Episodes

  • Yaa Gyasi's novel provides a painful look at slavery on an intimate, individual level

    Yaa Gyasi's novel provides a painful look at slavery on an intimate, individual level
    Dec 21 2022
    This month's Talk of Iowa book club pick is Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel Homegoing.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Exploring identity, friendship, racism and breakdancing in Iowa

    Exploring identity, friendship, racism and breakdancing in Iowa
    Oct 12 2022
    On the Talk of Iowa book club, host Charity Nebbe is joined by expert readers to discuss Chuy Renteria's coming-of-age memoir about identity, friendship, racism and breakdancing: We Heard it When We Were Young.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian' and its complicated legacy

    'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian' and its complicated legacy
    Aug 24 2022
    Expert readers discuss Sherman Alexie's controversial YA novel.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • 'The Hate U Give' grapples with themes of identity, racism and police violence through the eyes of a Black teenager

    'The Hate U Give' grapples with themes of identity, racism and police violence through the eyes of a Black teenager
    Jul 20 2022
    Angie Thomas' 2017 novel The Hate U Give is the story of Starr Carter, a 16-year-old who is present when her childhood best friend is shot and killed by a police officer.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Jane Smiley's take on 'King Lear' still resonates with Iowa audiences 30 years after its release

    Jane Smiley's take on 'King Lear' still resonates with Iowa audiences 30 years after its release
    Jun 17 2022
    On this episode of the Talk of Iowa Book Club, host Charity Nebbe speaks with author Jane Smiley, the A Thousand Acres opera director, Kristine McIntyre, and author Mary Swander.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • T.C. Boyle on novels, short stories and hope

    T.C. Boyle on novels, short stories and hope
    May 5 2022
    Host Charity Nebbe talks with the prolific, best-selling writer about his work and whether he's hopeful about the future.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah: Breaking down barriers and keeping stories alive

    Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah: Breaking down barriers and keeping stories alive
    Apr 21 2022
    Host Charity Nebbe discusses "Thomas and Beulah" with former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove and expert readers for this April meeting of the Talk of Iowa Book Club.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • When COVID came to Okoboji

    When COVID came to Okoboji
    Apr 14 2022
    Host Charity Nebbe talks with medical anthropologist and Iowa Native Emily Mendenhall about her new book Unmasked: COVID, Community and the Case of Okoboji.
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    Less than 1 minute