SOS Library

By SSLArts Books

SOS Library episodes

October 07, 202421. One Italian Summer: Too Much Sun, Not Enough Fun!
Join us as we dissect One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle—a book that left us longing for an Italian exit! 🇮🇹 Katy, the main character, is a walking "do not recommend" list with her selfish ways and cringe-worthy dynamics. While the twist had its moments and the lesson hit the mark, Katy’s delusional drama made us wish for a better tour guide. Tune in for our hilariously honest take on this Italian misadventure!
Book Club Book of the Month:
One Italian Summer - Rebecca Serle
Next Book Club Book:
Chain-Gang All-Stars - Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Checking In:
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - Shannon Chakraborty

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - Becky Chambers

A Closed and Common Orbit - Becky Chambers

The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan

The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight - Andrew Leland

The First to Die at the End - Adam Silvera

Sharp Objects
Checking out:
Xiao Shi Dai - Guo Jing Ming

The Knockoff - Lucy Sykes & Jo Piazza

House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski

Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson

The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah

Women! in! Peril! - Jessie Ren Marshall

The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan

Book of Doors - Gareth Brown

Thank you for Listening - Julia Whelan

Sweethand - N.G. Peltier
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠
58 min
August 31, 202420. Chalk Full of Mystery: Drawing Conclusions on The Rithmatist?
In this episode, we dive into The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson—a YA book that chalked up more points than we expected! With fun character dynamics, an intriguing world, and a mystery that kept us hooked, we were impressed enough to give it a solid 4/5 stars. Sure, the concept of chalk monsters had us rolling our eyes (and spotting some plot holes), but overall, it was a fun ride that left us pleasantly surprised. Tune in for our thoughts, laughs, and a bit of erasing the rough edges.
Book Club Book of the Month:
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
Next Book Club Book:
One Italian Summer - Rebecca Serle
Checking In:
The Color Purple - Alice Walker

Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson

Still Alice - Lisa Genova

Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 - Stephen Puleo

The Secret Hiistory - Donna Tart
Checking Out:
Xiao Shi Dai - Guo Jing Ming

The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan

Rhythm of War - Brandon Sanderson

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - Shannon Chakraborty

The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight - Andrew Leland

The First to Die at the End - Adam Silvera
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠
1 hr 12 min
July 28, 202419. Beauty Bites: Unmasking the Horror in Natural Beauty
Get ready for a wild ride through the twisted world of "Natural Beauty" by Ling Ling Huang! In this episode, we dive deep into a story that's heavy on body horror and light on consent. With pacing issues that had us checking our watches and science that made us scratch our heads, this book was a time. But don’t fret! Amidst the creepy procedures and questionable ethics, Huang’s sharp commentary on capitalism, beauty standards, and the art world kept us hooked. Tune in for laughs, critiques, and a whole lot of body horror! 📚✨
Book Club Book of the Month:
Natural Beauty - Ling Ling Huang
Next Book Club Book:
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
Favs:
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Artificial Condition - Martha Wells

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone - Lori Gottlieb
Mid:
When Women Were Dragons - Kelly Barnhill

Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros
Check Out:
The Wild Huntress - Emily Lloyd-Jones

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - Becky Chambers

The Gentleman's Gambit - Evie Dunmore

Travelling Cat Chronicles - Hiro Arikawa
Currently Reading:
Stan:
The Color Purple - Alice Walker

Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson
Lin:
The Color Purple - Alice Walker

Xiao Shi Dai - Guo Jing Ming

Still Alice - Lisa Genova
Shan:
Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 - Stephen Puleo

The Secret Hiistory - Donna Tart
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠
1 hr 12 min
June 12, 202418. Cozy Winter Slopes and Romantic Tropes with Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries
This month on SOS Library we are trekking into the unexplored lands of cozy fantasy reads with Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. Was the romance and magical elements a hit or miss for us? Listen to find out! Plus, a discussion on our favorite romance tropes, trends in the current reading zeitgeist, and of course our round up for our best and worst reads.
Book Club Book of the Month:
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries - Heather Fawcett
Next Book Club Book:
Natural Beauty - Ling Ling Huang

Currently Reading:
Stan -
The Gentleman's Gambit - Evie Dunmore

Traveling Cat Chronicles - Hiro Arikawa
Shan -
The Wild Huntress - Emily Lloyd-Jones

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - Becky Chambers
Lin -
Xiao Shi Dai - Guo Jing Ming

Still Alice - Lisa Genova
Favs:
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet - Becky Chambers

Above Ground - Clint Smith

Beast At Every Threshold - Natalie Wee

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Amina al-Sirafi #1) - Shannon Chakraborty

Us Against Them - Fredrick Backman

We Had a Little Real Estate Problem - Kliph Nesteroff

The Maid and the Crocodile - Jordan Ifueko

Once Upon a Leap Year - Anna Bell

There's always this year: On Basketball and Ascension - Hanif
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠
1 hr 13 min
May 29, 202417. Parsing Our Negative Thoughts with To Kill A Kingdom and The Annoying Tag
Come abroad to sail across the Hundred Kingdoms with "To Kill A Kingdom" by Alexandra Christo and her epic fantasy story! Our metaphorical ship also dock at a couple of other stops which includes tackling The Annoying Bookish Tag to discuss our bookish pet peeves as well as our usual highs and low reads for the month. We can't wait for you to dive in with us!
Original Annoying Bookish Tag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeyjxlKKeoE&ab_channel=BooksI%27mNotReading
Book Club Book of the Month:
To Kill A Kingdom - Alexandra Christo
Next Book Club Book:
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries - Heather Fawcett
Currently Reading:
Stan -
There's always this year: On Basketball and Ascension - Hanif

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers
Lin -
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan
Shan -
The Vulnerables - Sigrid Nunez

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros
Favs:
Vampires of El Norte - Isabel Cañas

A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting - Sophie Irwin

A Lady's Guide to Scandal - Sophie Irwin

All Systems Red - Martha Wells
Dislikes:
Lady of the Lake - Andrzej Sapkowski
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠
1 hr 19 min
April 27, 202416. Tripping Arcadia - Rich in Theory, Light in Substance
Strap in for a rollercoaster ride through the posh and plothole-ridden world of "Tripping Arcadia" by Kit Mayquist! 🎢 Join us as we take on this tale of excess, where the only thing deeper than the characters' pockets is the drug-induced haze they stumble through. From lavish parties to questionable life choices, we'll be dishing out laughs and dissecting the lack of substance in this glittery, high-society saga.
Book Club Book of the Month:
Tripping Arcadia - Kit Mayquist
Next Book Club Book:
To Kill A Kingdom - Alexandra Christo
Currently Reading:
Stan -
Alexander Hamilton - Ron Chernow
Lin -
Titan - Ron Chernow

Sappho's Leap - Erica Jong
Shan -
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life In Lyrics - Dolly Parton

The Burning God - RF Kuang
Favs:
Carrie Soto is Back - Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
Dislikes:
Wicked - Gregory MacGuire
Other books read that we didn't hate:
Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson

Xingu - Edith Wharton

Black Friend: Essays - Ziwe

This is What it Sounds Like - Susan Rogers, Ogi Ogas
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay
44 min
March 23, 202415. Unmasking If I Had Your Face & Black Cake's Final Bites
In our latest installment, we dive deep into the captivating world of "If I Had Your Face" by Frances Cha, exploring the intricacies of love, ambition, and identity in contemporary Seoul.
We also serve up a delectable dish of drama with the last four episodes of Hulu's "Black Cake" adaptation. From scandalous secrets to tantalizing twists, it's a binge-worthy feast for the senses!
Tune in for laughs, insights, and a whole lot of bookish and screen-inspired banter as we unravel the mysteries of both worlds. It's the podcast episode you didn't know you needed for a perfect blend of literary and visual delights! 
Book Club Book of the Month:
If I Had Your Face - Frances Cha
Next Book Club Book:
Tripping Arcadia - Kit Mayquist

Currently Reading:
Stan - Words of Radiance (Brandon Sanderson) & Alexander Hamilton (Ron Chernow)

Lin - Titan (Ron Chernow) & Wicked (Gregory Maguire)

Shan - Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier)

Other books read that we didn't hate:
The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

Tales from the Cafe - Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Half a Soul - Olivia Atwater

The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life In Lyrics - Dolly Parton

Ruthless Vows - Rebecca Ross

Resources mentioned:
You're Not Ugly, You're Just Poor - The Financial Diet
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay
1 hr
February 21, 202414. Bootyful Pages and TV Delights: Let’s Crack Open 'Butts' & Hulu's 'Black Cake'
This episode is all about the bottom line! We crack into Heather Radke's 'Butts,' and share some cheeky tales that'll have you in stitches. And, as if that wasn't enough, we slice into the layers of drama in Hulu's 'Black Cake' Episode 4 – this ep is a bottomless pit of entertainment!

Book Club Book of the Month:
Butts: A Backstory - Heather Radke
Next Book Club Book:
If I Had Your Face - Frances Cha
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay
1 hr 16 min
January 16, 202413. New Year, New Reads: Untangle Americanah & Slice into Hulu's Black Cake
Kick off 2024 with us as we explore the brilliance of "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adding a dash of sweetness, we also dish out our take on the first three episodes of Hulu's "Black Cake" adaptation. From delectable drama to surprising twists, we're here to share our thoughts with our signature charm and warmth. It's the perfect start to a year filled with literary adventures and on-screen delights.
Book Club Book of the Month:
Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Next Book Club Book:
Butts: A Backstory - Heather Radke
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay
57 min
December 24, 202311. Why Fish Don't Exist and Other Existential Questions
Dive into chaos with our penultimate 2023 episode featuring the fishy existential wonders of "Why Fish Don't Exist" by Lulu Miller. Are fish in on a cosmic joke? What's the real deal with reality? Life upside down got you pondering purpose? We'll tackle the deep questions (or not) and spill the bookish tea—join the witty chaos! 🐟📚✨
Book Club Book of the Month:
Why Fish Don't Exist - Lulu Miller
Next Book Club Book:
Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Books We Loved:
Flux - Jin Woo Chong

Maame - Jessica George

The Dutch House - Ann Patchett

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
Mid-Tier Books
Black Cake - Charmaine Wilkerson

The 5 People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom

The Master and Margarity - Mikhail Bulgakov

Divine Rivals - Rebecca Ross

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry - Gabrielle Zevin
Books to Avoid
Iron Widow - Xinran Jay Zhao

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina - Zoraida Cordova

The Sun and the Void - Gabriela Romero - Lacruz
Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay
1 hr 2 min

About SOS Library

From the publisher's feed

Save Our Souls Library (aka SOS Library) is a podcast that candidly discusses books without the pomp and circumstance (and expertise) of normal book reviewers. It's just three gals from Queens, New…

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SOS Library episodes

About SOS Library