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Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio interviews with authors.

With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either new authors or unknown authors that many in the general public are unaware of. After a segment reviewing books or interviewing authors, Blaine ends each episode with a discussion of the movies and TV shows he is currently watching.

This Week’s Episode

Today we venture into the historical intricacies of 1492 Spain with Eric Weintraub, author of South of Sepharad. Weintraub’s journey from a captivating trip to Granada to penning a novel illuminates the lesser-known sagas of Jewish and Muslim expulsions. His book delves into the life of Vidal, a Jewish physician, and his family’s turbulent experiences amidst the Alhambra Decree and the Spanish Inquisition. This insightful interview not only uncovers Weintraub’s methodical research and writing process but also offers a peek into emerging trends in historical fiction.

Buy “South of Sepharad: The 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain

Check out the latest episode of Books & Looks:

About Blaine Desantis:

Blaine is an avid lifetime reader, a retired attorney, and has been a book club leader for the past seven years. He is an active teacher in senior education classes at Furman University. Blaine loves fiction, nonfiction, histories, mysteries and almost all genres of books.

Blaine Desantis

Blaine is an avid lifetime reader, a retired attorney, and has been a book club leader for the past seven years. He is an active teacher in senior education classes at Furman University. Blaine loves fiction, nonfiction, histories, mysteries and almost all genres of books, which he discusses on his podcast, Books & Looks.