On Anxiety AKA “We Haven’t Even Talked About Books Yet!”

Cuddle up with something comforting because we’re talking about ~anxiety~ on today’s episode of Books and the City! More specifically, we discuss how we cope with our own personal forms of anxiety. Hopefully, at least some of it is useful, but most of it will certainly make you chuckle. And then we’re getting into the books. Once again, we have quite the variety for you, including a hyped, somewhat controversial book, a courtroom drama, a strange and delightful one, and a historical fiction (guess who read that one:).) Read on for timestamps, links, bar recs, and more! Also, got a perfect bar + book pairing in your city, OR any thoughts about the books we talked about in episode 6? Send us a note at booksandthecitypod@gmail.com!------------->

Libby just read: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (20:00-42:51)
https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062941503/my-dark-vanessa/
No NYC pairing for this one, but we recommend a bit of further reading if you’d like to learn more about the controversy surrounding this book. Start with Wendy C. Ortiz’s “Adventures in Publishing Outside the Gates,” (https://gay.medium.com/adventures-in-publishing-outside-the-gates-a06f089c372e) and then head over to Kate Elizabeth Russell’s “This Is Not A Love Story” (https://www.vulture.com/2020/02/my-dark-vanessa-kate-elizabeth-russell.html)
Up next for Libby: Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden

Emily just read: Little Weirds by Jenny Slate (43:00-54:58)
https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/jenny-slate/little-weirds/9780316485357/
You’ll want to pick this one up surrounded by an aesthetically pleasing, somewhat strange setting. We recommend you head to the East Village’s Beauty Bar, which is a nightclub that offers a quirky selection of cocktails, dance floors, and literal manicures. The perfect place to explore Jenny Slate’s brain!
Up next for Emily: The New Me by Halle Butler

Kayla just read: The Holdout by Graham Moore (54:59-1:06:05)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/554758/the-holdout-by-graham-moore/
Drop by for a pint at The Malt House in the Financial District while you read this thriller. Afterward, take a quick walk a few blocks north to the NYC Supreme Court building! Jury duty or not, it's worth checking out. You may even recognize it from some of your favorite films and TV shows.
Up next for Kayla: You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Peklanen

Becky just read: The Kennedy Debutante by Kerri Maher (1:06:06-1:21:08)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/572974/the-kennedy-debutante-by-kerri-maher/
Head to the Bowery Hotel's lobby bar for some live music and expert cocktails while you enjoy this book. You'll feel like you've been transported to Kick Kennedy's London! Just like her beloved 400 Club, you never know who you might see stopping in for a drink.
Up next for Becky: The Body Double by Emily Beyda

Music by EpidemicSound, logo art by @niczollos, all opinions our own.