Shows
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 66: Unforgettable Short StoriesShort fiction fans, here's another episode tailor-made for you. Jude and John sit down and discuss some of our personal "unforgettable" short stories - not necessarily our all-time favorites, but the ones that we just can't get out of our heads... sometimes years or even decades after having read them. A few classics are discussed here (Bierce, Lovecraft, Poe, Wharton, O'Connor) - but for the most part, we try to bring up stories that may not be as well-known or widely anthologized. What follows is a classic BXC conversation that blends the heart-breaking, horrific, hopeful and the "holy sh...2024-02-252h 19The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 65: Science Fiction Xtravaganza!Welcome to the Book XChange's Science Ficiton Xtravaganza, wherein your humble twin hosts line up and discuss a plethora of science fiction titles we've read, remembered, and want to recommend. Science fiction is SUCH an incredibly broad genre to cover, and we don't even try to survey it all - rather, we list books we've read over the years that have really stayed with us for one reason or another, and that we think have something to offer to our listeners. Whether you're a sci-fi junky or only dabble in it occasionally, we think there's something here for everyone...2024-02-112h 17The Book XChange PodcastFIXED Episode 64: The BXC’s Best Books of2023According to our personal (and this podcast's) annual tradition, brothers and co-hosts Jude and John Lovell list their favorite reading experiences of the year that was 2023. Then we choose a few titles each to dive into at greater length, titles that didn't come up or weren't discussed in depth in any of the episodes recorded in the past year. We hope listeners discover some interesting books they may want to check out themselves... or, see if our takes on books they have read align with theirs!
As always, thanks for supporting the BXC podcast. Onward now to...2024-01-102h 08The Book XChange PodcastA Quick Message re: Episode 64John delivers a quick update on Episode 64, which was accidentally uploaded out of order. Tune in so you can figure out which Episode 64 is the right one to listen to/download. Thanks for supporting the show, folks. More great content coming!
2024-01-1002 minThe Book XChange PodcastEpisode 64: The BXC’s Best Books of 2023IMPORTANT: The editing on this version of Episode 64 was messed up, sadly, and the audio was accidentally uploaded in a jumbled order. We apologize for the screw-up. If you want to hear the Episode as it was originally intended, and we hope you do - please download the "FIXED Episode 64" version of this show, which will appear in the feed very soon.
Full title of the CORRECT version of Episode 64 is: "FIXED Episode 64: The BXC's Best Books of 2023."
Thanks for your patience with us, and for listening to the BXC podcast.
-J & J
2024-01-102h 08The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 63: Memorable Female Characters in FictionThis time out, you're listening to the BookXXChange podcast... get it? We're focused on characters bearing the XX chromosome in Episode 63, wherein Jude and John choose their most memorable FEMALE characters in fiction. It's quite a diverse list as we cover everything from literary classics to Westerns, fantasy epics, immigrant stories, and even strange Japanese tales in which women fall in love with actual brick-and-mortar stores (yes, you read that right). Some of these characters are beloved around the world, others much less known... but all have something fascinating to teach about that common pursuit we all share: being...2023-12-212h 04The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 62: The BXC reviews ”The Rabbit Hutch” by Tess Gunty"The Rabbit Hutch" by Tess Gunty is a debut novel by a young writer from Indiana that has taken the literary world by storm, winning the prestigious National Book Award last year and garnering ecstatic praise far and wide. But what did America's favorite book nerd twins think of this buzzy, socially conscious novel? That question gets answered in episode 62 of the Book XChange podcast, as we dive deep into this polyphonic novel about a decaying town in Middle America and various residents of a dilapidated apartment building located therein. Glad to have you along for the ride. Please...2023-11-262h 01The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 61: Stephen King, Then & Now (Part 2)Well Constant Readers... one week later, we have made good on our promise (against all odds!) and we present to you Part 2 of our Stephen King extravaganza. We begin with an in-depth take on King's 2022 novel Fairy Tale, which we both enjoyed - and then, John lobs several King-related questions at Jude (the more experienced King reader) that are designed to get listeners thinking about their own favorites and opinions when it comes to King's books. Questions like "Which King book is the scariest?," "What are your most egregious King blind spots?," and "If forced, what would you say...2023-11-122h 01The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 61: Stephen King, Then & Now (Part 1)Episode 61 of everyone's favorite twin-led book podcast is so big, it had to be split into two parts! But, when your subject is the all-time legend and prolific writer STEPHEN KING, well, then it makes sense. This double-barrelled episode has been a long time coming for your fraternal hosts, as we are of the generation that has literally grown up reading King.
But how do you take on so massive a subject as King's still-growing pile of work? Our approach is called "Then & Now" - we look at a work from very early in his career (The...2023-11-051h 57The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 60: The Art of the MemoirWhat exactly is it about memoirs that make them so widely read and discussed, and so compelling? What distinguishes a good memoir from one that becomes a classic in the genre? What makes a person's experience or ordeal worth sharing with a wider audience, and what value can another person's trauma/survival story/struggle impart to a reader? For our 60th episode, Jude and John dig in and examine what is it about this particular form that hits a nerve with people - and share some of our own favorite examples and "wish list" reads. If you've ever been...2023-10-012h 02The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 59: Read Around the World - MexicoIn our second "Read Around the World" episode (the first being Episode 55), we turn our focus to our neighbors just south of us... the rich, fascinating, troubled and beautiful mystery that is Mexico. We touch on famous Mexican writers such as Paz, Fuentes and Ruflo, but also recommend titles in different genres (comic novels, crime novels, thrillers, reportage, histories) in our effort to cover as much literary ground as we can. We even hit a few recent "buzzy" books that have garnered a lot of attention and acclaim - but do they pass muster with the BXC twins? That's...2023-09-132h 14The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 58: Ghosts!One of our "!" episodes (after "Thriller!" and "Monsters!," check the archive for those) which, we think, means a wide-ranging and rollicking ride through a popular genre of books. In this case, spectral encounters and paranormal activity... from dusty old classic haunted house tales to meta/modern freakouts that play with cliches and conventions, we do our best to cover it all. Do your hosts believe ghosts actually exist? Debatable... but we can certainly prove the existence of great writing featuring ghosts, and we do it here on Episode 58. As always, thanks for joining in on the conversation...!
2023-08-202h 09The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 57: The BXC Reviews ”Catch-22” by Joseph HellerAnother episode-length discussion of a single novel we've deemed worthy of extra attention! This time around, the lads discuss an American classic neither of us were at all familiar with, Joseph Heller's world-famous debut novel Catch-22. We share our own personal impressions, talk about the impact it has had on the culture, compare and contrast it to other war novels, and debate whether or not it deserves a #7 ranking (!) on the Modern Library "Top 100 Novels of All Time" list.
**We apologize for a few audio gaps that appear in this episode. As we're recording, we aren't sure...2023-07-301h 46The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 56: Fathers in LiteratureWe're a bit late here as far as the calendar goes, but the subject of fathers and fatherhood will never get stale. We had intended to publish this episode to align with Father's Day, but... June got away from us a little bit. That said, Jude and John talk about some of their most notable father figures in literature, and recommend books that explore the mystery, challenge and promise (broken or unbroken) of paternity in one way or another. As always, we also discuss books we've been reading lately and tease the upcoming episode 57 of the podcast, in which...2023-06-292h 06The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 55: Read Around the World - Australia, New Zealand & TasmaniaThis time out, the BXC brothers begin their new occasional series, "Read Around the World," and set their sights on books from/about Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. These episodes will be your literary "travel guides" to places we may never get to visit in person, but have indeed visited in our imaginations and reading lives. We had a blast touring this region, and recommend quite an array of writers and works for adventurous readers to dive into. Enjoy - who knows where the next excursion will take us? Next time on the BXC: we explore fathers and fatherhood in...2023-06-082h 17The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 54: The BXC Reviews ”The Passenger” & ”Stella Maris” by Cormac McCarthyOur occasional "BXC Reviews" series returns with an in-depth discussion of the TWO new novels from the highly regarded American writer Cormac McCarthy. Since our show's inception we've been looking for a chance to discuss McCarthy's work, and while this episode isn't a deep dive into his whole catalog, it is an extensive (and spoiler-filled) discussion of the pair of novels he released at the end of last year, his first published work in 16 years.
**We love hearing from our listeners! Please reach out to us with feedback, reading suggestions or anything else at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com**2023-05-212h 04The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 53: The Return! (What We’ve Been Reading)We are thrilled to be back, after a long hiatus, with a brand new episode in which your co-hosts Jude and John discuss some of the best books we read while we were on break. A little bit of Irish writing, poetry, a few science fiction selections, ancient civilizations, some social satire... there's quite a variety of titles here as regular followers of the show have come to expect. We know that the audio is a bit unpolished; we are still learning how to use our new podcast app and we do have some technical limitations. But we figured...2023-04-302h 01The Book XChange PodcastApril 2023 update: the Book XChange podcast returns?? (teaser)After an extended hiatus due to technical challenges, Jude and John Lovell tease the return of the Book XChange podcast. Readers and book lovers around the world, buckle up! We hope to start bringing you new episodes very soon... Want to suggest a topic for an upcoming episode? Please do email us at bookxchangetwins@gmail.com. We're eager to get The Great Conversation going again!2023-04-2310 min
The Book XChange PodcastAugust 2022: An Update from the Book XChange PodcastWe've been forced to take an indefinite hiatus from recording, but hopefully this is NOT the end of the BXC podcast! John Lovell delivers an explanation of why we haven't recorded new episodes in a little while. Thanks for listening, and stay with us! -The BXC Twins2022-08-2105 min
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 52: Most Anticipated New Books (still to come in 2022)This time around, the Book XChange looks forward to the rest of 2022 - and discusses books we haven't read, but hope to soon once they hit the shelves. We've loaded up the current episode with titles we are most anticipating as the rest of the year unfolds, and why we're looking forward to them. Fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, graphic novels... it's all fair game here. In some cases, we are looking forward to new titles from world-renowned writers - in others, we may be reading new authors for the first time. Hopefully listeners will come away with some books to...2022-07-101h 54
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 51: The BXC Review of ”The Candy House” by Jennifer EganThe great and unclassifiable American novelist and journalist JENNIFER EGAN takes center stage in Episode 51 of the Book XChange podcast, and this is an episode co-hosts Jude and John Lovell had been looking forward to for a long time. Her 2010 novel 'A Visit to the Goon Squad' won the Pulitzer Prize, and now 12 years later Egan returns to some of the same characters in this follow-up she terms a 'sibling novel' to that earlier effort. This fascinating novel of interlocking stories riffs on social media, technology, human psychology, memory and identity, and yet somehow manages to be a page-turning...2022-06-141h 42
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 50: Re:VersePoetry is on the menu for this milestone 50th episode of the Book XChange - and why not? The world's only double-barreled bibliophile podcast takes on the challenge of reading poetry in our hyper-fueled, attention-challenged 21st century: is reading poetry worth the struggle? What is the value of slowing down, focusing one's attention and taking on poets and poems you've never tried before? And of course, who are some of the poets who have impacted us, changed our view of reading poetry and maybe even changed our way of seeing the world? Reading poetry can be an immensely powerful...2022-05-161h 59
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 49: The Fate of the PlanetIn this (quite literally) world-spanning episode, Jude and John look at books that dare to confront one of the most vexing and critical issues of our time: the impact our race is having on the physical environment. Our "common home" (in the phrase favored by Pope Francis) literally hangs in the balance due to a whole series of choices we've made as a species, and we wanted to read more from both the fiction and non-fiction sides of the aisle about what this means (and could mean) for the future of humanity. In a very real sense, few subjects...2022-04-252h 01
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 48: Giving Essays A TryIn the 16th century, Michel de Montaigne created a new form of literary self-expression. He called these short pieces "essays," from the French verb "essayer" - "to try." In Episode 48 of everyone's favorite literary podcast hosted by genetic duplicates, Jude and John "try" to explain the appeal of essays to them, and why they find it to be one of the most satisfying and thought-provoking of all literary forms. We then go on to recommend some of our personal favorite collections and writers of essays, which ones we badly want to read and just haven't gotten to, and which...2022-04-111h 56
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 47: Novels with Spiritual JourneysThis time around, the brothers are looking at novels with overt spiritual themes - novels in which the main character, or characters, undergo some type of transformation or evolution (or devolution?) in what they believe and how they look at life. As we say in our introductory comments, the "Big Questions" and spiritual themes are something we've never shied away from on this podcast. Now, these thorny questions take center stage. Mind you, we're not going to solve any of them for you - but we're fascinated when writers have the guts to take them on and send their...2022-03-281h 57
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 46: Dealer’s Choice - Annie ProulxBoth Jude and John agree that it's high time, and a distinct pleasure, to dedicate one of our "Dealer's Choice" episodes to a female writer - in this case, the esteemed and unique American author Annie Proulx. For those new to the show, a Dealer's Choice episode is when your humble hosts choose a writer whose work means a lot to us, and is well worth recommending, and taking an in-depth look at their entire oeuvre. One of us first came to Proulx's work through her most famous novel (The Shipping News), one through her acclaimed series of stories...2022-03-132h 04
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 45: Monsters!What is with the human family's fascination with MONSTERS and supernatural creatures? We try to unpack that perennial question and topic of interest in Episode 45 of America's favorite double-barreled books and reading podcast, The Book XChange. The Brothers Lovell reach deep back into the past with classics like "Frankenstein" and "Beowulf," but also mention some of our favorite modern-day contributions to the conversation. Along the way we talk about how monsters reflect darker parts of the human psyche, why the line between "man" and "monster" is sometimes blurry, and the astounding imagination/erudition of a 19-year-old girl. Though this...2022-02-272h 03
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 44: The Working LifeEpisode 44 begins with the classic strains of Bruce Springsteen's "Factory"... why? Because this time out, we are exploring books that are all about "the work, the work, the working life." For the vast majority of adults, work takes up much of our waking hours and in some ways (for better or worse) defines who we are. So it makes sense that innumerable books, both fiction and non-fiction, delve into how it shapes and impacts our lives. From office drones gutting through the tedium of their daily tasks, to African-Americans migrating north in search of work to provide independence and...2022-02-131h 59
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 43: And Now for Something a Little Different: The BXC 2022 Kick-Off ShowAfter a 33-day hiatus, which felt really long for us if not for our listeners, the BXC brothers return and finally kick off 2022 with a looser, less structured episode filled with a little of this and that. First, in response to a suggestion from a listener, we share what books we gifted each other for Christmas at the end of last year (and why). Second, we kick around the idea of setting "resolutions" for the upcoming year in reading, and share a few of the ones we made for ourselves. And finally (there's a reason we titled this episode "...2022-01-232h 06
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 42: The BXC’s Best Books of 2021For our final episode of 2021, we decide to broaden out a personal tradition and share it with listeners... we each share our 10 favorite reading experiences of the year, and discuss why these books made a lasting mark on us. Our choices are not at all limited to books that came out in 2021, but could be any book of any genre from any year. These books were "buried in our heads like a stinger" (to borrow from Flannery O'Connor) and just would not let go, no matter what else we might have consumed. We want to offer a sincere THANK...2021-12-191h 54
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 41: WORLD WAR IIFor episode 41 (commemorating, in part, the 80th anniversary of the United States' entry into the war in December 1941), the Book XChange brothers take on a subject that's as broad and wide-reaching as the conflict itself: World War II. As always, we aim here to provide some recommendations of books that aren't widely discussed and read, as well as cover some of the acknowledged classics. It's a huge subject and we did our best to cover a wide variety of titles that might speak to a broad expanse of interests. Thanks for listening!
MUSIC BY YOUNG WOLF, VOIDZ...2021-12-051h 53
The Book XChange Podcast(SPECIAL) Episode 40: TIME O’CLOCK - Interview with writer Jude Joseph LovellCalling all adventurous and open minded readers - join us for a special episode of the BXC podcast, in which we turn the lens on ourselves a bit and interview one-half of your favorite literary-minded twins. Jude Joseph Lovell (or is it Foster Mullins?), co-host of this show and author of 12 books, has just launched a brand new mind-bending, time-twisting mystery tale named TIME O'CLOCK, and we have an exclusive interview all about it right here. It's a two-part discussion, with part 1 discussing the book and its influences (including a reading from the author) but not giving any plot...2021-11-141h 53
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 39: Criminal MindsMcGruff the Crime Dog guests hosts in Episode 39 of the Book XCh... well OK, maybe not (and yes, we just dated ourselves - but those who know, know!). This time out, your humble hosts/book-hungry twins take a bite out of the vast buffet of books that explore crime, both real and imagined. We delve into classic mysteries, true crime reportage, historical novels with unexplained murders at their center, pulp detective fiction, harrowing accounts of real-life urban crime, and some of the most heinous and traumatic events in American history (think JFK, Watergate and 9/11). Together, Jude and John dare...2021-10-302h 03
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 38: The BXC Review of ”Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan AlamFor the fifth time, the Book XChange podcast dedicates an entire episode to discuss a single book - in this case, one recommended to us by a BXC listener. 'Leave the World Behind' is a bestselling thriller written by Rumaan Alam - one that has been widely read and discussed, nominated for the National Book Award, and was also recently snapped up by NetFlix to be developed into a film. It's a novel that feels almost like a compendium of modern anxieties and fears, touching on issues such as racial relations, environmental concerns, geopolitical fears, parenting in a crisis...2021-10-091h 30
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 37: Hidden GemsFor this edition of everyone's favorite biweekly literary podcasts, your Book XChange hosts present some "deep cuts" from their own personal bookshelves. The idea with our "Hidden Gems" episode is to offer some "of the beaten path" recommendations of books - from all genres, fiction and non-fiction - that might intrigue our listeners and/or give them something new to try. As readers Jude and John both get a lot of satisfaction from discovering the work of a writer we may have never heard of before, or dusting off a long-forgotten novel or book that might provide some hidden...2021-09-261h 49
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 36: The BXC Goes West (Part 1)Jude and John grab a rifle, a pony, and go ridin' out into the bloody "evening redness in the west" in Episode 36 of the Book XChange podcast. The subject of "the American west in literature" is about as vast, wide open and intimidating as the very landscape itself, so we decided it may take not one, but TWO episodes to do it justice. In this first part, we tackle "Western novels" - which of course is a term that can encompass a wide variety of books and writers. We talk of course about the well known, somewhat hackneyed symbols...2021-09-121h 56
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 35: GO BIG... or Go Home!In this episode the BookXChange looks at the experience of reading BIG, meaty, epic-length books... books that might function well as doorstops, should you have a need for one. We dive into whether the experience of reading big books (fiction or non-fiction) is at all different from reading shorter ones; whether a reader needs to "prepare" more mentally or otherwise to take on a large tome; what the experience is like in being immersed into a story or subject that goes on for hundreds of pages; and of course, what are some of the best (and worst) experiences we've...2021-08-291h 52
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 34: The BXC Review of ”A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John IrvingThe fourth in our podcast's regular series of "deep dives" into books that, for whatever reason, have the popularity, subject matter or complexity to justify an extended discussion. This time we tackle one of the more popular novels in the past several decades, a book that has struck a nerve with a great many American readers in particular, and was loudly championed by none other than Mr. Stephen King: John Irving's 1989 bestseller 'A Prayer for Owen Meany.' It's a book that certainly manages to cram quite a lot into its hefty 600-page length, and certainly has its admirers...2021-08-141h 51
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 33 1/3: Our Favorite Books about MusicNo matter where you're from, no matter what your race, culture, creed or ancestry is – your life has been touched and shaped by music in some form or fashion. Musical expression is part of what makes us human, and the mysterious joy and emotion we experience when listening to and making music is an endlessly fascinating subject. The Book XChange brothers list and discuss their favorite books about music in Episode 34 - they might be novels, musicians' memoirs, biographies, appreciations or short stories... there's something for everyone in this jamboree of a show. Glad to have each and every on...2021-07-262h 15
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 32: FreedomRecorded one day after the United States of America's 245th birthday, the latest episode of the Book XChange podcast takes advantage of the Independence Day vibes to consider the gifts and responsibilities of FREEDOM. And not just American freedom either, but "freedom" as it pertains to all members of the human family. We discuss and recommend books that have something to teach, say, remind, provoke, or inspire about the ideal of freedom. From classic autobiographies and political treatises, to novels, to philosophical ruminations on art and individual expression – this episode looks at what it means to consider, value, protect an...2021-07-071h 48
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 31: ”The Intimidators” (Books We’re Afraid To Take On)Readers around the world... admit it. We all have them. Those big, complicated, intimidating books that glare at us from our shelves, almost with an air of defiance, just daring us to take them down, dust them off, and you know... actually READ them. But for whatever reason, we haven't been able to get up the guts to do so... well, welcome to episode 31 of the Book XChange podcast, wherein America's favorite twin book nerds accept the challenge... not to read these books, you understand! Let's not get hasty. Merely to discuss those books that have to this point...2021-06-201h 55
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 30: Animal KingdomThe Book XChange goes on safari for this, the 30th episode of the show... and discuss favorite or notable books that feature, or are about, animals. Once we got going on this topic, we realized how deep a rabbit hole (shout out to Richard Adams!) it is. Which makes sense, because if there's one thing that unites peoples of all times, places and cultures, it's a love for/fascination with our animal friends. There's a reason they are featured so heavily in our myths, cosmologies, religions and artistic efforts. How much do they really understand about us? Do animals...2021-06-071h 51
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 29: Spoiler Alert! (Our Favorite Endings in Literature)Be warned! By definition, every single book discussed in this episode of the Book XChange podcast is going to be utterly spoiled... Jude and John discuss some of their favorite all-time endings in literature, and why we feel they've made such a lasting imprint on our memories. There are many ways to end a story: wicked twists in the plot, notes of ambiguity and mystery, group hugs of happiness, or shocking, tragic losses. But for most readers there are those books that linger in the mind because of the way the author "stuck the landing," bringing all of the elements...2021-05-171h 53
The Book XChange Podcast(SPECIAL) Episode 28: Celebrating Year One; Books About TwinsIn this special celebratory episode, your twin hosts Jude and John Lovell reflect back on the first year of the Book XChange podcast: what it's meant to us, and what we hope to continue to do with it going forward. And in a nod to the unique "hook" of our show, that is, identical twins reflecting on books and reading... we tackle books that feature, or are in some way about, twins and the phenomenon of "twinhood." Good twins, evil twins, estranged or missing or lost twins, damaged twins, "midnight twins"... there are so many great myths, novels and...2021-04-262h 06
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 27: HemingwayThe recently-premiered new PBS documentary "Hemingway" (from the renowned filmmaking team of Ken Burns and Lynn Novick) provided the BXC brothers with the perfect excuse to dive back into the short fiction of one of America's most celebrated and influential writers. Because the film centers on Hemingway's stories rather than his novels, John and Jude choose four of "Papa's" most famous tales, unpack them and examine how they exhibit his most impressive, intriguing and challenging qualities as a writer. Along the way we also get into some biographical details, our personal responses to Hemingway's work and how they may have...2021-04-112h 02
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 26: The BXC Review of ”Via Negativa” by Daniel HornsbyEpisode #26 delivers the third of an occasional series of in-depth reviews of books that have caught our attention (for whatever reason) and we feel are worth extended discussion and recommendation. This time, it's another debut novel, from Memphis-based (but Indiana-born) writer Daniel Hornsby. "Via Negativa" is a fascinating, spiritually rich hybrid of road novel, revenge tale and spiritual quest - steeped in Catholic history and tradition, but also in some of the strange, kitschy, roadside Americana that anyone who has traveled cross-country through this broad-shouldered land will recognize. As the homeless mendicant Fr. Dan wrestles with several morally complex...2021-03-291h 46
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 25: ’Story Like You Mean It’ with Dr. Dennis Rebelo (Interview)The BXC co-hosts welcome a very special guest to the program for a fascinating and wide-ranging interview: Dr. Dennis Rebelo, professor, national speaker, career coach, mentor to CEOs and entrepreneurs and family man. Dr. Rebelo is about to release a brand new book that he has been researching and writing for the past decade, 'Story Like You Mean It: How to Build and Use Your Personal Narrative to Illustrate Who You Really Are.' Jude, John and "Dr. D" get deep into why it's important to know and understand your own personal narrative; storytelling as a path towards personal...2021-03-151h 34
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 24: Thriller!The tension is palpable in Episode 24 of the BXC podcast, as we discuss some of our favorite books and writers that might fall under the broad category of "Thriller." Every reader loves a story that keeps your posterior nailed to the chair and your fingers flipping pages, almost automatically, to find out what happens next. Jude and John talk about what makes a thriller, how the term is really more of a broad category vs. a genre, and serve up plenty of examples of "unputdownable" books. This is an episode sure to generate a multitude of opinions and plenty...2021-03-011h 49
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 23: Landscape as CharacterBuckle up... because in this globetrotting episode, the twin hosts of the Book XChange podcast take you to locations far and wide: the orchards of California, islands in Polynesia, the ancient moors of England, northwest Canada, coastal fishing villages in Maine, the Antilles in the Caribbean, the Swiss Alps, and more. In Episode 23, Jude and John offers their recommendations of books that utilize landscape as character - meaning, the physical environment these stories are set in are so fundamental to the reading experience, they become "characters" in themselves. It's a fascinating topic, one we think generated a rich and...2021-02-141h 46
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 22: Dealer’s Choice - T. C. BoyleThe second installment of our "Dealer's Choice" occasional series - in which your Book XChange podcast hosts decide to feature a particular writer whose work we feel deserves in-depth discussion and recommendation. This time around, it's one of America's most acclaimed and energetic living writers, Thomas Coraghessan (T. C.) Boyle. Widely known and appreciated for his prolific output, cultural satire, environmental themes and rollicking, often biting sense of humor, Mr. Boyle is the author of some 18 novels and 12 short story collections across 40+ years. But Jude and John have at times had different reactions to his work, and this makes...2021-02-011h 49
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 21: Celebrating the Short Story/”Door in the Air” Launch PartyThe Book XChange Podcast celebrates short stories in general - and, the release of co-host Jude Joseph Lovell's brand new story collection, "Door in the Air" - in this special episode. Jude has been writing and releasing short stories off and on for over 20 years, with two previous short story collections to his credit... and now, he's just published his "New and Selected Stories, 1999-2020." John interviews Jude about writing short fiction, putting together the new collection and how his writing has evolved over the years. After that, the twins discuss what makes short stories such a compelling form...2021-01-181h 45
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 20: Top Books of the Year, Part 2 (Fiction)NOTE: In this episode, after we completed recording, we experienced a problem with the audio that we were not aware of during recording. It appears the timing of our responses is compressed or shifted, so that in many cases our voices overlap by a few seconds. You can still follow the conversation, but in several situations our voices seem to be talking over each other. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope we will not experience this problem in future episodes. Thanks for your forebearance!
Happy 2021, listeners! Jude and John have returned for a...2021-01-041h 44
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 19: Top Books of the Year, Part 1 (Non-Fiction)To close out our first year in podcasting, your Book XChange hosts offer a two-part series of episodes highlighting our favorite non-fiction and fiction titles of 2020. As always with our show, titles are not limited to those released in 2020 - they could be from any era, as long as they were read by one of us this year. Part 1 covers non-fiction: we each choose one book that stood out during our year in reading, and get a little more in-depth about why it stood out. In our next episode, we'll cover our favorite fiction reads of the year. As...2020-12-211h 39
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 18: Writers We’re Thankful ForSo you thought Thanksgiving 2020 was over?? Not so fast... at the Book XChange podcast, we extend the gratitude and feasting for at least another week, as Jude and John list some of the writers they are most thankful for. This episode goes off in all kinds of different directions and was a lot of fun to record... so pull up a chair and dig in: you're definitely invited to the banquet, and there's more than enough provisions to go around for everybody! You may even get a "take home box" out of it, jam-packed with writers and books you'll...2020-12-062h 11
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 17: The BXC Review of Tommy Orange’s ”There There”The bibliophile brothers return with an in-depth discussion/review of Native American writer Tommy Orange's debut novel, 'There There.' Our second episode in an occasional series, in which your twin hosts will dedicate an entire episode to one book, digging into what makes it important, unique, special, noteworthy, odd, or otherwise worth reading - or not! (Warning: important plot points and story/character arcs from throughout the novel are discussed in this episode, so if you intend to read 'There There' at some point, you may want to come back to this episode and listen to the conversation...2020-11-221h 46
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 16: Recommended Debut NovelsIn this "return to form" Book XChange episode, your identical hosts recommend some of our recommended picks for first-time novels. There are so many instances of famous writers hitting home runs in their first trip to the plate - think Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" or Stephen King's "Carrie" - but there are also many great examples of debut novels that fascinatingly reveal the developing talent of a future master of the craft. Jude and John both select novels contemporary and classic, and discuss why these books left a mark on us as readers. As always, a great...2020-11-081h 58
The Book XChange Podcast(SPECIAL) Episode 15: ”50 Years of Reading”Two weeks before their 50th birthday, the Book XChange brothers/co-hosts had the ultra-rare opportunity to get together in an isolated location, celebrate that we've somehow made it through a half-century, and talk books and reading face to face. The result was this one-time only, special episode of the podcast: a free-form, no holds barred, personal discussion about our lives as readers, how great books and writers have changed and challenged us across various stages in our lives, and the ultimate value and utility of reading. We won't often get so personal and self-reflective as in this show, but...2020-10-282h 26
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 14: On The Nobel Prize in LiteratureEach year in early October, the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded by by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm. For the BXC podcast brothers, this event sparks an annual "Xchange" of reactions and thoughts over who won it, how familiar we are with the writer and whether we think it was warranted. It also reminds us of the work of other Nobel laureates we cherish, read and re-read, and want to recommend to others. In this episode we talk a bit about the prize in general, congratulate American poets Louise Glück on her recent honor, and then discuss t...2020-10-111h 50
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 13: BXC Goes to the Movies (Book-to-Film Adaptations)Here comes a fun "crossover" episode, in which your Book XChange co-hosts go multimedia and talk about some of their favorite (and maybe not-so-favorite) book-to-movie adaptations. The brothers discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with adapting a well-known or beloved book for the screen, and kick around a broad assortment of choices - some very famous, others a little more obscure. What makes an adaptation truly noteworthy and interesting? What are some of your favorite films made from books? What are some of the reasons book adaptations fail? All of this, plus plenty of movie recommendations to fill...2020-09-271h 48
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 12: Dealer’s Choice - Jim ShepardIntroducing "Dealer's Choice," an occasional series in which your Book XChange podcast hosts decide to feature a particular writer whose work we feel deserves in-depth discussion and recommendation. In the inaugural installment, we dive into the work of one of America's finest writers, Jim Shepard. "Who is Jim Shepard, and why should I be reading him?" is exactly what we aim to address, and we hope our listeners will trust us enough to listen in and find out. The brothers couldn't possibly recommend the novels, essays and especially the short stories of Mr. Shepard any higher. Tune in to...2020-09-131h 37
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 11: BXC Recommended TrilogiesThere are many classic trilogies of books known and loved the world over, and some that are lesser known but well worth diving into. In this episode, Jude and John recommend some of their favorite Trilogies and discuss why they are worth the investment of your time and energies. Ranging from epic fantasy quests to existential mysteries to poetic elegies of a fading time and culture, this discussion covers a ton of ground and should have something for just about any reader. It's a 3-for-1 special on the latest installment of the Book XChange!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED...2020-08-301h 39
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 10: Isolation"No man is an island," wrote John Donne... but many of us feel like we've been stranded on one in recent months. One potential remedy for this condition? Reading! For our tenth episode, the BXC brothers take on "isolation" as a literary theme. Books that explore, describe or portray subjects dealing with some form of isolation or solitude - how it challenges us, helps us to grow or forces us to confront the boundless mystery of ourselves. This discussion took us far and wide into many different genres: thrillers, travel books, mysteries, adventure stories and cultural satire. We hope...2020-08-161h 42
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 9: A Supposedly Great Book I’ll Never Read AgainThis time out, your fraternal co-hosts will take down some beloved classics, and/or more contemporary acclaimed or popular books, that they for whatever reason just didn't "get." We all have books we greatly anticipate or come to with high expectations, only to come away disappointed, or at least confused over what all the fuss was about. We had a good time sharing some of our picks. What are yours? Thanks as always for listening to our show!2020-08-031h 36
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 8: Tales of TerrorMuster up your courage, listeners, because in Episode 8 of the Book XChange podcast, your twin co-hosts take on "tales of terror" - books and/or stories (even a few movies are mentioned!) that scare, provoke, disturb, unnerve or simply get under your skin. The twins are often asked by friends and family alike, "Why do you bother reading books that disturb or scare you?" We take a deep dive into horror as a genre, to attempt to answer that interesting question. Is there any value in books that evoke terror, and along the way, what are some of our...2020-07-161h 40
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 7: Our Favorite BiographiesOn the 244th birthday of the United States of America, the BXC brothers tackle some of their favorite biographies (excluding autobiographies, that's an episode for another day). Also discussed: what makes a compelling biography and how favorite biographies usually align with personal interests.
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From John
Current read: 'The Devil's Highway: A True Story,' Luis Alberto Urrea
Recommended biographies: 'John Adams' by David McCullough; 'Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G. K. Chesterton' by Joseph Pearce; 'Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare...2020-07-051h 34
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 6: The BXC Review of Richard Powers’ ”The Overstory”Here's our first episode dedicated to a single book: in this case, Richard Powers' 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Overstory." On occasion this show will take a deep dive into a popular and/or intriguing book that the twin co-hosts think merits in-depth examination. This ambitious, fascinating novel about trees and their relationships to human beings on this planet made for a great discussion, and whether you've read the book or not we hope you'll find enough here to hold your interest! Thanks for listening to The Book XChange...
2020-06-221h 34
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 5: (Some of) Our Favorite Female WritersAmerica's favorite bibliotwins are back (hah!) with another freewheeling episode of the Book XChange 'cast, in which we share some of our favorite all-time writers who happen to be female. This was a fun discussion covering 19th century British fiction, a smattering of poetry, medieval epics from Norway, contemporary genre fiction and more. Looking forward to hearing some of your voices as we continue "The Great Conversation"!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From Jude
Current read: The Overstory, Richard Powers
Recommended female writers...2020-06-071h 20
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 4: ”Into the Wild” - The Best Imaginative and Original Books We’ve ReadIn this wide-ranging and fun episode, John and Jude share books with some of the most wild, weird and original premises they've come across. Mind-bending dystopian epics, imaginative speculations on the nature of time and mortality, harebrained schemes hatched in the jungle and picaresque novels featuring murderous mutants - it's all here in this bizarre bouillabaisse of a show! Bon áppetit!!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From John
Current read: The Thirty Years War, C. V. Wedgwood
Wild/imaginative books: Toilers of the Sea, Victor Hugo; Einstein's Dreams, Alan L...2020-05-241h 25
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 3: The Funniest Books We’ve ReadIn this installment, co-hosts Jude and John Lovell discuss some of their favorite funny books and writers, from classics of world literature to more contemporary American titles. Short stories, novels, satires and books that defy classification - the common theme here is that one way or another, these are books that will not fail to entertain... or even inspire!
BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE:
From Jude
Current read: Moby , Herman Melville
Funny books: Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes; Skippy Dies, Paul Murray; The Broom of the System, Girl with Curious Hair...2020-05-102h 40
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 2: The Books That Made Us (Non-Fiction)In part 2 of the inaugural pair of shows, the twins/co-hosts choose and discuss three non-fiction titles that were fundamental to their lives as readers/writers. They also briefly cover books they are reading now, and tease what's coming up for Episode 3.2020-04-261h 09
The Book XChange PodcastEpisode 1: The Books That Made Us (Fiction)In this inaugural episode of the Book XChange Podcast, lifelong readers and twin brothers Jude and John Lovell choose and discuss 3 fiction books each that have been particularly important in their reading lives (and why!). Coming up in Episode 2: their non-fiction choices.2020-04-151h 20