendation:
The Conscience of a Liberal, by Paul Krugman

Daniel’s response:
Ill Fares the Land, by Tony Judt

customer recommendation:
What's Shakin': An Insider's Look at the Humorous Side of Parkinson's Disease, by John Brissette
(Alas, this is a print-on-demand, nonreturnable, short-discount book that is not likely to be on the shelves of your local bookstore. It is designed for website sales only, with spot consignments from the author's family or friends).

customer recommendation:
Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville

customer recommendation:
The Little Friend and The Secret History, by Donna Tartt

Daniel’s response:
The History of Love and Great House, by Nicole Krauss

customer recommendation:
The Kids are All Right, by Diana, Liz, Amanda and Dan Welch

customer recommendation as a book to reread:
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkein. There are many editions of this series. I linked to the one-volume trade paperback.

Daniel’s response, a book that I reread:
The Golden Gate, by Vikram Seth

customer recommendation:
all Raymond Chandler, such as The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye

Daniel’s response:
Elegy for April, by Benjamin Black, also the man behind The Infinities, by John Banville

customer recommendation, regarding foreign books that take too long to be released stateside:
The Sister Fidelma mysteries, by Peter Tremayne, most recently The Council of the Cursed

Daniel’s response of a book that took a long time to be published stateside:
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, by Stieg Larsson

customer recommendation:
Arthur Conan Doyles’ Sherlock Holmes mysteries, an inexpensive option being The Complete Novels and Stories, in two volumes.

customer recommendation:
The Limits to Power, by Andrew Bacevich

Here's another link to the show.