UNspoiled! Mixed Media Club

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Bridge To Terabithia Dec 22, 2018

Show notes

Alright folks. We didn't like this book.
There, I said it.
I just wanted to warn you in case you are very attached to this book and have a lot of loving nostalgia around it, because I figure that even something if I know is problematic but I loved it as a child, I wouldn't particularly want to listen to it get shredded to bits by folks who just discovered it. But that's pretty much what Rachel and I do, so be forewarned.
Between the misogyny, fatphobia, manic-pixie-dreamgirl troping, fridging, and generally treating all the female characters pretty terribly, there just wasn't a whole lot left to like in this book, at least for me. Also, there's that weird milk scene. *shudders*
Many of you will remember Rachel from her guest spot on Charlotte's Web a few months back, and if you're interested in finding more of her you can check out her Quantum Leap podcast called Beckett To The Future by going here! https://www.beckettfuturepod.com/

The Last Wish Dec 17, 2018

Show notes

It's the final episode of the main UNspoiled! Book Club list for 2018, and in this episode RoShawn and I discuss Andrezej Sapkowski's The Last Wish, the first book in The Witcher series.
RoShawn and I liked the mythology and stories in this book, but we had a big problem with the structure and the way the whole thing was presented. We both listened to the audiobook, which was probably part of the problem, but frankly I'm not totally convinced this would have worked that much better for me if I had sat down and read it.
When we were able to follow along, we were surprised and interested to see that there are a lot of callouts and homages to some really classic fairy tales, which I don't think either of us were expecting. I really liked the concept of Witchers, who are basically for-hire monster-hunters with really intense training and even some biological alterations to make them more adept fighters.
As much as I liked the universe, though, I don't think this first book was a good introduction to it and I'm left somewhat frustrated. What do you all think of this book?

Childhood Favorites: The Phantom Tollbooth Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

Many thanks to Erin Ayers from Over The Tabletop (which you can find out about here :
https://overthetabletoppodcast.libsyn.com/) for joining me on this episode of Childhood Favorites!
The Phantom Tollbooth was a book that so many people wanted to join me for, and I can really see why. It's a very unusual book that seems to combine elements of the over-the-top style of Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss with some pretty intense elements that I would assign to a more Neil Gaiman type mind.
I'm so sorry I'm releasing this recording so late, but between my trip to LA being the day after we recorded, and then being sick when I got home...well, things go away from me. I hope you enjoy the show, and I will see you all soon with The Last Wish.

The Martian Nov 13, 2018

Show notes

Listeners, Jaime and I are coming at you with an episode on Andy Weir's The Martian, a book which decided that people really wanted to know every last detail about potato farming on Mars. And you know what? That book was RIGHT.
Seriously, long-time fans know that I'm super interested in the boring minutiae that goes into fictional worlds and projects, and The Martian delivers on that pedantic crap in spades and I AM HERE FOR IT. It's rather gratifying to know that this book appealed to so many people, because it means that I'm not alone in my nerdiness.
Also, this was just a really interesting, tense story that managed to have high stakes while also managing to be lighthearted, which is pretty tough. So if you're interested in reading it, you can pick it up here! https://amzn.to/2ROUO1q
And thanks for listening!

Childhood Favorites: Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret Nov 05, 2018

Show notes

Hey there, you wonderful people! I'm here with Carey Anne Farrell, the author of the just-released Forward March, and co-host of the podcast You Can Go Your Own YA. Check out her book here! https://amzn.to/2SLfYyD You can find the site for her podcast here goyourownya.com and she even has a music site here! https://careyfarrell.bandcamp.com/
This was a particularly fun one to read because while I have read it several times as a child, I haven't revisited it in a long time, and so much has changed about my perception of things like religion and puberty that it was totally new this time around. I liked comparing my experience to Carey's, too, because she grew up very concerned about getting her period and getting boobs, while I didn't care about that but had a ton of pressure on me regarding religion.
I hope that you all enjoy the episode, and I will see you next time with The Phantom Tollbooth!

Dead Until Dark Oct 18, 2018

Show notes

First of all, if you all are interested in checking out this book (and if you're looking for something fun, sexy, and fluffy, you should), here is the link to buy it! It's super cheap as a Kindle book but if you can do the audiobook I recommend it. https://amzn.to/2CKxMoJ
Dead Until Dark is the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, and there's a reason why it got made into a smash hit series by HBO. The heroine is sharp and funny and yet flawed, the men are hot and supernatural and involved in shady shit, and the plot is compelling, quick-paced, and feels very much like it's taking place in our world. This means that all the ugly consequences of human emotions, bigotry, and conflicting loyalties play out in the same messy way they really would, and I appreciate that.
Krista was convinced I wasn't going to like this book, but I enjoyed it so much that as of today I'm about to start the fourth audiobook in the series, using up all my audible credits, and it's been a lot of fun. I think that I dismissed these books because of how outlandish the HBO show became but I'm glad that this one was upvoted by the Patrons so that I got to experience it for myself.
Thanks to Krista for cohosting this one, and thanks to all of you for listening!

Childhood Favorites- Redwall Sep 19, 2018

Show notes

This episode I have a very special guest who has been a fan of UNspoiled! from the early days of the show's inception, and who went on to host her own show! Please welcome Amanda Campbell, host of CasterQuest! You can find out more about her show here! http://casterquest.com/
This episode we talk about one of those old faves that you look back on and can't really believe is a children's book. I had totally forgotten how violent this book is, and while I'm not saying I regret reading it or that my parents shouldn't have let me, it really makes me think about how differently we as adults process violence and grief than we did as children.
This book is a lot of fun, with some glaring flaws that both Amanda and I are more than willing to let it get away with due to how much damn fun it is. Riddles and quests, battles and betrayal...it doesn't get much better than this when it comes to children's lit.
Hope you enjoy listening, and hope you can join us for the UNspoiled! October Book Club, covering Dead Until Dark!
You can buy Redwall here: https://amzn.to/2OEiWSU
And buy Dead Until Dark here: https://amzn.to/2xfnhFC

The Dead Zone Sep 08, 2018

Show notes

I'm revisiting Mr. Stephen King yet again this month, and covering The Dead Zone with Alan Kingsley, my trusty sidekick from Hannibal, Justified, and True Detective.
This is one of those cases in which I really enjoyed the book, but I just feel there was a little too much of it. The middle section where Johnny is in his coma is drawn out quite a lot, and while it succeeds in getting the point across of how difficult waiting is, and how uncertain and bleak everything seemed, I think we as the reader had gotten the point long before it was actually over.
However, that being said, I think the story here is really compelling and that there are some really well-drawn characters and moments that tugged at my ole heartstrings a lot. I wouldn't say that this book was horror, exactly, more like suspense/thriller, but there are definitely a few moments that we tiptoe over into horror territory.
I'm very interested to hear from anyone who read this what they thought about it! If you haven't read it yet and you're interested, please pick up a copy here! https://amzn.to/2NOvyXl
My book for the main Book Club next month is Dead Until Dark, which you can grab here: https://amzn.to/2wJ1JAT
PS- I WAS MISTAKEN about the September Childhood Favorite! It isn't Are You There, God, it's actually going to be Redwall which I'm pretty excited about. Find it here! https://amzn.to/2Q5Z2BE

Book Club- Johnny Tremain Sep 01, 2018

Show notes

I'm delighted to be recording with Craig and Andrew from Overdue Podcast again! This was a lot of fun to do because Johnny Tremain was a book with a lot of issues in it that were strangely relevant to today's political landscape, and while I think the Overdue boys tend to shy away from getting too political sometimes, I SURE DON'T! Eventually Andrew joins me on my soapbox and it's pretty great.
But there's way more to talk about here than just politics. There's an overall message about Johnny's pride and hubris that I relate to way more than it probably good or healthy, and we talk about the impact of tying your worth to your work and what happens to your worth if you're not able to continue that work anymore.
Also of course there's the way that Esther Forbes handles the revolution itself and the characters' roles in it, which she does with surprising nuance and subtlety at times. Other times, like Johnny's pride, not so much.
Thanks so much to Overdue for joining me, and thank you all for listening!
If you want to grab a copy of Johnny Tremain, you can get it here: https://amzn.to/2NiHTD1
If you'd like to grab The Dead Zone in preparation for next month's book club, get it here: https://amzn.to/2wq4kPo

Book Club- Neverwhere Aug 09, 2018

Show notes

Hello, me hearties! Make yourself a nice cup of tea and mind the gap, because Miles and I are here to talk to you about Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman.
Art Credit: https://www.deviantart.com/algesiras/art/Neverwhere-Characters-373759105
I'm so glad that this book was fun to read, because after not liking a couple books in a row, I was a little worried when I saw that Neil Gaiman was the next author on the list. Not to say that I don't like his writing, but overall I haven't been quite as impressed with him as many other readers seem to be, and I was worried that I might get a lukewarm rehashing of some other mythology in this book. I'm happy to say that is not the case.
Neverwhere is super imaginative and strange and a little sad, and I love everyday things in the real world being given fantastical hidden aspects. I also thought that the handling of a secret world was handled really well, as it didn't portray the people who have "fallen through the cracks" as the lucky citizens of some gorgeous underground kingdom. Nope, these folks live with constant danger, various levels of filth, and the knowledge that they will go unseen, perhaps forever.
This was a really interesting book and it was a lot of fun to talk about. If you're interested in buying it to read, check it out here: https://amzn.to/2AT5F6D
Next month's books are Johnny Tremain and The Dead Zone, which you can buy here!
Johnny Tremain: https://amzn.to/2OVawXV
The Dead Zone: https://amzn.to/2OV9lrK
Thanks a million for listening, and I will see you in 2 weeks!

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