Author Archives: renata

Episode 46 – Killing Lincoln

Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard

Kait, Renata, and their guest Caitlin read Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard. And–because we care about the youth of America–we also read the young readers’ adaptation, Lincoln’s Last Days, by Bill O’Reilly and Dwight Jon Zimmerman. These books put forth the truly shocking thesis that Abraham Lincoln was a good dude and John Wilkes Booth was a bad dude. But also that they were both pretty sexy? And most importantly: USA! USA! USA! Listen now to hear three sockdologizing old mantraps play a rousing game of Fucking, Marrying, Killing and speculate on how history might have turned out differently if only Abraham Lincoln had taken a cat to the theater with him.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Lincoln Homestead State Park

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Kait + Creepy John Wilkes Booth (sorry, these are scanned in from Early Internet Days and we don't know where the originals are to re-scan)

Kait + Creepy John Wax Booth
(sorry, these are scanned in from Early Internet Days and we don’t know where the originals are to re-scan)

Renata + Creepy John Wilkes Booth (sorry, these are scanned in from Early Internet Days and we don't know where the originals are to re-scan)

Renata + Creepy John Wax Booth
(sorry, these are scanned in from Early Internet Days and we don’t know where the originals are to re-scan)

Candy pairing:  Caitlin says fancy old timey hard candy, Kait says Boy Scout popcorn, Renata says mystery Dum Dums.

Coming up next: One For the Money by Janet Evanovich.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Filed under Podcasts

Readers Advisory: Episode 46 – Killing Lincoln

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard and/or Lincoln’s Last Days by Bill O’Reilly & Dwight Jon Zimmerman. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!

Continue reading

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Episode 45 – Hollow Earth

Hollow Earth by John & Carole Barrowman

 

For part 2 of Nemesis Month, Kait, Renata, and returning guest Naomi read Hollow Earth by Kait’s nemesis John Barrowman (and Carole Barrowman, with whom Kait has no particular beef). It’s a confusing middle grade novel about twins with magic art powers, and the totally not derivative secret society that wants to control those art powers. Or destroy their art powers. Or use their art powers to somehow unleash a bunch of monsters on earth, which for some reason some people would want to do. Or whatever! Listen now to listen to us struggle through good art gone bad.

Retraction: We mistakenly took the Barrowmans to task for putting a Chicago-based painting into their London-based narrative but it turns out the painting in question is the Bathers at Asnières by Georges Seurat, which is in London’s National Gallery. OUR BAD, BARROWMANS. Good job with your art research.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: John Barrowman & Daniel Boys – I Know Him So Well

Candy pairing:  Kait says chocolate coated candy gems, Naomi says saltwater taffy, Renata says sherbet lemons.

Coming up next: Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Filed under Podcasts

Readers Advisory: Episode 45 – Hollow Earth

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Hollow Earth by John & Carole Barrowman. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!

Continue reading

Filed under Readers Advisory

Episode 44 – Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

Kait, Renata, and Rob Lowe’s Other Nemesis Steve read Stories I Can’t Tell My Friends by Renata’s Nemesis, Rob Lowe. In addition to a lot of grade-A 80s celebrity gossip, we learned a lot about Rob Lowe, such as how important he thinks celebrities are and how Cary Grant once gave him a soap on a rope. Listen now to hear Renata over-explain why Rob Lowe is “a hot Paul Harvey.”

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Renata’s Moth story about Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe Can’t Read dot com

Rob Lowe’s George magazine

The Rest of the Story: Paul Harvey, Conservative Talk Radio Pioneer

Candy pairing:  Kait says weird Lindt truffles, Renata says expensive airport candy, Steve says a Charms Blow Pop.

Coming up next: Hollow Earth by John & Carole Barrowman.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Filed under Podcasts

Readers Advisory: Episode 44 – Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!

Continue reading

Filed under Readers Advisory

Episode 43 – Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Kait, Renata, and their guests Ally (of Join the Girl Gang) and Katelyn (of Women of Library History) read the classic evangelical Christian romance novel Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It’s AU Bible fanfiction based on the Book of Hosea, a minor prophet’s story of a fallen woman and the man who loved her, and also Israel. Francine Rivers has transformed it into the story of a good Christian cowboy who marries a soiled dove because God told him to (although it took her awhile to get the memo, possibly due to the Lord’s confusing font choices.) In the end, they all live happily ever after, except for the bad prostitutes who died in a fire, and also the podcasters who had to read this.

Content warning: This book contains child abuse, rape, racism, religious prejudice, and Satan, and so does our discussion of it.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Beautiful Cinnamon Roll Too Good For This World, Too Pure

Hugh Jackman’s Australia shower scene

Candy pairing:  Ally says Testamints, Kait says Bible verse chocolates, Katelyn says soiled Dove promises, Renata says milk.

Coming up next: Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Filed under Podcasts

Readers Advisory: Episode 43 – Redeeming Love

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!

Continue reading

Filed under Readers Advisory

Episode 42 – The Perfect Letter

The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison

Kait, Renata, and their guest Margaret (of Two Bossy Dames and Appointment Television) read The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison. It’s a somewhat competently written romance novel by the host of The Bachelor (and/or an uncredited, under-appreciated ghostwriter). Sadly for us, it has nothing to do with the seedy world of reality television and is instead set in the wholesome world of publishing/horse farms/petty crime. It’s a book that celebrates the power of the written word while sadly undervaluing the importance of sex paperwork. Happy Day After Valentine’s Day! We hope you enjoy your discounted chocolate and free podcasts!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: DIY Sex Paperwork

Chris Harrison, the Reigning King of #BachelorNation

Candy pairing:  Kait says chili pepper chocolate, Margaret says a carne asada burrito, Renata says a gummy rattlesnake.

Coming up next: Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Filed under Podcasts

Readers Advisory: Episode 42 – The Perfect Letter

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!

Continue reading

Filed under Readers Advisory