Big Book Energy

This season we are doing Phone a Friend for our bonus episodes! Tune in to hear guest host Brooke join us to discuss Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House!

Ninth House & Leigh Bardugo

• Learn more about the author on her website: https://www.leighbardugo.com/about/
• Watch the trailer for the new Shadow and Bone series here: https://youtu.be/vDd_IEBwP2U
• Buy a copy of Ninth House for yourself: https://bookshop.org/a/9616/9781250751362

Folio Facts: The Codex Gigas

This month, Paige presents the Codex Gigas, which is not only a big a** book, but is also known as the Devil’s Bible, due to the creepy story of its origin and a huge illustration of Satan himself inside. To learn more:

• Check out Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Gigas
• Or this youtube video: https://youtu.be/bsDe42IRvVo

Discussion Questions

1. What were your overall thoughts/opinions of the book? Did you like it?
2. Thoughts on the use of sexual assault and drugs as part of Alex’s backstory?
3. What did you think about the chronological arrangement of this narrative? i.e. three, sometimes four different timelines cutting in and out of each other
4. Do you have a favorite character?
5. What did you think of the magic system compared to others?
6. Did you guess who the villain was?

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• Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big_book_energy
• Find us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/big_book_energy
• Don’t forget to leave us a review if you are enjoying the pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-book-energy/id1494813078
• If you are interested in being on the show, check out the Book Elder tier on our Patreon

*Some of the links above are affiliate links and we will receive commission from any purchases made through them*

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This episode we dive into the Witcher franchise with The Last Wish. Tune in to continue our talks on Slavic folklore and our thoughts on the Witcher book and Netflix series.

Slavic Folklore Resources

• Brendan Noble on the Striga: https://youtu.be/eIAUemZb1vo
• Dogman Narrative’s Recap of a Strigoi Legend: https://youtu.be/DBmXA0SKyk8
• Listen to a podcast episode reading the story of Vasalisa the Wise and the Sea Tsar: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sea-tsar-and-vasilisa-the-wise-a-russian-folk-tale/id1504182068?i=1000469626290

Paige Presents Fun with Comics: In the Bleak Midwinter, Webtoon

The Last Wish

• Learn more about Adrej Sapkowski:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrzej_Sapkowski
• Watch the Netflix Show:https://www.netflix.com/title/80189685
• Buy a copy for yourself: https://bookshop.org/a/9616/9780316438964

Creative’s Corner: Henry Sotheran’s Rare Bookseller 

Discussion Questions:

1. What did you think of the book?
2. Book vs TV show?
3. What did you think about the Law of Surprise? 
4. Do you believe Stregobor or Renfri?

Support the pod

• Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big_book_energy 
• Find us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/big_book_energy 
• Don’t forget to leave us a review if you are enjoying the pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-book-energy/id1494813078 
• If you are interested in being on the show, check out the Book Elder tier on our Patreon

*Some of the links above are affiliate links and we will receive commission from any purchases made through them*

Support the show

We open up season 3 with The Bear and the Nightingale, a story inspired by Slavic and Russian Folklore. Tune in to learn a bit about this story and the mythology it is based on.

Russian Folklore Resources

• Russian Folklore: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folklore_of_Russia
• A Brief History of Russian Folklore: https://www.pushkinhouse.org/blog/2020/5/13/a-brief-history-of-russian-folklore
• Routledge Companion to Russian Literature: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Routledge_Companion_to_Russian_Liter/k2BO7K6tYIoC?hl=en&gbpv=0
• Father Frost tale: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Frost_(fairy_tale)
• Vasilisa the Beautiful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasilisa_the_Beautiful
• Other fun source for Russian mythology: https://meettheslavs.com/russian-mythology/

Paige Presents Fun with Comics: Lore Olympus, Webtoon

The Bear and The Nightingale

• Learn more about Katherine Arden: http://katherinearden.com/
• Buy a copy for yourself: https://bookshop.org/a/9616/9781101885956

Creative’s Corner: Tale Foundry

• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCusb0SpT8elBJdbcEJS_l2A
• Website: https://thetalefoundry.com/about/

Discussion

• What are some similarities and differences you can see between Russian/Slavic folklore and Western folklore or fairy tales?
• Vasya’s socially acceptable choices are get married or go to a convent. She chooses neither and runs off on her own. If you lived in this society or time period, what do you think you would have done?
• What are some modern folk tales that you are familiar with? Would you want to read a book inspired by them?
• Ivan Bilibin was the artist Jennifer was talking about during the discussion, you can learn more about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Bilibin
  • Or see a portfolio of his work here: https://www.wikiart.org/en/ivan-bilibin

Support the pod

• Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big_book_energy
• Find us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/big_book_energy
• Don’t forget to leave us a review if you are enjoying the pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-book-energy/id1494813078
• If you are interested in being on the show, check out the Book Elder tier on our Patreon

*Some of the links above are affiliate links and we will receive commission from any purchases made through them*

Support the show

We're back for Season 3! This season is all about mythology and folklore. We're also bringing on some of our listeners as special co-hosts during our bonus episodes. Tune in for another exciting season of BBE!

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We are finishing out the season with our final Movie Magic Pick, cult favorite The Princess Bride. Listen in as we gush over a mutually favorite movie title... and also the book.

You can support BBE at patreon.com/bigbookenergy or through our bookstore at bookshop.org/shop/BigBookEnergy 

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Paige chooses one of her favorite SciFi books to read for the final episode of Books We Love: The White Plague by Frank Herbert. It's a great book, but perhaps the middle of a pandemic was not the best time to read it.

Folio Facts: Oldest printing press in British North America
BBE Bookstore: Sick by Porochista Khakpour
Creatives' Corner: Roman Empire, Netflix

You can support BBE at patreon.com/bigbookenergy or through our bookstore at bookshop.org/shop/BigBookEnergy    

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For Jennifer's final pick of the season she chose Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez. Tune in to hear about an amazing magical system in an unusual setting for a fantasy novel.

 Folio Facts: Lost Languages on Medieval Manuscripts
BBE Bookstore: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Creatives' Corner: Story Graph

You can support BBE at patreon.com/bigbookenergy or through our bookstore at bookshop.org/shop/BigBookEnergy   

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For Spooky Season's Movie Magic pick, we pushed the limits of Jennifer's horror endurance. Tune in to hear if she thought the book was scary or not.

You can support BBE at patreon.com/bigbookenergy or through our bookstore at bookshop.org/shop/BigBookEnergy 

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For Paige's Spooky Season pick, she has chosen a book that gave her nightmares last time around. Tune in to hear about a book that has consistently shown up on internet lists as one of the scariest books ever written.

Folio Facts: Agatha Christie novels solve real world crimes
BBE Bookstore: Humans by Brandon Stanton
Creatives' Corner: Watercolor by Shibasaki, YouTube

You can support BBE at patreon.com/bigbookenergy or through our bookstore at bookshop.org/shop/BigBookEnergy 

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It's official. Jennifer has declared a favorite book and it is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Tune in to hear about H.H. Holmes and the Chicago World Fair.

Folio Facts: Tale of Genji
BBE Bookstore: Njal's Saga
Creative's Corner: Bookish Realm, YouTube

 You can support BBE at patreon.com/bigbookenergy or through our bookstore at bookshop.org/shop/BigBookEnergy   

Support the show