The dew point is rising, and life has some curve balls for your hosts, but the books get read regardless. This week we discuss Hank Green's debut novel, 'An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.' Come for the giant robots, stay for the nuanced yet entertaining ruminations on fame and power in the internet age.

On the first day of Summer, your podcast brings to thee: a contrived premise for an overdue episode. Would like to say the wait was worth it for an in-depth discussion of Hilary Mantel's award winning novel 'Wolf Hall,' but nope! Instead you'll have to make due with more general ruminations on the historical fiction genre, some recommendations in the manga and sci-fi romance categories, and an eager anticipation for the summer's full potential now that we're almost finished with education seminars / blockbuster videogames.

Summertime is upon us! This week sees your hosts beating the heat with Ian F Martin's comprehensive journalistic chronicle of Tokyo's various music scenes in Quit Your Band!

YWAM has always been a war against time: time enough to read. All too appropriate that we should have to compete with end-of-year work and hit videogames to get in a discussion about the recent viral sensation, Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone's 'This is How You Lose the Time War.'

In light of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces' notorious unadaptability, this week's conversation winds its way around to other literary adaptations, from Bridgerton to Nimona. IRL, the last couple weeks have been particularly hectic for her, but Elizabeth powered through with a triumphant return to the world of genre romances.

Samanta Schweblin's phantasmagoric debut novel Fever Dream has your hosts asking a lot of questions, some of which they (re: Thomas) may feel a little embarrassed to have on record. Meanwhile, the competition hits a surprise milestone!

Today's episode about Jason Reynold's acclaimed young adult novel Long Way Down provides us with a jumping off point for a broader discussion on the topic of banned books.

Looks like that bonus episode was just what we needed to kick this reading competition back into high gear. Both hosts rebound nicely this week with stronger book and word totals, as well as a burgeoning interest in the history of airships.

Here's a special episode that even managed to surprise us a few times. Thomas and Elizabeth make their way through North Carolina, from Carrboro to Durham, hitting up every bookstore in their path! Will we ever financially recover from this latest book haul? Well that's kind of up to you, if you think about it.