ORDER OUR DECEMBER BOOK: The White Hot, by Quiara-Alegra Hudes
To help unravel the secrets of The Big Apple, Tava, Brett, and Alex flew in someone who knows a thing or two about art, culture, the gay scene, and sweat. In this episode, Sam Whitney regretfully informs the gang that Brandon Taylor was pretty accurate in his depiction of NYC in November's book, Minor Black Figures. He patiently explains what it is like to live in America's biggest and most important city, compares it to his time in San Francisco, and doesn't get upset when Alex says she hates his adopted home.
Check Out:
To Cook: Celery, cream cheese, and olives
To Read: Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett
To Do: Go to the movies!
To Cook: Jalapeño, cream cheese, and cranberry dip
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ORDER OUR DECEMBER BOOK: The White Hot, by Quiara-Alegra Hudes
As the weather gets colder, Tava, Brett, and Alex look to a sweaty New York City summer romance to keep warm. Minor Black Figures, a tale that focuses on art and artists, isn't always what the crew wants it to be, but as usual they have plenty to talk about and some strong opinions about the characters, the writer's choices, and the ending.
Check Out
To Use: Beef Tallow
To Visit: The Montague Bookmill
To Read: Sarah Jessica Parker's Year of Judging the Booker Prize (New York Times)
To Watch: Frankenstein
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Finish reading Minor Black Figures for our Book Club Episode next week!
This week, the claws come out as Tava, Brett, and Alex try to one-up each other during book trivia (supplied by Kat Zahariadis). To up the ante, they even bring in a guest host, Brett's sister-in-law Nina! Before failing to answer thirteen different questions about Charlotte's Web, the gang also discusses honeymoons, New York City, Mamma Mia, Alex's propensity for collecting her friend's locations, Brett's road trip, and The German Game.
Check Out:
To Watch: Setting Sunset/Selling the OC
To Listen: West End Girl, by Lily Allen
To Visit: St. Lucia!
To Listen: Scott Galloway on On with Kara Swisher
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Tava, Brett, and Alex bid adieu to Halloween by revisiting some of their favorite spooky works of literature, including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, The Man in the Black Coat by Stephen King, and In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. The group also discusses their October 31 traditions old and new, their go-to candy selections, and the best scary movies of all time.
Check Out:
To Read: We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver
To Read: Run for the Hills, by Kevin Wilson
To Do: Get a Library Card!
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ORDER OUR NOVEMBER BOOK: MINOR BLACK FIGURES, BY BRANDON TAYLOR
This week, Tava, Brett, and Alex welcome their next illustrious guest to the podcast, Tony Gannon (Brett's dad, Tava's father-in-law, Alex's mortal enemy). Together, they discuss coming of age in a small town, having kids, and maintaining relationships with one's own parents.
Check Out:
To Watch: Stephen Colbert interviews Lady Gaga
To Listen: Jennifer Aniston on Armchair Expert
To Listen: My Favorite Murder, Ep. 497
To Do: Get Involved in Your Community!!
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ANNOUNCING OUR NOVEMBER BOOK: Minor Black Figures, by Brandon Taylor
After illness kept them cruelly apart for almost a week,Tava, Brett, and Alex reconvene for a Sunday morning episode. As they prepare to discuss one of the saddest books of all time, When the Cranes Fly South, they use a few AI videos to harden their resolve. After turning to the book in earnest, there is quick consensus - it is the best TNBC book of all time, and a beautiful meditation on love, loss, and family. If you enjoy how personal this episode is, be sure to turn into the guest episode next week!
Check Out:
To Read: The Number, by David Kirkpatrick (The New Yorker)
To Watch: We Live in Time
To Eat: Margeaux Supper Parlor, Cambridge MA
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Tava and Brett returned from Scotland, Taylor Swift put out an album, and Alex navigated a comedown from her birthday weekend. In this episode, the group catches up, discusses their book buying habits, commiserates about running out of shelf space, and celebrates a belated Banned Book Week.
It isn't too late to read our next book club selection, When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen.
Check Out:
To Listen: Nobody's Girl, by Amanda Shires
To Read: Katherine Martinko, The Analog Family
To Listen: So Pretty It's Perfect, by Low Phase
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We knew we couldn't escape it, so we didn't bother to try. In this episode, Tava, Brett, and Alex board the T-Swift train and dive deep into song lyrics, with a focus on Taylor Swift in honor of her new album. But don't fret, there is plenty for the anti-Swiftie as well, including a conversation about concerts, other artists, and a recurring gag where Tava and Alex won't stop clearing their throats.
Songs Mentioned:
My Tears Ricochet, by Taylor Swift
Champagne Problems, by Taylor Swift
New Years Day, by Taylor Swift
Breathe (2 AM), by Anna Nalick
Cactus Tree, by Joni Mitchell
Elephant, by Jason Isbell
Check Out:
To Listen: Back on Top, by the Front Bottoms (Album)
To Watch/Listen: Jason Isbell and George Saunders Have an Epic Conversation
To Watch: Patti Smith performs Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" - Nobel Prize Award Ceremony 2016]
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This week, Tava, Brett, and Alex are joined by their good friend, Toni Souza. After reading The Compound, the team needed a primer on the world of Reality TV and Toni answered the call. She fills everyone in on some of the most popular shows (Love Island, Love is Blind, the Bachelor), describes her attempts to be a contestant, and connects the crazy world of reality TV to her own frustrating dating experiences.
Check Out:
To Watch: Switched at Birth (Hulu)
To Read: This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel
To Read: The Pope's Astronomer (The New Yorker)
To Watch: The Pitt (HBO Max)
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We're returning to our roots. In this episode, Tava, Brett, and Alex discuss their September book club pick, The Compound. It is a book that mixes what we know and either love/hate about reality TV with commentary on consumerism, materialism, and fame. Naturally, the conversation includes Instagram influencers, Animal Farm, and Taylor Swift.
Join us next week for our guest episode, where we'll speak with a reality TV expert.
Check out:
To Listen: Man's Best Friend, by Sabrina Carpenter
To Watch: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
To Watch: Modern Family
To Watch & Listen: Turnstile: Tiny Desk Concert
To Plan: Instagram Reels for travel recommendations
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Time to take this show on the road. In this episode, Tava, Brett, and Alex travel to Worcester, MA, where they visit Root & Press, Annie's, and Bedlam Books. They discuss the stores, take listeners through their purchases, and have way too much fun recording in Alex's car. Support local bookstores!
Check out:
To Listen: I Quit, by Haim
To Read: Elizabeth Gilbert Gets Dark
To Read: The Baby Died, Whose Fault Is It?
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In this episode, Tava, Brett, and Alex discuss their favorite (and least favorite) reads of Summer 2025. Brett also invites all TNBC listeners to Beer Olympics next Labor Day, Tava talks about her southern travels, and Alex reveals that she is returning to school this fall!
Our Favorite Summer Reads:
We Do Not Part, by Han Kang (Alex)
Priestdaddy, by Patricia Lockwood (Tava)
The Plot Against America, by Philip Roth (Brett)
Things to Check Out
To Watch: The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
To Cook: 31 Daily
To Read: He Wants to Climb Nearly All of America's Tallest Peaks. In a Month.
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This week, Tava, Brett, and Alex turn to the best-selling book of all time, the Bible. With over five billion copies sold, the tome has inspired and infuriated people for thousands of years. In this episode, the group goes through some well-known and not-so-well-known stories, talks about their literary strengths and weaknesses, and tries to be respectful.
Things to Check Out:
The Man Comes Around, by Johnny Cash
Priestdaddy, by Patricia Lockwood
Linda Ronstadt
The Midnight Library, by Matthew Haig
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Tava is on vacation to beautiful Savannah, Georgia this week, so Brett and Alex sat down to chat. Some books are mentioned. Most books are not.
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Tava, Brett, and Alex take a few minutes to explain what is next for Tuesday Night Book Club.
Honor Jones continues to deliver. Tava, Brett, and Alex wouldn't call it a perfect ending, but it the best they're read so far on TNBC. In this episode, they talk about trauma and shame, complex sibling relationships, and holding onto one's childhood.
Tune in next week as we reveal our new book and provide an update on the future of the podcast.
This week's What Else are You Reading? Books:
Bell Canto, by Ann Patchen
Notes to John, by Joan Didion
Some Hunger Games Book, by the lady who wrote the Hunger Games
We All Live Here, by Jojo Moyes
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Homework: Finish Sleep
Finally, a third section with some answers. Honor Jones mostly satisfies Tava, Brett, and Alex's desire to avoid a cramming everything into the end of the book, but leaves them hanging on one crucial point - why did Margaret and Ezra get divorced? Was there an affair? A traumatic incident? Or did Margaret masturbate one too many times? We need to know.
Also, AI doesn't use that much water.
This week's What Else are You Reading? Books:
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
Letters to John, by Joan Didion
Some Hunger Games Book, by the lady who wrote the Hunger Games
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Homework: Sleep, Chapters 20-29 (pp. 133-201)
In this episode, Honor Jones treats Tava, Brett, and Alex to more of Margaret's family dysfunction, but this time focuses on their present-day struggles. Brett and Tava put some of their own marriage quibbles on display, and Alex welcomes a new dishwasher to her family.
This week's What Else are You Reading? Books:
Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami
The Midnight Library, by Matthew Haig
Priestdaddy, by Patricia Lockwood
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Homework: Sleep, Chapters 10-19 (pp. 65-132)
In this episode, Tava, Brett, and Alex discuss the first section of Sleep, by Honor Jones. The group discusses the author's depiction of Margaret's molestation by her brother, the complex family dynamics at play, and where the rest of the book may go.
This week's What Else are You Reading? Books:
Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, by Suzanne Collins
Priestdaddy, by Patricia Lockwood
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Homework: Sleep, pp. 1-64.
In this episode, Tava, Brett, and Alex introduce their fifth book, Sleep, by Honor Jones. They also discuss many movies and tv shows that have nothing to do with Sleep, by Honor Jones.
This week's What Else are You Reading? Books:
The Plot Against America, by Phillip Roth
Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
Priestdaddy, by Patricia Lockwood
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Intro Music: evandean.wav by madmerv -- https://freesound.org/s/690635/ -- License: Attribution 4.0