The Weekly Reader
Wednesdays at 2:33 p.m.
For lovers of literary fiction and memoir, The Weekly Reader is a four-minute round-up of the best new books on the national scene. University of Baltimore professor, author, and longtime All Things Considered commentator Marion Winik joins WYPR’s producer Lisa Morgan, former co-host of The Signal, in studio to share two picks each week.
They curate the best of the buzzy books you're hearing about elsewhere, and keeping an eye out for those of special interest to Baltimoreans. When Winik, who reviews for People, Kirkus Review, and the Washington Post, brings her trademark humor, thoughtful insights, and refreshing honesty to book criticism, it’s like having a new best friend with very good taste to guide you on your literary adventures.
Latest Episodes
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Cats From Japan: "The Blanket Cats" by Kiyoshi Shigematsu and "Mornings Without Mii" by Mayumi InabaIn Japan they call it iyashakei – a term that can be applied to anything that is comforting and uplifting: a person, a meal, a walk in the park. These books fit the bill! -
Never trust the teller, trust the tale? Not when the "teller" is as compelling as the "tale!" -
The Weekly Reader's Marion Winik will be in conversation with four local writers who have been receiving raves for their new work in fiction and poetry. -
World War II and its aftermath left an indelible mark on the world and inspired countless artists to try to make sense of such a calamity. -
Joan Didion died in 2021, but interest in her life and work has only increased since then. -
Inheritance: "The Magnificent Ruins" by Nayantara Roy and "Like Mother, Like Mother" by Susan RiegerWe can inherit so many things from our ancestors – physical traits, like hair and eye color, a quick temper, musical talent, a bunch of money, maybe even a big old house! -
Joni Mitchell gets the biographical treatment in a pair of books as unconventional as the artist herself. -
We love short stories, and we're going to make you love them, too. -
Who hasn’t dreamed of running away, leaving it all behind, totally reinventing yourself? -
Great art is often created in the wake of terrible tragedy – think Guernica, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, The Vietnam Memorial.
The Weekly Reader
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On this edition of The Weekly Reader, our book critic Marion Winik reviews two new short story collections from Lauren Groff and Deborah… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we preview two new books from a brand new series by prolific writer and fan favorite Elizabeth Berg.The Story of… -
Lucia Berlin's posthumous debut, "A Manual for Cleaning Women," was a sensation back in 2015. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review "Evening in… -
Teenagers have always been fascinating, bewildering creatures - think Romeo and Juliet, or Jim "You're tearing me apart!" Stark in Rebel Without a Cause.… -
On this very special edition of The Weekly Reader, we turn the tables and talk to our very own book critic Marion Winik about THE BALTIMORE BOOK OF THE… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, book critic Marion Winik shares a pair of books that are as much fun to listen to as they are to read. We preview… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we go in search of The American Dream! Marion Winik previews two new memoirs about growing up in the United States… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we preview two debut novels from promising new writers, Rae Del Bianco and Tommy Orange.Rough Animals, Rae Del… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, book critic Marion Winik reviews two new books about fearless women who did things their way.Daughter of a Daughter… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new "must read" novels with Baltimore accents.*"Lake Success" was selected for WYPR's Holiday Reading…
