I'm Gilbert Cruz and this is the Book Review Podcast.

We're halfway through 2023 and we at the Book Review have probably written about 500 books,

at least 500 books, maybe a couple of hundred more.

That's more than I can possibly read and it's certainly more than I can even keep track

of.

And I get paid to do this.

So it's possible that you, your listener, might need a little help making sense of what

has come out so far this year.

Based on today's episode, we have a big, broad, fun conversation about the year in book

so far.

What the best sellers have been, what the critical darlings are, and what are the books

that people have been talking about.

And then later, we'll have a trio of editors from the Book Review with their personal,

idiosyncratic recommendations from the first half of this year.

I'll say right here at the top, while I have the microphone to myself, that two of the

books I've most enjoyed this year have been The Wager by David Graham and Lone Women

by Victor Laval.

Is it a coincidence that both of these authors have been guests on the Book Review Podcast

this year?

Who's to say?

I just think you should check them both out.

Now let's turn to our first conversation.

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