I am no stranger to writing about musicals on this blog, but today I am bringing something a little bit different. Last school year, one of my students mentioned this musical based on The Odyssey. After listening to it, I became hooked, much to Mary’s dismay. As I have continued to listen to the musical and really think about it, I realized that there was a disconnect for me between how much of the fandom perceives the musical and what its creator intended. So please join me as I put on my PhD in English (with an emphasis in Creative Writing - Poetry) hat and discuss EPIC: The Musical!
Read moreOthersode #111: Woman Preposition Noun / Netflix's The Woman in Cabin 10 with Tirzah Price
Othersode #111: Woman Preposition Noun / Netflix's The Woman in Cabin 10 with Tirzah Price
Things get creepy on the BSG podcast when four unreliable female narrators come together to discuss the Netflix adaptation of The Woman in Cabin 10, based on the thriller by Ruth Ware. This week, Tirzah Price, author of In Want of a Suspect and the upcoming A Matter of Murder, joins the squad aboard our lavish yacht. Tune in as we tackle important questions like: Why is this woman so tired? Why did the movie switch up the story so much? And most importantly, how the heck did Lo Blacklock get herself in this situation yet again in the sequel? If you watch The Woman in Cabin 10, starring Keira Knightly holding an iPhone for the first time in her life, make sure to write in and let us know your thoughts! And tune in next time (Oct 28) as we discuss Katabasis by RF Kuang! And on Nov 11, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne joins us to discuss Midsommar and her novel The Mean Ones! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review, and join our Patreon for exclusive pet pics!
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreBSG #111: Perturbation of the Mind / Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
BSG #111: Perturbation of the Mind / Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
Husband of the Pod Todd joins Mary, Kelli, and Emily for a discussion of John Green’s new nonfiction book, Everything is Tuberculosis. They ask important questions about the ethics of illness narratives, cowboy hats, the US presidents, and whether or not it is sexy to look tired. Plus: an impassioned defense of Paper Towns from a heterosexual white man!
Next Othersode: The Woman in Cabin 10 with Tirzah Price - 10/14
Next Episode: Katabasis by RF Kuang - 10/28
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreSpooktober Returns: Weapons (Day 3 of 10)
Welcome, creepy babies, to the Book Squad Blog, which is totally a thing now and we’re all writing and being really productive!
Weapons is the latest movie from Zach Cregger, who also directed Barbarian (2022) and was a founding member of The Whitest Kids U’Know. The movie follows the events surrounding the disappearance of a 3rd grade class. All of the students Naruto-ran into the night at 2:17 AM, except for one boy, Alex, who knows nothing about the events. This movie is horror, but like Barbarian, it’s not traditionally categorized into a neat box. Let’s talk about it!
Read moreYA Horror to Help You Get Your Creep On
Apparently, we just love horror over here at the BSG Blog! Here’s a non-comprehensive list of some YA Horror novels to get you in the mood this creepy season.
Read moreOthersode #110: Are Twins Even Real? / Sinners with Ally Russell
Othersode #110: Are Twins Even Real? / Sinners with Ally Russell
Author Ally Russell (Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave) joins the squad to discuss Ryan Coogler’s Sinners! Ally graciously stuck around to tell us about her new book as well, and we had a great conversation about the supernatural, cemeteries, and all things strange and unusual. Ally is an absolute gem, and you won’t want to miss this one! Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave is available now wherever you get your books.
Up Next: Everything is Tuberculosis with Todd Osborne (9/30)
And Then: The Woman in Cabin 10 with Tirzah Price (10/14)
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreBSG #110: Clear Lesbian Tendencies / The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
BSG #110: Clear Lesbian Tendencies / The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
In a post-apocalyptic world, a mysterious convent is some women’s only hope for survival, but when the beautiful Lucia enters the scene, the unnamed narrator feels inspired to get to the bottom of the convent’s many secrets. This week, Emily, Mary, and Kelli discuss Agustina Bazterrica’s The Unworthy, covering everything from the structure of the convent's mysterious religion to the merits of writing diary entries with your own blood.
Next Othersode: Sinners with Ally Russell (Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave) 9/16
Next Episode: Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green 9/30
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreOthersode #109: Another Thing / The Thing with Paul Tremblay
Othersode #109: Another Thing / The Thing with Paul Tremblay
Horror author Paul Tremblay joins us for ANOTHER episode, this time to discuss John Carpenter’s The Thing. Then, we turn our lens to Paul as we talk about his latest book, Another, a horror tale geared at younger readers. Tune in for our next episode where we will discuss The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica on September 2 (and follow along on our Fable book club now). On our next Othersode on September 16, we'll discuss Sinners and with Ally Russell, author of Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave!
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreSpooktober Returns??: Together (Day 2 of 10)
Alison Brie and Dave Franco in Together (2025).
Friends, Spooktober is a lifestyle, and, as we’ve mentioned on the podcast many times, we are busy people. But as the weather begins to cool (for some people), the leaves begin to change, and the pumpkin-flavored treats begin to appear on store shelves, it’s time for Emily, Mary, and Kelli to see some horror movies. Here’s our conversation about Together, directed by Michael Shanks.
Read moreBSG #109: Everyone is Mother (Slay) / Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata
BSG #109: Everyone is Mother (Slay) / Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata
Mary, Kelli, and Emily convene to talk about Vanishing World, the latest work by Sayaka Murata to be translated into English. When Amane finds out she was conceived in an unnatural way, it sets her up for a lifetime of mental anguish. Will Amane find her place in normative society? Will she have a child the “right” way? As usual Murata takes us on a wild ride with twists no one saw coming! We discuss how uncomfortable this book made us feel for a variety of reasons, and also talk about Murata’s profile in the New Yorker which left us with more questions than answers. Then, we address an unexpected piece of feedback from the blog.
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read more