Skylight Books Podcast Series

Oh, how the tables have turned. Rather than CONDUCTING this interview, bookseller and author Justin Remer IS INTERVIEWED by colleagues Tyler Austin and Allan Traylor about his new book for the 33 1/3 series, "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D. In a loose but thoughtful chat, Justin discusses the unexpected longevity of Weird Al's career, his underrated musical chops, and his overall decency as a person.

If you like offbeat albums from the '80s, check out "SKYLIT: Nic Brown, VIOLENT FEMMES (33 1/3)" from the Skylight Books Podcast back catalog.

Hosted by Tyler Austin and Allan Traylor.
Produced by Alan Smithee.
Recorded at Tyler's house.

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.

Could they have been a contender? The BTTM crew is back to talk about a great novel and a great film, both titled FAT CITY. Writer and performer Nick Mandernach (NEW ENGLAND REVIEW, MAKE SOME NOISE on Dropout) joins Tyler, Allan, and Justin to gush over Leonard Gardner's prose and John Huston's impeccable adaptation instincts. Two working class boxers rise and fall (and kind of rise again and decidedly fall again) in Stockton, California, portrayed by Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges in the film.

(Also, apologies to Pauline Kael. After a belated fact-check, it was J. Hoberman who said Susan Tyrrell pulled faces in her Oscar-nominated performance here.)

If you like what you hear here, you should check out another one of our episodes on a John Huston adaptation from the back catalog: Better Than the Movie 25: THE DEAD w/ Conor Holt.

Hosted by Tyler Austin, Allan Traylor, and Justin Remer.
Produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab.

Check out the "Better Than the Movie" audiobook playlist on Libro.fm - https://libro.fm/playlists/skylight-better-than-the-movie

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.

OooOOoooOOooOOOoo!

Don't worry, this SPOOKY game is not going to be anything like Gerald's Game, Ripley's Game, or Ender's Game.

Back in 2023, Better Than the Movie did their first Halloween episode, at which Allan Traylor debuted a Goosebumps-themed quiz game. This time around, Allan cooked up a more general (and more specific!) horror-themed quiz game in which co-hosts Tyler Austin and Justin Remer will compete.

How well do Tyler and Justin know horror? And more importantly, how well do they know Allan???

Find out in this brief and silly bonus episode, made special for you to enjoy this spooky season.

If you like what you hear, look for "Better Than the Movie Halloween Special: GOOSEBUMPS" and "Better Than the Movie Halloween Special 2: GIVE YOURSELF GOOSEBUMPS!" in the Skylight Books Podcast back catalog.

Hosted by Allan Traylor, Tyler Austin, and Justin Remer.
Produced by Justin Remer.

Music by Duck the Piano Wire (plus some werewolf howls).

It has been ten years since Frank Ocean released his last full-length album to date, Blonde. In 2016, writer Yousef Srour was still in high school. In his new book for the 33 1/3 series, Srour talks about how the album has grown and changed with him, from high school to a quarter-life crisis and beyond. Srour blends intense research and pop culture cross-references with poetic evocations of the indelible emotions that the album created for a generation of listeners. In this discussion with writer and bookseller Justin Remer, he talks about Ocean's development as an artist and the "heist" that he pulled off to create and release this classic album independently.

If you like iconoclastic albums of the mid-'10s, check out "SKYLIT: Sequoia Maner, "33 1/3 TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY" " from the Skylight Books Podcast back catalog.

Hosted and produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded remotely via Zencastr.

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.

Out of Body is a wild and attention-grabbing debut story collection that gets at the building anxiety and free-floating dread of our present moment with a mix of literary and speculative fiction (including plenty of horror, humor, sex, and death). Author Chris Vanjonack joins writer and bookseller Justin Remer to discuss the ten-year development of the collection, how genre elements can be used to intensify literary storytelling, and how the author felt relieved at not having to come up with new voices to read his stories for the audiobook version.

Pick up a copy of Chris Vanjonack's book from Skylight or download the audiobook version from Libro.fm.

If you like short stories, maybe you'd be interested in a gem from our podcast back catalog, titled SKYLIT: George Saunders w/ Alena Saunders.

Hosted and produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab.

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.