For its September 18, 2026 episode, The Book Review from The New York Times brings together two conversations: MJ Franklin speaks with Dwight Garner about literary criticism and Marlon James, then with John Green about fiction, fame, and books that left a lasting impression.
Podcast: NYT’s The Book Review
Participants: John Green and Dwight Garner, in separate conversations with MJ Franklin
Released: September 18, 2026 · 58 minutes
Four books to explore
We selected four novels Green names while discussing influential reading: Sula, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Their Eyes Were Watching God. They are our subset of a longer discussion, rather than a ranked top four from Green.
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Sula
Two girls grow up together in an Ohio community, then take very different paths. Toni Morrison follows the bonds and ruptures of their friendship amid expectations about loyalty, freedom, and belonging.
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
During the summer after college, Art Bechstein enters a new circle of friendships and desires. Michael Chabon’s debut follows a young man testing possible identities while confronting his family’s influence.
Slaughterhouse-Five
Billy Pilgrim moves through fragments of war, ordinary life, and encounters beyond Earth. Kurt Vonnegut’s antiwar novel approaches the bombing of Dresden through dark comedy and a fractured sense of time.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Janie Crawford searches for love, independence, and a voice of her own in the American South. Zora Neale Hurston follows the relationships and experiences through which Janie comes to define her life.
Books discussed in the episode*
The list below brings together books identified in the published episode description and a linked transcript-based book index. It includes the featured four as well as other works discussed; a mention does not necessarily indicate an endorsement.
- The Disappearers — Marlon James
- Hollywood, Ending — John Green
- The Fault in Our Stars — John Green
- Everything Is Tuberculosis — John Green
- Sula — Toni Morrison
- The Bluest Eye — Toni Morrison
- Song of Solomon — Toni Morrison
- The Mysteries of Pittsburgh — Michael Chabon
- Slaughterhouse-Five — Kurt Vonnegut
- Their Eyes Were Watching God — Zora Neale Hurston
- The Great Gatsby — F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Looking for Alaska — John Green
- Paper Towns — John Green
*We aim to identify every book mentioned using the published episode description and the transcript-based index linked below. Neither source guarantees a complete list, and passing references may be missing. A mention does not necessarily indicate a recommendation.
Source: Publisher-supplied notes for NYT’s The Book Review on Apple Podcasts.
Additional reading-list source: Transcript excerpts and book index at Mentioned in Podcasts.
This is an independent reading guide, not affiliated with The New York Times or its podcasts.