Book Squad Goals

Join the #BookSquad and special guest Leah Rachel von Essen for our #bookpisode about Akwaeke Emezi’s debut novel, Freshwater. We talk about the novel’s unique, nonlinear narrative structure, mental illness, the spirit world, gender and trauma. Then we get into some listener feedback on Circe and Nine Perfect Strangers and tell you about all of the great recaps, reviews and series on the #BookSquadBlog. Go to the movies and join us on November 18 for our next #othersode about Doctor Sleep, and read along for our next #bookpisode on American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson on December 2!

Table of Contents
0:30–trigger warning and Introductions
5:56–book intro!
8:10–let’s talk about structure
14:20–mental illness and Igbo culture
27:58–gender, trans was, and autobiography
33:07–self harm and sacrifice
35:15–The personalities and trauma
53:00–The Ada?
55:22–ratings!
1:08:39–feedback, finally!
1:15:24–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/writer-and-artist-akwaeke-emezi-gender-transition-and-ogbanje
https://electricliterature.com/how-to-move-between-realities/
http://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/d3bjyz/akwaeke-emezi-freshwater-adama-jalloh
https://whilereadingandwalking.com

Things get downright demonic as the #BookSquad is joined by Mary Kay McBrayer (author and co-host of Everything Trying to Kill You podcast) to talk about Grady Hendrix’s novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism. We talk about rad 80s nostalgia, feminism, religion, class, tropes of possession narratives, and -- most importantly -- friendship! Catch up with us on the #BookSquadBlog with recaps, television and film reviews and more. Read along for our next #bookpisode on Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi (11/4), and go see Doctor Sleep for our next #othersode (11/18)! Don’t forget to subscribe to #BookSquadGoals so our new episodes hit your feed right away. Send your feedback and miscellaneous commentary to [email protected]!

:30–introductions and what would you use to exorcise someone?
11:00–book intro and summary
16:00–what do we make of the 80s nostalgia trend?
23:40–let’s talk about demonic possession
37:00–religion and being raised religious
53:50–the south
57:33–class
1:02:00–humor and horror
1:08:40–what’s scary here?
1:19:00–the ending
1:25:35–comparing all of Grady Hendrix’s work and ratings!
1:34:22–Mary Kay talks We Have Always Lived in the Castle
1:37:24–MK’s new book! (America's First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1642502073/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eIKRDbJTP2ZSG)
1:39:37–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Are you ready to change your life? Join the #BookSquad and special guest Tirzah Price (BookRiot) at Tranquillum House for our discussion of 'Nine Perfect Strangers' by Liane Moriarty. We talk about character development, body image, the “wellness” trend, and most importantly, whether Doritos are good. Head to the #BookSquadBlog for more content, including 'Survivor' recaps, a roundup of fall poems, new TV and movie reviews, and Emily’s Spooktober series. Speaking of spooky things, read along with us for our October 21 #othersode on Grady Hendrix’s novel 'My Best Friend’s Exorcism.' After that, our next #bookpisode will cover Akwaeke Emezi’s debut novel 'Freshwater.' Join us for that discussion on November 4. In the meantime, we want to hear from you! Send feedback on anything to [email protected]!

TOC

:30 – Special guest intro!
4:28 – A spoiler warning, and icebreaker q
14:30 – Summary
17:00 – What about Frances? And are the other characters developed?
24:15 – Body image
36:40 – First of all, Doritos are not good
43:09 – Wellness as a trend
- The Atlantic Goop article: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/08/what-goop-really-sells-women/596773/
58:30 – What’s the deal with the smoothies?
1:06:15 – Grief and healing
1:14:25 – Ratings!
1:21:18 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next? And a plea for feedback

Thanks again to our special guest Tirzah Price! Follow her on Twitter @TirzahPrice and check out her out on Bookriot: https://bookriot.com/author/tirzah-price/

It’s time to get spooky with the #BookSquad and special guests Lisa Kröger and Melanie Anderson, authors of "Monster, She Wrote" (just out from Quirk!!) and hosts of the Know Fear Cast! Join us as we discuss the Shirley Jackson classic "We Have Always Lived in the Castle." We talk about what makes the book frightening, sympathetic magic and rituals, why we love ghosts, and how Shirley Jackson fits into the horror genre. Plus, learn all about Lisa and Melanie’s book and some horror queens you might not have heard of. Head to the #BookSquadBlog for more content, including recaps, reviews and more! Read along with us for our next #bookpisode on 10/7, where we’ll cover "Nine Perfect Strangers" by Liane Moriarty. Our next #othersode will be on #squad favorite Grady Hendrix’s novel "My Best Friend’s Exorcism." Join us on 10/21 for more spooky times!

TOC

0:30 - Guest Introductions and Q&A! Hooray!
27:21 – What would be your last meal?
34:32 – "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" summary and intro
36:32 – What makes this book scary/spooky?
44:50 – OCD, sympathetic magic, and ritual
56:45 – Ghosts, castles, and the ending
1:10:27– How does Shirley Jackson fit into the horror genre?
1:19:10– What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Thanks again to our guests Lisa and Melanie! Be sure to check out the Know Fear Cast at http://www.knowfearcast.com, and order "Monster She Wrote" at https://www.quirkbooks.com/book/monster-she-wrote. You can find Lisa on Twitter at @lbkroger and on Instagram at @lisa.kroger, and you can visit Melanie on her website, http://Melanieranderson.com.

Grab your earbuds before they disappear and listen to our discussion of The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. We talk about the setting, character development, memory and loss, and why this novel feels so timely even though it was originally published in 1994. Then we dig into some listener feedback for our Circe episode and tell you what’s on the #BookSquadBlog. Read along with us for our next #othersode, a spooky time with special guests Lisa Kroger and Melanie Anderson. We’ll be covering the Shirley Jackson classic We Have Always Lived in the Castle on September 23. Then grab a copy of Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers for our next #bookpisode on October 7. In the meantime, keep up with us on social media (@booksquadgoals), and send your thoughts to [email protected].

TOC:
0:46 - Introductions / what would you be happiest to see disappear from your life mysteriously?
6:47 - Goodreads summary & bonus info about Yoko Ogawa
13:00 - Setting & specificity
16:24 - Mary brings up Annihilation again, drink
20:20 - The nontraditional protagonist; is the narrator passive?
26:42 - Making sense of the disappearances
30:34 - Dying on the hill of genre
31:50 - The novel within the novel
38:57–the end of the novel
50:30–is this book psychic?
55:05–ratings and last thoughts
1:04:31–a piece of feedback on Circe
1:07:02–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?


Articles referenced:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/books/yoko-ogawa-memory-police.html

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/12/749538789/quiet-surreal-drama-and-disappearing-objects-in-the-memory-police

Go missing with the #BookSquad as we discuss the new movie Where’d You Go Bernadette?, based on the novel by Maria Semple. We talk about how the epistolary form translates on screen, the depiction of a few female characters, and the thing everyone is wondering: What is Bernadette’s deal anyway? In the second half of this #othersode, Emily interviews Kate Davies, author of the new novel In at the Deep End, which has been described as a “lesbian Bridget Jones.” Then we get into listener feedback on The Lion King (including the politics of asking for refunds at movies) and what’s on the #BookSquadBlog! Read along with us for our next #bookpisode on The Memory Policy by Yoko Ogawa (September 9) and for our next #othersode on We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, featuring special guests Lisa Kroger and Melanie Anderson (authors of Monster, She Wrote and co-hosts of podcast Know Fear) on September 23.

Table of Contents:
0:30–if you were going to run away where would you go?
5:57–film summary
7:00–this is an epistolary novel, but does that translate in the film?
14:54—do we even like Bernadette? What’s her deal?
22:33–Depictions of Asian Women
28:20–issues of books v movies; Elgin
- https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/whered-you-go-bernadette-biggest-changes-from-the-book.html
- https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/whered-you-go-bernadette-movie-review.html
45:10–ratings and final thoughts
46:50–summary of In at the Deep End
51:25–interview with Kate Davies
- the orgasm gap: https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/sex-and-relationships/orgasm-gap-641531
1:20:24—listener feedback on The Lion King
1:27:49–what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Get exiled with the #BookSquad to the deserted island of Aeaea as we discuss Madeline Miller’s second novel, "Circe." We talk about our favorite myths, whether this novel is feminist, what’s so great about mortals, witchy witchcraft, and more. We also get into some listener feedback for "The Mars Room" and hear about Emily’s featured bookstore, Star Line Books in Chattanooga. Head to the #BookSquadBlog for more content on your favorite TV shows, movies and other pop culture nonsense. Go see "Where’d You Go, Bernadette?" in theaters for our next #othersode on 8/26, and read the brand new novel "The Memory Police" by Yoko Ogawa for our next #bookpisode on 9/9! Send us your feedback to [email protected], and follow us on social media so you never miss what we’re up to!

TOC

0:30 – Intros/favorite myths
10:38 – Book summary and hey SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
14:25 – What do we know about The Odyssey? Or Circe? Madeline Miller is a classics scholar and knows it all!
21:27 – Is this a feminist retelling?
30:15 – How does witchcraft feature in the novel?
39:32 – Mortals and the sea nymphs who love them
47:25 – What’s so great about Odysseus?
53:05 – The ending
1:03:30 – Ratings!
1:08:01 – Feedback for "The Mars Room"
1:12:54 – Emily’s feat. bookstore, Star Line Books! Visit them at http://starlinebooks.com/
1:16:42 – what’s on the blog? What’s up next?

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the #BookSquad meets todaaaaay! Get your singing voices ready for our discussion of the new "Lion King" remake. Special guest Said joins us to talk about the visual effects, standout (and not-so-standout) performances, our favorite songs, and storytelling in the Pridelands. Plus we get into some listener feedback on our "Black Mirror" #othersode and talk about what's on the #BookSquadBlog! Read along with us for the next #bookpisode on Madeline Miller's "Circe" (August 12). You've still got three days for your contribution to the Adam Cramond Martin Travel Award to be matched in honor of his birthday this month. Head to the link in our notes!

1:30 - Fav "Lion King" song? Welcome our guest Said!
9:23 - In case you are an alien, here’s what "The Lion King" is about
11:13 - This is a money grab. Do we care?
17:38 - The visuals
22:40 - Shout out to John Favreau
24:08 - Standout Performances
28:13 - Do you wanna complain about Beyonce?
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/lol-beyonc-fully-photoshopped-lion-143300353.html
33:11 - What did they do to “Be Prepared”?
https://www.vox.com/2019/7/17/20694836/lion-king-2019-versus-1994-original-review-comparison
37:33 - If you’re wondering when Kelli and Emily mention that they met Keegan Michael Key, it’s right here.
40:49 - How do we feel about the story?
45:50 - Hamlet tho
49:20 - Closing thoughts
1:00:00 - Over to you, Mary
1:09:05 - The Adam Cramond Martin Travel Grant
https://gail.uga.edu/giving/as/fy19-adam-cramond-martin-giving-page?fbclid=IwAR30i-36Yc1z2Va8fqPKO8IjsZ_Tz16KZnPiuHXpnKHzHimN1EnjW2UrOqI
1:14:40 - "Black Mirror" feedback
1:19:00 - What’s on the blog?
1:24:25 - Next time on the pod: "Circe" by Madeline Miller! And then "Where’d You Go Bernadette"

Where to find Said: https://www.facebook.com/saidmedinaphotography
https://www.instagram.com/said_in_yellowstone/

Things get romantic this week on #BookSquadGoals as we discuss "Evvie Drake Starts Over," the debut novel by Linda Holmes. Special guest Liberty Hardy joins us to talk about pop culture in books, the romance genre, themes of grief and guilt, and of course, our favorite rom-coms. Then we read some listener feedback on "The Mars Room" and "Fruit of the Drunken Tree" and tell you all about the awesome content on the #BookSquadBlog — recaps, reviews and more! Go see "The Lion King" for our next #othersode on July 29, and grab a copy of "Circe" by Madeline Miller for our next #bookpisode on August 12! Send us your feedback on this or any other episode by emailing [email protected]!


TOC

:30 — Introductions/What’s your favorite rom-com?
9:00 — Intro to the novel/ Goodreads summary
11:00 — Let’s talk about Linda Holmes and pop culture in the novel
20:08 — What does it mean to be a romance? (Linda Holmes’s tweet on the matter is here: https://twitter.com/lindaholmes/status/1145309905454280705)
33:00 — Grief and mourning
39:37 — Failure and a different sort of grief
47:17 — Women supporting women!
52:28 — Last thoughts/misc.
56:55 — Ratings
1:02:04 — Check out Hey YA! https://bookriot.com/listen/shows/heyya/
1:03:00 — Feedback
1:08:15 — What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Thanks again to our guest, Liberty Hardy! You can find her on Book Riot and @FranzenComesAlive on Instagram.

If this podcast was a "Black Mirror" episode, the #BookSquad would take over your brain and control your motor functions and force you to subscribe to our podcast...alas, this is just a regular BSG episode, but it’s about "Black Mirror" - Season 5. We dig into this three-episode season and discuss themes of gender, sexuality, teenage girldom, and more. We also talk about the best and worst episodes of the show overall, and what worked and didn’t work in Season 5. Head over to the #BookSquadBlog for reality tv recaps, the return of the Late to the Game and #PodSquad series, and this month’s featured bookstore - Unnameable Books in Brooklyn, NY. Hear listener feedback for our #travelsode, and don’t forget to send in your feedback for this or any other episode to [email protected]. When you’re done with this episode, check out Hey YA, a biweekly podcast by Book Riot on YA trends, adaptations, news, and book recommendations! Read along for the next bookpisode on 7/15 on "Evvie Drake Starts Over" by Linda Holmes (with special guest Liberty Hardy!), and go see "The Lion King" for our next #othersode on 7/29!

TOC

0:28 – Intros and fave "Black Mirror" eps
13:38 – Striking Vipers
32:07 – Smithereens
42:18 – Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too
1:11:53 – Hey! Listen to Hey YA! - https://bookriot.com/listen/shows/heyya/
1:13:22 – Feedback
1:15:01 – Unnameable Books, our featured bookstore (http://unnameablebooks.blogspot.com/)
1:17:43 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?

Links:
Striking Vipers Gizmodo piece: https://io9.gizmodo.com/black-mirrors-striking-vipers-is-an-important-explorati-1835379467
Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too Gizmodo piece: https://io9.gizmodo.com/black-mirror-continues-the-trend-of-making-teenage-girl-1835298702
Ariana Grande Huffpost piece: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-manchester-attack-and-the-resilience-of-teen-girls_n_59243cd4e4b03b485cb50e44