What exactly does the Nebraska state poet do? Find out on this week’s “All About Books” when our guest is state poet Matt Mason. He shares his far-traveling mission for the job and explains Slam Poetry and its popularity with younger audiences.

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All About Books: An interview with NE State Poet, Matt Mason

The setting of this novel is as strange as any you’ll find- a labyrinth of countless statues where sea tides fill rooms and then retreat. This is the otherworldly home of a solitary man. A look at the New York Times best-selling fantasy novel “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke

“Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke

If you can spare just a few minutes, you can learn something interesting about Nebraska history. That’s the idea behind a new release from the University of Nebraska Press. “Nebraska History Moments” a photo-filled book meant to be browsed. Author David Bristow is the guest on this week’s program.

"Nebraska History Moments" by David Bristow

It’s a story of crime in an unlikely place- the high fashion world of Nazi occupied Paris. UNL English Professor Timothy Schaffert is the guest on this week’s "All About Books" as he talks with host Pat Leach about his new novel, ‘The Perfume Thief”

"The Perfume Thief" by Timothy Schaffert

In the novel “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett, twin sisters fleeing their small town life, head to New Orleans where one sister discovers she can pass as white. Here begins a fracture that will separate them in this story of sisterhood and black personal identity.

The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennet

Most Nebraskans are familiar with Willa Cather’s novels, but a new book by UNL Professor of English Melissa Homestead reveals new information on how Cather wrote her stories. Her book is, “The Only Wonderful Things: The Creative Partnership of Willa Cather & Edith Lewis”

“The Only Wonderful Things" by Melissa Homestead

With Labor Day past, there’s little time left for summer reading. This week’s program features guest reviewer Kiersten Hill who looks at 3 modern Romance novels which are both funny and innovative. The “Friend Zone” series by Abby Jimenez.

The “Friend Zone” series by Abby Jimenez.

In rural Louisiana was a place locals called simply, Carville. It was the only Leprosy colony in the United States. There, for generations, afflicted people were isolated, often against their will. A review of, “Carville's Cure: Leprosy, Stigma, and the Fight for Justice” by Pam Fessler”

“Carville's Cure: by Pam Fessler”

Preparing food is the time-honored way to help young people learn about their family and culture. Guest reviewer Dylan Teut Executive Director of the Plum Creek Literacy Festival, shares a children’s title, “Tomatoes for Neela” by Padma Lakshmi from TV's “Top Chef”

“Tomatoes for Neela” by Padma Lakshmi

A playful satire on life and work in the gig economy. The novel, “Temporary” by Hillary Leichter is a surreal trip through the anxieties of late-stage capitalism.

“Temporary” by Hillary Leichter

Guest reviewer Shirley Sneve introduces "The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson, a novel told through the voices of 4 generations of native women of the Northern Great Plains. It tells of the preservation of family and culture through hardships, aided by the safekeeping of traditional seeds.

"The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson

In her day job she moved billion-dollar deals. At night, she worked pro bono in near hopeless legal battles. As a successful young black-professional, Brittany Barnett used her talents and time to help those caught in the racial injustice of the courts. Her life story is told in "A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom.”

"A Knock at Midnight” by Brittany Barnett

Students growing up in Nebraska, may have read Mari Sandoz, but not everyone knows her books. This week on All About Books, special guest Lynn Roper from the Mari Sandoz Historical Society will introduce the life and works of the Nebraska author.

Introduction to Nebraska author, Mari Sandoz

A high elevation mesa in Arizona is a battleground between Apache people, the United States government and 2 of the world’s largest mining firms.The story is told in “Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land in the American West” by Lauren Redniss.

"Oak Flat" by Lauren Redniss.

On this week's program part 2 of UNL English Professor Stephen Buhler's summer reading list which features, "Hamnet: the Story of a Plague" by Maggie O'Farrell. A novel imagining William Shakespeare’s marriage, family and the death of one of his sons.

"Hamnet: the Story of a Plague" by Maggie O'Farrell

What does an English professor read during summer vacation? As you’d expect, a variety of very good books. UNL’s Stephen Buhler is the guest on this week’s program sharing his summer reading list which includes travel, poetry, song, and of course something on Shakespeare.

UNL English Professor Stephen Buhler's summer reading list.

All About Books is a weekly NET Radio book review and discussion program hosted by Pat Leach, Director of Lincoln City Libraries, Lincoln, NE. Updated Thursdays.