Teaching My Cat To Read: The “very serious” Book Review Podcast

In this episode we discuss the novel Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Listen to the episode to find out what we thought, and more importantly what our cat thought of the book!

Book blurb: Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fortune. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

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Notes: The Discworld Audio books Lottie mentions are by Penguin not Puffin
 
Content Warnings
NA

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Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

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In this episode, we discuss The Inimitable Jeeves by PG Wodehouse. A collection of short stories, published in the 1920’s, the book follows Bertie Wooster and his Valet Jeeves, who solves the hapless problems encountered by Wooster. Featuring why shouldn’t probably steal other authors ideas, colourful clothing, and Bertie Vs a cat.

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Content Warnings
NA

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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In this special episode to kick off series 3, we record us planning the books we are going to read! 

If you want to find out all the books we are reading check out our website for all the details.

Content Warnings
NA

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

Listener Survey
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Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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In this mini-episode we discuss DRACULA by Bram Stoker! We discuss the fun questions we introduced in series 2 for a book we’ve previously read in series 1. Including who’s the manipulator in this book, and what would the right move review be that Dracula is looking for for his London home (he probably won’t have to do a house share for £1k a month…)

We originally read Dracula for series 1 episode 5.

Content Warnings
Na

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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Join us for a discussion of Madeline Miller’s 2012 novel, The Song Of Achilles, which is a modern retelling of the life of Achilles and Patroclus from childhood to death. We talk about the original text of the Iliad (a lot!), the masterful work of art that is the 2004 movie Troy, and which bits of this book made us cry like babies. 

Content Warnings
Particularly heavy discussion of assault and rape throughout the episode.
Also discussion of suicide, murder and war.

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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This week, friends of the podcast, Liv and AJ, join Lotti to discuss all things Cosmere! In this episode we discuss the following books and series: The Final Empire, Stormlight Archive (all four books), Warbreaker, Mistborn era 2, Secret History, Sixth of Dusk, Elantris, Mistborn Era 1… This is not a spoiler free episode. Please check timestamps below.

Things we chat about in this episode about include: Which is our favourite magic system in the series, what is our favourite magical world, why we love Sanderson’s writing, and most importantly, which world we think our darling cat would love to live in.

As always with Sanderson’s Books, Journey Before Destination matters quite a lot. 
P.S. had a few audio issues at the start - apologies! 

See timestamps below for specific spoilers which we feel we'd not want to know about before reading the books. 

 10:49 Hoid using magic systems which shouldn't be there (Stormlight) 

 12:10  Oathbringer (C88), a warbreaker worldhopper, and easter eggs/crossovers 

13:32 Way of Kings Interlude (Who the people at Purelake were) 

17:15 MAJOR SPOILER Rhythm of War. Shallan's backstory, Voidbringers 

19:00 MAJOR SPOILER Rhythm of War - Who gets a shard 

20:22 MAJOR SPOILER - Stormlight Archive/Oathbringer 

30:50 Favourite worldhopping moments from across the cosmere 

32:14 Secret History, and who the leaders of the Ghostbloods is in Stormlight Archive

Content Warnings
NA

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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This week, we’re talking about A Study In Scarlet, the first full-length Sherlock Holmes novel by Arthur Conan Doyle. Join us for a discussion of frontier Mormonism, flatmate compatibility, and - of course - yelling about how badly Moffat and Gatiss botched it on the BBC. Give us a listen to find out what the cat thinks about it all.

Content Warnings
Discussions of misogyny & animal death, 

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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This week, we’re talking about Abhorsen by Garth Nix. Join us for a discussion of character growth, using metaphorical molotov cocktails to exchange one problem for another, and - of course - what the cat would think of it all.

NB: This is the third in The Old Kingdom Series, after Sabriel and Lirael. We’ve read both of these books before! See series 1 episode 4 and episode 22.

Spoiler warning for Amazon’s Wheel of Time Season 1 - Who is the Dragon reborn -  20:21 

Content Warnings

Non-explicit discussion of suicidality, fantasy violence, mention of climate crisis

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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In our mini episodes we take 10 mins to discuss all the fun questions about a book we’ve already read on our podcast! Listen to us chat about which of the characters would be mansplain/manipulate/malewife and if Lizzie Bennet would do well in the world of The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet.

In this episode we discuss PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by JANE AUSTEN! (Originally read s1e1) 

Content Warnings
na

Support the show

Recommend us a Book!
If there’s a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we’ll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).

Social Media
Website: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/
Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

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