Today Mary and guest blogger Todd Osborne talk about one of their new favorite shows, Runaways, a Hulu original based on the Marvel comic series of the same name.
The show follows a group of friends--Alex, Chase, Karolina, Gert, Molly, and Nico--as they discover that their parents are not what they seem.
As always, this post will be full of spoilers (though lighter ones than usual). Read more under the cut!
Minisode #9: Star Wars is Just Like the Lizzie McGuire Movie
Minisode #9: Star Wars is Just Like The Lizzie McGuire Movie
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…four women known as the #BookSquad braved crowded theaters on opening weekend to see the new Star Wars movie: The Last Jedi. Listen as we discuss our favorite Star Wars movies, the best characters (Kylo Ren and Poe, duh), what's up with Luke Skywalker, why Leia is still a badass, how the Force works, and of course, PORGS. Plus, we give you the scoop on our next book, Erika Swyler's The Book of Speculation, and what's on the #BookSquadBlog. Don't forget to rate and review us on iTunes. May the force be with you, Goalies.
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Read moreJust Carrie: Reflecting on Carrie Fisher's "The Princess Diarist"
Because I’m a masochist, I decided the best way to read Carrie Fisher’s memoir, The Princess Diarist, was not to read it at all, but to listen to it. I knew going in that it was Fisher herself who narrated her story, detailing her life before, during, and after Star Wars: A New Hope. Like many of the people Fisher writes about in her memoir, I was introduced to Star Wars at a young age. I think I was seven; my brother would have been two. We rented A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi on VHS and our lives were never the same. I wrote ardent fan mail to my heroes — addressed to Leia, Han, and Luke. My brother wept openly when Darth Vader died. We kept A New Hope, never returning it to the video store down the block. It was, and is, part of our lives.
Read moreThe Male Gaze of Zack Snyder’s "Justice League"
If you’re a DC fan like me, then you probably had veiled and desperate hopes for this month’s Justice League—anything to replace last year’s Batman v Superman. And if you’re like me, then you were perhaps pleasantly surprised by the latest film. It maintained the seriousness of the DC comics, as well as the darkness of the threat its main villain carried. And since the threat is darker, the team assembled to fight it is darker. But thanks to Joss Whedon’s influence, we got more comedy in the balance. The overall disappointment with this film was the blatant male gaze that uplifted the macho and the overbearing, and belittled the feminine and the powerful. I will point out things the film did well, but unfortunately, that aspect tainted the majority of the storyline, so much so that it wrote the title of this article itself. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at areas where this film succeeded and failed, starting with the team itself.
Watch out for spoilers after the cut!
BSG #9: I'm More of a Bundy Girl / The Girls
BSG #9: I'm More of a Bundy Girl / The Girls
Dive into the gritty, acid-soaked world of Emma Cline's The Girls with the Squad. Get in the Mansony mood by taking the Which Famous Serial Killer Are You? quiz with us. Then we discuss Cline's writing style and why we love our narrator, Evie, and explore Evie's complex relationships with the various female characters in the book. (Bonus: you get to hear a bit about what the Squad members were like as teenage girls!) We get into the real story of the Manson Family andthe character of Russell, the cult leader from The Girls. Plus, hear what we're into lately, what's on our #BookSquadBlog, and what's coming up in our next episodes. Don't forget to listen to Emily on the latest episode of Everything Trying to Kill You, and be sure to enter our giveaway for The Book of Speculation. Go to booksquad.ink/giveaway for the simple rules!
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Read moreMinisode #8: We Saw It In Our Now Memories / Stranger Things 2
Minisode #8: We Saw It In Our Now Memories / Stranger Things 2
It's time to enter the Upside Down with the Book Squad as we discuss Stranger Things 2. Play some synth music and take the Which Stranger Things Kid Are You? quiz along with us. Then we're talking character arcs, strong female characters, middle school "romance," and 80s pop culture. Don't worry; we do discuss the controversial 7th episode: "The Lost Sister." Plus, we discuss our next book. On our next fullpisode, we get a little murdery with The Girls by EmmaCline. Read along with us and send us your Stranger Things 2 comments and questions!
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Read moreBSG #8: Borne is Flubber, Rats are Forever / Borne
BSG #8: Borne is Flubber, Rats are Forever / Borne
What is Borne? Human? Weapon? Flubber?! The Squad discusses Jeff Vandermeer’s Borne. Join us for the great sci-fi vs. fantasy debate and hear what we think about “The New Weird.” While this book is no Southern Reach Trilogy, there’s still lots of cool stuff going on, including one very questionable twist that shocked Mary in real time. Plus, what’s up next on the blog and the podcast. Rate, review, and enter our next giveaway! Rules at booksquad.ink/thegirlsgiveaway.
Check out this month’s featured book store, Avid Bookshop!
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Read moreMinisode #7: Meltedy Spoonpisode / Room
Minisode #7: Meltedy Spoonpisode / Room
The Book Squad explores the tiny yet oh-so-rich world of Room by Emma Donoghue. We talk about our favorite Jack-isms, Ma's character, and how we feel about the child narration. We also answer a terrible bookclub discussion question and dive into the real (and really awful) story that inspired Room. Plus: Emily and Mary review Happy Death Day, and we tell you what's on the #BookSquadBlog and what's coming up on the podcast. Rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends!
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Read moreBSG #7: Hello, Infant / All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
BSG #7: Hello, Infant / All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
Find out what happens when the whole Book Squad finally agrees on a book! (As Kelli says, now we know "what we can all get on board with.") This week the Squad discusses Bryn Greenwood's All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, and questions their own morals as they root for a very problematic relationship to succeed. Listen as they dissect Wavy and Kellen's relationship, the book's varying POVs, and why they're mostly happy for Wavy in the end. Plus, the Squad answers IT questions and talks about other horror movies. Don't forget to enter our Borne giveaway! Simply rate, review and email us!
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Read moreFear the Witch if You are Christian, Non-Christian, or an Animal Lover
Can I be totally honest with y’all and tell you the reason why I’m not an animal person? They’re too easily won.
I know you’re gonna say I’m wrong, animals are really smart, they’re intuitive about people’s intent, they will guard your house, et cetera. I think it stands to reason, though, that they guard your house because you’ve trained them to do it. That if, let’s say, a gangster drug dealer trained his pitbull to attack you, they’d guard his house and him, too.
I point this out to say that if the family in The Witch hadn’t trusted their many animals, all that shit might not have gone down the way that it did.
(Spoilers ahead.)
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