In this episode, we’re discussing a brand-new book titled I WILL BLOSSOM ANYWAY by Disha Bose. This is a book about a young expat, Durga, who has moved from her native Calcutta, India to Ireland. Durga comes from an educated, middle-class family that observes traditional Indian ways, including “arranged” marriages. Durga is anxious to escape what she thinks of as the confines of her family and learn who she is without them around telling her who she must be. However, leaving their opinions behind is not as easy as she thinks it will be. This novel explores cultural differences and family conflicts but in a tender way. It would be a great beach read.

Today we interview Erica Slason about THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE, by James McBride, and its setting in Pottstown, PA. Erica Slason joined the Historical Society of Montgomery County as archivist in 2022. Pottstown is in Montgomery County. Erica has written about the historical Pottstown portrayed in THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE. We visit with Erica about the Pottstown portrayed by James McBride and learn there really is a Chicken Hill neighborhood and that Pottstown did experience an immigration boom during the 1910s-30s. In fact, Erica tells us, those interested in learning about Pottstown from that era wouldn’t go wrong in reading this book. Erica and Nancy discover many similarities between them: alma mater, musical instruments, and an affinity for spending childhood recesses in the library. Erica foregrounds for us the experience of those whose stories are not told as often as Christian White men’s stories, and also tells us what an archivist actually does! We also laugh.

We're dropping this episode a week earlier than usual since Nancy is heading to Boulder. And, we can't wait to introduce you to James McBride's recent novel - THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE. This is a book about community and relationships, good and bad, in 1920s-30s Pottstown, Pennsylvania. We meet and grow to love the "outcast" people who live in the Chicken Hill neighborhood. These are the immigrants from other countries, the formerly enslaved people from the South, the non-Protestants (e.g., the Jews and the Catholics), and the poor. The first half of the book is almost a short story collection about these characters, each of whom steps forward for a momentary starring role. About half way through the book, the novel begins circling around the story of two of the characters: Chona, the proprietor of the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, and Dodo, a young orphan boy recently deafened by an exploding stove. It's almost like a jazz piece, perhaps not a surprise given that James McBride is a jazz musician.

Allegra Goodman, author of ISOLA joins us on the front porch. Allegra is the author of seven novels. ISOLA was a Reese’s Book Club selection. Her novel SAM was a Read With Jenna Book Club selection. KAATERSKILL FALLS was a National Book Award finalist. THE CHALK ARTIST was winner of the Massachusetts Book Award. Her other books include INTUITION, THE COOKBOOK COLLECTOR, and PARADISE PARK. Allegra tells us about the 20-year gestation period for writing ISOLA, the "inspired by a fragmentary true story" novel about Marguerite, an orphaned noble in Renaissance France. We were fascinated to hear about Allegra's exploration of the danger of being a girl and how she wove that into Marguerite's story. We also talked about the realistic portrayal of Marguerite's faith journey. Allegra tells us she enjoys writing about belief and doubt and that was a key part of Marguerite's story. If you've ever wondered about the creative and research process of writing a novel, you'll enjoy this episode. We also have some hearty laughs!

ISOLA, a brand-new novel by Allegra Goodman, takes us to Renaissance France and into the life of Marguerite, a child heir to a fortune. Unfortunately for Marguerite, her deceased parents' choice for her guardian means her life does not unfold as one of prosperity and gentility. Instead, her guardian fritters away her wealth on his desire to settle New France (i.e., Canada). Marguerite is caught up in his ambitious plans and when she objects, she is left to die on a deserted Canadian island with her nanny and a man who loves her. Aside from the beautiful writing, the most amazing thing about this story, perhaps, is it was inspired by a true story. ISOLA was a Reese's Book Club Pick, a national best-seller, and was also recommended by a friend of Nancy's. It's a good one!

We are so excited to interview Eowyn Ivey about her latest book, BLACK WOODS, BLUE SKY. Eowyn was raised in Alaska and continues to live there with her husband and two daughters. Her debut novel, THE SNOW CHILD, has sold more than a million copies worldwide and is a New York Times bestseller published in more than 25 languages and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Our book, BLACK WOODS, BLUE SKY is hot off the presses - having just been published last month. This book transports us to Alaska and the remote wilderness where everyone may not be exactly who they seem to be. Birdie, a young mom, is trying to carve out a life for herself and her 6-year-old daughter, Emaleen. Arthur, a mysterious man who rarely comes to town, seems to offer everything Birdie has dreamed of. In our interview, We have a blast talking with Eowyn about the amazing character and setting of this story. Nancy gets to talk about Sandhill cranes, who also make an appearance. We also talk about the similarities between Eowyn's writing and that of one of our recent author, Louise Erdrich. We are thrilled to hear about Eowyn and Erdrich's relationship. By the end of the interview, Eowyn tells Linny and Nancy they'd fit right in at one of her community's solstice parties. Our bags are packed!!

It's our 100th episode and this is an episode with a lot of laughter. To celebrate we reminisce about why we decided to start the podcast. Nancy and Linny have VERY different reasons! We laugh about some of our early missteps and nervousness. Nancy quizzes Linny about some of the statistics about the podcast. Linny has her own curveball quiz question for Nancy. Nancy and Linny talk about what they've learned, favorite books, and dreams for the next 100 episodes.

Black Woods, Blue Sky is set in contemporary Alaska where Birdie, a 26-year-old mom, is trying to forge a life for herself and her 6-year-old daughter, Emaleen, in a small town. When Arthur, a local misfit who spends most of his time alone in his remote cabin, starts frequenting the roadside lodge where Birdie works as a waitress, they strike up an unlikely relationship. And then things get strange! Louise Erdrich says, “Black Woods, Blue Sky is a fable about what it is to love, a tale of longing, a call to renew our deepest bonds with the living world. It will draw you along like a fast-moving stream, and you will find yourself in places you have never been.”

Nancy and Linny discover they read this book differently, but both loved it and its complex characters and vivid descriptions of remote and mystical Alaska.