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Burned By Books

New Books Network
New York City
Mental Illness
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One Woman Show
Zambia
The Imagined Life
2025 Books
Family Dynamics
Independent Bookstores
Brandon Taylor
Queerness
Mental Health
Literature
Desire
London
Metropolitan Museum Of Art
Queer Literature
Grace Zulu
Seduction Theory
The Original

A podcast for writers and readers who are obsessive about their books. Interviews with established and up-and-coming writers, and recommendations for the best in contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama. Chris Holmes. Chris is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. He is the co-director of The New Voices Fes... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes198Founded6 years ago
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ArtsBooksFiction

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Latest Episodes

Sarah Jean Grimm is the author of Soft Focus (Metatron, 2017) and the chapbook Hog Lagoon (blush, 2023). She was a founding editor of Powder Keg Magazine (2014-2019) and currently edits the small poetry press After Hours Editions. She lives in upstat... more

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980s, Jane Kim and her brother, Kevin, dutifully embodied the model minority myth as their parents demanded: both stellar tennis players and academically gifted, they worked hard to make their parents ... more

Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and one of our most beloved writers, has inspired generations of readers. But her artistic genius is often overshadowed by her monumental public persona, perhaps because, as Namwali Serpell puts it, “she is our only tru... more

Daniel Poppick is a poet and novelist. He is the author of the poetry collections Fear of Description, selected for the National Poetry Series, and The Police. His work appears in The New Yorker, The Paris Review Daily, The Drift, Harper's, BOMB, The... more

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Recent Guests

Sarah Jean Grimm
Poet; author of Hog Lagoon and Soft Focus; founding editor of Powder Keg Magazine; editor at Broadside PR
Powder Keg Magazine; After Hours Editions; Broadside PR
Episode: Sarah Jean Grimm, "Hog Lagoon" (blush, 2023) and "Soft Focus" (Metatron, 2017)
Lisa Lee
Author of American Han
Algonquin Books (publisher)
Episode: Lisa Lee, "American Han" (Algonquin Books, 2026)
Namwali Serpell
Award-winning novelist and critic; author of On Morrison
Harvard University (Professor of English)
Episode: Namwali Serpell, "On Morrison" (Hogarth, 2026)
Daniel Poppick
Author of The Copywriter; poet and novelist
Author, The Copywriter
Episode: Daniel Poppick, "The Copywriter" (Scribner, 2026)
Alice Martin
Author of Westward Women
St. Martin's Press (publisher of the book discussed)
Episode: Alice Martin, "Westward Women" (St. Martins Press, 2026)
Joe Mungo Reed
Author of Terrestrial History
Author, Terrestrial History
Episode: Joe Mungo Reed, "Terrestrial History" (Norton, 2025)
Ann Packer
Author of Some Bright Nowhere
Author • Some Bright Nowhere
Episode: Ann Packer, "Some Bright Nowhere" (Harper Books, 2026)
Gabriel Tallent
Author of My Absolute Darling and Crux
Author
Episode: Gabriel Tallent, "Crux" (Riverhead Books, 2025)
Jenny Mustard
Author of What a Time to Be Alive
Pegasus Books
Episode: Jenny Mustard, "What a Time to Be Alive" (Pegasus Books, 2025)

Host

Chris Holmes
Host of Burned By Books; engages in in-depth literary interviews and book discussions.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 74 ratings
  • The sound of gushing praise

    I have come to contemporary fiction a bit late in my reading life. Now that I have plenty of time on my hands (having taken early retirement five years ago) and determined to avoid the destructive addiction of today’s online political discourse, I turned to literature as a balm. Chris Holmes’ podcast seemed a nice way to hear about new writing, especially novels, which I find more satisfying than short stories. There are a few things to be said in praise of this podcast. Unlike the Book Review p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sidneyhart
    United States2 years ago
  • Eclectic

    I am impressed by the variety of books reviewed here. The host’s enthusiasm and thoughtful preparation for these discussions makes this a great listen. Well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Se. Valpolicella
    United States2 years ago
  • It is indeed

    ...the best podcast about literature that exists. Generous and penetrating. I've been listening for years; how come I haven't left a review until now? A real personal failure!

    Every episode is a gift.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    young4552
    United States4 years ago
  • Refreshing ♥️👍🏽

    I listened to the conversation Chris had with Xochitl Gonzalez and loved to hear questions based on his knowledge of writing and literature! That definitely makes for a better conversation with the authors and when they get excited, the audience gets even more excited about their books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luz-y-Traducciones
    United States4 years ago
  • A rare treat

    It’s a pleasure to listen to such rich, compelling interviews with exciting contemporary writers. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oregonbookworm
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the deep conversations but note the host's enthusiastic praise can feel effusive to some.
Shows consistently high-quality author interviews with thoughtful questions.
Guests are well-chosen, with strong contributions to contemporary literature.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#179
Saudi Arabia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Daniel Poppick, "The Copywriter" (Scribner, 2026)
Q: Did you coin the term permalancer for Dee, the protagonist?
Daniel confirms he did not coin the term; it was already circulating and used to describe the character's situation.
Ann Packer, "Some Bright Nowhere" (Harper Books, 2026)
Q: How did you decide to structure the narrative around Eliot's point of view?
I tried rotating perspectives but found Eliot's interiority offered a more focused, urgent experience for the reader during the crucial period of Claire's illness, which felt essential to the book's emotional propulsion.
Joe Mungo Reed, "Terrestrial History" (Norton, 2025)
Q: Do you see literature standing in for time travel, or offering a way to learn from mistakes we should never have made?
Yes, literature allows us to rehearse futures and reflect on decisions in a way that actual time travel cannot; it encodes the potential consequences of our choices so readers can rethink policy and ethics in the present.
Joe Mungo Reed, "Terrestrial History" (Norton, 2025)
Q: Could you say a bit more about your interest in systems, especially how they govern the interaction between science and society?
Systems determine how ideas become realities; the novel uses systemic pressures—economic, political, and social—to show how science can be co-opted or guided toward collective benefit depending on who holds power.
Joe Mungo Reed, "Terrestrial History" (Norton, 2025)
Q: Why did you want to take up the Martian problem? And did you know from the first how you would address the fundamental issues at stake in heading to the Red Planet?
I was drawn to the Mars angle as a thought experiment about how different generations might respond to extreme circumstances, and I developed a plan through exploring how individuals and communities balance technological ambition with ethical constraints.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Burned By Books

What is Burned By Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A literary conversation show focused on contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama, featuring in-depth author interviews and book recommendations. Episodes center on authors discussing their latest works, writing processes, and themes ranging from feminism and identity to design, memory, and social issues. The show frequently features authors alongside book ecologies like independent bookstores and publishing voices, offering listeners thoughtful discourse, critical perspectives, and tangible takeaways for readers and industry professionals alike. Notable strengths include sustained author dialogues, a clear literary bent, and guests who span novelists, critics, and scholars, which can appeal to writers, editors, and avid readers seeking deepe... more

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Burned By Books launched 6 years ago and published 198 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Burned By Books?

Recent guests on Burned By Books include:

1. Sarah Jean Grimm
2. Lisa Lee
3. Namwali Serpell
4. Daniel Poppick
5. Alice Martin
6. Joe Mungo Reed
7. Ann Packer
8. Gabriel Tallent

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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