022 Azhelle Wade on "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
10/26/20 • 42 min
There are some people who are so interesting, who have such fascinating lives and jobs, that I can't wait to invite them to the podcast. Then they turn around and scare the life out of me with their book choices. That's what happened with today's guest, Azhelle Wade. Azhelle designs toys for a living, and mentors others in the toy design process. She is sweet and funny and an utterly delightful guest. But the book she chose, "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston, is about a near-catastrophic outbreak of the Ebola virus. I don't read a lot of scary books, but I can honestly say this might be the scariest book ever written. Azhelle and I had a great laugh about my raging anxiety, and then the interview turned surprisingly candid and honest. I know you're going to love her.
Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon
Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website
Host: Julie Strauss
Guest: Azhelle Wade
Podcast/Facebook/Instagram/Website/Toy Creators Academy
Indie Bookstore Shoutout of the Week:
Sisters Uptown Bookstore in Harlem, New York
Independent bookstores need you more than ever!
Discussed in this episode:
The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
Discussed in our Patreon Exclusive Clip:
Doubles (Julie’s Note: I bought this game for my family after talking with Azhelle and it is a BLAST!)
(Note: some of these are affiliate links. Your purchase helps to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business. Thank you!)
There are some people who are so interesting, who have such fascinating lives and jobs, that I can't wait to invite them to the podcast. Then they turn around and scare the life out of me with their book choices. That's what happened with today's guest, Azhelle Wade. Azhelle designs toys for a living, and mentors others in the toy design process. She is sweet and funny and an utterly delightful guest. But the book she chose, "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston, is about a near-catastrophic outbreak of the Ebola virus. I don't read a lot of scary books, but I can honestly say this might be the scariest book ever written. Azhelle and I had a great laugh about my raging anxiety, and then the interview turned surprisingly candid and honest. I know you're going to love her.
Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon
Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website
Host: Julie Strauss
Guest: Azhelle Wade
Podcast/Facebook/Instagram/Website/Toy Creators Academy
Indie Bookstore Shoutout of the Week:
Sisters Uptown Bookstore in Harlem, New York
Independent bookstores need you more than ever!
Discussed in this episode:
The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
Discussed in our Patreon Exclusive Clip:
Doubles (Julie’s Note: I bought this game for my family after talking with Azhelle and it is a BLAST!)
(Note: some of these are affiliate links. Your purchase helps to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business. Thank you!)
Previous Episode
021 Nathan Van Coops on "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende
Today, adventure novelist, pilot, and airplane tinkerer joins me to give the definitive answer to the question, "What is the best book ever?" Nathan insists that his answer is the final answer to the question. I suppose after this episode, I'll have to change the name my show to "The Second or Third Best Book Ever"?
I had so much fun chatting with Nathan. There is something magical about listening to someone who has thought so deeply about a book, particularly a book from childhood that still affects him so deeply. I know you're going to love this episode.
Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon
Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website
Host: Julie Strauss
Guest: Nathan Van Coops
Indie Bookstore Shoutout of the Week: Tombolo Books in St. Pete’s, Florida.
Remember to shop indie!
Discussed in this episode:
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
The Spenser Series by Robert B. Parker - This is a 48-book series. The first book is called The Godwulf Manuscript
The Mackenzie August Series by Alan Lee – This is a 7-book series. The first book is called August Origins
An Unfinished Story: A Novel by Boo Walker
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
(If you have young readers in your house, Born a Crime is also available in a young readers edition, recommended for readers aged 10-12)
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy
The Dark Knight Rises (Final movie in The Dark Knight Trilogy)
Faster Than Falling: The Skylighter Adventures by Nathan Van Coops
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Phillip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler (a 7-book series, the first is The Big Sleep)
The Friends of Eddie Coyle: A Novel by George V. Higgins
Justified (TV show) based on Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard
Louise Penny Inspector Gamache Mysteries
Discussed in our Patreon Exclusive Clip:
The Complete Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Lord of the Rings Boxed Set by J.R.R. Tolkien
Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
(Note: some of these are affiliate links. Your purchase helps to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business. Thank you!)
Next Episode
023 Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello on "The Magical Language of Others" by E.J. Koh
Show notes for Episode 023 – Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello on “The Magical Language of Others” by E.J. Koh
Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello is equal parts quick wit and deep thinker. Talking to her was like talking to someone who can see deeper into the ocean than you can, and will gently explain it to you. Marci talks freely about how books saved her life, and this conversation was a balm for my soul after a rough week. I know you are going to love it.
We talked for almost two hours, and I had to cut a lot of it to fit the podcast time restraints. But one thing I don’t want you to miss is that Marci is the program director for the Miami Book Fair. Because of the pandemic, this year the Book Fair is online, which means we all have access to it. The fair is happening November 15-22; make sure you check out the awesome lineup of programs and discussions.
Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon
Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website
Host: Julie Strauss
Guest: Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello
Indie Bookstore Shoutout of the Week
Murder on the Beach Bookstore in Delray, Florida
Discussed in this episode:
Hour of the Ox by Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello
The Magical Language of Others: A Memoir by E.J. Koh
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
Kundiman: Dedicated to Nurturing Generations of Writers and Readers of Asian American Literature
Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith
The Body’s Question by Tracy K. Smith
Discussed in our Patreon Exclusive Clip:
(Note: some of these are affiliate links. Your purchase helps to keep the Best Book Ever Podcast in business. Thank you!)
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