In this bonus minisode, we take a break from reviewing/reading books to introduce ourselves. Which host is a Slytherin? Which one of us had a Greek myth-themed birthday party? Who plays softball in jean shorts? Let’s find out!

WILLFUL CREATURES by Aimee Bender & WHITE TEETH by Zadie Smith. Sometimes books make you feel dumb. While Bailey struggles to love WHITE TEETH by Zadie Smith, Toby delights in WILLFUL CREATURES, a short story collection by Aimee Bender. There’s talk of men in birdcages, writing in closets, and hunting serial killers. Plus, we check in with Dillon’s cupboard under the stairs and share an extra credit review of THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL by Abbi Waxman!

FREEDOM by Jonathan Franzen. On this very special episode, Camille Knox and Charlie Sanders (of Weird City, Key & Peele, and the #SOLA Podcast) stop by to break down Jonathan Franzen’s 2010 opus, FREEDOM! We chat about chick lit versus dude lit, what it means to be a St. Paulite, and, of course, Franzen’s obsession with birds.

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL by Anthony Bourdain & STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel. In episode 14, we review STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel—a dazzling dystopian National Book Award finalist—and KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, Anthony Bourdain’s snappy account of life in the “culinary underbelly.” The tell-all inspires us to share some of our own secrets: Andrew’s rage at a catfish, Bailey’s compulsive book smelling, and Toby’s inability to pronounce the word “post-apocalyptic.”

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING by J.R.R. Tolkien & SADIE by Courtney Summers. It may be hard to believe, but fantasy-lover Toby has never read THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING… until now! He reviews the genre classic, while Bailey covers contemporary favorite SADIE by Courtney Summers. We talk about true crime podcasts, listening to music while reading, and Welsh Big Macs. Plus, Bailey makes a juicy confession!

EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid & ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy. We discuss ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy, considered by many to be the best novel of all time. It’s also the longest book reviewed so far on the podcast! Plus, we dig deep into a modern classic, EXIT WEST by Mohsin Hamid, which is significantly shorter. There’s talk of magical doors, annoying farmers, and heavy metal bands.  

THE RADIUM GIRLS by Kate Moore & EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED by Jonathan Safran Foer. In this very special episode, Andrew joins Bailey and Toby in the studio (apartment) to talk about two book club darlings, THE RADIUM GIRLS and EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED. We discuss the not-so-fun effects of radium, Ukrainian cocks of the walk, and punny desserts. Plus, musician Gillian Beth Durkee stops by to talk about her process of composing our intro song.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS by Buzz Bissinger & WICKED by Gregory Maguire. We talk about the source material behind two of our favorite shows: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and WICKED! Both books are… different from what we expected. We also play a new kind of Fantasy Football, and Toby adds three romance novels to his To Read List.

BLINDNESS by Jose Saramago & DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? by Philip K. Dick. In episode nine, the hosts guess the plot of OUTLANDER, debate the feasibility of stealthily reading a book on the subway, and discover what other sci-fi author went to high school with Philip K. Dick. Oh, and they review DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? and the Nobel Prize-winning BLINDNESS.

GIOVANNI'S ROOM by James Baldwin & THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR by Nicola Yoon. While reviewing GIOVANNI’S ROOM and THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, we discuss the books we loved as teens, our opinions on including foreign words in novels, and the best bald Jameses. Plus, we share the incredible titles we were gifted as an April Fool’s Prank.