The Blume Saloon: A Judy Blume Book Podcast

Calling all Danziger Heads! This one's for you. Jody and Alison tie up "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit" (1974) with special guest Jack, and the Blume Cocoon spins a little out of control. The gang reads some A+ listener letters and a follow-up from Paula not long before she passed. Alison presents a Special Report on The Pledge of Allegiance, Jack schools us on the PTA, and Jody does the origins and evolu...

Can you believe it's the final "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit" episode?! Alison and Jody read chapters 16-18 of Paula Danziger's super awesome 1974 YA novel about a gal learning to be okay with herself. Marcy and Joel go on a wild shopping plaza rampage, Stuart learns a Very Important Lesson, Mom figures out how to be her own woman, and Ms. Finney FINALLY has her hearing (hint: it does not play as you'd...

It's time for Marcy's first party! Join Alison and Jody for chapters 14-15 of Paula Danziger's beloved novel about teen rebellion, teen love, and teen angst, "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit" (1974). Marcy and Joel hit up Nancy's unchaperoned basement party, where things start to get a little wild with flying pretzels and beer karate. Marcy also gets her FIRST KISS... but it's not what she had imagined. Da...

Marcy’s suspension is going swimmingly! In chapters 12-13 of Paula Danziger’s “The Cat Ate My Gymsuit” (1974), our heroine gets an awesome new outfit, spends quality time with Stuart and Wolf, learns about boys from Nancy, and prepares for her first date! The girls receive a fantastic letter from Blume Head Jennie, Alison presents her findings on the Pledge of Allegiance and its legal ramification...

Get ready for some old-fashioned teenage rebellion! Jody and Alison read chapters 10-11 of Paula Danziger's YA classic, "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit" (1974). Marcy and the Four Horsemen of Finney plan a sit-in to save their favorite teacher from getting fired. Evil Principal Stone puts the kibosh on their radical plot and (spoiler!) Marcy ends up with a suspension. But Joel asks her to Nancy's party so...

Damn the man! Poor Marcy's entire world is crumbling. In chapters 7-9 of Paula Danziger's 1974 YA novel, "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit," Ms. Finney disappears and everyone's freaking out. The whole class gets detention for sassing Principal Stone, but this only brings Marcy and Joel closer together. Dad sucks, Mom can't function without tranquilizers, and Stuart never has enough orange pits. Jody and Al...

OMG Dad is such a jerk! Welcome to chapters 3-6 of Paula Danziger's "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit," published in 1974. Alison and Jody recap all the Smedley goings-on, the Lewis household arguments, and the budding friendship between Marcy and Joel Anderson. We also learn about the deal with Wolf and those orange pits. The girls read three awesome letters (thank you Kate, Ingrid, and Helen!) and do a fo...

New book y’all! Jody and Alison are thrilled to begin Paula Danziger’s debut novel, “The Cat Ate My Gymsuit,” chapters 1-3. They start with a 1974 primer and delve into some wild specifics: Rumble in the Jungle, Marina Abramovic’s uncomfortable performance art, the worst music in modern history, and Saturday morning cartoons. Our protagonist Marcy pretty much hates her life until the mysteriously...

Happy Valentine's Day Blume Heads! It's pure chaos with four ladies in the Cocoon to discuss the "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" movie and to bid adieu to our favorite scaredy-cat. There's a special report on the infamous chopped and screwed 1995 Olsen Twins hit, "Gimme Pizza." There's correspondence with a real life Sheila Blume Head, who ALSO started her own handwritten newspaper. And of c...

Alison, Jody, and special guest Lizzy finish "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great," Judy Blume's 1972 novel about a fabulous ten-year-old who conquers her fears. Sheila takes the dreaded swim test and doesn't drown! The Tubmans have a farewell party and everyone's invited – even Jennifer's baby daddy! The gals read one fascinating letter from a Blume Head who works with an adorable rodent named Mo...

It's sleepover time! The gals read chapters 13-14 of Judy Blume's kid lit classic, "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great." Sheila hosts her very first slumber party, get crushed by a Slam Book, trashes Bobby Egran's prized possessions, and winds up with a butt-full of toothpaste. Great night, all in all! There's also a very scary hayride with a possible werewolf sighting. Jody and Alison re-enact a...

Well hello there, 2019! Jody and Alison return with chapters 11-12 of Judy Blume's 1972 novel, "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great." There's a very pregnant pup, a super profesh camp production of "Peter Pan," and of course, more swimming lessons with Marty. Sheila finally puts her face in the water! The girls read a hilarious letter from Blume Head Willie (spoiler: he started his own camp newspa...

Alison and Jody close out 2018 with chapters 9-10 of "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great", written by Judy Blume in 1972. Intrepid Sheila starts a gossip-y camp newspaper, won't let anyone help her, and gets schooled by the mimeograph machine. After a terrifying dog-lick attack, Mouse gives Sheila another chance to own up to her faults, but our girl refuses to crack. Meanwhile, Jennifer makes a "...

Epic night! Sheila saves Sondra Van Arden from the milk door and partakes in a super scary game of hide-and-seek. Alison and Jody cover chapters 6-8 of Judy Blume's kid lit novel, "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" (1972). They reenact all the crucial scenes, play some great ads from the early '70s, and Jody reads aloud from her early-'90s diary. Big ups to this week's Blume Head of the Week, S...

Sheila Tubman meets Mouse Ellis, the yo-yo Junior Champion of Tarrytown! Your hosts Alison and Jody read chapters 4-5 of Judy Blume's 1972 children's novel, "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great." This summer ain't so bad after all – Sheila's making friends, avoiding dogs, and signing up for day camp. But things start to crack when she gets caught in a lie and is forced to take swimming lessons. Wi...

New book alert! Jody and Alison get back on the Fudge Train with the second in the series, "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great," written by Judy Blume in 1972. The girls are joined by longtime Blume Head Lizzy as they read chapters 1-3. To set the scene, Jody talks 1972 current events, movies, and hosts a trivia quiz where everyone's a winner! Alison presents her pop music findings, and Lizzy giv...

Alison and Jody conduct a thorough post-mortem of Norma Klein's edgy YA novel, "Domestic Arrangements." They read some awesome listener letters about hot record store boys, '80s triangle perms, and Judy Blume eBay treasures. Alison shares her obsession with French chanteuse Alizée, and Jody discovers who wrote the iconic beat poem "Now-Times for People with Now-Dreams." The girls discuss Adrian Ly...

The "Domestic Arrangements" finale! Alison and Jody read chapters 23-25 of Norma Klein's 1981 YA novel, in which Rusty gets a bootleg pixie cut, finally meets Pam from Andover, learns the truth about her parents' marriage, and appears on the Today Show. You absolutely don't want to miss Alison's far out beat poetry or Jody's Medieval chamber singing! And congratulations to Rosemary's Ladies, this...

In the penultimate "Domestic Arrangements" episode, Alison and Jody discuss chapters 21-22 of Norma Klein's 1981 racy YA novel. Rusty auditions for Lolita the musical by singing a weirdly maudlin Beatles song and playing some bra-less tennis with a middle-aged pervert. She finally gets to read her People feature, and learns a Very Important Life Lesson from the Man on the Plane. The gals muddle th...

We're still languishing in La La Land with Rusty and her co-star Felix, through chapters 19-20 of the 1981 Norma Klein YA classic, "Domestic Arrangements." Rusty gets cornrows and spends a naked night with Felix over Nova Scotia salmon and Champagne, Joshua Poshua is MIA (potentially Andover-bound), Alison forms a Little Boy Parade, and Jody learns a new word. Listen along for the usual dramatic r...

Rusty's going to California all by herself! But she's 14, she can handle it, right? Join Alison, Jody, and a bottle of Courvoisier to discuss chapters 17-18 of "Domestic Arrangements" by Norma Klein. Mom leaves town and Daddy quickly replaces her with Abigail, Deel loses her virginity while a five-year-old child sleeps soundly on the floor, Rusty hops on a flight to LA, and Joshua Poshua proves to...

Alison and Jody have a SUPER exciting announcement to make, along with their regular "Domestic Arrangements" programming. The gals read chapters 15-16 of Norma Klein's 1981 novel about teen sex and stardom, and things just keep getting weirder. Daddy receives an obscene phone call and Rusty is interviewed by People magazine. Don't worry, she continues to say all the wrong things and her parents re...

It's a Valentine's Mystery! Alison and Jody read chapter 14 of Norma Klein's "Domestic Arrangements," where Rusty tries to figure out who Daddy's secret admirer is. She also goes into battle with Joshua Poshua and totally MURDERS her fram. Speaking of murder, Jody presents a Special Report on the Scarsdale Diet and the scandal involving Dr. Tarnower's jilted lover. Join the girls for some rosé, me...

All aboard! Jody and Alison analyze chapters 12-13 of "Domestic Arrangements," a YA treasure written by Norma Klein in 1981. Rusty poses with some cherries for Seventeen Magazine and does an exclusive interview on cable TV (you don't wanna miss this lively reenactment)! She also goes back to school but finds herself accosted by her jealous classmates. Rude! The gals present another treasure from T...

A star is born! Alison and Jody eat gross shooting star cookies (sorry!) as they cover chapters 10-11 of “Domestic Arrangements,” written by Norma Klein in 1981. Rusty receives some glowing movie reviews, test drives her new “acquisition,” and discovers that mom has a not-so-secret lover! We also learn more about the day Rusty and Joshua met (hint: it involves nude pix!). Al and Jody chat spermici...