Book Squad Goals

The year is 2050-something and the world is…confusing? Join us in near-future America (and space!) for our discussion of "Goliath" by Tochi Onyebuchi. We discuss the “big ideas” the novel puts forth, as well as the writing style, the difficult-to-understand bits, and moments of joy(?). Then we get into some listener feedback and catch up with what’s on the blog, including new book reviews, TV show chats, and music reviews. Join us on March 7th for our Othersode on "No Exit" (the film adaptation), and read along for our March 21st Bookpisode on "The Atmospherians" by Alex McElroy. Send your listener feedback to [email protected] or DM us on the socials!

Table of Contents

0:30 – Icebreaker—how was your week?
5:20 – Book intro
11:17 – Space racism
27:50 – Black joy
33:33 – The writing
1:03:45 – Ratings
1:10:15 – Feedback!
1:13:36 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Notes:
We Need Diverse Books interview– https://diversebooks.org/qa-with-tochi-onyebuchi-goliath-part-ii/

Remember when we did an episode on "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel back in 2018? We barely do either! But now we’re talking about the HBO limited series "Station Eleven." Full circle! We discuss the differences in the book and the show, the role of art and pop culture, favorite episodes, and what it was like to watch a pandemic show during an actual pandemic. Next we catch up with what’s on the blog (lots of fun stuff!). Read along with us for our February 21st Bookpisode on "Goliath" by Tochi Onyebuchi. For our next Othersode on March 7th, it’s book-to-film adaptation time with the Hulu movie "No Exit." Send listener feedback on this episode or any other to [email protected] and don’t forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple podcasts!

TOC
:30—Icebreaker and welcome to Todd!
8:50—Show intro and spoiler warning
14:16—How does this work as an adaptation?
32:30—Pop culture and its importance
39:13—Why make this now?
43:54—Favorite moments and inconsistencies
1:11:12—What’s up next? What’s on the blog?

Todd's poem: https://scrawlplace.com/2022/01/25/ghost-ballet/

Come along with the Book Squad to Proofrock, Idaho for a slasher-filled discussion of "My Heart Is a Chainsaw" by Stephen Graham Jones! We talk about the main character, Jade, how the novel deals with sexual assault, gentrifiction, and whether this book is scary. Next we get into some listener feedback about "Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch" and catch up with what’s on the Book Squad Blog. Tune in on February 7th for our next Othersode on the HBO series "Station Eleven," based on the novel by Emily St. John Mandel. Next, read along with us for our February 21st Bookpisode on "Goliath" by Tochi Onyebuchi. Don’t forget to send us your favorite things of 2021 and any other feedback to [email protected]!

TOC

:30 — What were you obsessed with in HS?
10:32 — Book intro
12:50 — Let’s talk about Jade
27:25 — Sexual assault and how the novel deals with it
38:30 — Gentrification
48:31 — What is scary about this book? Is it scary?
58:17 — Pacing
1:05:00 — A trilogy!
1:07:40 — Ratings
1:14:39 — Listener feedback!
1:25:00 — What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—time for us to talk about all of our favorite things! Listen to us chat about our pop culture highlights of 2021, and as a special treat, hear from this year’s guests too! Then we exchange Secret Santa/non-denominational gifts and tell each other how much we love each other. Read along for our next Bookpisode on January 24th as we discuss My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. Then get post-apocalyptic with us on February 7th for our next Othersode on the HBO series Station Eleven. Email us at [email protected] with your favorite things of 2021!

TOC

30-Icebreaker—fave new year’s tradition
9:03–ROUND 1
30:00–Guest faves part 1
33:00–ROUND 2
50:45–Guest faves part 2
54:38–ROUND 3
1:08:17– Guest faves part 3
1:11:14–Pressie time
1:32:04–Guest faves part 4
1:34:22–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Ayla Zuraw-Frieldand joins the squad to discuss Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen. The team takes it back to the 1600s to talk about ageism, humor, and history in this quirky standout 2021 novel. Next time, we’ll discuss our favorite things of 2021 and exchange presents. On our next bookpisode, we’ll discuss My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones.

TOC
:30–Welcome, Ayla! And Icebreakers
8:50–Book intro
12:00–Galchen’s voice and the book’s style
23:30–Is she actually a witch?
28:00–witches are trending
40:51–”People don’t like an old lady story”
53:21–Kelli thought this book would be funny. Is it?
1:01:19–Ratings
1:08:25–Listener feedback
1:24:03–What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Show links:
https://www.vulture.com/article/rivka-galchen-profile.html
https://twitter.com/kaylasansk

We’re journeying back through 2000s pop culture to discuss all the best gay stuff! Join us for our chat about Grace Perry’s essay collection The 2000s Made Me Gay. We talk about the personal aspects of the collection, Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, Buffy, Mean Girls, The Real World, and of course, anxiety. Tune in on December 27th for our next Bookpisode on Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Rivka Galchen (featuring special guest Ayla Zuraw-Friedland). Then it’s time for a BSG tradition: The Best of the Year episode! Join us on January 10th as we recap our favorite pop culture things of 2021and trade Secret Santa gifts!

TOC
:30–icebreaker
12:50–book intro
14:04–memoir and essay
22:16–revisiting old faves
29:13–the dumbledore in the room
42:50–Taylor Time
1:06:10–Kelli shares a quote, the importance of representation
1:21:45–ratings!
1:26:33–what’s up next?

Come along to the (not as cozy as you’d think) English countryside for our discussion of "Unsettled Ground" by Claire Fuller. We talk about the setting, the writing style, the sibling relationship at the heart of the novel, the twist(s), and whether this book is sadness porn. Read along with us for our upcoming Othersode on December 13th as we shift gears into nonfiction with the essay collection "The 2000s Made Me Gay" by Grace Perry. Then for our next Bookpisode, we’ll be discussing "Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch" by Rivka Galchen on December 27th.

TOC
:30 – Icebreaker q
7:53 – Trigger warnings and book intro
9:11 – What’s the point of the book?
20:21 – Romanticizing poverty and rural life
26:55 – Does the novel seem out of time?
30:33 – Sibling relationships
44:12 – Twists??
52:26 – Ratings
1:04:36 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Gather your gal pals for a listening party as author Gabriella Saab joins the squad for a chat about some of our favorite female friendships in pop culture! From the Spice Girls to the ladies of SATC, we’ve got all our besties covered. After we share our heavily 90s-influenced picks, we talk with Gabriella about her new historical fiction novel “The Last Checkmate,” which is out now and has already garnered some VERY impressive reviews on Goodreads. We dive into Gabriella’s research process, the concept of “chess brain,” and the female friendships at the center of the book that inspired this entire othersode.

Read along for our next Bookpisode on Claire Fuller’s “Unsettled Ground,” coming November 9th, and then prepare for a very mysterious Emily-less Othersode on December 13th, topic TBD. Be sure to send any feedback to [email protected] and we’ll read it on a future episode!

TOC
:30 – welcome Gabriella Saab!
2:44 – Fave female friendships round one: Anna and Maya
10:00 – SATC
17:18 – Ghost World
23:07 – The Spice Girls
29:25 – Friends
38:20 – Round 2! Anne and Diana
45:20 – Ann and Leslie
48:54 – Issa and Molly
53:50 – Cher and Dionne
57:20 – Gracie and Cheryl; Gracie and Agent Sam Fuller
1:03:12 – Talking about The Last Checkmate with Gabriella
1:27:24 – Listener feedback
1:33:36 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Find Gabriella at https://gabriellasaab.com

You’ve heard of a love triangle, but what about a parenthood triangle? Join the Book Squad for our discussion of Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters. We talk about the complicated relationships between the characters, the connection between trans women and divorced cis women, and why people on Goodreads found this book “shocking.” After that, Kelli interviews SJ Sindu, author of the new novel Blue-Skinned Gods. Tune in on November 15th for our next Othersode with special guest Gabriella Saab, author of The Last Checkmate. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller, and check your feeds on November 29th for that episode!

TOC:
:30–Welcome! Halloween plans?
10:00–book intro
11:40–how do we talk about this? Recently divorced cis women
28:15–how is this book going to age?
34:30–Reese loves danger
48:12–why have readers responded stupidly?
1:00:21–ratings!
1:07:23–interview with SJ Sindu
1:36:35–feedback
1:38:48–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?


Torrey Peters interview-- https://www.npr.org/2021/03/08/974705967/seeing-through-a-trans-lens-torrey-peters-pens-detransition-baby

Microdose your smoothie and come along for a peaceful journey through the Hulu series "Nine Perfect Strangers," based on the novel by Liane Moriarty. Returning guest Tirzah Price (author of "Pride and Premeditation") joins us for a wild discussion of how this TV adaptation holds up, what’s missing from the book, what the show is saying about body image, grief, and drugs, and, of course, Manny Jacinto. Join us on November 1 for our next Bookpisode on "Detransition, Baby" by Torrey Peters, plus an interview with SJ Sindu, author of "Blue-Skinned Gods." Then Gabriella Saab, author of "The Last Checkmate" will guest on our next Othersode—stay tuned for the topic! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Send any and all thoughts on "Nine Perfect Strangers" or any of our other episodes to [email protected]!

TOC
:30 – Welcome Tirzah! Intro question
10:00 – Show intro
11:45 – Big changes between adaptations
26:66 – Body image
32:00 – Nicole Kidman…
40:55 – The Marconis and grief
56:24 – The ending in the book and how it was better
1:04:38 – Frances and Melissa McCarthy
1:13:00 – A love triangle, women’s day, and Manny Jacinto
1:26:15 – What’s up next?

Find Tirzah at https://tirzahprice.com/ and pick up "Pride and Premeditation" now!