Take What You Need. The book sits on a shelf of other books. The cover says ‘Take What You Need’ by Idra Novey between two pines.
Greta Johnsen / WBEZ
Take What You Need. The book sits on a shelf of other books. The cover says ‘Take What You Need’ by Idra Novey between two pines.
Greta Johnsen / WBEZ

This month’s book club selection is Idra Novey’s Take What You Need, a novel that centers around Jean, an older woman who welds giant sculptures in her rural Pennsylvania living room, and Leah, her estranged ex-stepdaughter.

We’re joined by two novelists who wrote books that came out in 2022: Cleyvis Natera, the author of Neruda on the Park, and Fellowship Point author Alice Elliott Dark for a reflection on the imperfections of love, the importance of art, and the narrative structure of the novel.

A warning: there are spoilers in this episode! If you have not read the book yet, you can go back and listen to our spoiler-free interview with Idra Novey first!

Take What You Need. The book sits on a shelf of other books. The cover says ‘Take What You Need’ by Idra Novey between two pines.
Greta Johnsen / WBEZ
Take What You Need. The book sits on a shelf of other books. The cover says ‘Take What You Need’ by Idra Novey between two pines.
Greta Johnsen / WBEZ

This month’s book club selection is Idra Novey’s Take What You Need, a novel that centers around Jean, an older woman who welds giant sculptures in her rural Pennsylvania living room, and Leah, her estranged ex-stepdaughter.

We’re joined by two novelists who wrote books that came out in 2022: Cleyvis Natera, the author of Neruda on the Park, and Fellowship Point author Alice Elliott Dark for a reflection on the imperfections of love, the importance of art, and the narrative structure of the novel.

A warning: there are spoilers in this episode! If you have not read the book yet, you can go back and listen to our spoiler-free interview with Idra Novey first!