Book Squad Goals

The Book Squad visits death row this week with our discussion about "Notes on an Execution" by Danya Kukafka. We talk about the narrative structure and writing style, morality and choice, and the fascination with serial killers and crime. Next we get into some feedback for "Book of Night" and catch up with what’s on the blog. Returning special guest Tirzah Price (author of "Sense and Second-Degree Murder") will join us for our next Othersode on Netflix’s new "Persuasion" adaptation on July 25th. For our next Bookpisode, we’ll be covering "Olga Dies Dreaming" by Xóchitl González with special guest Janet Dale on August 8th. Send your listener feedback to [email protected] or DM us on social media. Don’t forget to leave us a (five star!) review on Apple podcasts.

TOC
0:30 — Welcome!
6:48 — Book intro
12:00 — POV
22:22 — Why these women? Why not the victims?
34:10 — Philosophy and morality
47:46 — Looking for meaning in the psyche of violent men
53:5 — Why do we care about what Ansel thinks?
1:08:52 — Final thoughts and reviews
1:12:53 — Feedback!
1:15:30 — What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Zip back in time with the Book Squad for our discussion of the new HBO series The Time Traveler’s Wife. We talk about the differences between the novel and the show (and that one movie no one liked), the “grooming” criticisms, the pacing, the casting, and how the show ends…or does it? Join us for our next Bookpisode on Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafa on July 11th. Then tune in on July 25th for an Othersode on the new Netflix adaptation of Persuasion featuring special guest Tirzah Price, author of Sense and Second-Degree Murder! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Table of Contents:
:30–icebreaker
8:00–show intro
11:28–grooming and other issues
30:58–stuff that’s different
41:21–casting
57:26–the ending
1:07:19–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Moffat’s comments: https://www.eonline.com/news/1330962/time-travelers-wife-creator-responds-to-accusations-that-storyline-promotes-grooming

Niffenegger’s comments: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2022/05/20/author-stands-behind-hbos-controversial-adaptation-of-the-time-travelers-wife/?sh=6d1121f0381c

Special guest Ellis (and her shadow) joins the Book Squad this week for our discussion of Holly Black’s adult debut, Book of Night. We dig into the novel’s magic system, adult vs. YA fantasy writing, character development, and how we felt about the ending. Check out The Time Traveler’s Wife series on HBO before our next Othersode on June 27th. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode about Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka on July 11th. Send listener feedback to [email protected] and don’t forget to leave us a rating and review!

https://ellisburnheart.com/

TOC:
:30–welcome Ellis! And icebreaker
7:20–Book intro
9:30–the magic system
32:18–adult v YA writing
45:11–character development
56:10–what about the ending
1:11:50–lucipurr, ratings
1:19:00–live sundial feedback!
1:24:00–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

The Squad is joined by special guest, author Susie Dumond, to discuss I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston. We talk about “likable” characters, queer representation in YA books (featuring a special “Ask a Man” appearance by Todd), the book’s southern setting, and of course, Shara herself. Next, we chat with Susie about her book, Queerly Beloved! Read along for our next Bookpisode on June 13th on Book of Night by Holly Black. Then check out The Time Traveler’s Wife series on HBO for our next Othersode on June 27th. Send listener feedback to [email protected] or DM us on the socials!

TOC:
:30–Welcome to Susie and sad to say that Susan isn’t here! Icebreaker q.
8:24–We will be spoiling this book/book intro
10:46– Is Chloe “likable?” Does it matter?
21:19– Representation in YA books
37:58– How does this being set in the South change things?
43:13–Who is Shara? POV
56:28–Let’s rate!
1:03:54– Chat with Susie Dumond, author of Queerly Beloved!
1:32:21– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Pertinent links:
https://diversebooks.org/qa-with-casey-mcquiston-i-kissed-shara-wheeler/
​​https://susiedumond.com/
https://www.instagram.com/susiedoom/
https://bookriot.com/author/susie-dumond/

We’re going deep into the Mojave desert this week to talk about Catriona Ward’s new novel Sundial. Join the squad as we discuss the book’s structure, perspective vs. reality, wild plot twists, and unexpected reveals. Then we get into some listener feedback about "Reprieve" and catch up with what’s on the blog. Tune in on May 30th for our next Othersode about "I Kissed Shara Wheeler" by Casey McQuiston. We’ll be joined by special guest Susie Dumond, author of "Queerly Beloved," so you don’t wanna miss it! Then, read along with us for our next Bookpisode on "Book of Night" by Holly Black, featuring special guest Ellis, on June 13th. Send us feedback and tell us what you consider a “beach read.” Email us at [email protected] or DM us on social media!

TOC:
:30 – Icebreakers and intros!
15:00 – Trigger warnings and book intro
19:30 – Multiple POVs and nonlinearity
35:40 – Reality, unreliable narrators, how the book would be different with other perspectives
51:03 – More about plot twists
57:50 – Animal cruelty. Why?
1:05:30 – Ratings!
1:13:08 – Feedback
1:20:40 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Links: Emily’s interview with Catriona Ward: https://www.booksquadgoals.com/blog/bsg59-sorrowland?rq=catriona

Bernie, boys, and babies! The Book Squad husbands join us as we finally discuss the 1989 film masterpiece* "Weekend at Bernie’s." We talk about the movie’s cult status, how the comedy works and doesn’t work, and why Terry Kiser deserves a shelf full of awards for his performance as a dead guy. Then it’s baby shower time! Susan and Justin open gifts for their baby-to-be and oooh and ahhh over all the cute things. Read along for our next Bookpisode about "Sundial" by Catriona Ward on May 16th. Then join us and special guest Susie Dumond, author of "Queerly Beloved," for a discussion of her book, plus "I Kissed Shara Wheeler" by Casey MicQuiston on May 30th. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts or the podcast app of your choice!

*Susan wrote this description

TOC:
:30 – Welcome, men! And icebreaker
15:34 – "Weekend at Bernie’s" intro
18:24 – Critical acclaim and cult classics
37:40 – Stuff that didn’t age well
48:30 – What works
1:03:58 – Is this movie saying something deep?
1:13:30 – Let's go ahead and rate it
1:16:45 – Presents time!
1:27:44 – What's on the blog? What's up next?

Description
The Book Squad locks themselves in a full-contact haunted house for the night in their latest episode! Just kidding, but they do discuss Reprieve by James Han Mattson. Reprieve explores themes of race and horror throughout its twisting, nonlinear narrative.
Join us next time when we discuss Weekend at Bernie’s, at long last, just in time to celebrate Susan’s new bb. After that, we’re talking all things Sundial by one of Emily’s faves, Catriona Ward.

TOC
:30– intro q
4:33–book intro
7:00–structure and writing
18:30–McKamey Manor
28:40–horror and race
45:00–characters
1:00:00–why does this book take place in the 90s?
1:06:14–the ending
1:14:00–ratings
1:17:17–feedback
1:18:40–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Links
https://hyphenmagazine.com/blog/2021/10/horror-racism-and-haunted-escape-games

Come along with us (and special guest Angela!) to the Lost City of D for our discussion of the new film "The Lost City," starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. We talk about romance book tropes on screen, our favorite funny moments, the appeal of the himbo, why Daniel Radcliffe and Brad Pitt are fantastic, and why “fun” is a perfectly fine measure of how good a book is. Next we read some listener feedback for "No Exit" and catch up with what’s on the blog. Read along for our next Bookpisode on "Reprieve" by James Han Mattson on April 18th. And then get ready for our "Weekend at Bernie’s" Othersode (it’s really happening!) on May 2nd. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

:30 – Welcome Angela Ferraguto! What’s your favorite rom-com?
16:15 – This episode is about "The Lost City," btw
18:00 – What romance tropes did you enjoy?
29:50 – Was this funny? Do we love Daniel Radcliffe and Brad Pitt? Yes.
42:21 – “Himbos are having a real moment right now.”
48:50 – People should be able to enjoy things! Genre and “shlock”
1:02:50 – Ratings
1:06:45 – Favorite scenes or lines
1:15:18 – "No Exit" feedback
1:17:30 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Find Angela at @magnafarta on Twitter and Instagram! You can also check out her extensive Letterboxd rankings under the same name.

The Book Squad (with special guest Jayve Chambliss) goes semi-off the grid for our discussion of The Atmospherians by Isle McElroy. We talk about online harassment, toxic masculinity, gender performance, satire, and the mall comeback no one anticipated. Next we get into some feedback on No Exit and catch up with what’s on the blog, including a new installment of YA Book Club, a video game review, and a podcast review. Join us on April 4th for our Othersode about the film The Lost City. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Reprieve by James Han Mattson on April 18th! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

Table of Contents
:30– Welcome, Jayce! And intro question
20:50– Book summary
23:14–Does Sasha deserve all the hate?
33:33–Let’s talk about Dyson
43:50–Other stuff happening in addition to toxic masculinity
58:44– Satire and other humor
1:04:13–The ending/the continuation of The Atmosphere
1:18:18–Ratings!
1:27:44–Jace on No Exit
1:35:22–What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Find Jayce at https://www.instagram.com/im_jayce and check out her Bookstagram at https://www.instagram.com/theeditbookshelf/

Get trapped in a snowy rest stop with the Book Squad for our discussion of the film No Exit, based on the novel by Taylor Adams. We talk about whether this thriller is also a mystery, explore the differences between the book and the movie, and pick apart the characters. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy on March 21. Our next Othersode topic is TBD, so stay tuned. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe, and send your listener feedback on this or any other episode to [email protected]!

TOC

0:30 - Happy Mardi Gras!
2:24 - Our Fav Snowy Stories
8:35 - Here’s a summary of No Exit that’s totally wrong
10:45 - Book vs. Movie
17:15 - Drug addiction in the movie
27:30 - Other big differences in the book
42:45 - Did Ed and Sandy even know each other?
49:15 - How realistic was the nail gun?/The return of ASK A MAN
56:16 - ACAB
59:15 - Ratings?
1:03:00 - What’s on the blog?
1:05:00 - What’s coming up on the pod?