The Blume Saloon: A Judy Blume Book Podcast

It’s the END of “It’s Not the End of the World.” Jody and Alison wrap up this 1972 Judy Blume novel with special guest “Have a Banana” Sally! We’ve got some divorce trivia, an Eggo Special Report, a celebrity quiz, and some classic Letters to Judy. Thank you to British Blume Head Louise for her A+ letter. Be sure to follow us to learn what our next book is!

“It’s Not the End of the World,” chapters 30-31. The FINAL CHAPTERS! Karen reaches the Hope Phase, Mom flies by the seat of her pants, and Amy makes her famous cold cut joke. Jody and Alison talk about non-bad divorce books, 1972 New Jersey separation laws, and the 1994 rom-com about a sex worker with a heart of gold, Milk Money. Tune in for a brand new “Isn’t That Random” about boredom and a wond...

"It's Not the End of the World," chapters 27-29. JEFF RETURNS from his mystery jaunt. Mom makes a life-shattering announcement. Dad convalesces in Las Vegas. Karen is nobody's favorite. Judy Blume's 1972 middle grade novel is really keeping us on our toes! Jody and Alison drink Corona and Athletic Greens and talk about bad parenting, thumbs, and the seven stages of grief. It's a Judy Blume book cl...

“It’s Not the End of the World,” chapters 25-26. Diorama drama! Missing persons! Weird families! Judy Blume at her finest. Karen destroys the viking ‘rama and hits up the bookstore, Jeff’s still missing, and Mary Louise Rumberger gets suspicious. There’s TWO Special Reports: Al walks us through the wild history of hysteria and Jody talks about infamous child psychiatrist Richard A. Gardner, author...

“It’s Not the End of the World,” chapters 23-24. Jeff runs away, Mom and Daddy have an epic row, and Karen FINALLY melts down. Judy really brings on the divorce dark times. Alison and Jody chat about moving, the Real World New Orleans reunion, and the “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” movie postponement. Thank you Blume Heads Jackie and Lisa for their great letters! It’s a Judy Blume book clu...

“It’s Not the End of the World,” chapters 20-22. Judy Blume paints the portrait of a 7th grader dealing with her parents’ divorce in 1972 and things are getting wild! Karen and Val have a strange bath party, Dad makes a terrible announcement, and there’s some diorama drama. Jody and Alison chat about nudist resorts and shaving lies. Tune in for vintage ads, dramatic readings, and the usual shenani...

"It's Not the End of the World," chapters 17-19. Karen's cards go unappreciated, Amy practices her parental manipulation skills, Jeff breaks a toe, and mom gets a JOB! Jody and Alison (all the way from Sweden!) discuss and reenact this 1972 classic Judy Blume novel, and talk about awkward anniversaries and fluorosis. Thank you SO very much to Bex and Geniene for their awesome letters! It's a Judy...

"It's Not the End of the World," chapters 13-16. Come hang with Jody and Alison as they discuss this classic 1972 Judy Blume novel! Dad's got a new cow-colored bachelor pad, Karen makes a Val pal, Jeff's a rude dude, and Mom decides she's a working gal! Your hosts chat about childhood lies, do melodramatic reenactments, and read a sweet letter from Blume Head Sue J. It's a Judy Blume book club. Jo...

“It’s Not the End of the World,” chapters 10-12. Karen corners Jeff, gets her skate on, and asks one million questions. Mom lawyers up. Ruth gives bad advice. Debbie makes a chimp face. Your hosts Jody and Alison do dramatic readings, spit takes, and continue to be perplexed by the clueless adults in this 1972 YA novel! Jody presents her Peter theory and gives a very thorough Special Report on How...

“It’s Not the End of the World," chapters 7-9. Karen’s hitting new lows with a D on her book report and a sad HoJo’s martini dinner with Dad. Garfa comes to town and tries to Parent Trap the divorce situation. Jody and Alison chat about trundle beds, Phytophotodermatitis, and rabies advice. Thank you Blume Head Jennie for her fabulous letter! It’s a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

“It’s Not the End of the World,” chapters 5-6. Alison and Jody recap and discuss Judy Blume’s 1972 novel about a sixth grader dealing with parental separation. Karen gets blindsided at the Red Bull Inn, picks a fight with sweet Debbie, and pulls a sickie. Your hosts chat about drugs, do dramatic readings, and bust out Jody’s high school newspaper column from 1996, “Isn’t that Random?”. It’s a Judy...

“It’s not the End of the World,” chapters 3-4. Al and Jody discuss this classic 1972 Judy Blume novel about D-I-V-O-R-C-E. Karen forgets her milk money, Amy gets mickey mouse pancakes, mom cries, and Dad abandons the fam for a weekend (is he sleeping at the furniture store?!). Alison and Jody discuss allergy shots, pee-pee jokes, and Anne Geddes dress-up. It’s a Judy Blume book club. Join us every...

“It’s Not the End of the World,” chapters 1-2. Feels so good to be back in Judyville! Jody and Alison discuss this Judy Blume middle grade novel and set the scene for 1972 (AGAIN). You’ll learn everything you wanted to know about Chuck Berry bullying Keith Richards, the x-rated cartoon Fritz the Cat, Lidsville, and the voice of the Chipmunks. Karen makes it through another disastrous dinner fight...

Just our luck! We have finished “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾” by Sue Townsend! Jody and Alison discuss episode one of the 1985 TV adaptation, touch on some Adrian miscellany, play a quickie round of Jeopardy, and read some one-star reviews. They also veer into semi-relevant chat about Peloton star Cody Rigsby. Thanks so much Blume Head Danielle for her letter about Food Lion and her...

“The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4,” March 17-April 3, 1982 (plus special American Afterword!). We finish the book! Adrian has a brief emotional affair, turns 15, and goes to the ER with a model plane stuck to his nose. Alison and Jody talk about Jungle Jim’s, Skeg Vegas, the Falkland islands, and all the perplexing Adrian British-isms. There's also some fun Judy news, and a shocking re...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," Jan 17-March 16, 1982. Adrian becomes radicalized, Margaret Thatcher gets vandalized, and Elizabeth Sally Broadway is pulverized. Dad tries going into the spice rack biz but finds better luck cleaning filthy canals. Mom fends off advances from Creep Lucas. Bert seems to be doing great. Come hang with Alison and Jody as they chat nepotism babies, girl...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," Dec 19, 1981-Jan 16, 1982. Happy Back-End-200th-Episode to us! Jody and Alison celebrate by discussing Adrian's fox fur heist, the disastrous nativity play, Bert's nuptials, and more New Year's resolutions! There's a Special Report on Freddie Laker, two listener letters, some corrections (San-AT-o-gen!), and the usual dramatic reading tomfoolery. And...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," Nov 7-Dec 18, 1981. Adrian has swollen nipples, starts an avant garde school paper (VERY Newsdate by Sheila the Great), and steals a keychain. Mum returns just in time for the phone to be disconnected. Pandora simulates labor in the nativity play. Join Jody and Alison for TWO brilliant poetry readings (one autumnal, one punk), chat about things stuck...

“The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4,” Oct 9-Nov 6, 1981. Adrian nearly dies TWICE (camping and tonsils), goes to a weird Marriage Counselor Bonfire, and most importantly, FINDS CHARLIE! Jody and Alison chat about the newly announced Superfudge animated film, football, and of course, perform some faux British dramatic readings. Thank you, Sue Townsend, for this gem of a book. It’s a Judy...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," Aug 26-Oct 8, 1981. Adrian is made prefect, plays conkers, and experiences a harrowing school trip to the British Museum. Pandora helps clean Bert Baxter's cesspool of a home, sells Blossom (noooooo!) and rejects Ian Smith. Bert is kidnapped. Join Alison and Jody for some Sanatogen research, carpet cleaning woes, and try-hard English accents. There's...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," July 16-Aug 25, 1981. Adrian celebrates the Royal Wedding, looks up Mrs. O'Leary's skirt, mopes around Scotland with Mum and Lucas, and makes one million collect calls. Pandora gets stuck in the Tunis airport for a week and calls for a trial separation. Alison and Jody perform their usual dramatic reenactments and chat about waterlogged yoga mats and...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," June 8-July 15, 1981. The Red Sock Revolution doesn't exactly go as planned, but who cares because ADRIAN AND PANDORA ARE IN LOVE! Adrian gets tonsillitis, Bert Baxter wreaks havoc in the hospital, the Singhs enter the chat, and Barry Kent flies his mum's knickers up the flagpole. Jody and Alison chat dentistry, bus captains, and Play School, and rea...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," May 6-June 7, 1981. Adrian paints his Noddy wallpaper black and becomes a red sock revolutionary. Dad is made redundant, the power shuts off, Bert Baxter loses his 40-year-old false teeth, Doreen Slater cures Dad's impotence, and Grandma beats up Barry Kent. Jody and Alison do dramatic readings and provide critical literary analysis of this Sue Towns...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," April 11-May 5, 1981. Adrian sleeps over at Nigel's badass house, gets a prison girlfriend, and visits Mum and Mr. Lucas in Sheffield. There's also some French letter shenanigans, shower masturbation, and a religious experience at Grandma's. Alison and Jody talk about coin-fed electric meters, cheese with grape pips, vests, and the time Jody was into...

Happy New Year's Eve! Jody and Alison are taking a wee break from Adrian Mole to welcome actor/writer/mystic/sarcastic, Kaeli! Grab your crystals and come inside the Cocoon to hear your hosts get their minds blown via natal charts and tarot readings. We'll be posting the full unabridged video of the sesh soon. See you in 2022 to find out how Adrian and Nigel's sleepover went. It's a Judy Blume boo...