The Book Case

Belle Burden’s Strangers is not your everyday memoir about divorce.  After three kids, two decades and two homes, her husband was caught having an affair.  When confronted, he walked out, saying that marriage and family were not “for him”. It was not about the other woman nor was it about a long bout with depression, it seemed as if he just woke up and
decided to begin anew.  Belle is left to search for answers as she questions her reality-did he ever love us?  Did I make him unhappy?  How can I move on with such a mysterious and traumatic narrative?  Written with humor,
care and love, this book really is a memoir of marriage and the mysteries often associated with a broken home.  Trust us.  Read it.  Then tune into to our conversation with this amazing author and amazing woman.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's episode:

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden

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This week we dedicate our show to a documentary that we think is important.  We have promised our listeners to keep the podcast non-political (no shouting talking heads, no books with a political agenda).  But there are some issues that are vitally important that we also believe are non-political.  Book banning is first and foremost among these.  Next week on February 9th, The Librarians documentary starts streaming on PBS stations across the country as part of their beloved Independent Lens series.  Join us as we talk to two brave and brilliant librarians fighting book bans with all their might.  We also talk to Kim A. Snyder, the director of the film about why the stories presented in this documentary are so important.  Book banning is wrong.  And we are talking about it this week.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's episode:

The Library at Night by Alberto MaguelThe Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver

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Roger Rosenblatt wrote a column for the NY Times called Before You Toss that Book… We already loved Roger’s books, and this column moved us to reach out to him. We asked if he would come on our show to read the column for our audience and to talk to us about what makes books so important, what keeping books can do to grow your love for the written word. Roger is a national treasure and this conversation was both moving and insightful. If you love books, you must join us.

Roger's column:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/opinion/favorite-books-cleaning-out.html

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's episode:

Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt

Rules for Aging by Roger Rosenblatt

The Man in the Water by Roger Rosenblatt

The Boy Detective by Roger Rosenblatt

Cold Moon by Roger Rosenblatt

Unless it Moves the Heart by Roger Rosenblatt

Anything Can Happen by Roger Rosenblatt

Thomas Murphy By Roger Rosenblatt

Life Itself: Abortion and the American Mind by Roger Rosenblatt

Where We Stand by Roger Rosenblatt

Lapham Rising by Roger Rosenblatt

Beet by Roger Rosenblatt

The Story I am by Roger Rosenblatt

The Book of Love by Roger Rosenblatt

Cataract Blues by Roger Rosenblatt

A Steinway on the Beach by Roger Rosenblatt

Children of War by Roger Rosenblatt

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

The Far Field by Theodore Roethke

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

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Susan Orlean, one of the best journalists of our generation, has written a memoir, along with some great advice about writing.  Beyond writing, she has thoughts on the importance of curiosity in these trying times.  Curiosity can break down barriers, and create beautiful stories out of the ordinary.  And Susan does it brilliantly in all of her writing, and especially in her new memoir, Joyride. It is a joy to read Joyride.  And we speak to a new bookstore owner in Charleston, South Carolina, Summer Anderson, who is also a joy and who seems to take joy out of all she does. Join us for a great discussion on writing, the art of curiosity and joy.

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

⁠https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned in this week's episode:

Joyride by Susan OrleanThe Orchid Thief by Susan OrleanThe Library Book by Susan OrleanRin Tin Tin by Susan OrleanMy Kind of Place by Susan OrleanThe Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup by Susan OrleanSaturday Night by Susan OrleanAs I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

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Janice Page’s The Year of the Water Horse is a funny memoir. At times, laugh out loud funny. But it is also about why we tell stories, what we make important in our lives, what we protect and what we share. Full of thoughtful reflection, this is a book that will have you looking at your own life, wondering where the magic is in your story. Janice Page has created magic out of her story through her prose and humor, and we talk to her about it.  Our bookstore this week is Booksmart in San Jose.  Join us!

Find books mentioned on The Book Case:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302

Books mentioned on this week's episode:

The Year of the Water Horse by Janice Page

Where Rivers Part by Kao Kalia Yang

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