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Artwork for Burned By Books

Burned By Books

New Books Network
Zambia
Grace Zulu
Iris Mwanza
LGBTQ+ Rights
Ordinary Human Failings
Gender Equality
The Nude
Desire
Storytelling
LGBTQ Identity
Endpapers
Say Hello To My Little Friend
Real Americans
Corruption
AIDS
London
C. Michelle Lindley
Cultural Identity
Korean American Literature
Queer Art Community

A podcast for writers and readers who are obsessive about their books. Interviews with established and up-and-coming writers, and recommendations for the best in contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama. Chris Holmes. Chris is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. He is the co-director of The New Voices Fes... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes184Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for Burned By Books

Latest Episodes

The world is ending. It has been ending for some time. When did the ending begin? Perhaps when Evie’s mother died, or when her father died soon after. Perhaps when her sister, Elena, was forcibly institutionalized in a psychiatric hippie commune in C... more

Following a young woman over the course of one outrageous and insufferable downtown dinner party at the home of her estranged best friends—an artist and curator couple, whom she now realizes stands for everything she detests—Happiness and Love (Scrib... more

In Lonely Crowds (Little, Brown and Co., 2025) Ruth, an only child of recent immigrants to New England, lives in an emotionally cold home and attends the local Catholic girl's school on a scholarship. Maria, a beautiful orphan whose Panamanian mothe... more

Paula Bomer is the author of The Stalker (Soho Books, 2025), which received a starred Publisher’s Weekly, calling it “dark and twisted fun”. She is also the author of Tante Eva and Nine Months, the story collections Inside Madeleine and Baby and othe... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Paula Bomer
Author of The Stalker
Soho Books
Episode: Paula Bomer, "The Stalker" (Soho Books, 2025)
Erin Somers
Author of 'The Ten Year Affair' and 'Stay Up with Hugo Best'.
Publishers Lunch
Episode: Erin Somers, "The Ten Year Affair: A Novel" (Simon and Schuster, 2025)
Marcy Dermansky
Author of Hot Air and other novels, known for her comedic and insightful narratives about contemporary relationships and society.
Knopf
Episode: Marcy Dermansky, "Hot Air" (Knopf, 2025)
Maggie Gram
A writer, cultural historian, and designer who leads an experienced design team at Google.
Google
Episode: Maggie Gram, "The Invention of Design: A Twentieth-Century History" (Basic Books, 2025)
Brandon Taylor
Author of Minor Black Figures, The Late Americans, and Real Life
Riverhead Books
Episode: Brandon Taylor, "Minor Black Figures" (Riverhead, 2025)
Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
Author of Mutual Interest and Glassworks.
2024 Nysca Artist Fellow in Fiction, resident writer
Episode: Olivia Wolfgang-Smith, "Mutual Interest" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
Yiming Ma
Debut author of 'These Memories Do Not Belong To Us', holds an MBA from Stanford and an MFA from Warren Wilson College
Episode: Yiming Ma, "These Memories Do Not Belong To Us" (Mariner Books, 2025)
Emily Adrian
Author of Daughterhood and Seduction Theory, she explores themes of campus life and relationships.
Little, Brown
Episode: Emily Adrian, "Seduction Theory" (Little, Brown, 2025)
Jonas Hassen Khemiri
Author of The Sisters, known for his novels and plays
Episode: Jonas Hassen Khemiri, "The Sisters" (FSG, 2025)

Host

Chris Holmes
Host of Burned By Books and Chair of Literatures in English, with expertise in contemporary global literatures.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 71 ratings
  • The sound of gushing praise

    I have come to contemporary fiction a bit late in my reading life. Now that I have plenty of time on my hands (having taken early retirement five years ago) and determined to avoid the destructive addiction of today’s online political discourse, I turned to literature as a balm. Chris Holmes’ podcast seemed a nice way to hear about new writing, especially novels, which I find more satisfying than short stories. There are a few things to be said in praise of this podcast. Unlike the Book Review p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sidneyhart
    United Statesa year ago
  • Eclectic

    I am impressed by the variety of books reviewed here. The host’s enthusiasm and thoughtful preparation for these discussions makes this a great listen. Well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Se. Valpolicella
    United States2 years ago
  • It is indeed

    ...the best podcast about literature that exists. Generous and penetrating. I've been listening for years; how come I haven't left a review until now? A real personal failure!

    Every episode is a gift.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    young4552
    United States3 years ago
  • Refreshing ♥️👍🏽

    I listened to the conversation Chris had with Xochitl Gonzalez and loved to hear questions based on his knowledge of writing and literature! That definitely makes for a better conversation with the authors and when they get excited, the audience gets even more excited about their books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luz-y-Traducciones
    United States4 years ago
  • A rare treat

    It’s a pleasure to listen to such rich, compelling interviews with exciting contemporary writers. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oregonbookworm
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express a desire for a more critical perspective on the books featured, suggesting a mixture of both praise and critique would enhance the discussion.
Listeners appreciate the comprehensive focus on one book per episode, which allows for deeper literary discussions with authors.
The podcast is lauded for its insightful commentary on contemporary literature and the craft of writing, establishing it as a valuable resource for writers and readers alike.
The enthusiasm of the host, while occasionally seen as excessive, adds a unique charm to the interviews, engaging audiences effectively.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Paula Bomer, "The Stalker" (Soho Books, 2025)
Q: What role does economic violence play in Doty's entitlement and behavior in The Stalker?
Bomer analyzes how Doty's entitlement stems from his heritage and how this entitlement facilitates his manipulative behaviors toward women.
Paula Bomer, "The Stalker" (Soho Books, 2025)
Q: How does the context of this being an American novel change how you understand the violence against women that Doty stalks and abuses?
Bomer underscores the alarming statistics surrounding violence against women in the U.S. and how this societal backdrop influences Doty's actions.
Paula Bomer, "The Stalker" (Soho Books, 2025)
Q: How do you balance wanting the reader to continue on while having Doty's actions and intentions get more deviant?
Bomer discusses her technical approach to maintain momentum and keep readers engaged even as Doty's behavior becomes darker.
Paula Bomer, "The Stalker" (Soho Books, 2025)
Q: Doty seems like he embodies the devil; how did you decide to present him as nearly inhuman?
Bomer details how through her writing process and her editor's input, Doty became more human, showing traits that could resonate with readers while still being deeply flawed.
Paula Bomer, "The Stalker" (Soho Books, 2025)
Q: I wondered why you chose that particular narrative voice, and where did Doty come from?
Bomer explains that she often finds a narrative voice through a process of elimination and prefers third person for more flexibility while still closely connecting to her character's mindset.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Burned By Books

What is Burned By Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on literature and the craft of writing, this series features in-depth conversations with both established and emerging authors, presenting their insights and experiences connected to their works. While primarily dedicated to contemporary fiction, the episodes also explore poetry and drama, providing listeners with recommendations to enrich their reading lists. The host often emphasizes the importance of personal narratives, cultural contexts, and writing processes, making this a valuable resource for writers and book enthusiasts alike. The unique format, where each episode centers on a single author's latest work, allows for thorough discussions that entertain as well as educate listeners on literary complexities.

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Which podcasts are similar to Burned By Books?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Burned By Books:

1. Poured Over
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. The Book Review
4. Otherppl with Brad Listi
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of Burned By Books are there?

Burned By Books launched 6 years ago and published 184 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Burned By Books?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Burned By Books?

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What guests have appeared on Burned By Books?

Recent guests on Burned By Books include:

1. Paula Bomer
2. Erin Somers
3. Marcy Dermansky
4. Maggie Gram
5. Brandon Taylor
6. Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
7. Yiming Ma
8. Emily Adrian

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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