This Must Be The Book

It’s sadly here: the finale of season two. Your hosts Dom, Emily, and Court wrap up this their reading so far for 2021. Listen along to hear more about the gang reflect on the last season of This Must Be the Book, our recommendations for each other’s summer reading, as well as what we’re currently reading!

 

Summer Releases:

The Witch King HE Edgmon, June 1The Library of the Dead by TL Huchu, June 1Nothing but Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw, October 19One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, June 1The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo, June 1The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig, July 20Black Out by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, June 22The Council of Animals by Nick McDonell, July 20Write It In Blood by Rory McConville

 

Staff Reading Challenges:

Dom:Ninth House by Leigh BardugoElmet by Fiona Mozley

Emily:White is for Witching by Helen OyeyemiAlif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

Courtney:The Willows by Algernon BlackwoodThe Feed by Matthew Tobin Anderson

 

What We're Currently Reading:

Emily – Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria MachadoCourtney – Hot Stew by Fiona MozleyDom – Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol

In this episode, we discuss our May book, The Funny Thing About Norman Forman! Listen along to hear more about the team’s thoughts on the book, our recommendations, as well as what we're currently reading!

Staff Recommendations:

Emily – Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech and Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo AnayaCourtney – Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson and Queenie by Candace Carty-WilliamsDom - The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

What We're Reading:

Emily – The Crown of Guilded Bones by Jennifer Armentrout and The Shades of Magic Series by VE SchwabCourtney – Sorrowland by Rivers SolomonDominic – Woodcraft by Owen Jones

In this episode, we discuss our April book, Mozart's Starling! We discuss a lot: anthropocentric views of nature, invasive species, and when The Art of War was written. Listen along to hear more about the team’s thoughts on Mozart’s Starling, our recommendations, as well as what we're currently reading!

Staff Recommendations: 

Emily – Anything by Mary RoachDom – The Lay of the Land by Annette KolodnyCourtney – World of Wonders by Aimee NezhukumatathilWhat We're Reading:

Emily – Spoiler Alert by Olivia DadeCourtney – The Lost Village by Camilla StenDom – Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

In this episode, we discuss our April theme, nature writing and eco-centrism! We discuss the American tradition of nature writing, and how it pertains to our April read, Mozart’s Starling. Listen along to hear more about our theme, as well as what we’re currently reading!

What We're Reading:

Dom – The Family HandymanEmily – Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson a& Blood and Ash Trilogy by Jennifer ArmentroutCourtney – Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi and The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

In this episode, we discuss our March read, A Tip for the Hangman! We discuss what we thought of the book, Marlowe as a character, and Epstein’s use of historical fiction. Listen along to hear more about our March read, our recommendations, as well as what we're currently reading!

Media Mentioned:Titus Andronicus by William ShakespeareHenry the V by William ShakespeareThe TudorsSherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan DoyleRomeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareDr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe

Staff Rec:Dom - Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerEmily - House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneCourtney - The Library of the Unwritten by AJ Hackwith

What We're ReadingEmily - We Hunt the Flame from the The Sands of Arawiya Hafsah FaizalCourtney -Black Buck by Mateo AskaripourDom - Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

In this episode, we discuss our March theme, historical fiction! We discuss the history behind our March pick,  A Tip For the Hangman and what we gain from reading historical fiction. Listen along to hear more about our March theme, as well as what we're currently reading!

Media Mentioned:The Other Boleyn GirlThe TudorsThe Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus by Christopher MarloweThe Jew of Malta by Christopher MarloweThe Merchant of Venice by William ShakespeareThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey ChaucerAll Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria RemarqueThe Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick11/22/63 by Stephan KingKindred by Octavia ButlerHow Much of These Hills is Gold by C Pam ZhangEast of Eden by John SteinbeckWhat We're Reading:Emily - Dear Martin by Nic StoneCourtney - Piranesi by Susanna ClarkDom - Tales From the Hinterland by Melissa Albert

In this episode, we discuss our March read, Pride, by Ibi Zoboi! We discuss Zoboi's narrative as a mode of retelling, gentrification and income inequality, and what we thought of the book overall. Listen along to hear more about our March book, as well as what we're currently reading!

Media Mentioned:Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenPride and Prejudice (2005 film adaptation)The Uncommon Reader by Alan BennettEmma by Jane AustenWhat We Recommend:Emily - Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean RhysCourtney - These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (Honorable mention to Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender)Dom - The Hazel Wood by Melissa AlbertWhat We're Reading:Emily - Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez GillilandCourtney - American Delirium by Patina GonzálesDom - Les Miserablés by Victor Hugo

In this episode, we discuss our February theme, retellings! We'll dive into the history of retellings, from their start in ancient cultures, and work our way up to present day reiterations of stories. We're also joined by our new cohost, Emily Walker. Listen along to hear more about our February theme, as well as what we're currently reading!

Media Mentioned:

The Black Flamingo by Dean AttaN.K. JemisinCity of Brass by S.A. ChakrabortyThe Metamorphoses by OvidMahabharata by VyasaOdyssey by HomerThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey ChaucerHamlet by William ShakespeareMacBeth by William ShakespeareLives by Plutarch, translated by Thomas NorthThe Tragicall Historye of Romeus and IulietRomeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareThe Six Main Arcs in Storytelling, as Identified by an A.I.The Shape of Stories from Kurt VonnegutThe Dark Knight RisesThe Myth of IcarusOedipus Rex by SocratesThe Lion King (1994, animated)A Cinderella StoryCinderella is Dead by Kalynn BayronThrone of Glass by Sarah J. MaasThe Lion King (2019, live action)The Witches (2020, movie)The Witches (1990, movie)The Witches by Roald DahlFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyThe Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten WhiteYoung Frankenstein (1974, movie)Cursebreakers Series by Brigid KemmererBeauty and the BeastInto the SpiderverseThe Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon ScieszkaThe Young Man and the Sea by Rodman PhilbrickThe Old Man and the Sea by Ernest HemingwayTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeJane Eyre by Charlotte BrontëPride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-SmithAbraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-SmithSense, Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Seth Grahame-SmithTwilight Series by Stephenie MeyerTim Burton explains why his movies are full of white peopleAs I Descended by Robin TalleyLovecraft Country (HBO series)S1E7 - Witchcraft 101Snow White by The Brothers Grimm

 

What We're Reading:

Dom – How to Tell a Raven From a Crow andCicada Brood 10 Emerges in 15 States

Emily – The Mask Falling by Samantha Shannon

Courtney – A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos

Welcome back to season 2! We're so excited to get back to chatting about our favorite subject after our short holiday break. In this episode we will be reintroducing ourselves and Dandy Roll Book Club, talking about some exciting changes happening in 2021, and talking a little bit about our January read, How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell.

Dandy Roll Book Club is a monthly book subscription box created to inspire conversation. Join us today!

Media Mentioned:

Waiting For Godot, absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, in which Vladimir and Estragon wait for Godot, who never arrivesAmericana by Luke HealyNeverwhere by Neil GaimanWe Ride Upon Sticks by Quan BerryThe Need by Helen PhillipsSo Many Damn Books PodcastHow To Do Nothing by Jenny Odell

What We're Reading:

Courtney – The Liar’s Dictionary by Ellie WilliamsDom – The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

It's our season finale and we're doing something special in today's episode! Yes, we talk about our December book pick, The Uncommon Reader, but we also highlight some ways you can give back to your community this holiday season. Thanks so much for listening! We will see you all again in January!

Dandy Roll Book Club is a monthly book subscription box created to inspire conversation. Join us today!

 

Ways to Give Back:

Buy our December box and give back to NWA Children's Shelter

Donate to First Book

Donate to We Need Diverse Books

Shop locally and shop small all year round

 

Staff Recommendations

Sophie  – My Bison by Gaya WisniewskiDom – The Polar Express by Chris Van AllsburgCourtney – Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake

 

What We're Reading

Courtney  – The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. SchwagDom – Bone by Jeff SmithSophie – Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh