Take What You Need. The book cover is of a forest at twilight. The book sits on a shelf of books.
Anna Bauman / WBEZ
Take What You Need. The book cover is of a forest at twilight. The book sits on a shelf of books.
Anna Bauman / WBEZ

It is the month of May and our book club pick is Take What You Need by Idra Novey. The story opens with Leah, who has just learned that her estranged stepmother Jean died falling off a ladder while making a giant metal sculpture. The book alternates points of view between Leah in the novel’s present day, and Jean before she died. It explores messy familial relationships, creativity, and America’s changing cultural landscape.

Take What You Need is Idra Novey’s third novel. She joined us for a spoiler-free conversation on the rural, urban divide in her own family, creating art without an audience, and why she loves to write confounding characters.

Book club will be back the last Tuesday of the month and you are invited to participate! First, read the book. Then, record a voice memo on your smart phone with your reaction to the book. Did the story inspire you to try metal work? Did Jean and Leah’s relationship remind you of a relationship in your own life? You can tell us whatever you’d like, plus where you’re calling from. Email that file to NerdettePodcast at Gmail dot com. You may just hear yourself on our next book club episode!

Take What You Need. The book cover is of a forest at twilight. The book sits on a shelf of books.
Anna Bauman / WBEZ
Take What You Need. The book cover is of a forest at twilight. The book sits on a shelf of books.
Anna Bauman / WBEZ

It is the month of May and our book club pick is Take What You Need by Idra Novey. The story opens with Leah, who has just learned that her estranged stepmother Jean died falling off a ladder while making a giant metal sculpture. The book alternates points of view between Leah in the novel’s present day, and Jean before she died. It explores messy familial relationships, creativity, and America’s changing cultural landscape.

Take What You Need is Idra Novey’s third novel. She joined us for a spoiler-free conversation on the rural, urban divide in her own family, creating art without an audience, and why she loves to write confounding characters.

Book club will be back the last Tuesday of the month and you are invited to participate! First, read the book. Then, record a voice memo on your smart phone with your reaction to the book. Did the story inspire you to try metal work? Did Jean and Leah’s relationship remind you of a relationship in your own life? You can tell us whatever you’d like, plus where you’re calling from. Email that file to NerdettePodcast at Gmail dot com. You may just hear yourself on our next book club episode!