Mostly Fictional

As the year winds down, we are beginning to brainstorm what our goals will be next year! Books mentioned, in order: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas Mansfield Park by Jane Austen Persuasion by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Private...

Pam shares some crochet projects, and Hallie reads a book about a drug that lets you jump realities. Books mentioned, in order: Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward Chrysalis by Anna Metcalfe My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M Valente McGlue by Otessa Moshfegh West by Carys Davies Clear by Carys Davies The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff The Lost Jou...

In this episode, Hallie breaks a podcast rule and Pam DNF's something straight into the giveaway pile. Books mentioned in order:  Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Wellness by Nathan Hill Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou Friends of the Museum by Heather McGowan Chrysalis by Anna Metcalfe My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M Valente Gone wit...

Hallie reads two art books and we revel in Stiefvater appreciation. Books mentioned, in order:  Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Secret History by Donna Tartt Icarus by K Ancrum The Little Friend by Donna Tartt The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater The Raven Boys by Maggie...

Hallie is still behind on her reading goal, but is many hundreds of pages into her current read! Books mentioned, in order: Great House by Nicole Krauss Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell Landline by Rainbow Rowell Attachments by Rainbow Rowell The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Secret Hi...

In this episode, Pam continues her reread of the Raven Cycle and finishes Hallie's favorite book! Books mentioned, in order:  The Snap by Elizabeth Staple The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Icebound: Shipwrecked a...

What is proper book club etiquette? Also, Pam begins a reread.  Books mentioned, in order:  The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell Playground by Richard Powers Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Emma by Jane Austen Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman How to Do Nothing by Jenn...

Our reading weeks are on the upswing! Plus, Pam picks her next book live on the pod. Books mentioned, in order: Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi What You’re Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. Joh...

We read some stinkers this week! But that's OK -- better books are always on the horizon! Books mentioned, in order: Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin Out There by Kate Folk Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill The Power by Naomi Alderman Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Pride and Prejud...

We only read two books this week, but still somehow had a lot to talk about! Books mentioned, in order:  Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill The Power by Naomi Alderman Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan An...

In this episode, we have 10 finished books to discuss! Plus, Pam did multiple reading challenges. Books mentioned, in order: The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami Th...

We made up our own book tag, inspired by weather!  Books mentioned, in order: Station Eleven Emily St John Mandel A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Cain’s Jawbone by Torquemada Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories Compiled by Neil Christopher Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq The T...

Pam takes part in a Summerween readathon and Hallie couldn't find anywhere quiet to read on a cruise (but still managed to read). Books mentioned, in order: Glassworks by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith  Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy Earthflown by Frances Wren Private Rites by Julia Armfield The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McG...

In this episode: Our take on the mid-year freakout tag! Books mentioned, in order:  The Biography of X by Catherine Lacey The Book of Ayn by Lexi Freiman True Grit by Charles Portis The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire Piglet by Lottie Hazell Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino Sheine Lende: A Prequel to Elatsoe Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, trans...

In this episode, Hallie picks Pam's next book to read, and Hallie shares a DNF. Also, we discuss Author's Notes! Books mentioned, in order:  The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee Icarus by K. Ancrum The Lost Time Accidents by John Wray Pearce Oysters by Josely...

In this episode, Pam has a book haul for her May book, and Hallie isn't sure what she's reading. Books mentioned, in order: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire Middlegame by Seanan McGuire Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Tin Man by Sarah Winman Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Ben...

Pam has two nature horror books to haul and Hallie disliked her book club's choice. Books mentioned, in order: The Book Haters’ Book Club by Gretchen Anthony The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei Sisters at Sea by Yume Kitasei The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware The Fury by Alex Michaelides Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire Middlegame by Se...

In this episode, we have five books to talk about! And don't make this a drinking game for how many titles we mention by Seanan McGuire and/or Cassandra Clare. Books mentioned in order:  In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden My Husband by Maud Ventura translated by Emma Ramadan  Into the Windwracked wilds by A Deborah Baker Middlega...

Pam has more birthday books and Hallie already broke the library book ban for June.  Books mentioned in order:  Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire Middlegame by Seanan McGuire Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire The Seven Skins of Esther Willing by Holly Ringlad The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton The Cure for Drowning by Loghan...

Hallie has a DNF and Pam discovers an all-time favorite author.  Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs Middlegame by Seanan McGuire Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Babel by RF Kuang The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater A Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Pride and Prejudice by...

Climate fiction and serial killers -- our reads this month are obviously Very Happy Subjects! Books mentioned in order:  Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer  Rules of Civility by Amor Towles Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler Silent Spring by Rachel Carson The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu Eleutheria by Allegra Hyde Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy Station Ele...

We return after a forced internet-outage hiatus! Books mentioned, in order: Foxes in Love by Toivo Kaartinen The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut Off the Record by Camryn Garrett The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig The Ministry of Time Kaliane Bradley Bridge of C...

In this episode, Hallie shares her Independent Bookstore Day haul, and Pam has Hallie choose her first read of May.  Books mentioned, in order:  Search by Michelle Huneven Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarth...

In this episode, Hallie has returned from Boston with five finished titles. Plus, Pam has a book acquisition! Books mentioned, in order: The Boston Massacre: A Family History by Serena Zabin Attachments by Rainbow Rowell Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa translated by Stephen Snyder Annie...

In this episode, Pam and Hallie celebrate National Poetry Month! Books mentioned, in order: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler Other Minds: the Octopus, the Sea and the Deep Origins of Consciousness by Peter Godfrey-Smith The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger The Odyssey by Homer Station Eleven by Emi...