Enjoy recent author events, interviews, and bookseller series. Visit our website to learn more: www.skylightbooks.com
…
continue reading
Skylight Books Podcasts
Sister Imrana discusses the story behind the story. Digging into the concept and background of the ideas shared in gripping books. Inspire FM - Positively Inspiring the Community
…
continue reading
Storytelling and the Writing Craft with Sergio Troncoso are discussions, readings and interviews by the author of Nobody's Pilgrims, A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant's Son, and as editor Nepantla Familias: An Anthology of Mexican American Literature on Families in between Worlds. A Fulbright scholar and past president of the Texas Institute of Letters, Troncoso has been inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. He teaches at the Yale Writers' Workshop.
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie - Friend of the Fest 2025 Special: JOHNNY MNEMONIC
1:36:03
1:36:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:36:03
In advance of the screening of Johnny Mnemonic in Black & White that the BTTM crew is hosting for the American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest 2025, Allan and Justin get together to discuss the film and the William Gibson short story that inspired it. If you're going to be in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, why not come to our movie scre…
…
continue reading
1
SKYLIT: Alisha Mughal, IT CAN'T RAIN ALL THE TIME: THE CROW
42:20
42:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:20
Abashed the devil stood, and felt how awful goodness is. The Crow (1994) is a one-of-a-kind film, borne out of tragedy and thought to be cursed. Critic and culture writer Alisha Mughal takes a look at the film, its graphic novel origins, its beautiful but doomed star Brandon Lee, and much more in her new book for the Pop Classics series, It Can't R…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 26: HOLES w/ Sophia Benoit
1:41:19
1:41:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:41:19
Author and comedian Sophia Benoit (Well, This Is Exhausting) joins the Better Than the Movie crew to discuss a modern children's book classic, HOLES by Louis Sachar, and its 2003 live-action Disney adaptation, which was scripted by Sachar himself, directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive), and starred an insanely talented ensemble cast headed by Mega…
…
continue reading
Don't drink? Don't smoke? What do you do? THE VINYL DIARIES follows Pete Crighton's journey from a closeted goody two shoes to a blissfully self-possessed lover of queer community, queer joy, and queer sex, while keeping track of the key pop music that resonated along the way. For this episode, Pete Crighton (The B-52s' Cosmic Thing) discusses rele…
…
continue reading
1
SKYLIT: Veronica Litt, UGH! AS IF! CLUELESS
43:16
43:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:16
This is so unexpected, we didn't even have a speech prepared. Author Veronica Litt joins us to talk about her new book in ECW Press's Pop Classics series, Ugh! As If!, on Amy Heckerling's classic film comedy Clueless. This is the 30th Anniversary of Clueless's theatrical release, and the book is both a warm, conversational appreciation and clear-ey…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 25: THE DEAD w/ Conor Holt
1:28:13
1:28:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:28:13
The Old Man WAS Still Alive! Film writer and physical media enthusiast Conor Holt returns to Better Than the Movie to discuss a pair of classics: John Huston's film The Dead (1987), adapted from the short story by James Joyce, which first appeared in Dubliners (1914). Spoiler alert: Everyone loved them both. But between the film and the story, whic…
…
continue reading
1
SKYLIT: Matthew Reed Baker, 1970s JAZZ FUSION (GENRE: A 33 1/3 SERIES)
52:15
52:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:15
From BITCHES BREW to "Feels So Good" and beyond, author Matthew Reed Baker delves into the funky, smooth, and transcendent records that resulted from the merging of jazz with R&B, pop, rock, and much much more in the 1970s. Miles Davis, Weather Report, Chuck Mangione, Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, and Steely Dan are just some of the acts that are …
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 24: WOMAN IN THE DUNES w/ Emily VanKoughnett
1:32:30
1:32:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:32:30
Abe is Bae? The wonderful Emily VanKoughnett (Los Angeles Review of Books; LIT ANGELES) returns to Better Than the Movie with a classy pick: Kobo Abe's existential psychological thriller The Woman in the Dunes. The novel, from 1962, was made a few years later into an Oscar-nominated film adapted by Abe and directed by the inimitable Hiroshi Teshiga…
…
continue reading
1
SKYLIT: Sina Grace, WEST HOLLYWOOD MONSTER SQUAD
1:02:57
1:02:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:57
Award-winning graphic novelist and illustrator Sina Grace (Superman: The Harvests of Youth) joins host Tyler Austin to discuss his new book, West Hollywood Monster Squad. A ragtag crew must make their way across West Hollywood after some unexpected pink snow begins creating giant monsters in their midst. It's a sweet, funny "turbo gay" story for ou…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 23: THE NATURAL w/ Jonah Lipton
1:48:25
1:48:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:48:25
Happy Opening Day! Baseball is back, and BTTM is back with another baseball-themed book adaptation. Bookseller and writer Jonah Lipton joins the crew to discuss Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel THE NATURAL, and its 1984 film adaptation starring Robert Redford. Famously the book is downbeat and cynical, reflecting postwar disillusionment, while the movi…
…
continue reading
Film journalist and critic Marya E. Gates talks with Justin about her new book, Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors In Their Own Words. The book is a stylishly illustrated collection of interviews with 19 film directors, including Gillian Armstrong, Jane Campion, Mira Nair, Mary Lambert, and Katt Shea. Another great chat for our cinephile li…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 22: HELLRAISER (1987) / THE HELLBOUND HEART w/ Garon Cockrell
1:07:06
1:07:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:06
Come to... Pod-dy? We're straining for puns over here, but we've got a fun remote-recorded episode today, featuring the return of author and podcaster Garon Cockrell (Demonic and Other Tales). It's a follow-up to last year's Nightbreed episode, in which Tyler voiced his dislike for body horror. For being such a good sport, we reward him with more C…
…
continue reading
1
SKYLIT: Leah Kardos, KATE BUSH'S HOUNDS OF LOVE (33 1/3)
45:00
45:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:00
We're podcasting... Yeah yeah yay-yo! Justin speaks with Leah Kardos, the author of the new 33 1/3 book on Kate Bush's Hounds of Love. Together, they discuss the impact of the album and Kate Bush's undersung influence as a record producer. Leah also talks about the process of finding the structure and narrative for her book. There's music nerd stuf…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 21: TOTAL RECALL (1990) w/ Buzzy Cohen
1:40:44
1:40:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:40:44
An episode so good, it'll make you wish you had three ears. Buzzy Cohen (Baby Got Facts: Totally '90s Trivia) returns for another delightful episode, breaking down Philip K. Dick's short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" and the 1990 film adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven, with a screenplay by Dan O'Bannon & Ronald Shusett and Gary G…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 20: THE POLAR EXPRESS w/ Natalie Freeman & Allison Woodnutt
1:35:52
1:35:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:35:52
Like the proverbial Christmas miracle, the BTTM crew is back just in the (Saint) nick of time for a holiday-themed final episode of 2024. At the behest of Natalie Freeman and Allison Woodnutt (who you may remember from last year's A HAUNTING IN VENICE episode), Justin, Allan, and Tyler braved the cold to wave down THE POLAR EXPRESS, an illustrated …
…
continue reading
On today’s episode, Imrana takes us on a nostalgic journey through her favorite reads from 2024. Tune in as she shares personal insights, standout moments, and why these books are must-reads for anyone who loves getting lost in a great story.By Inspire FM
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 19: GHOST WORLD w/ Chris Andersen
1:15:28
1:15:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:15:28
It's America, dude, learn the rules! Chris Andersen (Your Favorite Bad Movie Podcast) joins the BTTM crew to discuss the 2001 adaptation of the Daniel Clowes graphic novel GHOST WORLD, directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Bad Santa). They discuss how one can grow up relating to a disaffected teen girl played by Thora Birch and find themselves an alien…
…
continue reading
Ace interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis sits down with Lili Anolik to discuss Anolik's new book Didion & Babitz. Anolik talks about the complicated relationship between authors Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, their unique perspectives on the Feminist Movement, and how they were each consumed by and motivated each other. Anolik also tells the fascinating sto…
…
continue reading
1
Fronteras: Nepantla Familias explores identity, hybridity of the Mexican American experience (2024)
28:08
28:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:08
Texas Public Radio's Norma Martinez: Troncoso said despite the challenges, living between borders and cultures can create a sense of empowerment. “What I am saying to people in this anthology, and in my work, is that this hybridity gives you power,” he said. “It gives you power to question both sides. It gives you the power to create something new.…
…
continue reading
In this episode of The Book Club Show, Imrana converses with Mahsuda Snaith, author of The Things We Thought We Knew, about her book and the Luton Literature Book Festival. They explore the power of storytelling and community through literature.By Inspire FM
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 18: THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH w/ Mark Rennie
1:11:20
1:11:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:11:20
What Price Vincent? Writer and improviser Mark Rennie (The Big Gay Movie Spreadsheet, Eat Pray Dunk) returns for a second appearance on BTTM, just in time for Spooky Season. Under discussion is the Edgar Allan Poe classic "The Masque of the Red Death," adapted to film by director Roger Corman and star Vincent Price in 1964. Allan and Justin chat wi…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie 17: THE SWIMMER w/ Buzzy Cohen
1:24:17
1:24:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:24:17
THIS... IS... JEOP-BUZZY! Jeopardy! champion Buzzy Cohen (Baby Got Facts: Totally 90s Trivia) drops in to talk about John Cheever's small slice of suburban surrealism, "The Swimmer." Burt Lancaster headlines the 1968 film adaptation, scripted by Eleanor Perry (Diary of a Mad Housewife) and directed by Frank Perry (Mommie Dearest). This is Better Th…
…
continue reading
On today's show Imrana Mahmood indulges in reading recommendations for avid readers and eye opening anthologies for poem enthusiasts.By Inspire FM
…
continue reading
1
SKYLIT: Danzy Senna, "COLORED TELEVISION"
47:16
47:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:16
Premier fiction interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis is back in conversation, this time with the amazing Danzy Senna, to talk about Senna's new novel Colored Television. In this episode, Senna reads from her book, followed by an amazing talk about multicultural identity, Senna's relationship to humor, and who she would choose to soundtrack the novel. Lis…
…
continue reading
1
Better Than the Movie Special: TANK GIRL (Friend of the Fest Preview)
1:12:23
1:12:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:12:23
The Better Than the Movie boys are hosting a screening of TANK GIRL (1995) on August 24, 2024, as part of American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest 2024 podcast film festival. So here is a free-floating (read: CHAOTIC) chat about this underground comic-turned-quirky Hollywood movie, including another of Allan's absurd trivia competitions. If you'r…
…
continue reading
1
Latino Book Chat with Christianne Meneses Jacobs and Sergio Troncoso (2024)
35:51
35:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:51
Christianne Meneses Jacobs interviews Sergio Troncoso about Nobody's Pilgrims, why he chose the title, the underlying themes about immigration and latinos in his novel, and the variety of his characters, evil and good.By Sergio Troncoso
…
continue reading
By Inspire FM
…
continue reading
1
SKYLIT: Matt Singer, OPPOSABLE THUMBS (Siskel & Ebert)
1:04:50
1:04:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:50
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert are arguably the most influential American film critics of the 20th Century. Clips from their movie review TV show continue to circulate on social media and Youtube to the delight of new viewers and old fans alike. In his book OPPOSABLE THUMBS, film writer Matt Singer looks at the history of these film critics, the TV sh…
…
continue reading
