Talk of Iowa Book Club

First published in 1961, then republished several years later from Iowa City, Kurt Vonnegut’s “Mother Night” explores issues of morality, humanity and individual responsibility in the aftermath of World War II. While the book explores an era of misinformation and mass tragedy decades in the past, the themes feel eerily relevant to the state of affairs in 2021.

Season 1 in its entirety has dropped into podcast feeds, and season 2 episodes will begin populating at the end of every month in 2021, beginning in January.

Charity Nebbe is joined by members of the Talk of Iowa Book Club team to discuss the 2021 reading list.

“Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression” by Mildred Armstrong Kalish is a delightful and detailed account of early farm life; full of memories, recipes and family.

Book clubs are fun for a lot of reasons. They are an excuse to read something new – something you might not have picked up on your own. They are a great opportunity to visit with friends. But, what if you could invite the smartest, most insightful people you can think of to have a candid conversation about a great book? That’s what I get to do on the Talk of Iowa Book Club. And you’re invited. Coming soon from Iowa Public Radio.

Whether you’re looking for a new series for your middle reader, your child’s new favorite picture book, or a compelling graphic novel for your teen, there’s never been a better time to give the gift of reading.

It’s Talk of Iowa’s annual holiday books show! Jan Weismiller and Tim Budd of Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City and Kathy Magruder of Pageturners Bookstore in Indianola join host Charity Nebbe to guide listeners through their top book recommendations for adult readers.

“Crossing to Safety” by Pulitzer Prize winner Wallace Stegner was published in 1987. It was Stegner’s final novel and a beautiful, life affirming way to end a storied career.

The October meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club discusses "The House on Mango Street," by Sandra Cisneros

It’s the September meeting of the Talk of Iowa book club. Host Charity Nebbe is joined by Shanna Benjamin, an independent scholar with a specialization in Black women writers; Roslin Thompson, library director at Knoxville Public Library and poet Emily Spencer to discuss this New York Times Best Seller and All Iowa Reads 2020 selection.