Five or Flop: the Best (and Worst) Historical Fiction Has to Offer

We're back in America! This week we're reading our most modern play so far this season: Vietgone by Qui Nguyen, based on his own family's experiences of coming to America as refugees from Vietnam. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us...

It's Catholic persecution again this week, this time Saint Joan (of Arc) by (George) Bernard Shaw! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for all the latest updates...

Continuing the theme of Catholic persecution (from another angle), we're reading Life of Galileo this week! Brief correction: we know you actually can't make a reservation at Eebee's. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and...

We read Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot—or should we say, Murder in the CAT(S)hedral for how much we're talking about Cats this week. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @...

Another big author is hitting the pod this week: August Wilson! Grace and Erin read The Piano Lesson and talk family, Pittsburgh, and the Great Migration. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, a...

For the first time, Mozart has entered the podcast! A shorter episode today as Grace and Erin discuss if Salieri killed him. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod for...

It's a Shakespeare-aganza! This week, we're reading two of his historical fiction plays: King John and Antony and Cleopatra. Guess which one of us like Shakespeare, and which one of us doesn't! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a r...

We're back with a brand new season, and this time we're reading historical fiction plays! We're kicking things off with a bang by reading (and seeing) the musical 1776. Does it change our opinion of John Adams? Most important, how much are tickets at Ford's Theater? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be rea...

It's the last bonus episode of season five! We watch and discuss Martin Scorsese's Silence, Letterboxd, and the theme for season six. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fi...

We have finally completed all of the Hamnet adaptations: book, movie, and now stage play. Which is the best? Which is clearly and obviously the worst? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and T...

Sorry for some slight mic feedback in this one! For this week's bonus episode, we sat down to watch the 1939 adaptation of Gone with the Wind, and enjoy a Southern potluck at the same time. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and gi...

BONUS EPISODE TIME! Breaking genre and changing course from historical fiction, we recently watched the new Wuthering Heights movie and have a few thoughts... Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagra...

Welcome to the official end of season five! We've saved Erin's pick for last, and this week we're revisiting a beloved pod author to discuss The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell, author of Hamnet. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five....

The end of the season is approaching, so it's Grace and Erin's turn to pick the books! Grace is up first, and we're traveling all the way back to Biblical times with The Red Tent. Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give...

This week, we are joined by Jen Traver to discuss The Persian Pickle Club! We chat female friendship, murder, and quilts. All the good stuff! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fi...

Grace's mom has selected a hugely important work of American literature for us to read this week: Gone with the Wind. As Erin reads for the first time and Grace revisits, they both discuss the book's good and bad qualities and whether it is worth our time ninety years later. Is Gone With the Wind Still Relevant Today? by Ann Edelstein Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and wor...

This week, we're inviting friend and former roommate Spencer to discuss The Paper Daughters of Chinatown! Will this book live up to our expectations? Will there be an implied Magic Treehouse crossover? Who's to say! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or...

Hannah from our Love in the Time of Cholera episode is back, and we're discussing A Gentleman in Moscow! Will this have a better chance at a five than Love in the Time of Cholera? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on...

Jen from Season Four is back, and we're discussing Circe! Now we'll have read both of her books- which do we like more? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @fiveorflop_pod f...

Santiago and his themed cocktails are back, and we're reading Brazil-Maru by Karen Tei Yamashita! But will the drinks be the best part of the episode? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, a...

We're returning to a classic pod author this week, as Grace's friend Kate Weis picks The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See! Will she keep up her streak as Erin's favorite pod author? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and giv...

We're putting the family in Family and Friends this week when Grace's brother Nick comes on to talk about Silence by Shusaku Endo! Which of the three film adaptations should we watch? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give...

Returning guest Kat joins us to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, as well as to share a salacious story or two! But the biggest question: Has she joined the season five Storygraph reading challenge? Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. L...

Grace and Erin are alone in the studio this week, discussing a recommendation from Erin's friend Ryleigh: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok...

Data Scientist Ashley is here again, with a book she's been recommending since season one! We sat down to talk with her about it, and not even technical glitches could stop us! Five or Flop is a podcast dedicated to the best and worst historical fiction has to offer. Each week we'll be reading a new book and rating it on a scale of flop, fine, or five. Leave us a review and give us a follow on Twi...