For our May N&G Book Club Pick, we chose The Souvenir Museum by Elizabeth McCracken, a dual pick with the Texas Book Festival. I love talking with Austin-based writers, and Elizabeth did not disappoint. She is as wildly funny and witty as her short story collection. In The Souvenir Museum, she drops the reader right into the heart of the story. I love her ability to write so well about relationships and family. It’s so messy and personal, but she always finds the humor in the situation.

Our Book Club conversation was fun and wide-ranging. I loved hearing about how she sustained herself during the pandemic. She rented a place where she and her husband (also a writer) would trade off to create a wonderful work environment. She taught me a lot about balancing work and home life—something I’m constantly working on!  

You can watch our full conversation in the video below. And then pick up a copy of The Souvenir Museum if you haven’t had the opportunity to read it yet.