On today’s episode, Chris introduces Elsa to Aubrey Argylle: a pacifistic tour-guide-turned-spy and our eerily emotionless antagonist Vasily Federov of the Colorless Eyes.

Trigger Warnings: this book contains discussions about a character’s adoption, mentions of emotional abuse between partners and occasional mentions of recreational drug use.

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Elsa's GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/elsarochelle

Chris’s GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/162528952-c-mallinger

📖 Sources 📖

Argylle, Elly Conway

In this episode, Chris and Elsa have a discussion of the genesis of the Argylle extended universe.

This leads them into a discussion about where they see the movie industry going and if a connected universe is necessary for a film’s success.

Oh yeah, and their elder Millenial-ness might be showing a little bit more than usual as they discuss what life before streaming was like. 👴🏻👵🏻

((Editing Elsa: I mis-spoke when I stated that Roman Reigns is The Rock’s nephew. He is actually his cousin but I was so caught up in my realization that, for some reason, I said the wrong relation out loud.))

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📖 Sources 📖

Argylle, Elly Conway

Happy Sad Confused Podcast

- Vaughn Interview

https://youtu.be/Y03YwrUyI3A?si=VI00BV3tPVyeURH4

Hollywood Reporter article

- About the movie Argylle

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/argylle-elly-conway-henry-cavill-apple-spy-mystery-1235220772/

Regal movies

- Vaughn interview.

https://www.regmovies.com/movie-news/matthew-vaughn-uses-harry-potter-to-explain-argylle

Variety

- Box Office numbers

https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/box-office-bob-marley-biopic-beats-madame-web-holiday-weekend-1235915397/

The Telegraph

- Interview with Authors reveal themselves.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/elly-conway-argylle-real-true-identity-interview/

Deadline

- Opening numbers for Argylle

https://deadline.com/2024/02/box-office-argylle-1235812281/

Crack open a Code Red and prepare to have your mind blown by the twisty-twists of Lightlark!

Chris and Elsa also discuss whether or not Lightlark qualifies as “cursed”.

And yes, we do talk a touch about Summer in the City as well and whether or not we feel that it has potential based on what was revealed the day it was announced. (There have since been multiple posts and a teaser on Cosmo’s website, linked below.)

((Editing Elsa: I noticed, listening back, that there are some rough spots in the audio that were not present when we were working in our editor. Moving forward, we will listen to the rendered mp3s before deleting the rough drafts. I hope that you’ll forgive us as we learn from our mistakes.))

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Elsa's GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/elsarochelle

Chris’s GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/162528952-c-mallinger

📖 Sources 📖

Lightlark; Alex Aster

Alex Aster’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexaster/

Alex Aster’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alex.aster

Exclusive: Alex Aster's ‘Summer in the City’ Excerpt is Hotter Than the Rest of Your TBR (Cosmopolitan): https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/books/a61588508/alex-aster-summer-in-the-city-excerpt/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZWHCcHgEphySuVrXBqkxG8OeQxmL45K8o-QCNyQ_CTiF6b1tRUwg8didM_aem_R86O2bWVABByHtAP4nN8_Q

In this egg-cellent installment, Elsa hits Chris with the first set of “big twists”.

Betrayals and terrible foreshadowing ensue so crack open a vintage Surge and prepare to crest the bodacious waves (aka lack of continuity) that is Lightlark!

((Editing Elsa: I realized, as I was prepping this for YouTube, there is a point where the edited audio overlaps for a few seconds towards the end. The original audio is no longer available for me to go in and fix so I apologize. The rest of the audio should be fine. I will try to be more mindful while we are editing the audio tracks moving forward. Thank you for your patience.))

Lightlark- The Most Vibrant Display of Overhyped Failure (KrimsonRogue): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5LS_HQHjXA

Map of Lightlark: https://www.patreon.com/posts/map-of-lightlark-107914958

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Chris’s GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/162528952-c-mallinger

📖 Sources 📖

Lightlark, Alex Aster

Warning: Some of the passages we’ll be reading from get a little h0rny. There isn’t any sex but there is some sensual touching and mentions of arousal. If these themes aren’t within your comfort zone, please skip this one and we’ll see you in the next one.

In this installment, Isla lusts after Shadow Daddy Grim, dances with ghosts and continues to be completely obnoxious toward Oro.

Castles crumble while yet other castles appear to possess bizarre architecture.

Oh, and there’s more egg references.

…and Cleo is still the bad guy.

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Elsa's GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/elsarochelle

Chris’s GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/162528952-c-mallinger

📖 Sources 📖

Lightlark, Alex Aster

On this episode, Elsa continues to lead Chris through the ✨️magical✨️ land of Lightlark.

We learn that Isla is a bit of a drama queen, Grim is the (edge)lord of mixed signals and… Oh yeah! Oro’s dying.

Celeste continues to be the most trustworthy bestie of all time while Cleo continues to be accused of villainy.

Azul is also a character in this book sometimes.

📖 Support Novel Ideas 📖

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Elsa's GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/elsarochelle

📖 Sources 📖

Lightlark, Alex Aster

Listen to Alex Aster’s song You Think You’re: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6cz2L1mrDFe5jXhGPV2hs8?si=JCgAeXhvQ6OcecqsmwC7Yg

After a brief hiatus, Elsa is back to introduce Chris to his book boyfriend Oro!

…too bad the real Oro isn’t as fun as Chris’s vision of our golden boy might suggest.

In the first of a two part series, we learn that Isla likes to go swimming before dinner, Grim is kind of a creep and Cleo is definitely the bad guy wink, wink.

Oh, and Lightlark is a shining, cliffy thing with a yolky sun.

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Elsa's GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/elsarochelle

📖 Sources 📖

Lightlark; Alex Aster

Listen to Limbo by Alex Aster here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6cz2L1mrDFe5jXhGPV2hs8?si=5Zj7ZKUZR9esB4uojstntQ

Before we can get into the disasterpiece that is Lightlark, we first must have a discussion about its author.

Just who is Alex Aster?

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📖 Sources 📖

The TikTok That Brought Me Here (@alex.aster): https://www.tiktok.com/@alex.aster/video/6939242279056035077

‘Lightlark’: the very first clickbait novel (Daily Trojan): https://dailytrojan.com/2022/09/15/lightlark-the-very-first-clickbait-novel

Deadline City: Tiktok Tavern w/Alex Aster (season 5, episode 8): https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WsVzdTrdmAnkEOvtYh3if?si=eef46f7b4f1a4ca3

Tiktok author Alex Aster has everyone upset (Reads with Rachel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epib1H5Su-U

the booktok industry plant (Swell Entertainment): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhMRyng0wng

the cult of booktok (Swell Entertainment): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44MHR2iZtNo&t=270s

did tiktok ruin publishing? (Swell Enterntainment): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0r0u_AqbHw

Stressed? A College senior designed an app for that (The Daily Pennsylvanian): https://www.thedp.com/article/2017/01/springpop-eliminate-student-stress

How Negativity-Busting App Springpop Can Help You Get Creative (Brit+Co): https://www.brit.co/creativity-app-springpop/

Meet The 27-Year-Old Latinx Entrepreneur Who Is Now Worth $220 Million (Forbes): https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2022/08/10/meet-the-27-year-old-latinx-entrepreneur-who-is-now-worth-220-million/?sh=3b923853246d

Chris takes Elsa on a journey through their first comic series: something so bad that it actually got exorcized from the cannon of a well-known Marvel Superhero!

Trigger Warnings: discussions around physical and emotional abuse, unwanted pregnancy

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Elsa's GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/elsarochelle

📖 Sources 📖

Trouble; Mark Millar (author), Frank Cho (artist)

Chris teaches Elsa the intricacies of dating the smexiest men alive: F**k boys.

We learn such important lessons as the level of male attractiveness determines how much bullshit a woman will tolerate, cyberstalking is a vital skill and she is absolutely going to be insecure about your hot female friend.

But the most important lesson of all is that Brunch is the most important meal of the day.

📖 Support Novel Ideas 📖

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📖 Sources 📖

How to Be a Boyfriend; Rebecca A. Marquis