AudiYOOObooks

JD and Mallory are back for Episode 8 of AudiYOOObooks to talk about Agustina Bazterrica's Tender Is the Flesh. A brutal dystopian novel about cannibalism, capitalism, dehumanization, and how easily people can learn to live inside a monstrous system.

JD and Mallory dig into the book's use of language to erase personhood, factory farming and capitalism, propaganda, class, poverty, the normalization of cruelty, and the uncomfortable question at the center of the novel: how much injustice will people accept when their own comfort depends on it?

Plus: is Tender Is the Flesh actually horror? How does the audiobook narration change the experience? Could anyone successfully adapt this book into a movie? And does JD ever want to listen to it again?

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of cannibalism, sexual assault, animal cruelty and torture, violence, death and other disturbing material.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We assume you've already read or listened to the book.

If you've finished the book and want to spend a little more time unpacking it, this episode is for you.

Book discussed: Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

Audiobook narrator: Joseph Balderrama

JD and Mallory are back for Episode 7 of AudiYOOObooks to talk about Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun. A quiet, strange, surprisingly deep story about artificial intelligence, love, faith, parenthood, and a future where being human may not be enough.

They also debate whether the Sun actually heals Josie, whether Klara is an unreliable narrator, what exactly happens at the end, and why this book became much more rewarding on a second listen.

Plus: audiobook narration, the upcoming film adaptation, alternate casting choices, bad Audible reviews, and AI Terminator theories.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We assume you've already read or listened to the book.

If you've finished the book and want to spend a little more time unpacking it, this episode is for you.

Book discussed: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Audiobook narrator: Sura Siu

Dungeon Crawler Carl might be the most recommended modern fantasy series on the internet, and now we finally understand why.

This week we're diving into Matt Dinniman's wildly popular LitRPG phenomenon. We discuss what makes the genre so addictive, why this series has exploded in popularity, Jeff Hays' incredible audiobook performance, Princess Donut stealing every scene she's in, and whether the humor worked for us.

Along the way we compare the book to Ready Player One, The Hunger Games, The Running Man, and Family Guy, talk about why progression fantasy resonates in 2026, and debate whether this first installment lives up to the massive hype surrounding the series.

As always, full spoilers for Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman.

Book discussed: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Audiobook narrator:

Jeff Hayes

The journey through Middle-earth comes to an end.

In Episode 5 of AudiYOOObooks, JD and Mallory finish J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary trilogy with The Return of the King. After working through The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, they discuss whether Tolkien sticks the landing and whether this finale earns its reputation as one of the greatest endings in fantasy.

The conversation covers Aragorn's rise to kingship, Éowyn's expanded role in the novel, Faramir, Denethor, Frodo and Sam's final journey to Mount Doom, Gollum's role in the destruction of the Ring, and the controversial Scouring of the Shire. They also compare Andy Serkis and Rob Inglis as audiobook narrators, discuss Tolkien's themes of mercy, hope, and providence, and rank every book in the trilogy.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We assume you've already read or listened to the book.

If you've finished the book and want to spend a little more time unpacking it, this episode is for you.

Book discussed: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

Audiobook narrator: Andy Serkis / Rob Inglis

In this episode of AudiYOOObooks, JD and Mallory discuss The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien and the audiobook experience. The conversation covers Tolkien's darker turn in the middle book of the trilogy, the growing sense of hopelessness facing the characters, the split narrative structure, and why the story feels so different from modern fantasy. We also compare the Andy Serkis and Rob Inglis audiobook performances, discuss Tolkien's songs and poetry, debate whether the Frodo and Sam sections are unfairly criticized, and spend a surprising amount of time talking about horses.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We assume you've already read or listened to the book.

If you've finished the book and want to spend a little more time unpacking it, this episode is for you.

Book discussed: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

Audiobook narrator: Andy Serkis / Rob Inglis

In this episode of AudiYOOObooks, JD and Mallory discuss The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien and the audiobook experience.

They explore Tolkien's writing style, the depth of Middle-earth, and why this story continues to define fantasy. Along the way, they compare audiobook narrations, talk about the challenges of reading Tolkien, and share their different perspectives—one deeply familiar, one completely fresh.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We assume you've already read or listened to the book.

If you've finished the book and want to spend a little more time unpacking it, this episode is for you.

Book discussed: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Audiobook narrator: Andy Serkis / Rob Inglis

In this episode of AudiYOOObooks, JD and Mallory discuss Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

We break down the story, characters, and themes, while also reviewing the audiobook performance and what makes this version stand out. Along the way, we talk about why audiobooks still get dismissed, how this novel shaped modern romance tropes, and why Pride and Prejudice is funnier and more relatable than its reputation suggests.

⚠️ This is a full spoiler discussion. We assume you've already read or listened to the book.

If you've finished the book and want to spend a little more time unpacking it, this episode is for you.

Book discussed: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Audiobook narrator: Rosamund Pike

In the very first episode of AudiYOOObooks, JD and Mal dive deep into The Shining by Stephen King and its audiobook narration by Campbell Scott. We talk about the story, the audiobook performance, the themes of isolation and masculinity, and why the novel still hits decades later.

⚠️ This episode contains full spoilers for The Shining.

AudiYOOObooks is a spoiler-heavy audiobook review podcast hosted by JD and Mal. Each episode, we listen to a book and then dive deep into the full story, characters, themes, and the audiobook performance itself. We talk about narrators, listening experience, and what works (or doesn't) when a story is told through audio. We assume you've already read or listened to the book and want to unpack it further, like a book club, but for audiobook listeners. If you love audiobooks, storytelling, and honest conversations about books, AudiYOOObooks is the pod for you!