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BSG #4: A Tale of Group Parenting, Romance, and BBQ / Perfect Little World Jul 17, 2017

Show notes

BBQ. Child Psychology. Group Parenting. Kevin Wilson's "Perfect Little World" has just about everything, but the Squad would really like some more reality show-style trash, please. Join the Squad as we discuss the novel's characters, pacing, and of course, the significance of the almighty BBQ. Plus, the Squad tells you what we're into lately and answers listener questions on "Horrorstör" and "The Handmaid's Tale." Stick around for hot takes on which Fiennes brother is the superior one and why dry weddings are the worst.
00:16 - Disclaimer: We’re still learning how microphones work
00:56 - Introductions: Cute pet stories!
6:48 - Introduction to "Perfect Little World" by Kevin Wilson
8:40 - General thoughts and our review of the book
13:50 - Subscribe to Book of the Month!!! https://www.mybotm.com/vtsjjnbfwmw8kt9
Use a coupon code to get free shit: REV3 = Free book credit & free tote
15:08 - What happens at the end of the book?
16:10 - Pancakes = love
16:32 - Are there enough chances for Izzy to find love in the novel?
17:56 - Emily REALLY HATES David
19:50 - Tiny Kelli in a black beret in art school
20:35 - Izzy and Dr. Grind and other affairs of the heart
22:31 - If your parents are named Ellen and Jeremy, you were adopted
24:13 - On a craft level, what is the point of having this many damn characters?
25:01 - Preston Grind’s evil parents
26:35 - How the novel deals with mental illness
31:49 - Where are everyone’s parents?
33:45 - Can we talk about BBQ?
39:50 - What made Mary throw the book across the room
43:10 - "Horrorstör" Questions! Panopticon Prisons?
45:34 - Were these employees destined to be punished by the warden? Or was it just random?
50:17 - What motivated the ghosts and the warden?
52:32 - "The Handmaid’s Tale" Questions! Humanizing refugees.
55:55 - Aunt Lydia… how are we supposed to handle her?
58:44 - Happy Father’s Day, Emily’s dad! He has "The Handmaid’s Tale" questions too.
1:11:51 - Women can be just as misogynistic as men
1:13:34 - Things we’re into right meow!
1:21:18 - Get ready to read "The Girl with All the Gifts" by M.R. Carey for next month’s podcast!
1:22:37 - Send us your pet pics and we will post them on Instagram! --- email us at booksquadgoals@booksquad.ink!

Minisode #3: Guess What? I'm a Woman Thing / The Handmaid's Tale Jul 03, 2017

Show notes

The Book Squad dissects the blessed fruit that is Hulu’s 'The Handmaid’s Tale.' Hear our thoughts on the show’s political timeliness and its feminist wins (and shortcomings). We have lots of feelings about Serena Joy, as well as the fabulous red cloaks, and we’re weirded out that Elisabeth Moss is a Scientologist. Spoiler alert: people still really misunderstand feminism, but we try to get their minds right. Under His eye.
1:00 - Intros: How we are healthy
3:50 - Did we even read the book, though? How the show compares to the book/general thoughts on the show
11:00 - Symbolism and cinematography
12:13 - Things that have changed; the squad gets political
18:44 - SERENA JOY!
26:00 - Acting and actors - our preconceived perceptions
28:05 - Men in the show: are they boring or nah?
31:48 - Second season thoughts: unsatisfying endings
33:48 - Actors who say the show isn't feminist/what even is feminism?
+ Read Margaret Atwood's take here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/books/review/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-age-of-trump.html?_r=0.
Also, Emily and Kelli have side blogs.
43:30 - Race in 'The Handmaid's Tale:' "How can you talk about women's issues and not talk about race issues?"
+ Read Angelica Jade Bastién's Vulture piece here: http://www.vulture.com/2017/06/the-handmaids-tale-greatest-failing-is-how-it-handles-race.html
50:50 - Final thoughts - Mary loves capes and cloaks/Emily's haunted school bus
52:47 - Next time on #BSG: A tale of group parenting, romance, and BBQ! Kevin Wilson's 'Perfect Little World.'
On the blog: Mary and Emily's YA summer book club!

BSG #3: Horrorstör: JUST ORSK! Jun 19, 2017

Show notes

This week, the Book Squad explores a haunted IKEA-esque furniture outlet in a discussion of Grady Hendrix's 'HORRORSTÖR!' Warning: spooky sounds to follow.
1:13 - Introductions - What horror movie subgenre is scariest to you?
6:03 - What did we think? General thoughts and Giveaway Info! Official rules here: https://booksquad.ink/giveaway.html
17:19 - The book design
21:07 - Was this book scary?
29:19 - How important is it to be scared of a horror story?
30:34 - We are Babashook!
34:18 - Action descriptions and why they’re hard to read
35:44 - Metaphors, IKEA, and you!
38:00 - Ask a man! Ask a man! Retail work and how it’s horrible, ft Ben, a real life man
47:36 - The end of the book, and PLANET BABY!
50:18 - A 'Horrorstör' TV show is happening! (Also a tangent on 'American Horror Story,' which Mary loves and Kelli hates)
58:09 - Final thoughts on the book
1:00:57 - 'White Teeth' feedback and questions
1:10:38 - More 'Guardians of the Galaxy' questions! Read more about Ego & Imperialism here: http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2017/05/12/the-solipsistic-imperialism-of-ego-in-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol.-2
1:20:08 - Bachelorette thoughts
1:25:40 - Stuff We’ve Been Into Lately
1:30:02 - Next time on #BSG: Handmaid's Tale minisode, followed by full-length episode on 'Perfect Little World' by Kevin Wilson. Read along, and for more info, find us on social media @BookSquadGoals or visit our website at http://booksquad.ink!

Minisode #2: #BookSquadGoals is GROOT Jun 05, 2017

Show notes

This week, the Book Squad lands on Planet Ego for a conversation about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2! Plus, hear our reactions to the first two episodes of the Bachelorette.
0:30 - Introductions & quiz time! Take the quiz along with us here: https://www.sweetyhigh.com/read/guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2-character-quiz-050517
10:18 - General thoughts on Vol. 2
13:30 - Kelli hates poop jokes
14:20 - How does Guardians compare to the rest of the MCU?
19:12 - Listener question time! Question 1: manmotions?
22:40 - Ask A Man!
24:16 - But what about Mantis?
29:01 - Drax's newfound figurative speech
32:17 - Hopes for Vol. 3
34:20 - It's cool to have cool villains
36:00 - Susan's hopes — MORE NEBULA!
38:05 - The B-B-Bachelorette — were our snap judgements correct?
41:20 - Mary's bet. Get in on it!
42:35 - Where did all the Asian men go?
44:00 - What is BIP? Kelli is concerned
46:25 - Episode 2
47:35 - The Demario incident
51:24 - We want Kelli to go on the bachelor
52:38 - Lucas and Lee are terrible people on the internets
1:01:30 - Predictions for final 4
1:03:34 - Next time on #BSG: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

BSG #2: FUTUREMOUSE! / White Teeth May 22, 2017

Show notes

What is FutureMouse? Are our teeth a part of our identity? And who, for the love of god, is KEVIN? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this week's episode as the squad dives into Zadie Smith's 2000 novel 'White Teeth.'
0:20 - Introductions
2:41 - Introduction to 'White Teeth' and first impressions
17:10 - What is an epigraph? The past is the present
22:25 - Concerns over getting culture right—worrying about the Anglicization of culture
24:00 - What's up with the twins?
28:38 - Dr Sick's Murder (?) and its place in Archie and Samad's friendship
37:30 - The Chalfens: our favorite late addition
41:00 - FutureMouse rises
46:05 - Who is KEVIN?
48:18 - Catty corner with Penelope (and Pea)
49:30 - FutureMouse is the present
50:00 - Kelli loves twins - The mirrored experiences of Magid and Millat
51:31 - Teeeeeeeeth
56:20 - Zadie Smith is a boss
59:30 - Mary is obsessed with FutureMouse - FATE
1:01:51 - The end of the book
1:13:30 - Feedback/questions for Beauty and the Beast minisode
1:27:00 Next time on #BSG: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix

BSG Minisode #1: Bonjour! BonJOUR! Bonjour (bonjour) BONJOUR! May 08, 2017

Show notes

Join the Book Squad on a journey to provincial France for a discussion of Disney's Beauty and the Beast! On their first-ever minisode, Emily, Kelli, Mary, and Susan cover the recent live action adaptation of the story and how it compares to the 1991 classic.
Introductions and announcements - 0:50
Beastly - 3:29
Initial reactions to 2017 adaptation - 4:30
Cinderella vs Beauty and the Beast - 8:00
The “Exclusively Gay Moment” - 9:50
Kelli vs. Emily: GASTON - 14:22
But can they sing? - 21:00
Mary loves the Today Show and Josh Groban (also, WHO IS DAN STEVENS?!) - 26:17
"When he touched her, I felt gross"—CGI, bestiality, and the Beast - 28:00
Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber - 30:48
Misc. Thoughts—Prince Adam, weird sex, and Maurice - 31:55
Next time on #BSG - 38:23

BSG #1: Here I Am / Here We Are Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

Books. Pop culture. Doggos and kitties. Four cool ladies trying not to say "like" so much. Join the Book Squad for their first ever episode, a discussion of Jonathan Safran Foer's 2016 novel 'Here I Am'.
Introductions - 1:39
Summary of 'Here I Am' - 4:39
Why did Susan choose it? - 7:25
Initial reactions - 8.25
Emily in the Google Doc - 22:20
Existence or Presence - 23:18
Sam and Gender Identity - 35:09
Foer seems to need a disaster - 46:38
Bachelor/Dancing with the Stars - 1:16:12
Pet time! - 1:17:57
Next time on #BSG - 1:26:06

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