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This episode, we dive into the dreamy, melancholic world of Haruki Murakami’s 1999 novel, Sputnik Sweetheart . Part mystery, part meditation on human connection, this story explores what happens when the people we care about remain just out of reach—like lonely satellites passing in the dark. The plot follows Sumire, an erratic and passionate young writer who falls hopelessly in love with Miu, a g...

Buckle up, because this week we are diving headfirst into the absolute madness that is Matthew Reilly’s Seven Deadly Wonders (or Seven Ancient Wonders , depending on where you bought your copy). The best way to describe this book is Indiana Jones meets The Fast and the Furious with a massive dose of National Treasure . We follow Jack West Jr. and his team of underdog misfits as they race against g...

Grab a drink and get cozy! This week, the book club is tackling Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer-winning epic, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay . Set in 1930s NYC, it follows cousins Sammy Clay and Joe Kavalier—a Jewish refugee who just escaped Nazi-occupied Prague—as they break into the budding comic book industry and create a superhero named "The Escapist." We're diving into...

The Pagsubook gang goes deep into Blindsight by Peter Watts—a dense, unsettling sci-fi novel that asks a big question: do you actually need consciousness to be intelligent? We break down the book’s wild ideas about aliens, evolution, and what it means to be human, plus share what confused us, what stuck with us, and why this book still messes with readers’ heads. Come for the space horror, stay fo...

The Pagsubook gangs goes deep with Bretman Rock’s You’re That Bitch: & Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself —aka parang chikahan with your funniest ate who’s loud, real, and somehow also drops life advice when you least expect it. Bretman shares stories about growing up Filipino in Hawaii, becoming that internet icon, and learning how to stay true to yourself kahit may bash...

This episode kicks off a new format for our Pagsubook podcast! One of us, Ava, picked a longtime favorite to reread— The High King by Lloyd Alexander—while the rest of the group is coming to it fresh. That mix leads to some fun (and honest) conversations as we talk through Taran’s journey, favorite scenes, big themes, and how the ending lands for first-time readers versus someone who’s loved this...

Cozy fantasy. Magical realism. Ghibli vibes. Water Moon is all of these. Can a few hundred pages weave an engaging (and sensible) plot to engage the Pagsubook gang? We’ll unpack what works (and what doesn't) and ultimately consider: What kind of reader will sail into the world of Water Moon and come away spellbound?

Atul Gawande's Being Mortal. An apt book for the (our) age? It’s honest, it’s moving, and it forces you to think about stuff most of us try to avoid. So in this episode, we’re going to unpack some of the big ideas, talk about what stood out, and maybe rethink the way we approach some of life’s hardest conversations. A heavy episode but insightful episode with a special guest.

Feeling stressed? Distracted? Scrolling too much? Turns out, a guy (or a number of guys) named Patanjali had some thoughts on all that—thousands of years ago. In this episode, we explore The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with the help of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s surprisingly modern commentary. Think of it as ancient advice for dealing with your very 21st-century brain. Is it useful or is it too esoter...

We talk Heart-Shaped Box, the chilling debut novel from Joe Hill — a name you might recognize not just for his writing, but also as the son of Stephen King. Hill steps out of his father’s shadow with a story that’s all his own: a retired rock star, a ghost bought online, and a slow unraveling of guilt, trauma, and the cost of not looking back. Does Heart-Shaped Box mark the arrival of a major new...

We’re talking about Neil Gaiman — a major voice in fantasy literature and pop culture — and the recent controversy that’s sparked debate among fans and critics alike. We also look at the bigger questions it raises about authors, their work, and their role in public discourse.

The Pagsubook crew tackles Orbital by Samantha Harvey—a "plotless" novel that takes place over the course of a single day aboard an international space station. But while the setting is miles above Earth, the story is rooted in observation, stillness, and the quiet complexity of being human. Harvey invites us to consider the world from a distance—not just physically, but emotionally and...

Stephen King but sans horror. It's a crime thriller. It's that one last job for a hitman trying to retire — but nothing’s that simple. King swaps horror for high-stakes drama, giving us a reluctant killer with some sort of moral compass. We have veterans and first timers to the King-verse on the Pagsubook gang so it should be a interesting review.

The Pagsubook gang dives into the groundbreaking 1984 novel Neuromancer by William Gibson, the book that defined cyberpunk and revolutionized science fiction. Whether you’re a first-time reader or revisiting this cyberpunk classic, this episode will take you deep into the heart of the novel's complex themes, its cultural impact, and why it remains a must-read for anyone interested in the intersect...

Pagsubook dives deep into Tara Westover’s memoir, "Educated." In this compelling story, Tara shares her journey from growing up in a strict, survivalist household in rural Idaho to pursuing higher education and ultimately earning a PhD from Cambridge University. In this episode, we explore themes of education, identity, and resilience, reflecting on Tara's struggles against her family's beliefs an...

The pagsuBook crew goes sci-fi and dystopian into man's interplanetary future with Red Rising.