Adult Book Club

This episode features Book of Night by Holly Black. Spoilers are between the 37 – 1:17 minute marks. We discuss what we liked about the characters, setting and magic of this world as well as how we would treat our quickened shadows. During spoilers we talk about some questions and issues this left us with and then finish with our usual segments, including our second surprise book reveal. Enjoy!

This episode features Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. Spoilers are between the 46 – 1:20 minute marks. We discuss our love for all the characters and this world they live in as well as how this book delivered perfectly on its promise of low stakes and high fantasy. We also touch on what kind of shops our DnD characters would open if they gave up adventuring and finish with our usual segments. Enjoy!

This episode features The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. This is a huge book so spoilers are long between the 56 - 2:14 minute marks. We spend a lot of time discussing which characters we loved and who we could’ve done without as well as the immense world building that went into this standalone novel. We tell you which of the six virtues of Virtudom would be our patron if we lived in this world and Taja ends spoilers with her BEEF with the book. We finish with our usual segments and have our first actual surprise book of the year revealed for our next podcast. Enjoy!

This episode features The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel. Spoilers are between the 45 – 1:30 minute marks. We discuss the characters and the web that she writes them in, as well as the unusual but pleasing set up to the book. We reminisce about Y2K and discuss how this story compares to the real-life events that inspired it during spoilers. We finish with our usual segments and prepare you for our extended break. Enjoy!

This episode features The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. Spoilers are between the 58 – 1:40 minute marks. We discuss how we liked the original idea of Book Eaters and Mind Eaters, but wished there was more emphasis on them and their abilities throughout the story. We also discuss what we think different books we’ve read would taste like and finish with our usual segments.

Russ also discusses his upcoming trip to Rwanda in February, and this is the link ( Ubaka Rwanda ) to the gofundme to raise money for the kids there for their upcoming school fees and day to day living costs. Donations or sharing the link is greatly appreciated!

This episode features California by Edan Lepucki. Spoilers are between the 58 – 1:50 marks. In this we discuss our alternating protagonists, how much we loved the post-apocalyptic setting of this story, another failure to communicate and how we think we’d do trying to survive in this world. We finish with our usual segments and manage to keep it under 3 hours. Enjoy!

This episode features A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Spoilers are between the 1:08 – 2:33 minute marks. We do apologize for our failed attempts at pronunciation of names and would like to warn you to get your tissues ready as this episode gets emotional while talking about Ove and all he has done. We end with our usual segments and discuss a little change for how books will be selected for the show in the New Year.

As a warning, a large part of this story involves Ove’s attempts and planning of suicide which we do discuss in the podcast. Please listen with care.

This episode features Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Spoilers are between the 1:10 – 2:11 minute marks. We discuss the characters, realism and use of games both in the book and our lives as well as the importance of communication. During spoilers we gush about one section in particular and then end with Taja debuting a new segment called What We Got Wrong. Enjoy!

This episode features A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Spoilers are between the 49 – 1:29 minute marks. We discuss our strong female lead as well as the incredibly original setting in this story. We also touch on some of the pieces that felt cookie cutter and what really made it stand out for us. We briefly discuss ways we would collect and store mana and then end with our usual segments. Enjoy!

This episode features Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian. Spoilers are between the 51 – 1:37 minute marks. We had a lot of issues with this book and spend time discussing what we didn’t like about the characters, the set up of the book and Elaine’s use of her oracle abilities. We also discuss who’s power we would like to have and then finish with our usual segments. Enjoy!