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Book reviews and concert previews brought to you by Betsy Burton, co-owner of The King's English Bookshop, and Austen Diamond, producer of 13% Salt. Books & Beats airs Saturdays at 7:35 a.m. and 9:35 a.m. during NPR's Weekend Edition.

Books & Beats: November 12, 2016

Courtesy of the Artist
Shovels & Rope performs at The Depot on Thursday, November 17.

The Gustav Sonata(Norton) by Rose Tremain is the story of best friends Anton Zweibel and Gustav Pearle.  Anton is a musical prodigy.  Gustav must take care of his widowed mother.  Betsy Burton calls the novel a “wise and beautiful masterpiece.”

Then, Cary Ann Hearst, one half of the husband-and-wife duo Shovels & Rope, says it does the listener more good to hear a tune that’s about everybody, not just somebody.  They’ll bring their Americana sound to The Depot on Thursday, November 17th.

Music by Shovels & Rope heard on this Books & Beats:

1: “Birmingham”

2: “Botched Execution”  

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