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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Looking for a good book for a long flight? On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new, short books that we're calling "Airplane books." They… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, book critic Marion Winik highlights three new memoirs from Claire Tomalin, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, and Clementine… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, a new collection of essays from public radio fan favorite David Sedaris, plus a funny new novel about life in London… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we preview "The Secrets Between Us," Thrity Umrigar's highly anticipated sequel to her best-seller "The Space… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new memoirs - one by the late Poet Laureate Donald Hall, and the other a debut by Glynnis MacNicol.A… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels from British rock critic Caitlin Moran.How To Build A Girl, Caitlin Moran, HarperCollins… -
“An American Marriage” and “Barracoon:” Two Highlights from African-American Literature, Old and NewOn this episode of The Weekly Reader, Marion Winik has two new titles to recommend for your next book club selections.*"An American Marriage" was selected… -
On this episode of The Weekly Reader, we preview three Young Adult titles that are fun for slightly older fans as well as the teenagers in your… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, two new novels by first-time writers that explore the intricacies of relationships within Muslims families in the… -
On this edition of The Weekly Reader, two books about scary nightmares that may or may not be in our future. Dystopia, ho!The Last Cruise, Kate…
