In the season three recap episode of the Book Club Podcast, host Carly is joined by frequent guests My Nguyen and Christy Lynn Horpedahl to discuss their experiences revisiting childhood classics like A Wrinkle in Time and The Giver. The conversation dives into themes of nostalgia, the portrayal of female characters, and the evolving nature of connection in a digital age. The trio reflects on how these books have shaped their understanding of the world and whether they prepared millennials for adulthood. They also explore the balance between the solitary and communal aspects of reading and the impact of technology on personal and collective experiences.

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00:00 Welcome to the Season Three Recap

00:15 Introducing the Guests

00:58 Nostalgia and Childhood Books

01:40 Revisiting Old Favorites

02:51 Critiquing Beloved Characters

04:52 The Joy of Rediscovery

07:50 The Expanse and The Princess Bride

12:56 Reading as a Primer for Life

18:16 Sharing Books Across Generations

27:36 The Solitary and Communal Nature of Reading

33:38 Hiding your Books

36:54 Connection with High Nutritional Value

41:29 The Importance of Generosity and Honesty in Connection

48:47 Technology and Radical Humility

50:48 Female Characters and Their Portrayal

57:40 Millennials and a Changing World

01:02:03 Just Because you Like it

In this special bonus episode of the Book Club Podcast, Carly, joined by Andrene and Joel from the Rewind Rewatch Podcast, delves into Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. They explore themes of genetic engineering, human arrogance, and scientific discovery, discussing character developments such as Hammond's moral irresponsibility, Nedry's sabotage, and Malcolm's philosophical insights. The episode examines the narrative role of Lex and Tim, the depiction of female characters, and the contrast between the book and the movie. The hosts reflect on the story's relevance to contemporary issues like technological progress and environmental exploitation. They also highlight the 1993 film's enduring visual impact and influence on millennials, wrapping up with recommendations for Crichton's sequel, The Lost World.

Listen to the Rewind Rewatch episode on the movie Jurassic Park on Apple Podcasts.

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00:00 Life Finds a Way

00:13 Welcome to the Book Club Podcast

00:31 First Impressions of Jurassic Park

03:02 Diving into the Plot

10:07 Hammond's Delusions and Grandchildren

14:23 Character Dynamics and Development

25:58 The Arrogance of Humans

39:59 Living Systems and Chaos Theory

41:32 Automation and Nedry's Role

43:08 Nedry's Betrayal and Consequences

47:40 Hammond's Hubris and Park's Flaws

50:33 Children in Jurassic Park

53:39 Millennial Nostalgia and Connection

57:35 Female Characters in Jurassic Park

01:02:42 Modern Reflections and Genetic Power

01:08:39 Impact of the Movie on Millennials

01:14:33 Final Thoughts on Jurassic Park

In this episode of the Book Club Podcast, Carly, Margaret, and David delve into The Princess Bride by William Goldman. The discussion ranges from character connections, gender dynamics, and the significance of storytelling within stories, to the cultural impact and enduring nostalgia of the film. They also share their perspectives on the possibility of remaking the beloved movie and reflect on the broader genre themes present in both the book and film.

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00:00 Quote from The Princess Bride

00:52 Personal Histories with The Princess Bride

02:19 Summary of The Princess Bride

07:12 Opening Question on Storytelling

15:28 The Love Story and Ripple Effects

25:42 Buttercup Redemption

28:55 Max and Valerie: A Model Couple

32:53 Bill's Midlife Crisis and Reflections

36:01 Wesley Didn’t Age Well

37:20 The Miracle Pill and Screenwriting Influence

39:19 Millennials and DVD Extras

42:41 Exploring Genuine Connections

45:25 Female Characters in The Princess Bride

50:07 Adventure and Genre Themes

54:25 Never Remake The Princess Bride

57:25 Final Thoughts and Millennial Nostalgia

In this episode of the Book Club Podcast, host Carly, an Elder Millennial, is joined by guest Jenni to discuss Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. The episode delves into personal anecdotes about discovering the series, revisiting the story, and its impact on their generation. They explore the book's plot, character relationships, societal themes, and the broader Harry Potter universe. The conversation also touches on the challenges and emotional aspects of revisiting beloved childhood books, the portrayal of female characters, and the movie adaptation's strengths and weaknesses. Tune in next month for a discussion on William Goldman’s The Princess Bride!

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00:00 The Goblet of Fire Chooses Harry

00:45 Welcome to the Book Club Podcast

01:02 Personal Harry Potter Journeys

03:50 Discussing the Goblet of Fire

05:12 Summary of the Goblet of Fire

12:14 Wizarding World and Muggle Relations

21:01 Rita Skeeter and Journalism

24:59 Impact of Cedric's Death

36:01 Revisiting Harry Potter

38:35 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Initial Impressions

38:59 Breaking Rules: A Millennial Perspective

39:24 Generational Differences and Rule-Breaking

47:22 The Importance of Genuine Connection

52:25 Female Characters in Harry Potter

58:32 The Hero's Journey and Millennial Reflections

01:03:01 Movie Adaptation: Hits and Misses

01:07:20 Final Thoughts and Next Book Discussion

In this episode of the Book Club Podcast, host Carly and guest Margaret, both elder millennials, discuss the book Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien. The discussion includes a detailed summary of the plot, touching on Mrs. Frisbee’s journey to save her sick son, her encounters with wise mice and intelligent rats, and the mysterious background of the rats of NIMH. They delve into themes such as ecosystems and civilizations, the impact of scientific experimentation, and the lack of significant character development. The conversation also compares the book with its darker, magic-filled movie adaptation. The episode concludes with reflections on how millennial childhood media, including dark movies, might have influenced their resilience. Tune in next time for our episode on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

00:00 Mysterious Marching Figures

01:37 Introduction to the Book Club Podcast

02:55 Summary of Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH

07:48 Discussion on Ecosystems and Civilization

13:24 The Role of Education and Longevity

23:00 The Farmer and the Natural Cycles

32:37 Morality and Justice in Mrs. Frisbee's World

33:34 Natural Disasters and Human Vulnerability

35:50 The Scary Imagery of Childhood Movies

36:41 Millennial Nostalgia and Dark Childhood Films

38:05 The Horror Elements in Mrs. Frisbee's Story

38:44 Magical Elements in the Movie Adaptation

43:07 Exploring Themes of Connection and Isolation

45:31 Female Characters and Their Roles

49:01 Hero's Journey and New Genre Themes

51:11 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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In this episode of the Book Club Podcast, Carly Jackson and guest Christy Lynn Horpedahl discuss Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. They explore the themes of good versus evil, the importance of intelligence versus love, and the significance of Meg's faults. The conversation also touches on the unique loneliness and resilience of the protagonist, and the generational contrasts between boomers and millennials in the context of the novel. Listeners are encouraged to consider how classic stories shape their perceptions and to join the reading journey with the next book discussion on Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH.

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00:00 A Horrifying Smile

00:30 Welcome to the Book Club Podcast

00:41 Christy's History with 'A Wrinkle in Time'

01:49 Meg Murray: A Unique Protagonist

02:11 The Vivid Memory of the Murray House

02:43 Complete Summary of 'A Wrinkle in Time'

08:00 Meg's Faults and Their Significance

11:30 The Burden of Responsibility

13:55 The Happy Medium and Social Media

17:34 The Fight Against Conformity

25:51 Meg's Loneliness and Connection with Calvin

31:12 The Importance of Feeling Smart

33:17 The Danger of Intellectual Pride

35:19 The Power of Love

37:49 Faith and Science: Unlikely Allies

38:59 The Foolish and the Weak

43:25 Connection and Loneliness

46:00 Meg: The Unlikely Heroine

55:39 Movie Adaptation: Hits and Misses

01:01:43 Final Thoughts and Nostalgia

Guests My and Jenni join Carly to talk about what it means to make choices for yourself and if experiencing pain and suffering is a good trade-off for being able to make choices for yourself. They also talk about the expectations put on Millennials in school to save the rainforests and the whales and to fix the hole in the Ozone. Jonas makes a choice that will change his whole society, have Millennials succeeded in changing our whole society?

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For our first book discussion on Millennial Nostalgia, guest host Christy joins Carly to talk about One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy. One in a Millennial is a memoir capturing the experiences of one person growing up through the ‘90s and ending with a successful podcasting career.

They compare their own experiences growing up on ‘90s TV and connecting to communities online and set up the questions for the rest of the season about connection, female characters, and how millennials were raised for a world that did not exist.

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Season 3 of the Book Club Podcast starts now! This season, we are exploring Millennial Nostalgia. We’re reading books that we have loved since childhood to determine if they helped prepare us for adult life.

Subscribe to our email newsletter on Substack at bookclubpod.com now and you can join the conversation with other listeners about each episode by leaving comments.

Read One in a Millennial for our first book discussion. You can get your copy of all the books using our affiliate links here:

1. One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy
2. The Giver by Lois Lowry
3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
4. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
6. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Thanks for listening!

In our long delayed recap episode for our Solarpunk season, Caroline and Carly reflect on what they have learned about how to organize society.

Our Solar punk books were:

1. Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach Book Club
2. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Book Club
3. The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk Book Club
4. Suncatcher by Alia Gee Book Club
5. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin Book Club
6. Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin Book Club
7. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson Book Club
8. Earth Abides by George R. Stewart Book Club
9. Walkaway by Cory Doctorow Book Club

Concepts and genre themes discussed: creative use of technology as a net benefit to mankind, progressive worldview, a relationship to the meaning of life, a relationship to the Earth.

They also discuss what kind of luxuries or status is required to give up in order to make a better society and their willingness to make those changes. What are you willing to give up?

These books brought up questions of the balance between freedom and coercion to find the most human flourishing, when does major societal change happen, how to resolve disputes peacefully, what does it mean to have faith?

Carly and Caroline also talk about which books they would read again and which books they would not read again.