Literature & Libations

In this week’s episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss Zeyn Joukhadar’s 2018 novel The Map of Salt and Stars. Topics include parallel journeys, the refugee experience, and the joys of a truly well-done audiobook.  This week’s drink: City of Stars via Bevvy INGREDIENTS: 1 oz Gin 1 oz Sweet Vermouth 1 oz Campari 1 barspoon St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram Orange twist, star anise, or cinnamon stick for garnish...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss a wonderful assortment of feminist as fuck books to add to your TBR! Books, etc. discussed in this episode: Women Talking by Miriam Toews Circe by Madeline Miller The Awakening by Kate Chopin The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman The Vegetarian by Han Kang The Power by Naomi Alderman This Bridge...

Kayla and Taylor discuss Kelly Barnhill’s 2022 novel When Women Were Dragons. Topics include societal restrictions for women, unabashed feminism, and the awesome power of libraries. Also, a wee tangent on the 2012 election… This week’s drink: Tom Collins via liquor.com INGREDIENTS: 2 ounces London dry gin 1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2 ounce simple syrup Club soda, to top Garnish: lemon...

Kayla and Taylor continue discussing the themes and major beats in the second part of Mieko Kawakami’s 2008 novel Breasts and Eggs. Topics include the inevitable end of the human race, the vastness of space, and the tragedy of being born. It’s a really fun episode! This week’s drink: Ume Highball via Diversivore INGREDIENTS: 1 oz whisky 1 oz umeshu 1 tsp ginger juice (from crushed or grated fresh...

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats in the first part of Mieko Kawakami’s 2008 novel Breasts and Eggs. Topics include (titular) titties, the existential crises of 12 year olds, and the badass that is Mieko Kawakami.  This week’s drink: Grapefruit Sake Cocktail via I Heart Umami INGREDIENTS: 3 oz Junmai sake (Nigori or Daiginjo or Ginjo Sake) 2.5 oz gin (pure, distilled) 3 oz grapef...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss contemporary books by Black/African-American authors to add to your TBR. Books, etc. discussed in this episode: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Beloved by Toni Morrison The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta An American Marriage by Tayari Jones The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris More authors...

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Morgan Rogers’s 2021 novel Honey Girl. Topics include Millennials, radio shows, and how we feel So Old when we read about young people. This week’s drink: Honey Rose Old Fashioned via Cocktail Contessa INGREDIENTS: 0.75 oz honey-rose simple syrup 2 oz bourbon 2 dashes apple bitters Garnish: long orange peel rolled into an orange rose, a few dr...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss the life and legacy of Zora Neale Hurston, and offer up suggestions for more classics by African American/Black authors. Books, etc. discussed in this episode: The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison   Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin Kindred by Octavia E. Butler   Native Son by Richard Wright   Quicksand by Nella Lar...

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Zora Neale Hurston’s classic 1937 novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Topics include The Audacity of Men, surviving a hurricane, and the realism of the characters. This week’s drink: Lemonade with Vanilla, Mint and Rosemary via Valerie Stivers at  The Paris Review INGREDIENTS: 8 cups cold water 8 large lemons 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 10 sp...

You heard it right! We're havin' ourselves a giveaway! The goal of this giveaway is to expand our listenership by obtaining more ratings and reviews by you fine people! We will reward you with fun prizes, don't worry! TO BE ENTERED YOU MUST SCREENSHOT YOUR RATING OR REVIEW! Send that screen shot to literatureandlibationspod@gmail.com, or send it so us via DM on our IG page, @literat...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss more debut novels that you should add to your TBR! Plus, Taylor reveals her criminal past… Books, etc. discussed in this episode: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder The Secret History by Donna Tartt There There by Tomm...

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Parini Shroff’s debut novel, The Bandit Queens. Topics include dark humor, the realness of the women in the book, and the genius of Parini Shroff. This week’s drink: Spicy Mango Moscow Mule via Fresh Flavorful INGREDIENTS: 3 oz ginger beer 1.5 oz vodka (jalapeno or habanero infused, optional) 1 oz mango puree .5 oz lime juice (½ lime) 1 ¼ inch...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss the 5 types of books to best kick off your reading year (with great suggestions for your TBR, of course). Books, etc. discussed in this episode: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories About Facing the...

Happy 2023, y’all! For the first episode of the year, Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Ottessa Moshfegh’s 2018 novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Topics include selfishness vs. self-centeredness, the alarming amount of prescription drugs being consumed in this novel, and the genius of the ending. This week’s drink: Dry Manhattan via foodviva.com INGREDIENTS: 2 oz Rye Whisk...

For the last episode of 2022, Kayla and Taylor discuss their favorite reads of the year - podcast books and non-pod books! They also share their reading goals for 2023, reflect on this year’s episodes, and more! Books discussed in this episode: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy Little Women by Louisa May A...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss our favorite holiday books, shows, movies, music, and more! Books, etc. discussed in this episode: Books Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox Hercule...

For the last book discussion episode of the year, Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Melissa de la Cruz’s 2018 novel Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe. Topics include matching original characters with their retelling counterparts, wet noodles, and a truly unhinged summary by Kayla.  This week’s drink: Spiked Eggnog INGREDIENTS: 8 oz eggnog 1.5 oz alcohol (bourbon, whiskey, bran...

Kayla and Taylor continue their discussion of Little Women with part 2 of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel. Topics include “domestic experiences”, what was really going on with Beth, and whether we are Team Jo/Laurie or Team Amy/Laurie. Plus, we find out via science which March sister we are. This week’s drink: Spiced Maple Bourbon Fizz via Half Baked Harvest INGREDIENTS: Spiced Maple Syrup: ½ cup m...

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of the first part of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, Little Women. Topics include the importance of depicting everyday occurrences in literature, how Louisa may have been Team Lesbian, and how birth order may or may not show up in our personalities. Also, Kayla accidentally reveals a MASSIVE spoiler, much to Taylor’s chagrin. Ah, sisters! This we...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss the history of San Francisco’s Beat Movement.  Books, etc. discussed in this episode: Taylor’s sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/04/jack-kerouac-neal-cassady-friendship/622829/ https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Beat_Generation_and_San_Francisco%27s_Culture_of_Dissent https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jack-Kero...

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Jack Kerouac’s1957 novel On the Road. Topics include road trips, the allure of the West, and Really Problematic Men. This week’s drink: The Margarita via liquor.com INGREDIENTS: 2 oz blanco tequila ½ oz orange liqueur 1 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed ½ oz agave syrup Lime wheel and kosher salt, for garnish INSTRUCTIONS Add tequila, orange liq...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss the history of lesbian literature, including some recommendations for your TBR! They also go on a Taylor Swift tangent, which is perfectly understandable because have you HEARD Midnights?! Books, etc. discussed in this episode: The Well of Loneliness  by Radclyffe Hall Women's Barracks by Tereska Torres The Beebo Brinker Series by Ann Ban...

Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Ashley Herring Blake’s 2022 novel Delilah Green Doesn’t Care. Topics include finding your community, utterly abysmal men, and those SPICY lady-on-lady scenes! This week’s drink: Pocket Full of Green via Hendrick’s Gin INGREDIENTS 50ml Hendrick’s gin 8-12 mint leaves 30ml cucumber juice 20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice 35ml aloe vera juice 30m...

In this week’s bonus episode, Kayla and Taylor discuss the history of gothic literature, and give y’all some recommendations for your TBR! Books, etc. discussed in this episode: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner The Graveyard Book...

Spooky Season continues! Kayla and Taylor discuss the themes and major beats of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s 2020 novel Mexican Gothic. Topics include femininity, 1950s outfits, and MUSHROOMS! Mushrooms everywhere! This week’s drink: Black Widow Smash via Half-Baked Harvest INGREDIENTS 8 fresh blackberries, plus more for topping 1-2 tsp fresh rosemary, plus a sprig for serving Juice from half a lemon 1-...