As a childhood fan of The Dixie Chicks—now known as The Chicks—and longtime Natalie Maines stan, I was primed and ready for Gaslighter to drop. When I first listened to the lead single, also titled "Gaslighter," I loved its energy, marching beat and biting burns ("repeating all of the mistakes of your father..."). When the full album was released, it was pretty clear after listening to just a few tracks that Gaslighter isn't just an album of breakup songs; it's largely Natalie Maines's divorce album. And I'm here for it.
Read moreYA Book Club: The Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwell
Mary: Hello, fellow YA lovers! This month we’re talking about The Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwell. This book follows twins (with different fathers?!) Ivory and Rosie as they grow up, work in the circus, and battle against racism against the Fey. It’s a lot. There’s simply a lot going on in this book. What did you think about all the converging plotlines, Emily?
Also, it should be noted, THERE BE SPOILERS TO FOLLOW.
Read moreInsecure Reflections: On Being Team Molly, If That Even Matters
Like many of you, I’ve been using my newfound time during lockdown to catch up on some of the TV I’ve missed out on over the past couple of years. One of the first shows on my list was Insecure, which, if you haven’t watched it yet, is just as good as everyone has told you it is, and I devoured all 34 episodes in less than a week. Season four may have ended back in June, but I am here to once again throw my belated opinion into the mix, if only because Team Molly appears to be short a few players. That’s right, you heard it here first. TEAM. MOLLY.
(Minor spoilers for Insecure to follow)
Read moreBSG #44: Four Brunettes and a Book / Magic For Liars / Interview with Karen Salyer McElmurray
BSG #44: Four Brunettes and a Book / Magic For Liars / Interview with Karen Salyer McElmurray
Things get a little magical this week as the Book Squad discusses "Magic for Liars" by Sarah Gailey. We cover the inevitable comparisons to those *other* books set in a magical school, how this book works as a mystery novel, and how we feel about our narrator, Ivy. Then, Emily interviews Karen Salyer McElmurray, author of "Wanting Radiance." Later, we dig into a little listener feedback and catch up on what’s happening on the #BookSquadBlog. Rent "The Secret Garden" for our next #Othersode on August 24th, and read along with us for our next #Bookpisode on "We Set the Dark on Fire" by Tehlor Kay Mejia on September 7th!
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read morePoetry and War in Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima, a new game developed by Sucker Punch Productions and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, places players in the shoes of Jin Sakai, a 13th-century samurai hoping to liberate his island home from the clutches of the invading Mongols. The game plays much like other “map games,” inviting players to explore the island and find interesting collectibles along the way. Many aspects of the game are customizable; you can change your armor, your bow color, your weapons. You can even pet foxes that helpfully show you the way to shrines. The game is beautiful, with lush fields of pampas grass and surprisingly detailed NPCs. It’s a fun game.
But today, I’m not here to tell you how fun Ghost of Tsushima is. I’m here to talk about poetry.
Read moreSilvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic: What Did I Just Read?
You might remember your friends here at #BookSquadGoals reviewing one of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s previous novels, Gods of Jade and Shadow, in a podcast episode. This book… is not that book. This one is very different.
One of the things that is so intriguing to me about Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work is her willingness to try different genres. Gods of Jade and Shadow is a play on Mayan mythology set in Mexico during the jazz age. Earlier this year, she came out with a thriller novel called Untamed Shore. And in this, her SECOND novel of 2020, Moreno-Garcia taps into gothic horror.
But was it any good? And what does it mean for something to be Mexican gothic? And can I manage to talk about this book without spoiling anything? And what the heck did I just read?
My answers to follow. And yes, I am going to try to avoid spoilers here. Wish me luck.
Read more“Say Hi Intrepid Heroes!”: Dimension 20 Takes Actual Play RPG Shows to the Next Dimension?!?!
Our sweet band of misfits.
If you’re like me, you love a good actual-play RPG show.
But first, a crash course: an actual-play RPG show is a podcast, Twitch stream, or otherwise recorded content of people playing a role-playing game (usually, because it is the biggest and most popular, Dungeons and dragons a.k.a. D&D). There may be some editing to keep things moving, but in general it is just a group of friends playing D&D, whether they be nerdy-ass voice actors, brothers with their dad, or a bunch of sketch and improv all-stars gathering around a lushly designed set.
Read moreThe Great OCD AMA: Answering Your Questions about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Between a global pandemic, racial violence, and the fact that this is also an election year, it’s no surprise that many of us who experience mental illness are feeling heightened symptoms. I’ve seen more and more people being open about their experience with mental illness on social media this year, and that openness is something I think is important for others to see, whether they have also experienced it or not.
In the spirit of vulnerability, I opened up my DMs on Instagram a few weeks ago to shed some light on my own experience with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Read moreQuarantine Got You Down? VIVARIUM Won't Help
Hello. We’re four months into the Coronavirus takeover of America. I know a lot of people in this country have decided that “we have to move on with our lives” and that “Coronavirus is here to stay.” So they’ve just been vacationing, going to bars, attending Chainsmokers concerts, and what have you. But that’s not the reality in our household right now. Some days the closest I get to an outing is sitting on my porch and staring at the parking lot. Yeah, it sucks. But this is the reality the other half of Americans who aren’t “moving on with their lives” are going through.
So to spice things up, my husband and I have been having movie nights just to give ourselves something to look forward to. This past week, we watched Vivarium, a 2019 film directed by Lorcan Finnegan, written by Garret Shanley, and starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots.
Oh boy. Spoiler-free review to follow.
Read moreOthersode #43: Phantom of the Suburbs / Hamilton!
Othersode #43: Phantom of the Suburbs / Hamilton!
Join us *in the room where it happens* to talk about Hamilton, the 2015 hit Broadway musical that recently became available to stream on Disney+! We talk about our favorite characters and moments, how women are represented, deviations from history (but in a not-annoying way!), other musicals that have had crossover cultural success, and how "Hamilton" represents our particular politico-historical moment. Also—the #BookSquadBlog is back! Check it out for brand new content! For our next #Bookpisode on August 10, read Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey. Then, check out the new film adaptation of The Secret Garden for our next #Othersode on August 24. Send your thoughts on Hamilton or any other topic we’ve covered to thesquad@booksquadgoal.com or DM us on social media @booksquadgoals!
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
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