BSG #26: Is Eggplant A Berry? / Fruit of the Drunken Tree

March 25, 2019 The Squad

81MT5qAMzGL (1).jpg — BSG #26: Is Eggplant A Berry? / *Fruit of the Drunken Tree*

The #BookSquad takes a shady trip to 1990s Colombia this week as we discuss *Fruit of the Drunken Tree* by Ingrid Rojas Contreras. We talk about the historical fiction genre, trauma and violence, womanhood, and the relationship between the book's two protagonists, Chula and Petrona. Plus, we talk more about *Captain Marvel* and get Susan’s thoughts on how awesome the movie is. There’s plenty of great content on the #BookSquadBlog, including TV recaps, movie reviews and more! LISTEN UP, GOALIES: Please send us listener feedback on any of our episodes or blogs to **thesquad@booksquadgoals.com**. We love hearing from you, and we missed you this week. :)

Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!

Us vs. Us: Our Spoiler-Heavy Review of Jordan Peele's "Us"

March 23, 2019 Mary & Emily

Us is the sophomore follow-up to Jordan Peele’s highly successful critically acclaimed horror movie Get Out, which Mary and Emily both loved. So there was a lot of expectations and excitement over here at the #BookSquadGoals camp for this latest movie. Naturally, Mary and Emily went to see this movie the day it came out and had to get their thoughts down immediately.

With a movie like this, there is a lot to process and there’s a lot going on, so please keep that in mind. Were they better people, perhaps Mary and Emily would have been responsible and would have gone to see this another one or two times before committing their thoughts to the written word. But they’re both too eager for that. And as you’ll soon discover, we are all our own worst enemies.

Naturally, all of the spoilers are to follow. Enter at your own risk.

9 Artist Instagrams to Fix Your Horrible Feed

March 22, 2019 Kelli

I think we can all agree that social media can be a real shitshow.

Here is a cycle I find myself in often: Because I tend to get my information about the world by following people and publications with voices I respect, my feed is invariably flooded with the day’s horrible events and everyone else’s loud opinions about them. When all of the noise starts to stress me out, I decide to switch gears and check out some of the frivolous fashion, lifestyle, and food accounts I follow, but then those accounts start to fill me either with FOMO or a general sense of inferiority. Stop looking at this stuff, I tell myself! It doesn’t matter anyway, the world is literally on fire! Read some news!!!

Switching back and forth between these two extremes is how I end up lying awake far past my bedtime, searching for some note of satisfaction to end the day on, and never, ever finding it. So far, there are only two corners of Instagram that really break the cycle for me: kittens and illustration.

I’m sure I’ll get to kittens eventually, but today I’m highlighting some of my favorite illustrators on Instagram. Follow them to inject a little bit of joy into that endless scroll.

Shrill Teaches Self-Respect and Worth to Fat Women—and Everyone

March 17, 2019 Mary

For fans of Aidy Bryant or Lindy West’s work, Shrill is a big deal. Hulu’s new show is the first show developed by Bryant and Bryant (along with a slew of other notable writers like Samantha Irby, author of We Are Never Meeting in Real Life), and the first to showcase Bryant’s talents as both a writer and an actor. There have been many reviews of this show, not all of them favorable. The biggest criticisms--which I do agree with--are that the show takes its time getting started. The season only contains six episodes (probably due to Bryant’s SNL schedule) and a tight story arc. I argue that’s part of its beauty.

The Bachelor S23E11/12: And Now, Air Supply!

March 14, 2019 Susan & Emily

Picture if you will: Emily and Susan standing in Bachelor Mansion in long, sparkly gowns. Cue the mood music. In walks Chris Harrison. He says, “People. Emily and Susan. This is your final recap of the season. When you’re ready.” We each pick up our final rose, look at one another and gulp audibly. Here we go.