Shows / Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller
Looking for your next great read? Ask a bookseller! Join us to check in with independent bookstores across the U.S. to find out what books they’re excited about right now. One book, two minutes, every week. From the long-running series on MPR News, hosted by Emily Bright. Whether you read to escape, feel connected, seek self-improvement, or just discover something new, there is a book here for you.
Episodes
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Twelve Hours of Christmas'
Looking for a new read-aloud Christmas book? Amber Collins of Soul Book Nook in Waterloo, Iowa recommends “The Twelve Hours of Christmas,” written by Jenn…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: ‘The Maniac’
Chris Miller of Broadway Books in Portland, Ore., recommends the novel “The Maniac” by Benjamín Labatut.Labatut takes us back to the dawn of the nuclear age in…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'What the River Knows'
Amy Jiron of Hearthfire Books in Evergreen, Colo., recommends a visit to the Nile this December, in the form of Isabel Ibañez's novel “What the River Knows.”…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Truth about Horses' explores the nature of healing
Caitlin Doggart of Where the Sidewalk Ends Bookstore in Chatham, Mass., says one of her top books of the year is Christy Cashman’s debut young adult novel…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: ‘The Women’s House of Detention’
Halee Kirkwood of Birchbark Books in Minneapolis says one of their favorite books from this year is “The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: ‘Babel’
Carson Crooks of Prince Books in Norfolk, Va., highly recommends R. F. Kuang’s novel “Babel,” which had him alternating between tearing through the story and…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask A Bookseller: 'A Rake of His Own'
In this week’s Ask a Bookseller, Shayne Molt of Indigo Bridge in Lincoln, Neb., recommends the fantasy romance novel “A Rake of His Own” by A.J Lancaster.It’s…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Ke Kumu Aupuni: The Foundation of Hawaiian Nationhood'
Sierra Keolanui, Lise Michelle Childers, and Allison Benz of Native Books in Honolulu, Hawaii, conferred about their favorite books and quickly reached a…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Night of the Living Rez'
In this week’s Ask a Bookseller, Beth Leonard of Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick, Maine recommends the short story collection “Night of the Living Rez” by…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store'
Shane Grebel of Watermark Books & Café in Wichita, Kan., says his favorite book of the year is the novel “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Blue Bear'
Part of the fun of talking with indie booksellers from across the country is hearing about long-standing local favorites. That was the case with this…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Saints of the Household'
We wrap up our month-long focus on books for kids and teens with a Young Adult (YA) novel set in Minnesota, recommended by a Minnesota bookstore. Mary Taris of…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Bathe the Cat'
All this month on Ask a Bookseller, we're featured books for kids and teens — and the grown — ups who love to read with them. This week's book is a “phenomenal…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Dear Mothman'
All this month, we're featuring books for kids and teens here on “Ask a Bookseller.” This week's recommendation from Anna Hersh of Wild Rumpus Books in…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Wild Guide to Starting School'
This month on Ask a Bookseller, we'll be celebrating the start of school by featuring books for kids and teens. Melissa DeMotte of the Well-Read Moose in Coeur…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Fox and I'
Julian Karhumaa of Farley’s Bookshop in New Hope, Pa., said he’s still thinking about Catherine Raven’s memoir “Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship.”Having newly…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Horse'
Alden Graves of Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, Vt., says he generally avoids books about animals, but he's glad he made an exception for Geraldine…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Kala' is a rip-roaring thriller
Matt Nixon of A Capella Books in Atlanta, Ga., has been eagerly awaiting publication of Colin Walsh's debut novel “Kala,” which he says is both an intricate…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Less'
Melodie Edwards of Night Heron Books & Coffeehouse of Laramie Wyo., recommends “Less” by Andrew Sean Gree, where the protagonist flees a broken heart — and…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Chain-Gang All-Stars'
This week, I spoke with Kathy Burnette of Brain Lair Books, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary in South Bend, Ind. Kathy recommended the novel…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'For Her Consideration'
Claire Bone is one half of the sister pair who own Wild Sisters Book Company in Sacramento, Calif. She recommends the novel “For Her Consideration” by Amy…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'On the Savage Side'
Aden Evosirch of the Winchester Book Gallery in Winchester, Va., recommends “On the Savage Side,” by Tiffany McDaniel. It is based on a true unsolved murder…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Racism of People Who Love You'
Andrea King of Left Bank Books in St. Louis, Mo., recommends the nonfiction read “The Racism of People Who Love You: Essays on Mixed Race Belonging” by Samira…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'They're Going to Love You'
It's one thing to enjoy a book; it's another to sell it to others. The book that Matt Nixon of A Cappella Books in Atlanta, Ga., has loved selling to his…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The English Understand Wool'
Part of the fun of talking with independent bookstores is hearing about great books from smaller, independent presses. Today's recommendation combines both…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Wandering Souls'
This week's recommendation comes from Emi Lim Morison of Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Mo. Morison says one of her favorite novels of the year is “Wandering…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club'
Amy Erickson of Bluebird Bookshop in Detroit Lakes, Minn., recommended a novel that she called “very much an up-north book.” She loved J. Ryan Stradal's…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Blood Debts' combines family secrets, political intrigue and magic
Shelby Devitt of BookPeople in Austin, Texas recommends a contemporary fantasy YA novel, “Blood Debts” by Terry J. Benton-Walker. “It’s a doorstopper of a YA,”…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The God of Endings'
Josh Hames opened his bookstore Other Skies Weird Fiction in West St. Paul in 2022 just in time for Halloween. The store sells high-quality editions of horror…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Poetics of Wrongness'
We couldn't get through National Poetry Month without featuring the works of at least one poet on Ask a Bookseller, and this week Evelyn Bauer of Papercuts…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: David Copperfield reimagined in Appalachia
Alicia Michielli of Talking Leaves Books in Buffalo, New York recommends the novel “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver. The novel is a fairly direct…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: A fast-paced thriller dives into Indigenous history, culture
Kate Schlademan of the Learned Owl Bookshop in Hudson, Ohio, says the novel she recently couldn't put down was Michael Bennett's “Better the Blood.” It's a…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: A picture book that makes busy moms feel seen
Ashley Valentine is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Rooted MKE, her BIPOC children's bookstore and academic support center in Milwaukee, Wis., and…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Here Goes Nothing'
The novel that Emily Bennett has been recommending to her customers at Sundance Books and Music in Reno, Nevada is "Here Goes Nothing" by Steve Toltz. As…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: A mother-daughter story of travel and art
In the week that included International Women's Day, it felt right to focus on a book that centers on a mother-daughter relationship. The recommendation comes…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Measure'
What’s the most un-put-down-able book you’ve read recently? For Susan Kehoe of Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Del., the answer was Nikki Erlick’s debut…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask A Bookseller: 'Upgrade' blends sci-fi and thriller genres
An ordinary man, accidentally doused with a mysterious new substance, finds himself gaining new powers. That may sound like a superhero from Marvel or DC…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Guest Lecture,' a late-night philosophical debate
Riley Rennhack of Deep Vellum Books in Dallas, Texas is a self-proclaimed “book nerd—not an econ person,” so she was surprised by how much she enjoyed Martin…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: Laziness does not exist
We’re solidly into January, which means many of us have had time to follow up on — or perhaps abandon — New Year’s Resolutions. At a time of year when many…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Ahmed Aziz's Epic Year' from April 2022
An April 2022 book recommendation traveled full circle from Washington state bookstore back to a Minnesota author. Shannon Brown of Wishing Tree Books in…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Inheritance'
It only takes a few transformative poems to make an entire collection glow. For Nathan McDowell of Two Dollar Radio Headquarters — an indie bookstore and press…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Fathers, Sons and the Holy Ghosts of Baseball'
You don’t have to live in a small town or even like baseball to enjoy Tommy Murray’s novel, “Fathers, Sons, and the Holy Ghosts of Baseball,” says Lisa Deyo of…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: "Another Appalachia"
Part of the fun of connecting with independent bookstores all over the country is that we get to hear about books that are local and special to those…
- Ask a Bookseller
A YA thriller delves into the post-WWII history of Poland and Ukraine
Natalie Sanford of Bound Booksellers and Gifts in Franklin, Tenn. recommends a WWII thriller that’s written for—but not limited to—Young Adult readers. The…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: "Found Audio" is a creepy fall read
Danni Green of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY loves to read and lift up books by small presses. She’s a big fan of the printed novella “Found Audio,”…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: An inventive novel maps our spectacular bodies
This week’s bookseller recommendation comes from Aubrey Roemmich of Ferguson Books & More in Grand Forks, N.D. The book she couldn’t put down was the novel…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: part memoir, part Ojibwe cultural toolbox
Gwen Danfelt of Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais, Minn. recommends reading “The Cultural Toolbox: Traditional Ojibwe Living in the Modern World” by Anton…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: Stay True
Mallory Melton of BookPeople in Austin, Texas recommends a memoir about friendship and grief by New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, titled “Stay True.”…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: the poetry of desire
This week, Riley Rennhack of Deep Vellum Books in Dallas, Texas recommends Ann Carson’s classic nonfiction work “Eros, the Bittersweet,” which was republished…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: A Spoonful of Frogs
All September, Ask a Bookseller has featured recommendations for kids, and we wrap up this series with a picture book to get you ready for October.“A Spoonful…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: an award-winning graphic novel, soon to be a series
Jennifer Murvin of Pagination Bookshop in Springfield, Missouri loves the YA graphic novel "American Born Chinese" by prolific cartoonist Gene Luen Yang. It…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: a portal into a fantastical world
Think about it: how often do you find a book that has both magical creatures and modern technology? Hannah Amrollahi of The Bookworm in Omaha, Nebraska, has a…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: Middle grades novel examines how history is written, and who gets left out
All this month, to celebrate the start of school, Ask a Bookseller will focus on great reads for kids and teens.Sara Groves of Longfellow Books in Portland…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: Innovative novel explores one 'nuclear' family
This feature was originally published on June 3, 2022.Ginger Kautz of Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina recommends Joseph Han’s debut novel “Nuclear…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: Dorothy Hughes’ classic noir fiction
Sarah Brown of Zenith Bookstore in Duluth recommends that fans of literary fiction, mystery, and noir search out the work of Dorothy Hughes, whose crime novels…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Nettle and Bone' is a twisted fairy tale with horror and humor
Angie Tally of The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, N.C., has been on the lookout for interesting books that aren’t teen coming-of-age stories nor…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'Book Lovers'
Angela Kircher of River Lights Bookstore in Dubuque, Iowa, loved immersing herself in the New York book industry world in Emily Henry's latest romance, "Book…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: Little Rabbit is a steamy debut
Bookseller Jason Hong didn't expect to like "Little Rabbit" by Alyssa Songsiridej as much as he did, and now he’s a fan. When he recommends the novel at Yu and…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Lying Life of Adults'
Jean Anne Pugh of Four Seasons Books in Shepardstown, West Virginia, just loves the title of Elena Ferrante’s novel, “The Lying Life of Adults.” Like…
- Ask a Bookseller
Ask a Bookseller: 'The Overnight Guest' is a suspenseful ride
Part of the fun of the Ask a Bookseller series is getting the local scoop from bookstores across the country. Heather Gudenkauf is both a New York Times…