Episode 16: Recommended Debut Novels

In this "return to form" Book XChange episode, your identical hosts recommend some of our recommended picks for first-time novels. There are so many instances of famous writers hitting home runs in their first trip to the plate - think Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" or Stephen King's "Carrie" - but there are also many great examples of debut novels that fascinatingly reveal the developing talent of a future master of the craft. Jude and John both select novels contemporary and classic, and discuss why these books left a mark on us as readers. As always, a great pile of books find their way into this conversation, so we hope listeners come away with some new titles to dive into! Enjoy, and thank you as ever for listening...

BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE

What John is currently reading/plans to read next:

'Young Skins: Stories,' Colin Barrett -

'Democracy in America, Vol. 2,' Alexis de Tocqueville -

What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next:

'Love in the Time of Cholera,' Gabriel Garcia Marquez -

'There There,' Tommy Orange -

Debut novels recommended by Jude:

"Meditations in Green," Stephen Wright -

"The Sin Eater," Alice Thomas Ellis -

"Madame Bovary," Gustave Flaubert -

"City of Bohane," Kevin Barry -

"Dune," Frank Herbert -

Debut novels recommended by John:

"Then We Came to the End," Joshua Ferris -

"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," James Joyce -

"Wolf in White Van," John Darnielle -

"Invisible Man," Ralph Ellison -

"The Yellow Birds," Kevin Powers -

Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast:

A sort of "Part 2" to this episode's discussion... we will take a deep dive into and review Native American writer Tommy Orange's acclaimed debut novel, "There There."