Sarah's Bookshelves Live

• Ep. 190: Behind the Scenes of a Book-to-Screen Adaptation with Georgia Hunter (Author of One Good Thing) + Book Recommendations

  In Episode 190, author Georgia Hunter returns to the podcast to chat with Sarah about her sophomore novel, One Good Thing, and go behind-the-scenes of her experience adapting her first novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, for Hulu. Georgia talks about her role as executive producer, the difference in writing a novel that wasn’t based on family history, and how the screenwriting process influenced her own writing. Plus, Georgia shares her book recommendations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Books by Georgia Hunter: We Were the Lucky Ones (2017) and One Good Thing (2025) A spoiler-free overview of One Good Thing. Georgia’s inspiration for the characters, their story, and choosing Italy as the setting. The very different process for writing and editing her second book. How the steps for adapting We Were the Lucky Ones began and how long it took. Georgia’s role in the writer’s room for the screen adaptation and as a resource for the actors and writers.  How the six writers handled their episodes and wove together the different perspectives for a cohesive series. If Georgia would ever consider writing for a tv series. How screenwriting impacted Georgia writing her second novel. What her day on set looked like as executive producer. How Georgia handled filming on location and the timeframe from start to finish. Talk about an adaptation for One Good Thing — and is it better suited for a feature-length film or another tv miniseries? Georgia’s Book Recommendations [51:05] Two OLD Books She Loves Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:39] Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:38] Other Books Mentioned The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998) [54:00]   David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850) [54:17]  Two NEW Books She Loves All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[56:29] The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:49] Other Books Mentioned We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (2021) [56:41]  One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About The Names by Florence Knapp (May 6, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:55] Last 5-Star Book Georgia Read Horse by Geraldine Brooks (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:52] About Georgia Hunter Website | Instagram | Facebook When Georgia Hunter was fifteen years old, she discovered that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. Years later, she embarked on a journey of intensive research, determined to unearth and record her family’s remarkable story. The result is the New York Times best seller, We Were the Lucky Ones, which has been published in over 20 languages and adapted for television by Hulu as a highly acclaimed limited series. One Good Thing is Georgia’s second novel. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two sons.

  --------  

  1:07:34
• Ep. 189: Karen Thompson Walker (Author of The Strange Case of Jane O.) + Book Recommendations

  In Episode 189, author Karen Thompson Walker talks with Sarah about her career to date and her newest novel, The Strange Case of Jane O. Karen discusses her writing journey, including each book’s inspiration and research process. She also touches on the challenges of promoting her latest book without giving away too much and her current work in progress. Plus, Karen shares her book recommendations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Books by Karen Thompson Walker: The Age of Miracles (2012), The Dreamers (2019), and The Strange Case of Jane O. (2025) Karen talks about going from working as an editor to a being published author The genre Karen feels her books best fit in The real-life inspiration for The Age of Miracles  A peek into her research process and which book required the most work Karen’s thoughts on writing about an epidemic (in The Dreamers) just before the real-life  COVID-19 pandemic A brief spoiler-free overview of The Strange Case of Jane O. and the inspiration behind it Some of Oliver Sacks’ interesting case histories that inspired Karen The difficulty in trying to promote and talk about a book like The Strange Case of Jane O. without giving too much away How Karen sees the relationship between her three published books A bit about Karen’s current work in progress Karen’s Book Recommendations [36:20] Two OLD Books She Loves The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[37:22] The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:26] Other Books Mentioned: The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka (2023) [40:51]   Two NEW Books She Loves The Antidote by Karen Russell (March 11, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[41:20] The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:39] One Book She DIDN’T Love My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:39] One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About Audition by Katie Kitamura (April 8, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:22] Other Books Mentioned:  The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (2024) [49:20]  A Separation by Katie Kitamura (2017) [49:35]  Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (2021) [49:39]  Last 5-Star Book Karen Read Trust by Hernan Diaz (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:14] Books From the Discussion Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan (2012) [22:54] Awakenings by Oliver Sacks (1973) [24:16]  

  --------  

  52:59
• Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley)

  In Ep. 188, we are kicking off our new “Best of…” series with Sarah’s Bookshelves Live team member, Chrissie, for the Best of Fantasy. Today, Chrissie brings you her all-time top ten favorite fantasy novels. Also, as a long-time reader and evangelizer of the genre, Chrissie talks about how she started reading fantasy, the wide scope of the genre, and ways those new to fantasy might jump in! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights How Chrissie got started reading fantasy. What draws her to the fantasy genre. From sci-fi fantasy to epic, high fantasy, Chrissie talks about the wide scope of the genre. Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn’t work for her. Chrissie’s All-Time Top Ten Fantasy Books [16:36] The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:44] A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[22:11] The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:24] The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:10] A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:36] Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [37:35] Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [39:58] The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [42:15] Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2001) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:16] The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:40] High-Profile Fantasy Books That Did Not She Didn’t Love [48:39]  A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:52] Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:55] Other Books Mentioned Fourth Wing (2023) [25:07] Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (2012) [25:43] Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews (1979) [26:36] Heaven by V. C. Andrews (1985) [26:46] The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (June 2025) [31:27] A Game of Thrones (1996) by George R. R. Martin ([33:04]) The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (2011) [33:09] The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss (TBD) [33:15] A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (1982) [37:16] Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020) [39:46] Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (2005) [50:03] The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (2024) [50:28] Books from Our Discussion Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (1997) [4:23]  Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952) [6:23]  Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971) [6:26]   The Dream Book by Meg Wolitzer (1987) [6:37]  The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [11:15]  11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [12:10]  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (1950) [12:30]  The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [14:29] The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) [14:30]   The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1979) [15:36] 

  --------  

  55:49
• Ep. 187: State of the Publishing Industry in 2024 with Kathleen Schmidt of the Publishing Confidential Substack

  In Ep. 187, Kathleen Schmidt, author of the popular Substack newsletter, Publishing Confidential, joins Sarah to dissect and discuss the State of the Publishing Industry in 2024. Between a high-level look back, talk about the top sales and book trends, to what Kathleen sees on the horizon for 2025 in the book world, this episode is packed with info. Also, Kathleen shares her favorite books of 2024! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights 2024 bookish news and publishing trends overview. Kathleen grades last year’s crop of books with an overall B+. How the middle-aged woman / menopause stories might shake out to be the next buzzy books. The ways the full book market is oversaturated. The impact TikTok still has on the book world. Kathleen breaks down the side-eye publishing attracts from other industries with its oddball business model.  Taylor Swift remains a hot topic in publishing with The Eras Tour Book. Did Spotify’s entrance into audiobooks make a noticeable impact? The secret struggle of memoirs. Anticipating 2025’s potential bookish trends. State of the Publishing Industry in 2024 High-Level Overview [2:02] All Fours by Miranda July (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:12] Sandwich by Catherine Newman (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:27] The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:58]   2024 Book Sales and Trends [9:35]  Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:11]  Splinters by Leslie Jamison (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:14]  Liars by Sarah Manguso (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:16]  Crush by Ada Calhoun (Feb 25, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:17]  Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39] Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (Jan 14, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[31:41]  Big Book Stories of 2024 [34:18] The Official Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book (Target Exclusive)(2024) [38:21]  2025 Publishing Predictions [42:48] Kathleen’s 3 Favorites Books of 2024 [46:41] Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:01]  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:23] Foster by Claire Keegan (2010) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:54]  Other Links Publishing Confidential • Substack | What Book Publishing Needs to Consider in 2025

  --------  

  50:29
• Ep. 186: The Best Backlist Books We Read in 2024 with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)

  In Episode 186, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Sarah share the best backlist books they read in 2024. They discuss their top 5 backlist books from last year, highlight some underrated backlist gems, and review their backlist reading statistics. Devoting an entire episode to backlist reading is now an annual tradition at Sarah’s Bookshelves Live — a team and listener favorite!  This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcement 2024’s Best of the Backlist Guide is available now! 25 of the Sarah’s Bookshelves Live Patrons share the best backlist book they read last year in a beautiful PDF guide. To get the guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a 3 bonus podcast episodes per month and my Rock Your Reading Tracker and our all-new Lite Reading Tracker. Highlights Sarah and Catherine share their full stats for backlist reading in 2024. Backlist reading quantity was down a bit again last year for Sarah, but backlist reading quality increased. Catherine had a slight decrease in the number of backlist books she read, but backlist reading remained incredibly successful for her. Sarah’s backlist reading included several atypical choices for her, maybe shaping how she approaches 2025. Our Top 5 Backlist Books We Read in 2024 [6:27] Catherine Ghosts by Dolly Alderton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:33] Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:19] Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell | Amazon | Bookshop.org[17:38] Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots by Jessica Soffer | Amazon | Bookshop.org[24:10] Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson | Amazon | Bookshop.org[32:11] Sarah The Hop by Diana Clarke | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:38] The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:26] Water by John Boyne | Amazon [20:57] Starter Villain by John Scalzi | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:32] Empire Falls by Richard Russo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:33] Other Books Mentioned Good Material by Dolly Alderton [8:54] The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore [14:37] The Holdout by Graham Moore [16:58] Earth by John Boyne [21:09] The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne [22:18] Fire by John Boyne [22:57]  This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer (coming Feb 4) [26:57]  Life After Life by Kate Atkinson [32:42] Case Histories by Kate Atkinson [32:54]  Underrated Backlist Gems [38:56] Catherine The Reformatory by Tananarive Due | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:00]  The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:36] Sarah Home Stretch by Graham Norton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:50]  The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:01] Other Books Mentioned The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead [41:33] Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro [43:51] Frankie by Graham Norton [45:12]

  --------  

  52:53

More Arts podcasts

Trending Arts podcasts

About Sarah's Bookshelves Live