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!
Author Archives: renata
Episode 43 – Redeeming Love
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.)
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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!
Filed under Readers Advisory
Episode 42 – The Perfect Letter
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.)
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DIY Sex Paperwork
If we’ve learned anything from reading books like Fifty Shades of Grey and Gerald’s Game, it’s that sex paperwork is very important and could possibly save your life! For Valentine’s Day this year, we’re helping you create your very own sex paperwork. Have fun, and remember: this is in no way legally binding!
Filed under Extras
Episode 41 – Gerald’s Game
Kait, Renata, and their returning guest Nicole (of OWL Reviews) read Gerald’s Game by Stephen King and concluded: there’s a good reason this isn’t one of King’s better-known works. What should have been a compelling psychological horror short story is a gross, bloated novel about the importance of sex paperwork. (Of course, regular listeners of Worst Bestsellers are already aware of the importance of sex paperwork.) Even the fact that the titular Gerald dies in the first chapter wasn’t enough to make this enjoyable to our misandrist sensibilities. Join us for this upsetting journey to Maine!
Content warning: This book contains sexual assault and child abuse and so does our discussion of it.
Readers advisory: Here.
The French copy of Gerald’s Game, abandoned at a hostel, which tragically made Renata think this book would be much more exciting than it actually is
Candy pairing: Kait says baking chocolate, Nicole says gumballs, Renata says peeled grapes at a Halloween party.
Coming up next: The Perfect Letter by Chris Harrison.
* 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.)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Filed under Podcasts
Readers Advisory: Episode 41 – Gerald’s Game
Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Gerald’s Game by Stephen King. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!
Filed under Readers Advisory
Episode 40 – Twilight Life and Death
For this special episode, Kait, Renata, and their guests Amy (of Join the Girl Gang and Panels), Caroline (of Fantastic Fangirls and Panels), and Samuel (a dazzling youth) all read Twilight Life and Death, the 10th anniversary, gender-swapped edition of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. We broke down what we liked about the gender swapped version (Julie of the Werewolves) and what we didn’t (Jeremy is a real downgrade from Jessica) and attempted to unpack teenage sexuality in the world of the Twilight saga. Most importantly: Stephenie Meyer played The Rock, Paper, Snikt with us.
Spoiler warning: In this episode we briefly discussed Star Wars: The Force Awakens, just in case you haven’t seen it yet and are still concerned about spoilers.
Readers advisory: Twilight
Footnotes: Twilight vs. Life and Death: A sexy vampire glossary
Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy review
36 Ways Twilight changes when the genders are reversed
Twilight Wiki: Life and Death to Twilight Book Differences
Storytellers: New Voices of the Twilight Saga
oh my god, I can go on record saying that one difference between old and new twilight is @TheRock oh my god pic.twitter.com/azCqpn5EJL
— alexis nedd (@alexisthenedd) October 6, 2015
@alexisthenedd haha I would whistle at her…!!
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 6, 2015
Saw the new Twilight book.. just call me “The Whistler”;) https://t.co/BG6NnWgaMZ
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 7, 2015
Coming up next: Gerald’s Game by Stephen King.
* 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.)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Episode 39 – Bests & Worsts of 2015 (Part 2, Adult and Graphic Novels)
Tune in to our Bests & Worsts of 2015 episodes to hear us discuss these titles and read excerpts from our favorites and least favorites! Please note:
- We counted things that we read in 2015, regardless of publication year.
- We didn’t count anything that we read specifically for this podcast, so our worst books are aside from those.
- For that reason, we picked top 5 favorites and only 1 least favorite–we have this whole podcast to talk about bad books, so for these episodes we’re choosing to focus on the positive!
- Some of our “worsts” are really just “least best.” Listen to the podcast to hear more detail!
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Filed under Podcasts, Readers Advisory
