Amy Schumer has a particular brand of comedy that she’s been developing for a while. She frequently talks about her body and body image in a way that I would venture is self-deprecating, and frames herself as an everywoman. Her newest movie, I Feel Pretty, follows a Schumer character named Renee, who works for the fictional beauty brand Lily St. Claire. Renee longs to be an integral part of the brand, representing it as a secretary in the main office instead of the basement-level computer work she’s previously done for the company. After a fall at SoulCycle convinces Renee she is beautiful (like, model beautiful), she has the confidence to go after her dreams. Nothing really changes about Renee’s appearance, and she still looks the same to the audience as well as her friends. The only change is in her perception of herself. Renee believes she’s beautiful and therefore she is, right?
Read moreRiverdale Recap! S2E19: Prisoners
“There are only three episodes left of Riverdale’s second season”
is a sentence I wish I had typed several months ago, but here we are, ready to recap season two’s NINETEENTH EPISODE. In “Prisoners,” we see the return of several long-lost plot points and receive something like closure regarding one of this season’s most irritating mysteries: Chic.
So, let’s get into it, for the nineteenth time.
Read moreWhy I Love Independent Bookstores & You Should Too
If you missed my interview with Celeste Ng over at Book Riot, maybe you're unaware that it's Independent Bookstore Day today. I mean, I guess you could still know that it's Independent Bookstore Day today without reading this Celeste Ng interview, but I wanted to start this blog post with a shameless plug, so roll with me here, okay? Okay.
So where was I? Oh yes. The last Saturday of April is always Independent Bookstore Day, which has got me thinking about what I love about independent bookstores and why they're so freaking awesome. So here is my informal ode to my favorite indie bookstores (featured above is Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA, btw--more bookstore shout outs to follow).
Read moreHBO's Crashing and My Unwavering Love for Pete Holmes
I listened to Pete Holmes’s podcast, You Made It Weird, long before I ever watched his standup. Because as much as I love standup comedy, I love podcasts by standup comedians in equal measure.
Read moreBSG #14: Birthday-sode / The Mothers
BSG #14: Birthday-sode / The Mothers
The #BookSquad visits SoCal this week as we discuss The Mothers, Brit Bennett's stellar debut novel. We cover motherhood (duh!), guilt, grief, and the like. But have no fear, this isn't a bummer episode! In fact, it's pretty cute. The Squad is celebrating the one-year podversary of #BookSquadGoals, so you'll also get to hear us exchange "secret Santa" gifts in honor of this special birthday. Thank you for listening to us for a whole year, and don't forget to rate and review us and check us out on booksquadgoals.com!
Click through for table of contents and show notes!
Read moreRiverdale Recap! S2E18: A Night to Remember
WHEW. After a short break from our beloved dumpster fire of a show, Kelli and Mary are BACK, BABEEEEE! This week, we’re looking at “A Night to Remember,” otherwise known as THE MUSICAL EPISODE. Join us, won’t you?
Read moreOkay, But Where's My Isle of Cats Movie?
For a lot of people, Wes Anderson's newest stop motion film Isle of Dogs has been out in theaters for several weeks. Anticipating the release of this movie, The Squad had planned on podcasting about the film for our last Othersode (rather than doing Ready Player One, which fellow podcaster Kelli was vehemently trying to avoid... OH WELL, KELLI); however, those of us living in podunk Southern towns just got Isle of Dogs in our theaters this past weekend. So rather than getting a full on podcast about this movie, you're just going to get a review from me, the cat lover. Sorry not sorry.
Here I go. Minor spoilers to follow.
Read moreFeatured Bookstore: Bombshell Comics, Hattiesburg, MS
It's pretty beautiful at night, huh?
Mary tells you all about her featured bookstore of the month, Bombshell Comics!
Read moreANTM Recap: C24/E14 - Next-Level Fierce
Final Four. Again. But FOR REAL for real this time. No, seriously. We mean it now.
Remember Philipp-with-too-many-Ps Plein from the last panel? The guy who seems like he totally only became a designer because he wanted to bang models (but only the skinny ones)? Yeah, we get to spend some serious time with this guy in the finale.
Picking up right from last week’s judging, the final four (round three) go straight to Phillipp Plein’s (hereafter referred to as PP because I don’t have energy for this douchebag) studio to do their fitting for his runway show.
Shanice on the bus ride there: “I just want them to pick a winner.” Girl, so do we.
Read moreA Love Letter to the Ladies of Brooklyn 99
I initially decided to watch Brooklyn 99 because I really like Andy Samberg.
His sense of humor appeals to the part of me that is always drawn to the loudest, most obnoxious person in the room, and I expected that Brooklyn 99 would simply serve as a convenient vehicle for his lovably stupid antics. I didn’t expect to find that Brooklyn 99 is one of the most progressive network sitcoms I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. Its diverse cast of characters doesn’t feel like a collection of tokens or ticked off boxes, but fully-realized human beings.
This is particularly true of the show’s three female leads. Save for a few episodes, Brooklyn 99’s five seasons pass the Bechdel test with flying colors — not to mention the fact that two of its female leads are Latina, a feat rarely accomplished on network television. I came to this show expecting to fall in love with Samberg’s Jake Peralta, but I didn’t realize how hard I would fall for Rosa Diaz, Gina Linetti, and Amy Santiago.
Read more