Summer is the time we look forward to reading -- or rereading -- our favorite books.  

How do you choose from the stack of next-to-read books that pile up beside your bed? Do you relish the adventure of what a new book might bring or do you reread an old favorite that changed your life in some way, that one book that resembles a child's much beloved stuffed animal -- dog-eared and stained with food, sweat, and tears. 

Today, writers explore the transformative nature of reading, writing, and a great novel.  

GUESTS: 
 Steve Almond - writer and author of ten books of fiction and non-fiction, including Against Football and Candyfreak. His latest book is William Stoner and the Battle For the Inner Life.
Julia Pistell - freelance writer, comedian, Managing Director at Sea Tea Improv, creator of Syllable Series, host of Literary Disco, a podcast about books and writing.
Joseph Luzzi - writer and author of the memoir, In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love. He’s the author of two other books, most recently, My Two Italies. He’s a professor of Comparative Literature at Bard.

Summer is the time we look forward to reading -- or rereading -- our favorite books.&nbsp;&nbsp;
How do you choose from the stack of next-to-read books that pile up beside your bed? Do you relish the adventure of what a new book might bring or do you reread an old favorite that changed your life in some way, that one book that resembles a child's much beloved stuffed animal -- dog-eared and stained with food, sweat, and tears.&nbsp;
Today, writers explore the transformative nature of reading, writing, and a great novel.&nbsp;&nbsp;
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;<a href="https://stevealmondjoy.org/">Steve Almond&nbsp;</a>- writer and author of ten books of fiction and non-fiction, including&nbsp;Against Football and Candyfreak.&nbsp;His latest book is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/John-Williams-Stoner-Bookmarked-William/dp/1632460874">William Stoner and the Battle For the Inner Life.</a></li>
<li>Julia Pistell&nbsp;- freelance writer, comedian, Managing Director at<a href="https://seateaimprov.com/">&nbsp;Sea Tea Improv,&nbsp;</a>creator of&nbsp;<a href="https://syllableseries.wordpress.com/">Syllable Series,</a>&nbsp;host of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.literarydisco.com/">Literary Disco,</a>&nbsp;a podcast about books and writing.</li>
<li><a href="https://josephluzzi.com/">Joseph Luzzi</a>&nbsp;- writer and author of the memoir,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Wood-Taught-Healing-Mysteries/dp/B00UZLTL40">In a Dark Wood: What Dante Taught Me About Grief, Healing, and the Mysteries of Love</a>. He&rsquo;s the author of two other books, most recently,&nbsp;My Two Italies. He&rsquo;s a professor of Comparative Literature at Bard.</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.