Marginalia Pod

Excess? In this book? Never! This week we’re all about lack of moderation as we read chapters 28-33 of The Dream Thieves through the theme of excess. In this section, Maura and the Gray Man go on a really good date. Gansey and Adam are off to Washington, and Ronan is looking for trouble. Noah lets Blue into Monmouth Manufacturing and it’s tempered with hard truths. Adam experiences a moment of cla...

What is reality anyway? Do we all create our own or do we share one or is it both? We unpack the theme of reality this week as we read chapters 21-27 of The Dream Thieves. In this section, Ronan reluctantly gets advice from the women of 300 Fox Way. Gansey organizes an outing to the lake, and Orla comes along to make things difficult (mostly for Blue). Monmouth is subject to three break-ins in the...

This week, we're reading chapters 13-20 of The Dream Thieves through the theme of compromise. There's a lot going on as the Gangsey discover Cabeswater has disappeared. Declan has to save the day, which doesn’t go over well with Ronan. And Ronan, for his sins, brings back a pair of night terrors from his dreams, which he and Gansey have to kill. The Gangsey head out to the Barns to bury the nightm...

🎶And you’re rushing headlong, out of control 🎶 BIG theme this week for us, and for the Gangsey, who are very much NOT in control. In chapters 7-12 of The Dream Thieves, The Gray Man searches for the Greywaren and finds himself charmed by Henrietta. Adam is spread too thin and loses his temper at Blue. Gansey, Noah and Ronan spend a little quality time at Dollar City. And Blue discovers that some...

We’re going back to Henrietta! We’re so ready to get right into the heart of The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater for season 8. This is the second book in The Raven Cycle - we read the first, The Raven Boys, for season 5 . We’re picking up the same overarching theme of connection. This week, we read the prologue to chapter 6 through the theme of secrecy. We’re super excited to spend another seas...

Happy Halloween! Long time listeners of the Pod will know we love a bit of Twilight, so we tried something different and recorded an audio commentary to the film. Queue it up and watch along with us. You can find the show notes  on the website .  This episode was recorded on 16 September 2022. Thanks for listening! We'll be back next week to start season 8. It's time to go back to Henrietta as we...

It’s all over! We reading chapters 44-47 through the theme of satisfaction this week and say au revoir to Anna and the French Kiss. Was this a satisfying journey? Well, it was certainly a different challenge! In this section, Anna and St Clair are friends again, but she feels like they missed their chance. She decides to pay a final visit to Notre Dame. St Clair follows her all the way up to the t...

This week we’re reading chapters 40-43 of Anna and the French Kiss through the theme of opportunity. Who has them? Who wants them? Can you really make your own? We unpack it all this week. In this section, Anna is wallowing in her own misery, convinced everyone hates her and that her life is ruined. Rashmi disposes her of this notion. She confronts St Clair about his poor choices and he fires back...

This week we’re reading chapters 35-39 of Anna and the French Kiss through the theme of hesitation. And you know what, maybe some of our characters should have hesitated a bit more. It gets a bad rap but it’s not always a bad thing! Sometimes you should actually hesitate for a sec! Content warning: We discuss a suicide attempt in the first part of this episode, so if that is triggering for you, we...

We’re all about the law of attraction this week as we dive headfirst into read chapters 30-34 of Anna and the French Kiss! In this section, Anna is happy to be back in beautiful Paris, but astonished to realise that she loves St Clair. When her birthday arrives, her friends take her out for drinks and things get a little sexy... but then they get a lot messy. Uhoh. You can find the show notes on t...

You know what comes from growth? Transformation! That’s our theme this week as we read chapters 25-29 of Anna and the French Kiss this week! Anna is surprised (and dismayed) to discover that Toph and Bridgette are dating. Anna retreats home to stew but Her dad is spending Christmas with them, which isn’t helping! The one bright spot is her friendship with St Clair, which is transforming into somet...

Jen V justifies almost all her nonsense by saying “Hey, at least I’m self-aware!” Cause self-awareness is half the battle! Or is it? We unpack all that this week as we read chapters 20-24 through the theme of, you guessed it, self-awareness. And we're officially halfway through Anna and the French Kiss. In this section, St Clair and Anna spend a magical Thanksgiving weekend together, talking and g...

What’s that saying about understanding being the first step towards acceptance? We’re unpacking what it means to accept the hand life deals you as we read chapters 15-19 of Anna and the French Kiss this week. In this section, St Clair gets messy-drunk and tells Anna something important, but she pretends it didn’t happen. Meredith and Anna do a lot of heavy lifting to carry St Clair through his fun...

We're always striving to heed Ted Lasso's advice to be curious and not judgemental, so reading chapters 11-14 of Anna and the French Kiss through the theme of curiosity was a treat! This week, the atmosphere is charged between Anna and St Clair in a dark cinama, Anna turns down Dave's advances in class, and a playful picnic in the cemetery is spoiled when St Clair gets some really bad news.  You c...

We’re a week in, and so is Anna, as we read chapters 6-10 of Anna and the French Kiss through the theme of complaining. We ponder the difference between venting and complaining, and also ponder the benefits of a good ol whinge. It’s cathartic ok! In this section, Anna’s getting the hang of school, even if she is still anxious, and starts to explore Paris a bit more, with the help of St Clair.  You...

Bienvenue! Welcome! Can you believe it’s season 7 already?? We’re going all in on some pure, lightheaheading YA fun this time as we read Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Our foundational theme is, very appropriately, youth. We kick things off reading chapters 1-5 through the theme of choice this week. You can find the show notes  on the website .  This episode was recorded on 23 July...

We've got our happy faces on today cause we're delving in the glitz, the drama, the passion, of the Pan Pacific Grand Prix. That's right, we're watching the absolute stone cold Australian classic, Strictly Ballroom. Our themes are legacy and conformity so, as you can image, there's a lot to unpack!  It's a bumper ep because we are joined by screenwriter and absolutely delightful human, Andrea Mann...

It’s all over! Our time with this wonderful book as at an end. We read chapters 80-86 through the theme of meaning, and reflect on our journey with Simon, Baz and co. We have A LOT of feelings.  In this final section, Agatha gets caught between the Mage & Ebb. Simon gives the Humdrum everything. Penelope casts a spell that backfires. And in the end, Agatha flees to California, Penny & Simon get a...

Things are rapidly deteriorating for Simon and co, as we approach the end of our journey with this wonderful book. This week we’re reading chapters 71-79 through the theme of destruction. In this section, the Humdrum visits the Grimm-Pitch estate which helps Baz realises that Simon creates the dead spots. Simon sprouts wings and flees to Penny’s. Baz goes to the Numpties for answers and encounters...

So many secrets! Secrets and lies! Looking at you Davey (ugh). This week we’re reading chapters 63-70 through the theme of, you guessed it, secrets. Agatha and Penny turn up at Baz’s place to discover Simon there; the four of them spend the day going over what they know. Agatha tries to walk back her Christmas un-invite, but Simon doesn’t bite. He leaves with the girls only to come straight back t...

The World of Mages is steeped in tradition, and so is Pitch Manor, so it's handy that it's our theme as we get to hang out there with Simon this week! We're reading chapters 54-62 this week. In this section, Simon and Baz share information. Penny does her own research and hangs out with Agatha, but it doesn’t really work for Agatha. Meanwhile, in Lucy’s memories, Davy uncovers a prophecy! Baz and...

Trust your instincts! Yes, Simon, we’re talking to you! We’re reading chapters 45-53 through the theme of instinct this week. Penny and Baz are the dream team snark duo we never knew we needed. Baz and Simon decide to try more of the magic-sharing and end up in… magical space. Agatha uninvites Simon to family Christmas, and Baz steps in with an offer, but it just causes a fight. Simon learns who N...

Is the Mage overly ideological, and did that lead to all our problems? We reckon so! This week we’re unpacking chapters 36-44 through the theme of ideology.  Agatha makes it very clear that she will not be a supporting character in… whatever this is. Penelope won’t leave Watford, either, even though her family is currently being raided by the Mage’s Men. Simon tells Baz about his mother’s visitati...

Our theme is control this week but we're not showing much of it because BAZ IS BACK, BABY! Finally! We're reading chapters 28-35 this week and find out that poor Baz is starving, because he was kidnapped by numpties. Luckily his punk auntie Fiona was there to rescue him. Simon is, of course, weirdly relieved to see him but can’t admit it, so he just gets mad instead. Baz, now that he’s back, can t...

We all inherit something, whether we want to or not. It’s easy to forget that it goes beyond material things, so it was good to keep that in mind as we reframed our thinking while reading chapters 19-27 this week. In this section, the Mage can’t budge Simon from staying in Watford. Simon and Penny work on spells and wait for… something. Baz is still nowhere to be found, and Agatha and Simon finall...