Dec 14, 2021 - But I digress...
We’ve got Maris Kreizman, author of the literary podcast The Maris Review, on this week, and we’re talking all things books and publishing. It’s a perfectly engaging conversation, and especially good if there’s a bookworm in your life who you need to find a holiday gift for, or if you’re just looking for your next great read. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
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I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
Completely off topic, but I am trying to replace my eyeglasses and I love the ones worn by Maris. Any idea what brand/ where she got them?
Maris says they’re from a place called Fabulous Fannie’s.
This was a great episode. I also wish it had a little more book talk but the conversation meandered into interesting topics that were very on brand.
Thanks for having Maris on. I really appreciated this episode. Her podcast is great too. I agree — Girlhood (Febos), Intimacies (Kitamura), Wayward (Spiotta) — are 3 of the best books published in 2021.
I was confused and disappointed at the end of the podcast. I had hoped for more discussion of books and recommendations for books to read that I might have missed. Instead it went into the world of publishing and the conversation between Jen and Maris left out Kim’s voice for the most part.
Hey smart people! Apologies, this is totally off topic, but per usual, I am last minute scrambling around for holiday gifts. Has anyone found an insulated food container that keeps food hot, and goes in the dishwasher, and doesn’t leak? I am snooping around REI and it is easy to find a good thermos for liquids, but it seems like solid food is a bit tougher. … … … Sorry if I am being a huge pain!!
Oh also, that isn’t lined with a sketchy chemical-containing substance. … … … Girl howdy. I looked at REI but wasn’t quite convinced by the reviews – except for the Stanley thermos that people seem to love. Am snooping on the Zojirushi site now. Ay caramba. I will come back if I find The Answer.
I WAS a little bummed that in an episode titled The Best Books of 2021, only about ten minutes was spent talking about that. But maybe that’s just because I love books discussions and we share the same taste, so I was hoping to hear you guys talk about your favorite books, whereas it veered way off into topics I wasn’t as interested in.
Loved this episode! I’ve been following Maris for a while (I try to curate a bookish/artsy Twitter world to counter the news) and really enjoyed hearing her voice. Am now subscribed to her podcast as well. I’ve read 43 books so far this year. Felt great about that until my sister shared that she’s read 132. Her nickname was bookworm as a kid, lol. Reading helps me feel connected to the world, especially at a time when we are isolated due to the pandemic. I’m constantly trolling the internet and bookstores and my library’s online collection to find my next book. To me it sounded like Jenn and Maris have a personal connection/relationship and that’s why Jenn may have been more vocal. I’m grateful to everyone involved in the EIF podcast, and Kim’s blog. You good people have often brightened my day (and wardrobe and skincare)
I love, love, love to read so enjoyed this podcast. Matrix is a really, really good read. and Julia Turshen (her cookbook was recommended) was also part of Design Sponge––quite possibly the best design blog ever––sadly it’s no longer published, but I believe you can see the “issues” on the Smithsonian website or somewhere in the Smithsonian.
I loved this episode and related to so much of it. My first career was in book publishing and yes to everything Maris (and Jen) describe about the waning of ambition, the ugliness of the game, the revelation that the industry is not a meritocracy, etc. I love that Maris found a way to do what she loves. I went into teaching and am now a professor and will be assigning The Maris Review to my creative writing students. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this episode so have to chime in. I think Maris may be my “book twin” – I have loved many of the books and authors she recommended, particularly Katherine Heiny (check out Standard Deviation or her short story collection, not a dud in the bunch). Made me want more book talk so maybe you can bring her back again in a future episode?
I loved this guest and can’t wait to check out her podcast, as we seem to have the same taste in books. I’d say the most giftable book I’ve read this year has to be Katie Couric’s memoir Going There. I never even liked Katie, but she definitely was not afraid to dish about everyone (she even tells an RBG story that takes a bit of the shine off of her). She’s a really good storyteller. It would make the perfect airplane book.
I remember when you announced the podcast. I had pretty much zero interest, but gave it a listen and was immediately hooked. It was so refreshing to hear two women discussion a variety of topics, always through the lens of middle age. It was honest and at times raw about what it means to age in a society that prizes youth above almost everything else.
However, this episode was just awful. I don’t know how else to say it and clearly I am invested in the podcast’s success because I feel like I have to share this even though it makes me super uncomfortable: Jenn completely dominated the conversation. She was just so eager to establish her cool literary girl bonafides. And everyone who doesn’t think like her is lame and so not cool. It seems like she is going through something and really not happy, but this doesn’t excuse that at times just dismissive of Kim. She was dismissive of all women who have attained a level of “success” that she has not. It was sad and painful and really bummed me out.
I feel like I should say that Kim had terrible insomnia the night before we recorded this podcast and was not herself and also that we were without a producer and I was recording the episode myself for the first time with a guest on a new recording platform and nervous about it the entire time and could not always hear Kim or Maris. It’s not my favorite episode for these reasons and I don’t like the way I sound and I’m sorry that I came across like I am a jealous asshole. I was more spiraling in technical issues and trying to be present at the same time and sort of failing at everything. But I agree that it is painful and I’m sorry it bummed you out.
Huh, I thought this was a pretty tight episode, especially now that I know this was going on behind the scenes. The sound quality on the intro was great for me so it seems like the new platform is coming along. The way Maris talked about her thoughts on diabetes then and now was really a jaw-dropper for me — definitely a way I’ve been looking at the world more now without being able to articulate it like that.
That is a very generous apology and explanation Jenn . Ali, I also think you stated your dislike in a qualified & reasonable way. I had a very different take on this episode. I found Maris to be incredibly charming and I really enjoyed the discussion between Maris and Jenn. I adore this podcast — all the more so now that it is Kim and Jenn hosting. I love the discussions at the beginning as well as the excellent guests brought on. I don’t agree with everything that Kim and Jenn have to say but I always appreciate their point of view and authenticity.
thanks Rae! I think Ali’s comments are a bit mean-spirited and make assumptions about me personally that aren’t quite fair, but I’ll always cop to subpar work and — for a number of reasons — I was talking more than I was listening on this episode which is not how I like to show up in life nor is it the show I want to do with Kim. I appreciate, as always, the feedback and am so grateful that you all are listening. x
I didn’t understand Ali’s feedback at all. I think it’s fair to say as some folks said — that they were expecting more conversation and focus on books and book recommendations in the podcast because of the episode title. But other than that, I thought it was a great episode. I got exposure to Maris Kreizman (didn’t get the whole pushing her cool girl bonafides aspect at all) and I’m very interested in her podcast now. I esp. loved the discussion about publishing and (decline/disappearance of) literary criticism in this time of writers and critics having to act as social influencers. There was definitely some real behind-the-scenes insights I hadn’t heard before, and I’m a frequent NYRB/LRB/New Yorker/NY Mag/NYTimes reader. I think it was a compelling episode despite whatever technical challenges Jen and Kim faced with it.
It’s interesting how the GOACA commentariat displays their pleasure or displeasure about the podcasts. Perhaps it has something to do with the intimacy of voices (verses blog writing and pix.) In one podcast in particular with Cat Marnell, some folks were literally throwing toddler tantrums in the comments. Truly bizarre. For what it’s worth Jenn, I think you and Kim are a great team. I do monthly webcasting for/with clients and we have our complainers too.
Boy, I really connected with the discussion of waking up one day mid-career and wondering what the hell you’re doing and why you’re killing yourself to do it when that career / industry is so far from what you’d thought it would be. YES. Signed, an ex-professor.