BSG #31: Speaking of Boning / Circe

August 12, 2019 The Squad

35959740._UY750_SS750_.jpg — BSG #31: Speaking of Boning / Circe

Get exiled with the #BookSquad to the deserted island of Aeaea as we discuss Madeline Miller’s second novel, *Circe*. We talk about our favorite myths, whether this novel is feminist, what’s so great about mortals, witchy witchcraft, and more. We also get into some listener feedback for *The Mars Room* and hear about Emily’s featured bookstore, Star Line Books in Chattanooga. Head to the #BookSquadBlog for more content on your favorite TV shows, movies and other pop culture nonsense. Go see *Where’d You Go, Bernadette?* in theaters for our next #othersode on 8/26, and read the brand new novel *The Memory Police* by Yoko Ogawa for our next #bookpisode on 9/9! Send us your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com, and follow us on social media so you never miss what we’re up to!

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

What Does Veronica Mars Mean in 2019?

August 11, 2019 Emily

Before she was singing about building a snowman in Frozen, and before she was the voice of Gossip Girl, Kristen Bell was Veronica Mars.

It was a simpler time back then. The neo-noir teen detective show Veronica Mars first aired in September of 2004 and ran for for seasons, ending in 2007. This was before the #MeToo movement by about a decade, but the show still took a progressive look at rape culture. In addition to defending rape victims throughout the series, Veronica Mars was also a victim of sexual assault. The fact that Veronica Mars represented and stood up for victims meant something to a lot of people. During its original pre-Donald Trump run, the series also never shied away from dealing with issues of classism, sexism, or racism.

But although the show was canceled in 2007, no one, not even creator Rob Thomas nor Kristen Bell, was ready to let this show go. The show came back for a crowd-funded (hello, I was one of the crowd-funders) movie in 2014. And now in 2019, 15 years after the show originally aired, Veronica Mars and most of the original cast of characters are back.

Three Women: A Review

August 10, 2019 Janet Dale

“It’s the nuances of desire that hold the truth of who we are at our rawest moments.”

Desire as we’ve never seen it before: a riveting true story about the sex lives of three real American women, based on nearly a decade of reporting.

The moment I saw the publisher’s blurb for Three Women, I knew it was something I wanted to read. Seeing it listed on various “most anticipated” lists and then hearing an interview with the author on another favorite podcast (Professional Book Nerds) my anticipation grew.

Because I had a few Audible credits banked, I preordered the book, and the morning it became available I began listening.

Bachelor in Paradise S6 Week 1: Be in a Committed Relationship, or Go Home

August 9, 2019 Susan & Emily

Susan: Welcome to Mexico, everyone! This is our first time recapping BiP, and we are thrilled to be here with all these hot people (including each other).

Emily: Yes, we are very hot. But I am also terrified by what we’re about to get ourselves into because Paradise is a lot. This could be our first and last time recapping Paradise. We have no plan for this. We’re just going to start talking and see how it goes. So… Susan, why don’t you start us off?

Are You The One? Season 8|E8: She’s Literally a Siren, and I’m Happy to be Lured to My Death

August 7, 2019 Emily

Things are heating up in Are You the One? land on Monday nights.

Who could have predicted there was going to be so much drama at semi-nude Under the Sea party? And we’re gonna get there and talk about. But let’s take it from the top.

Susan's #PodSquad: The Dream

August 6, 2019 Susan

"Hey girl! I was just looking at your pictures, and you're so cute! I love how much spunk and personality you have! Have you ever thought about doing what I do? You'd be GREAT at it! I make money just by selling products I love on social media! It's so easy, and I make great money! Right now we're running a special and you can sign up to be a presenter for a MAJORLY discounted price. Plus, FREE products! Are you in?!"

If you haven't gotten at least one DM like this from an acquaintance in the past three years, are you even on social media? These all-to-familiar messages (read: pitches) are from people who work for "Multi-Level Marketing" companies, or MLMs. Some of the more common ones you've probably seen shared on social media include but are not limited to: Rodan + Fields, Younique, Mary Kay, SeneGence (LipSense), Monat, ItWorks!, Arbonne and LuLaRoe. There are countless more. I was already fascinated by MLMs before I discovered The Dream, a podcast from Stitcher and Little Everywhere that investigates and exposes the problems with such companies.

YA Book Club: The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

August 4, 2019 Mary & Emily

YA Book Club is back! And this month, we’re presenting to you (with the help of Mary’s sweet kitty Edward) The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. Read on to see what we thought, and yes, there will be spoilers.

Mary: Hello! This month, we read The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. The basic premise is that a girl named Alice comes from a long tradition of fairy tales--her grandmother Althea Prosperine wrote a famous collection of stories called Tales from the Hinterland. But Alice never met Althea, and figured that Althea wanted nothing to do with her or her mother, Ella. After Ella receives a letter that Althea has died, Alice thinks she can finally stop wondering about her grandmother. But that's when weird things start to happen. Ella goes missing, and Alice must discover what happened to her mother, and discover who she is along the way! Spoilers to follow, of course!

Emily: All the spoilers.

Are You The One? Season 8|E7: My Icy Heart is Melting

August 3, 2019 Emily

Wow, what an eventful night of #AYTO television. There’s a lot to talk about here.

But… before we get into it, a little news about the remainder of this season of Are You the One: it’s moving to Monday nights at 11pm. That’s right. Definitely way past my bedtime. On the one hand, I’m excited about this move because it means I don’t have to wait a whole week for the next episode since it will be coming out THIS MONDAY. On the other hand, how bad is this season doing that it’s getting moved to 11PM on a Monday?? Like, why are you people not watching this quality content?

Either way, recaps will be moving to Wednesdays to adjust to this new programming schedule. Mark your calendars accordingly.

On to this week’s episode.

The Bachelorette S15 Finale: We Can Ship It

August 1, 2019 Susan & Emily

Emily: It all comes down to this, Bach Nash (that’s short for nation). A two-part finale in which we finally find out if Hannah Bama got that fierce love she’s been looking for since Colton’s season. Don’t worry. I came prepared with enough wine to get me through two live episodes. So let’s get into this.

Susan: I made the mistake of not having any wine on hand. I truly regret it.

Featured Bookstore: Star Line Books, Chattanooga, TN

July 31, 2019 Emily

Once a year, my family meets up in Chattanooga, TN to chat, enjoy each other’s company, and yes, usually we wander around in downtown Chattanooga to pick up a cup of coffee and see a movie. It wasn’t until more recent trips that I was able to add shopping at Star Line Books to my list of yearly activities in downtown Chattanooga. Star Line just opened their doors in August of 2015, and they are a welcome addition to Chattanooga’s charming downtown area.

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