Emily: It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally here with another installment of QUEER GIRL BOOK CLUB! And this month, we’re chatting about House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson. I picked this one out because I read and enjoyed Henderson’s last book The Year of the Witching. At first, I thought this book was going to be a sequel to that book, but then I heard that the sequel (entitled The Dawn of the Coven) had been pushed back, and that House of Hunger was going to be its own standalone novel. And that it was going to be super queer. So of course I thought… hey, this sounds like the perfect book for our lil club. Despite this cover. Which I’d love to hear Kelli talk about.
Read moreBSG #85: The Best Plagiarism You Ever Saw / Yellowface
BSG #85: The Best Plagiarism You Ever Saw / Yellowface
So what if we stole this whole episode from some other podcast and called it our own? Is that a crime?? JK, this whole episode is our (four white ladies’) original take on Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. We talk about the protagonist’s decision-making skills, satire of the publishing industry and Twitter, cancel culture, and the author’s own publishing experiences. Then we get into some listener feedback with excellent questions and catch up with what’s on the blog. Join us and special guest Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother, for a chat about What Josiah Saw (2021) on 10/17. Then read along for our next bookpisode on Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas on 10/31 — oooh, spooky! Support us at patreon.com/booksquadgoals and send feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com!
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Read moreOthersode #84: BAAAAAT!! / What We Do in the Shadows with Grace Treutel
Othersode #84: BAAAAAT!! / What We Do in the Shadows with Grace Treutel
Be a podcast vampire and consume this episode about What We Do in the Shadows, featuring special guest Grace Treutel! We talk about the show’s mockumentary style, favorite character arcs, the Guillermo of it all, and even fanfiction. Next we talk to Grace about her short story chapbook, From the Humid Chambers of My Heart. Read along for our next Bookpisode about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang on 10/3. Then join us and special guest Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother, for our next Othersode about What Josiah Saw on 10/17. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and consider becoming a patron at patreon.com/booksquadgoals!
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Read moreBSG #84: The Revenge of Emma Fay / Thirst for Salt
BSG #84: The Revenge of Emma Fay / Thirst for Salt
Gidday, Goalies! Join the squad on the sun-drenched Australian coast for a tale of love (?) and loss with Thirst for Salt, the debut novel by Madelaine Lucas. We discuss the writing style, the book’s central relationship, and themes of motherhood. Next we catch up with what might or might not be on the blog and share some news about our Patreon – that’s right, we have a Patreon now! Tune in on 9/19 for our next Othersode about What We Do in the Shadows with special guest Grace Treutel. Then read along with us for our next Bookpisode about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang on 10/3. Send your feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and become a patron at pateon.com/booksquadgoals!
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Read moreOthersode #83: Florida is the Mojo Dojo Casa House of America / Barbie with Nathan Simmons
Othersode #83: Florida is the Mojo Dojo Casa House of America / Barbie with Nathan Simmons
HI BARBIE! It’s girls’ night, plus one Ken (special guest Nathan Simmons)! Join the squad for our discussion of the already iconic Barbie movie. We talk about the film’s brilliant marketing, Barbie’s particular brand of feminism, the excellent cast, motherhood and daughterhood, and of course, the weird conservative backlash. Read along for our next Bookpisode on Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas on 9/5. Then join us and special guest Grace Treutel (author of the chapbook From the Humid Chambers of My Heart) for an Othersode about What We Do in the Shadows on 9/19! Send us feedback (PLEASE) to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com! And while you’re at it, leave us a rating and review on Apple podcasts. Thanks, Barbie!
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Read moreSlogging Through Wheel of Time
Todd: The time has come for another Wheel of Time reading update, and this time Todd (me) is here! To quickly recap, Mary and I spent more than a year “reading” Winter’s Heart before finally finishing it this summer and then zooming through Crossroads of Twilight. We have now almost finished the prologue of Knife of Dreams and we have some thoughts! I will let Mary kick things off by asking this: now that you are through it, how bad was the dreaded “slog”?
Read moreBachelorette S20E07: This Isn't Build-A-Man Workshop
Emily: Better late than never, right? We’re here with your Fantasy Suites recap, although it seems like they’re rebranding and calling these dates “Overnights” more than they’re calling them “Fantasy Suites,” which… is a choice. They’re in Fiji, which is also where Love Island US is this year. How amazing would it be if we could one day get a Bachelor/Love Island crossover? I know it would never happen, but it could be fun!
Bonnie: Send some of the discarded men to the villa!!! Send John to the villaaaaaaaa!!!
Read moreBSG #83: Exorcism for Dummies / Piñata
BSG #83: Exorcism for Dummies / Piñata
Sorry to *bug* you, but we’ve got a new episode here! Join the Squad for a discussion of Piñata by Leopoldo Gout. We chat about the horrors of colonialism, puberty, and of course, whether the book is scary. Next we get into some listener feedback for Chain-Gang All-Stars and catch up with what’s on the ol’ Book Squad Blog, including new Bachelorette recaps. Get ready to party for our next Othersode on Barbie! We’ll be joined by fellow podcaster Nathan Simmons for that one on 8/22. Next, read along for our Bookpisode on Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas on 9/4. Send us any and all feedback to thesquad@booksquadgoals.com and be sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple podcasts, pretty please!
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Read moreBachelorette S20E06: Low Key I Think She Loves Charity More Than Me
Emily: Well, somehow we managed to stay awake during this boring hometowns episode, and we have a recap for you! Hooray! But before we get to that, we need to acknowledge the most important news to come out of Bachelor Nation this past week: former Bachelorette Gabby Windey has a girlfriend! And she’s writer and comedian Robby Hoffman! We are so happy for Gabby!
Bonnie: So happy for Gabby!!!! She’s one of the few people from this franchise that I follow on social media, and she continues to just be such a joy and delight. Love, love, love this news!!!
Emily: And now onto the recap? Let’s see what happens in these hometown dates.
Read moreOthersode #82: Tiny Baby Ice Cream Cones / Fire Island with Tirzah Price
Othersode #82: Tiny Baby Ice Cream Cones / Fire Island with Tirzah Price
Have you ever wondered: What if Jane Austen, but gay? Join the squad and returning guest Tirzah Price for an episode where we explore this very important question. First, we discuss Andrew Ahn’s 2022 film Fire Island, a queer retelling of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Then, we talk with Tirzah about her new book, Manslaughter Park, the third in her YA series of Jane Austen Murder Mysteries — and the first to feature a sapphic romance. If you have comments, questions, or ideas for more gay adaptations of classics, please email us at thesquad@booksquadgoals.com, and follow us on social @booksquadgoals. Stay tuned for our next bookpisode on Piñata by Leopoldo Gout (8/8), and then on 8/22 as we finally dive into Barbie!
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