Co-founder of Dossier Magazine (both iterations), formerly of Playgirl, Departures, and T-Magazine, Skye Parrott has seen her fair share of good writing. But Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the book that stands out to her as life-changing, from when she first read it as a young girl to the many (many) time she re-read it afterwards. Skye takes us through her time running photographer Nan Goldin's studio (and whether she thinks its related to this book...), what parts of this book resonated most for her, and the meaningful ways this book covers the journey of girlhood to womanhood.

Skye and Rebecca also dive into the question of this book's success, and why it would have been so popular amongst soldiers during WWII (so popular, in fact, that it was published in military edition made to fit in a soldier's pocket!),

Read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

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This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC. We'd love to hear from you! If you have questions or comments, reach out at bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com, or follow us at @bookimprintpodcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Rebecca Thandi Norman and comedian & writer Tocarra Elise dive into the 1991 Faith Ringgold classic Tar Beach. Told from the point of view of eight year old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, the book is based on the story quilt by the same artist. Tocarra shares where she was when she first read this book - her local library - what it felt like, and how it continues to impact her today. Tocarra hosts a delightful recap of children's literature via her TikTok and Instagram.

Read Tar Beach

Listen to Faith Ringold read Tar Beach

Watch the Reading Rainbow episode featuring Tar Beach

Interested in learning more about the story quilt that inspired the book? Listen to this episode of Why'd They Put That in a Museum?

Follow Tocarra Elise on TikTok

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Listen to The List, Tocarra's comedy podcast

This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC. We'd love to hear from you! If you have questions or comments, reach out at bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com, or follow us at @bookimprintpodcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: this episode contains references to sexual assault, child abuse, and suicide.

Nashville-based songwriter Bonnie J. Baker comes from an ultra-convservative Christian background and knew she had to leave; Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel The Handmaid's Tale gave her the push she needed, reflecting back to her the oppressive system she lived in, allowing her to identity it and understand that she wasn't alone.

In this episode, Bonnie and host Rebecca Thandi Norman discuss how reading this book in college was a seminal moment in Bonnie's life, the history it reflects, and the future it foreshadows for us in the US right now. They touch on the patheticness of power, Atwood's cut-glass writing style, and the differences between reading this book as a young person and later in life.

Read The Handmaid's Tale.

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This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC. We'd love to hear from you! If you have questions or comments, reach out at bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com, or follow us at @bookimprintpodcast on Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.