What’s Next: March 2015 Edition

Written By David Benedetto, February 25 2015

WRBH (being a reading radio station) has a tendency to go through a lot of books in a short period of time. While we do our best to draw focus to each and every one we read, sometimes things fall through the cracks. That’s why we’ll be starting a monthly segment on our blog called “What’s Next” where we’ll highlight some of the books you can look forward to in the coming weeks. Here’s what’s on deck for March/April:

 

1. The Narrow Road To The Deep North by Richard Flanagan

This dazzling and treacherous novel follows Dorrigo Evans, an Australian doctor and soldier, during his time at a Japanese POW camp on the Thai-Burma Death Railway and his life after the war. A critical darling and winner of the 2014 Book Prize, this is a book you shouldn’t miss.

When To Listen: NOW! It’s on every Monday through Friday at 11AM (and again at 9:30PM) during our Best Selling Fiction program and read by first-time book reader, Geoff Worden.

 

 

 

 

2. Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Following in the footsteps of best friend/co-star/collaborator Tina Fey (whose wonderful Bossypants had us rolling in laughter all through 2011), SNL alumni and Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler (or Leslie Knope, as she will always be to this writer) has released her own comedic romp down memory lane. What to expect: stories from her time in Chicago with the United Citizens Brigade and scraping by in New York, the blur of famous faces and gags on SNL, the improbable run of Parks and Rec, the one skit she fully regrets ever doing and random advice and well-told anecdotes from across Poehler’s 43 years.

When To Listen: Mid-to-late March. It will air during our Best Seller Non-Fiction Program Monday through Friday at 9AM (with a replay at 7PM). Read by Jackie Bullock.

 

 

3. On Immunity by Eula Biss

My favorite book from 2014, this gorgeous and fascinating book finds author Eula Biss examining one of the most contested and misunderstood subjects of the 21st century: Vaccination. Writing from the position of both a new mother and researcher of history and culture, Biss examines the arguments for and against vaccination and places them within a larger context: humans have always been afraid of “contamination” and paranoid of authority.  At the same time, Biss reminds us that bodies have never been the “closed” systems we think of them as and that the individual is explicitly connected to, and maybe responsible for, the rest of the community. 

When To Listen: March 16th or 17th. It will be on WRBH’s Book Off The Shelf program which airs Monday – Friday at 2:30PM and again at 10:30PM. Read by Kathleen Langan.

 

 

4. The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams

That’s right. You heard me. WRBH will begin airing the entirety of Douglas Adams’s five-novel Sci-Fi saga starting with The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. Whether you’re a long time fan of the series or a newcomer who’s heard “good things about it” over the years, now is your chance to enjoy the hilarious, galactic travelogue to its fullest extent (maybe even all the way to 42).

When To Listen: Starting tonight! It will air weekly during our Sci-Fi Novel program at 1AM on Thursday (for you insomniacs) with a replay on Sunday evening at 10PM.

 

 

 

5. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

This 1979 Non-Fiction classic from the great Tom Wolfe joins our ranks very soon. The novel (which later became a Oscar winning film) deals with “… the Navy, Marine and Air Force test pilots who were involved in aeronautical research at Edwards Air Force Base, California, as well as the seven military pilots who were selected to be the astronauts for Project Mercury, the first attempt at manned spaceflight by the United States.” From Chuck Yeager to John Glenn, the origins of America space travel start here.

When To Listen: late-March. It will air during the Great Literature program at 8PM Monday through Friday. It is read by Ray Lang.

 

 

6. Dr. Mutter’s Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz

Another personal favorite of mine from 2014, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz brings to life the legendary Dr. Thomas Mutter (of  Mutter Museum fame). Aptowicz, a poet by trade, beautifully describes Philadelphia of 1811-1851 and the man who died young but accomplished so much. From being an early champion of skin grafting, hand washing and anesthesia to his thoughtful and compassionate regard for his patients, Mutter was nothing short of revolutionary.

When To Listen: early-April. It will air during the Best Seller Non-Fiction program Monday through Friday at 9AM and again at 7PM. It will be read by Ellen Hazard.