Terrible Book Club

This week we're discussing our experience reading Verity by Colleen Hoover. We selected this for today's episode because it has appeared fairly often in reddit posts regarding bad books. Plus, we like to try to touch on current, popular authors when we can amidst the sea of deep weird terrible books we cover throughout the year.

Off-topic musings and derailments include: Paris Uses Maps About It™, the truth of our Dark Lord Mr. Peanut, and we struggle to solve this GRE murder problem.

In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion or mention of ableism and disability prejudice, abortion, child abuse, child death, murder, parental neglect, and sex.

We've released this as an alternate episode if today's regular episode is a bit too much for you on this particular day. Please enjoy the audio from a Patron-only video special from 2021 where Paris and The Mothman (Antiques Freaks Ken) play a guessing game that Chris created. You can find the original video version here if you'd like to see us in all of our three-years-ago-physical-glory.

We know you love the games we come up with sometimes here at TBC, so Chris has challenged Team MothParis to a game where they must choose which bands are real or from rock band romance novels and which musician names Chris made up.

Musings and derailments include: We learn that Terriblo's 2nd in command is The Mothman, Paris realizes she's been lied to by the anti-cryptid media, we sail away on the Nick Crandle Ferry, and are reminded of the horrors of the English language.

*The US general election is TODAY! Get out there and vote in person if you haven't yet voted early or by mail. Head to vote.org for all the information you need to help you cast your ballot.*

We've released an alternate episode for you if today's regular episode is a bit too much to listen to on this particular day. Please enjoy the Patron-only video special from 2021 where Paris and The Mothman (Antiques Freaks Ken) play a romance novel guessing game that Chris created. You can find the audio-only version in our regular feed in your podcast app.

Musings and derailments in this episode include: jihadi dentists, Mt. Rushmore vs. the Grand Canyon, 100% Grade A Real Shadow Wolves, Shadow Dick Wolf, Degrees of Bubbas, how many men could a lawman law if a lawman could law men?

Referenced in this episode:

• Steven Seagal - Wikipedia

• Behind the Bastards did 3 whole episodes on Steven Seagal, one of which is also a review of this book, so if you really want to get pumped full of more 90s action hero history, you can check those out:

  • Part One: Steven Seagal Is So Much Worse Than You'd Ever Imagine

  • Part Two: Steven Seagal Is So Much Worse Than You'd Ever Imagine

  • Steven Seagal Wrote a Book (We Read It)

• Joe Arpaio - Wikipedia

• Tom Morrissey

• ICE Shadow Wolves

• Did 800 terrorists come over the Mexican border into the US in 2024?

• The Dark History Of The Texas Rangers (36 minute listen)

In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode discusses or mentions: right-wing talking points (e.g. open borders/immigration, drug cartel violence, etc.), law enforcement worship, some magical native vibes, and a guest appearance from the R-slur.

This was recommended eons ago in the age of 2021 by Twitter user KirliaHookah who described this book as, "Hey what if we crossed Sabrina the Teenage Witch with Mean Girls poorly?" which turned out to be perfectly accurate.

Musings and derailments in this episode include: Chris's DeathNote powers, George Michael Clooney, the Dance of Tables, the limits of school guidance counselors, Chris's criminal past, and we play a magic word guessing game.

In addition to our barnyard langauge, today's episode includes discussion or mention of bullying.

Happy Octoberween, dear listeners! In honor of the season, we bring you some spook-adjacent books for October's episodes. Today, our favorite guest Mary Parker is back with the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera musical - in book form! Although it was also turned into a musical, but remember this book is not the sequel to the original Phantom of the Opera book by Gaston Leroux...yeah.

Musings and derailments in this episode include: the morning routine underneath the Opera Populaire, Paris transforms into Girl Boss Mammon, Mary becomes a Valley Girl Priest, and Chris plays God.

In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion or mention of ableism, accidents leading to physical disfigurement, guns, murder, and suicide.

Julius the Nice Dragon offered us a true Patron's Choice: Return to The Dunks or choose a new path. We still had plenty of iced coffees to trade, so we made the only choice we could as Bostonians.

We rarely recommend prerequisites for episodes, but we think you should check out our review of the first book in this series before listening to today's episode because a) it's a good episode and b) we'll address elements of the series in that episode that we skipped today: Episode 165 - First, Impressions (Book #1 of Last Intentions) by SJ Saunders Patron's Choice

Musings and derailments in this episode include: Boston, the MBTA, Mass Metal Gear Solid, store brand names, and a brief glimpse into Fourth Wing horrors (this was recorded much earlier this year and was perhaps where Chris got his idea to surprise Paris on the 200th episode).

*Local primaries and the general election are both coming up fast! Head to vote.org to check your voter registration, register to vote, preview your next ballot, or request a mail-in or absentee ballot.*

Referenced in this episode:

• Weird Studies - Visions of the Wasteland: On George Miller's 'Mad Max' Films: On the post-apocalyptic sci-fi glory of the Mad Max franchise
• Folding Ideas - Contrepreneurs: The Mikkelsen Twins: Another fantastic Dan Olson piece on a book publishing MLM/pyramid scheme/scam

In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode discusses body horror, action-movie violence, suicide, guns/weapons, and medical experimentation like cloning, mind control, and genetic alteration.

Chris read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yaros on his own and retold the plot to Paris on this very special Twitch livestream to celebrate 200 episodes of Terrible Book Club. Afterwards, we bestow honors on the last 100 books over 11 categories in the 2nd edition of Terriblo's Choice Awards. Watch the video version of this episode for free on our Patreon!

*The general election is coming up fast! Head to vote.org to check your voter registration, register to vote, preview your next ballot, or request a mail-in or absentee ballot.*

(1:58:47) The 2nd Quadrennial Terriblo's Choice Awards - Episodes 101-199:

• Biggest Surprise: The Golden Basement
• Most Unholy Abomination: Splattering Yet Endearing
• Most Toxic Message: The 1776 Report
• The ExcavatingLizard My Immortal Award for Worst Editing/or Proofreading: Tied!
  • Interview with the Devil (Part I - Victor's Account)
  • Millenium University
• Most Likely to Become an Off-Broadway Musical: Drag Queen Dino Fighters
• Most Disappointing Character Arc: Things in Jars
• Mary Sue Award: The Man Without Qualities
• Pepe LePew Needless Romance Award: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in His Adventure on Earth
• James Randi Award for Worst Non-Fiction
  • General: Feeding the Dragon
  • Health & Woo-Woo Wellness: Genesis Diet
• Best Romance:
  • in a Drama: Valentine's Day For Baby Zeke
  • in a Comedy: The Hog
• Worst Book from Ep. 101-199: Reaper's Creek by Onision

In addition to our usual barnyard language, this episode includes references to sex, murder, violence, weapons, and poisoning.

We finally got around to checking out this 2023 BookTok phenomenon thanks to our Patron Austin, who described Legends & Lattes as, "a cozy and wholesome story about overcoming your past and settling down to...side with the mob threatening to burn down your establishment."

Despite the nerdy theme, the focus today is more on the cozy than the fantastical. Our poisoned expectations are completely subverted and we've rarely been so delighted. In addition to our usual barnyard language, we warn you that this discussion will make you think about how you could really go for one of those right now.

Musings and derailments in this episode include: Dunkin' Orcnuts, Squirrel alarms, language failures, Fren-talian gnomes, the extended Mr. Rat family, and our jubilance over not having to read pornography becomes mildly pornographic in our delirium.

*Local primaries and the general election are both coming up fast! Head to vote.org to check your voter registration, register to vote, preview your next ballot, or request a mail-in or absentee ballot.*

This time, we read stuff NOT for TBC, listened to music, watched TV and movies, and played video games! After a failed guest episode, we had to fill the schedule so we decided to do another recap of the non-TBC books, music, and video games we've enjoyed so far this year like we did at the end of last year.

If this is your first time listening to this show, maybe choose another episode because today we're talking about our personal media consumption so far in 2024, so you'll (mostly) hear about things we actually liked for once.

Musings and derailments in this episode include: our love for the Hendrick's seasonal collection and the Polar Summer Seasonal 2024 flavor line-up; can sexy clowns enter into the Clown Registry? the best and only use for AI; heavy metal doctors; sneaking Andrew Tate into trad metal playlists on YouTube; and Skibidi Toilet Trees.

*Local primaries and the general election are both coming up fast! Head to vote.org to check your voter registration, register to vote, preview your next ballot, or request a mail-in or absentee ballot.*

Books (3:35):

• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

• Grave Goods & A Murderous Procession from The Mistress of the Art of Death series by Ariana Franklin

• What My Bones Know by Samantha Foo

• Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinneman

• Shadow and Claw by Gene Wolfe

• The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin

• The Deep by Daveed Diggs, Rivers Solomon, and William Hutson

• Egg: A Dozen Ovatures by Lizzie Stark

• Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha

• A Fool and His Money by Anne Wroe

• Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer

• The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud

Music (48:40):

• Heavy Music:

  • Ulcerate - Cutting The Throat Of God

  • Vitriol - Suffer And Become

  • Aborted - Vault Of Horrors

  • Wormed - Omegon

  • Entheos - "All for Nothing"

  • Gaerea

  • Vulvodynia

  • Wormhole

  • Smothered Sun

  • Pathogenic

  • Cognitive

  • Ice Giant

  • Leylines

  • Crypt Sermon - The Stygian Rose

  • Savage Oath - Divine Battle

  • Writhen Hilt - Ancient Sword Cult

  • RHÛN - Conveyance in Death

  • Hulder - Verses in Oath

  • Houle - Ciel Cendre et Mis​è​re Noire

  • Myth Carver - "Crimson Terrain" & "King of the Pyre"

  • Triumpher - Storming the Walls

  • Demon Chrome - Hung, Drawn, and Quartered

  • The Watcher - Your Turn to Die

• Electronic, Pop, & Other:

  • Emil Rottmayer

  • oDDling

  • Hotel Pools

  • A.L.I.S.O.N.

  • Jim Kirkwood

  • Maggie Rogers

  • Sabrina Carpenter

  • Obscurest Vinyl - "I Glued My Balls To My Butthole Again" & "You Look Like You Could Use a Fuckin' Lamp"

  • Vivid Bloom - Out of Focus

  • Glass Beams - Mahal

Movies/TV (1:29:40):

• House of the Dragon, Delicious in Dungeon, Fallout, The Boys, Great Pottery Throwdown, The Acolyte, Fargo, Blue Eye Samurai, Dune Part Two, Mad Max: Furiosa, Late Night with the Devil

Video Games (1:59:50):

• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Gobsmacked

A fateful tweet last summer by the author themselves brought this book into our terrible orbit. At first glance, it looked like a short read by someone with expertise in the field they were writing about, so we figured why not? We've never done a travel book on the show! Little did we know: our passports were about to be stamped for a journey on a AI-fueled train to capitalist hell.

Today's episode includes our usual barnyard language and some references to colonialism and sex.

Please Note: Chris accidentally mispronounced Cristiano Rinaldo's first name as Christian throughout the entire episode. Whoops!