Up First from NPR

A Hymn to Life

Gisèle Pelicot

Gisle Pelicot wrote this book about her experience surviving sexual assault and her decision to speak out publicly. She initially did not intend to write a book, but decided it could be helpful to others going through struggles, with a core message of gathering strength to stand up to difficulties. She co-wrote the book with Judith Perignon, who helped her work through many of the difficult experiences she described.

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Now Gisle Pelicot has written a book about her experience. It's called A Hymn to Life.

Decision Points

George W. Bush

It was mentioned as an example of post-presidency earnings made by former presidents, alongside Bill Clinton's speaking engagements and Barack Obama's Netflix deal.

Game Change

Joseph Monninger

This book was mentioned as an example of a publication that captured how a president changed American politics, similar to how Trump changed politics.

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Obama, there was the famous book Game Change, changed American politics.

Tilt

Emma Pattee

This book was described as a speedy, action-adventure story about a heavily pregnant woman navigating an earthquake in an Ikea to get home. It also served as a funny critique of the pressure surrounding modern parenthood and consumerism related to strollers and baby gear.

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So one of the books I personally recommended was Emma Petit's Tilt. Now, this is a book about a woman. She's super duper pregnant, and she's at an Ikea running an errand when an earthquake happens.

The Payback

Kashana Cauley

This was mentioned as a thrilling heist novel where the main character and her friends plan an 'Ocean's Eleven'-style caper to cancel everyone's student loans in a heightened world where special police aggressively pursue debt defaulters.

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Another sort of plotty book is Kashana Kali's The Payback. This is a bit of a heist novel about a woman and her friends who concoct a bit of an Ocean's Eleven-type caper to wipe out everyone's student loans.

A Marriage at Sea

Sophie Elmhirst

This deeply reported nonfiction book detailed the story of a young British couple in the 70s who sold everything to sail to New Zealand, only to end up stranded on a life raft in the Pacific.

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So a book I've been thinking about is called A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhurst, right? It's about a young British couple in the 70s who decide they want to sell everything off and sail to New Zealand. Things don't go great, and they end up floating on a life raft in the Pacific.

Fetishized

Kaila Yu

This was an essay collection where the author, a former model, explored having mixed feelings about being objectified, discussing catering to the male gaze while also being aware of the broader political and cultural implications.

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And so I think it's an interesting insight into a weird slice of life.

The Rest of Our Lives

Ben Markovits

This novel, a former Booker Prize finalist, focused intimately on a man who waited until his children left for college to address his wife's past infidelity, following him on a road trip as he searched for footing.

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One of the books I put up for Books We Love was called The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovitz. This was actually one of the finalists for the Booker Prize.

How Women Made Music

Inc National Public Radio

This book celebrates women who have shaped music history, including interviews, original writing, illustrations, and photos. It is also available as an audiobook.

Flying Blind

Peter Robison

Referenced by NPR transportation correspondent Joel Rose, these books discuss the history of Boeing and its workforce, particularly focusing on past contract negotiations and the resulting frustration within the workforce. The books highlighted the long-term impacts of past concessions made by the union.

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Grunberg says the union gave up a lot in previous contract talks when Boeing had more leverage. What really seems to be causing the anger and the frustration is that they were locked into a long contract with very small wage increases. They lost their guaranteed pensions so I think that created a lot of pent-up frustration in the in the workforce.

House of Bone and Rain

Gabino Iglesias

This horror thriller novel, set in Puerto Rico, follows five friends seeking vengeance after a murder. It explores themes of brotherhood, toxic masculinity, and the destructive nature of revenge.

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our awkward silence seemed to give him a resounding yes. And he plays he's gone on top of his dead mother's chest. When he looked at us again, his eyes were blotched, his dark face streaked with tears. He used both hands to wipe his cheeks before reaching into the casket again and placed his right hand on top of the gun.

Zero Saints

Gabino Iglesias

During the writing of this novel, the author found it difficult to write dialogue without having to stop and translate from Spanish to English. This led to a decision to write the dialogue as it comes naturally, in Spanish.