100 episodes

Best Book Ever is a podcast for Bookworms! We get to know interesting people by asking them about their favorite books.

Best Book Ever Podcast Julie Strauss

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 42 Ratings

Best Book Ever is a podcast for Bookworms! We get to know interesting people by asking them about their favorite books.

    155 Canada-Palooza with Mark Lefebvre

    155 Canada-Palooza with Mark Lefebvre

    My dear friend Mark Lefebvre is back this week to teach me all about Canadian Literature, eh?



    Host: Julie Strauss
    Website/Instagram 
     
    Guest: Mark Lefebvre
    Website/Instagram
     
    Editor: Emily Zumchak
    Website/Email
     
    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!
     
    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.
     
    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.
     
    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.



    Discussed in this episode:
     
    Bob and Doug McKenzie
    The Handmaids Tale and Others by Margaret Atwood
    Louise Penny
    The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis
    World of Wonders by Robertson Davies
    Fifth Business by Robertson Davies
    Generals Die in Bed by Charles Yale Harrison
    Farley Mowat
    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
    The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
    Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
    Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice
    A Matter of Will by Rod Carley
    Kinmount by Rod Carley
    Lives of Girls and Women and Others by Alice Munroe
    Steven Leacock
    The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot
    The Embroidered Book by Kate Hartfield
    The Hollow Boys by Douglas Smith
    The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee
    Changing Vision by Julie E. Czerneda
    Flash Forward Robert J Sawyer
    Flashforward TV series
    Rollback by Robert J Sawyer
    Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson
    Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
    All Those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault by James Alan Gardner
    Eden’s Eyes by Sean Costello
    Death Drives a Semi by Edo Van Belkom
    The Demonologist by Andrew Pyper
    The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart
    Samantha M. Bailey
    Giles Blunt
    Michael Connolly
    Linwood Barclay
    Into The Fire by Rick Mofina
    Hollow Place by Rick Mofina
    Requiem by Rick Mofina
    Canadian Werewolf Series
    The Line Painter by Claire Cameron
    The Bear by Claire Cameron
    The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron
    The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan
    The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
    The Color of Heaven by Julianne McClain
    Chasing the Wind by C.C. Humphries
    Someday I’ll Find You by C.C. Humphries
    Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
    Scott Overton
     
    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
     

    • 31 min
    154 Mark Lefebvre on "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis

    154 Mark Lefebvre on "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis

    This week's guest is one of my favorite readers, writers and humans on the planet: Mark Lefebvre. Mark has been pushing Terry Fallis' books on me practically since we met, and I'm so glad I finally took his advice. We had a great time discussing political satire, reading slumps, and the differences between American and Canadian humor sensibilities.

    Host: Julie Strauss
    Website/Instagram 
     
    Guest: Mark Lefebvre
    Website/Instagram
     
    Editor: Emily Zumchak
    Website/Email
     
    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!
     
    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.
    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.
    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.



    Discussed in this episode:
    The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis
    Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
    BBE Episode 009 Mark Lefebvre on Earth Abides
    BBE Episode 058 Mark Lefebvre on Traveling Music by Neil Peart (this is one of those very rare occasions when Mark and I disagreed about a book, and let me tell you, my friends: saying something negative about Neil Peart in front of Mark Lefebvre was the riskiest thing I have ever done in my life. I am so brave.) 
    Fifth Business by Robertson Davies
    Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger
    BBE Episode 010 Casey Starnes on Catcher in the Rye
    Titles Bookstore at McMaster University
    High Spirits by Robertson Davies
    John Irving
    Steven Leacock
    McClelland and Stewart
    Pygmalian by George Bernard Shaw
    My Fair Lady (1964)
    Best Laid Plans TV Show
    Dennis Hamill
    Operation Angus by Terry Fallis
    No Relation by Terry Fallis
    Up and Down by Terry Fallis
    Poles Apart by Terry Follis
    The Candidate (1972)
    Three Cheers For Me by Donald Jack
    The Long Way Back by Nicole Bart
    Number One is Walking by Steve Martin
    Harry Bliss
    The Canadian Mounted by Mark Leslie
    Edo Van Belkom
    Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
     
    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
     

    • 27 min
    153 Kate Reynolds on "A Day With No Words" by Tiffany Hammond

    153 Kate Reynolds on "A Day With No Words" by Tiffany Hammond

    This week I'm so delighted for you to meet Kate Reynolds, also known as The Lavender Librarian. Kate is a passionate advocate of inclusive storytimes for children, and she has some innovative ideas for how to share reading time with kids. 
    I was initially hesitant when Kate suggested we read a children's book for this episode - afraid that we wouldn't have enough to talk about to fill the half hour. But I was so, so wrong. Talking to librarians is always a wonderful experience, but talking to this particular one about this particular book was extra-specially magic. 



    Host: Julie Strauss
    Website/Instagram 
     
    Guest: Kate Reynolds
    Instagram/Facebook/Youtube
     
    Storytime Solidarity - Website/Patreon/Facebook Group
     
    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!
     
    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.
     
    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.
    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.
    Discussed in this episode:
     
    A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond
     
    Roald Dahl
    The Babysitters Club
    Beverly Cleary
    Mr. Rogers
    Sharon, Lois and Bram
    Sandwiches by Fred Penner
    Je suis une Pizza by Charlotte Diamond
    123 Andres
    Jim Gill
    Little Miss Anne
    Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
    Mouse by Art Spiegelman
    And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
    Tiffany Hammond’s Instagram
     
    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
     

    • 32 min
    152 Lisa Dayton Petersen on Judy Blume

    152 Lisa Dayton Petersen on Judy Blume

    Today I am joined by Lisa Petersen, my dear friend since college. We agreed to spend the summer revisiting our favorite childhood classics by Judy Blume, and now we’re back to discuss our feelings about the books as children vs. as adults. Along the way, we talked about banned books and parenting, and how our love for Judy Blume has carried us through the years.
     
    Host: Julie Strauss
    Website/Instagram 
     
    Guest: Lisa Petersen



    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!
     
    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.
     
    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.
     
    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.



    Discussed in this episode:
     
    Judy Blume
    The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
    The Warrior Cats Series by Erin Hunter
    A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
    Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang 
    Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
    Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume
    Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume
    Blubber by Judy Blume
    Deenie by Judy Blume
    Forever by Judy Blume
    It’s Not the End of the World by Judy Blume
    Judy Blume Forever - 2023 film
    Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret - 2023 film
    Terry Gross Interview
    In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume
    You’ve Got Mail - 1998 film
    Also, for fun: 87 Books Featured in “You’ve Got Mail”
    A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
     
    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)
     

    • 31 min
    151 Yolanda Skeete and Vanessa Vicente on "The School for Good Mothers" by Jessamine Chan

    151 Yolanda Skeete and Vanessa Vicente on "The School for Good Mothers" by Jessamine Chan

    Yolanda Skeete, an avid reader and co-host of Thrillers by the Book Club SoCal, is back on the show with our book club pal Vanessa Vicente. Yolanda and Vanessa are both bookstagrammers living in Southern California who love to review thrillers, nonfiction, romance, and other genres. As mothers ourselves, we have a lot to say about the 2022 Science Fiction novel “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan. In this episode, we talk about our experiences, hardships, and joys as mothers, and the discussion ranges from KidLit to Black Mirror to Michelle Obama to questions like “Why aren’t moms allowed to be sexy??”
     
    Host: Julie Strauss
    Website/Instagram 
     
    Guest: Yolanda Skeete
    Instagram 
     
    Guest: Vanessa Vicente
    Instagram



    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!
     
    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.
     
    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.
     
    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast, AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.



    Discussed in this episode:
     
    The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
    Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2022
    Maribel’s Year and Others by Michelle Sterling
    Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
    Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds
    Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds
    The Couch Potato by Jory John
    The Bad Seed by Jory John
    Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
    Harambe
    Black Mirror TV Show
    The Sitting Month
    The Drowning Woman by Robin Harding
    Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen
    The Wife Between Us by Sarah Pekkanen
    Judy Blume
    Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Movie
    Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
    Drowning by T.J. Newman
     
    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)

    • 50 min
    150 The ACOTAR Panel

    150 The ACOTAR Panel

    If you have not yet experienced the joy of the "Court of Thorns and Roses" fandom, we are going to fix that today.
     
    Host: Julie Strauss
    Website/Instagram
     
    Guest Panel:
     
    Victoria Snow
    Instagram
     
    Fareya
    Instagram/TikTok/Goodreads
     
    Nicole Burton
    Instagram/Goodreads
     
     
    Join the Best Book Ever Newsletter HERE!
     
    Subscribe for FREE to receive weekly emails with complete show notes, photos of our guests, and updates on what Julie is reading on her own time.
     
    Support the podcast for just $5/month and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter AND a monthly themed curated book list.
     
    Become a Founder for $100 and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter, the monthly curated book list, AND a personal thank you on the podcast AND a Best Book Ever T-Shirt in your favorite color and style.
     
     
    Discussed in this episode:
     
    A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas
    A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAR) by Sarah J. Maas
    A Court of Wings and ruin (ACOWAR) by Sarah J. Maas
    A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOFAS) by Sarah J. Maas
    A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
    ACOTAR Wiki
    Emma Petersen mentioned the ACOTAR books as “bird porn” when she appeared on the podcast to talk about Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang on Episode 138
    A Court of Tattoos and Rosé podcast
    Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
    Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
    The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi
    House of Earth and Blood: Book one of the Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas
    Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
    @Kaykaysbookshelf (an awesome bookstagram account – scroll her saved stories for Sarah J. Mass mini-guides [spoiler free], maps, glossaries, etc. Her account is well worth a visit if you are a fan.
    Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
    A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
    Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
    Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Fantasy Romance Novel by Sue Lynn Tan
    Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
    The Ballad of Songbirds of Snakes (a Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins
    Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton
     
    (Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. If you shop using my affiliate link on Bookshop, a portion of your purchase will go to me, at no extra expense to you. Thank you for supporting indie bookstores and for helping to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business!)

    • 44 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
42 Ratings

42 Ratings

Nel213 ,

A podcast for Readers

This podcast is a perfect for readers- as a supplemental book club meeting, or for great book recommendations. I have read several books discussed on the podcast and the reads have been delightful! Julie is an amazing host and I’ve enjoyed being a listener and a guest of the show(Episode #107)! Every episode, I look forward to her genuine enthusiasm towards her guests and their book selections. This podcast is a gem!

Telouse31 ,

Such a fun podcast!

What a great podcast for reading lovers! I love how each episode talks about a different book and then relates it to regular conversation about life!

Krisa550 ,

Great podcast!

I love Julie and this podcast! The conversation about the different books is in-depth and her enthusiasm is inspiring. I have fallen in love with books again.

Top Podcasts In Arts

Fresh Air
NPR
The Moth
The Moth
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Snap Judgment Presents: Spooked
Snap Judgment
The Magnus Archives
Rusty Quill
The Recipe with Kenji and Deb
Deb Perelman & J. Kenji López-Alt