"People in Strange Lands," EP #314

Episode #14                        “People in Strange Lands”

Broadcasting Feb 10^th, 2014. on LIFE 25 (channel 25 on TWC)

This week Frank Debonair investigates the fascination that some crime writers have with dark psychological characters.  What does it mean to write about the dark corners of the human mind?  Are these new grounds to gain a better insight into our psyche?  Do they say something about our true nature? Or are they a reflection of society at large?

Crime authors Andrew Gross, Mark Rubenstein, T. Jefferson Parker, Linwood Barclay, and Jon Land undergo extensive cross-analysis under Frederic Colier's razor-sharp curiosity.

The last Pick Of The Week of the season takes a different turn and showcases books by authors whose characters are trapped in existential and moral dilemmas: Daniel Woodrell, “The Maid’s Version.”  Martin Fletcher, “Jacob’s Oath.”  Andre Dubus III, “Dirty Love.”  And Javier Marias, “The Infatuations.

As always thank you for your support.

The Book Case Team

"In the Dustbin of History" EP#313

Episode #313                        “In the Dustbin of History”

Broadcasting Feb 3, 2014, NYC Life at 9:30 pm

We are resuming our series for the first time this year with an episode on historical thrillers. Frank Debonair notices that the dustbins of history are replete with losers, merely because the winners of conflicts get to write the history books and dispose of their opponents in the dustbins of history.  But Frank is interested in history writers, their weight, how their narration shapes consciousness and society, and how it becomes the material for countless thrillers.  What right do they have to question the past? Can their audacity teach us something? Or can history first of all teach us anything?

 The Interview segments shot at Thriller Fest include Steve Berry, Alan Topol, Greg Dinallo, and Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal, and Andrew Kaplan.

For the Pick of the Week, Frank Debonair settles for an anthology special.  He features Elena Shubina, editor of “Read Russia;”  Otto Penzler, for “Kwik Krimes,”  Gardner Dozois,  for “The Year’s Best Science Fiction,” and David Henry Sterry & R.J. Martin Jr., for “Johns, Marks, Tricks, and Chickenhawks.”

The Book Case Team

"Tougher Than Mothers" Ep #312 Dec 2nd at 9: 30 pm, Life 25

Episode #312  "Tougher Than Mothers."

Tonight at 9: 30 pm on NYC Life, channel 25, Dec 2nd, 2013

Frank Debonair talks about alternative voices. What are they in an age when the Civil Rights movement no longer occupies the headlines of news?   What are the new trends?  What does “coming out” mean? Is it still relevant in those days of gay rights?  Can a male writer truly impersonate a female character?  What about women who meddle in men’s territories, such as war? What kind of writers are they?

To find out our Private Book Investigator interviews:  Christopher Shinn, about his new play “Teddy Ferrara;” Deborah Copaken Kogan, about her modern version of Harvard “The Red Book," and Alan Jacobson, “No Way Out,” a new Karen Vail story.

 
The Book Worlds segment is a special on actor-turned-playwright-turned-author: Jason Odell Williams, and his first YA novel, "Personal Statement."

Molly Haskell, “My Brother, My Sister;” Dr. Joe Wenke “Papal Bull;” Lionel Shriver, “Big Brother;”  Norman E. Rosenthal, “The Gift of Adversity,” are this week part of the Pick of The Week.

The Book Case Team

To Be, Not Be or Be Be? Ep#311

Episode #11                        “To Be, not be, or Be Be?”

Broadcasting Nov 18th, 2013

Frank Debonair addresses the current state of the nation regarding the invasion of computers, and most precisely of the digital technology, in our lives.  Being himself a man of the Sixties, he has a hard time fathoming what a computer is or even what it is for.  Nonetheless, he understands that it is a hot topic giving a wide range of social and research writers new insights and opinions about the becoming of our society.

To appease his concerns, you could say to gain clarity, Frank sends the PBI to interview Douglas Rushkoff, “Present Shock;”  Patricia Churchland, “Touching a Nerve,” and Jonathan Crary, “24/7.”

For the Book World, Gabriel Levinson from the Antibookclub discusses the pros and cons of micro publishing.

The POTW for this week reflects the serious tone of the episode.  Frank Debonair introduces provocative titles, such as the ones by Avi Tuschman, “Our Political Nature,” “The Value of Violence,” by Benjamin Ginsberg, “The Family,” by David Laskin, and finally Salvatore Esposito, “Abu Ghraib: after the Scandal.”

Looking forwards

The Book Case Team

Book Case Lit Salon #3, Nov 12th, At the Underground

Do not miss out tonight.  Tuesday Nov 12^th, 2013. Book Case Literary Salon #3, at The Underground, 955 West End Avenue (corner with West 107^th St). 212-531-4759, Subway: #1 to 103^rd or 110^th St. 7 pm; Ticket: Free. http://bookcasetv.com/bookcase-salon/  Book Case TV host, Frederic Colier, takes to the stage to discuss Part III of “Swimming in the Fishbowl,” an evening with authors Peter Murphy, Julie Mannix Von Zerneck and Kathy Hatfield, and Paul Lynch, who will participate in a conversation and share a thought or two about their unique books, outlook on life and creative process.

Please note the Salon will be taped for future broadcast on NYC LIFE.  By participating you accept to be on camera and possibly to appear on TV.

In "Secret Storms," Julie Mannix von Zerneck and Kathy Hatfield are mother and daughter, lost and found. Their memoir narrates their extraordinary true story of how they were separated at Kathy's birth and reunited only forty-three years later. Julie, a pregnant upper-class 19 year-old from Philadelphia is confined against her will to a state mental hospital after she refused to abort.  On April 19th 1964, she gives birth to a little girl and is forced to give her up for adoption.

Julie Mannix von Zerneck worked as an actress on Broadway and TV for many years and now collects rare antic books.  Kathy Hatfield teaches high school World Literature in Florida.

Set in the small town of Murn, Ireland, up-and-coming literary talent, Peter Murphy's second novel, "The River and Enoch O'Reilly tells the tale of Enoch O'Reilly, Elvis Impersonator, self-made preacher, and the nine mysterious deaths caused by the flooding of the town's river Rua. Enoch, an ex-seminarian doesn't believe in God but instead prays to Elvis.

Peter Murphy is a rock critic and the founder of the spoken-word music ensemble the Revelator Orchestra, based on his first novel, "John the Revelator." His articles have appeared in Rolling Stone, The Irish Times amongst others.

In “Red Sky in the Morning," from, first-time author Paul Lynch, is a novel which opens in1832. Coll Coyle, a new father and small farmer, has incurred the wrath of the owner of the land that he works. Events escalate. He goes on the run, pursued by the landowner’s manager, John Faller. Lynch describes Faller as the “incarnation of rational evil.” There can be no emotional engagement with him. He is a clever and deeply logical man. As the book unfolds, we see how he will utilize any circumstance to advance his cause.

Paul Lynch is from the small town of Carndonough on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland. A film critic by trade, Paul saw his first novel auctioned in the UK.

Book Case TV is a TV program airing on NYC Life, Mondays at 9:30 pm.  The program features authors from all walks of life, fiction and non-fiction, as well as personalities and stories from the publishing industry.

We look forward to seeing you. 

The Book Case Team

"Brooklyn World of Books," EP#310

Episode #10                        “Brooklyn World of Books”

Tonight on NYC LIFE, channel 25, Nov 11^th,  2013

We have a great panel of guests on our program.  First, Frank Debonair introduces his reasons to talk about the Book Fest, located across the East River.  Once a year, Frank admits to venture outside Manhattan to a place called Brooklyn.

Private Book Investigator interviews Anabel Hernandez, “Narcotic,” for her controversial investigation about the drug cartels plaguing Mexico; while Andre Aciman, “Harvard Square,” looks into the problem of identity and becoming an American;  Ayana Mathis, “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie,” tells the story of the Great Migration through the eyes of an unforgettable family (Oprah’s Book Club).

Book World: Jill Schoolman from Archipelago Books discusses the pros and cons of non-profit publishing.

POTW segment features some of he authors we did not have time to interview at the Fest: “BiblioDeath” by Andrei Codrescu.  Mircea Cartarescu, “Blinding,” Juan Gabriel Vasquez, “The Sound of Things Falling,” and Ursula DeYoung, “Shorecliff."

The Book Case Team