Summer Reads & Lives Of Trees

In this episode, I’m continuing our tour through The Jiffy-Mart – my online bodega and members’ lounge – and this time, we’re stepping through the forest refrigerator straight into the Catskill Mountains. I’m bringing back my series "Tree Minute" to finally learn what I’m looking at out there in the woods. To help, I’ve teamed up with Giovanna D’Angelo, an education forester with the Catskill Forest Association, who graciously agreed to teach me how to tell a yellow birch from a black birch and why some aspens quake that way.

Then, I visit my friend, novelist Tom Grattan, to hear what he’s been reading lately. He’s got four summer books to recommend, from a queer coming-of-age classic to a smart novella about the illusions of perfection – and the page-turner set in upstate New York that everybody's been talking about for the past year.

Books We Talk About

• "Tramps Like Us," by Joe Westmoreland
• "The Hive and the Honey," by Paul Yoon
• "The God of the Woods," by Liz Moore
• "Perfection," by Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie Hughes

Links & Resources

• Browse The Jiffy-Mart: thejiffy.xyz/jiffy-mart
• Follow me on Instagram: @jamescave
• Follow Catskill Forest Association: @catskillforest
• Follow Tom Grattan: @tomgrattan

Join the Community!

If you like this podcast, consider becoming a premium member. You’ll get audio exclusives (including my side chat with Tom about blurbs), behind-the-scenes updates, and access to J: Magazine The Style Magazine Of The James Cave Instagram Feed. Every membership helps me keep making this work.
Join or upgrade here.

I’ve been thinking about blurbs (those endorsements you see on book covers) and I’d love to know: What would your blurb be about this podcast? You can text me your blurb (there’s a link in the show notes), and maybe I’ll share a few on the next episode.

If you enjoyed this one, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Word of mouth is still the best way to keep the Grab Bag of Goods stocked and thriving.

Until next time, I'll see you on the Instagram feed.