Author Archives: renata

Episode 31 – New Moon

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

It’s been one year since our very first episode, when Caroline of Fantastic Fangirls read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer with us! To celebrate, we decided to return to the scene of the crime and read New Moon, the next book in the Twilight saga. Also, we decided to drink heavily while we talked about it. We crowdsourced a Worst Bestsellers drinking game and played it as we recorded. It turns out that if you drink every time one of us says “literally,” you’ll get pretty drunk! We hope you enjoy listening to this extra-long special episode as much as we enjoyed recording it, but that’s honestly probably impossible. Thanks for listening to us this year! We hope to continue reading stuff so you don’t have to for years to come.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Another Look at Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight

American Indians in Children’s Literature on Twilight

Sucking The Quileute Dry

Truth Versus Twilight

Running With The Wolves: A Racialicious Reading of Twilight

New Moon and the Joys of Face Punch

The Vamp Sex Toy (NSFW)

Worst Bestsellers Drinking Game

Forever Young Adult’s New Moon Drinking Game

Candy pairing:  Caroline says giant Reese’s peanut butter cups, Kait says Mr. Goodbar, Renata says Dove Promises.

Coming up next: Dino Park After Dark by Christie Sims & Alara Branwen.

Special note: We’re having a Twilight movie tweet-along on 7pm (EST) the evening of October 4th. It’s currently streaming on Netflix. We hope you’ll join us with #TwiWorst ! Netflix took down the Twilight movie on October 1st, so we’ll be livetweeting the documentary TWILIGHT IN VOLTERRA instead.

 

* 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 31 – New Moon

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth! See also: our readers advisory for Twilight.

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How We Cleared Ourselves of Dianetics

If you’ve listened to our Dianetics episode, you’ll know we found it a very painful read. Also, we resented having to purchase copies of the book, since it was either unavailable from our local libraries or we were too embarrassed to check it out from our place of work.

Here’s what happened next.

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Episode 30 – Dianetics

Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard

 

Kait, Renata, and their pre-clear guest Sigrid (@SigridEllis) read Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard, a man who is on record as not believing in second drafts. It’s definitely the worst thing we’ve ever read, and also now we’re afraid we’re going to get sued. Why didn’t we just keep reading Nora Roberts books? Because then, dear listeners, we wouldn’t be able to explain to you how to clear all your engrams and reach Tone 4. You’re welcome.*

* We are not actually licensed auditors and cannot promise to clear any engrams whatsoever. Please don’t sue us.

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of abortion, attempted abortion, and domestic violence.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: How We Cleared Ourselves of Dianetics

The Apostate: Paul Haggis vs The Church of Scientology by Lawrence Wright

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Televangelists

Fanfiction 101

Candy pairing:  Kait says an apple with a razor blade inside, Renata says a misprinted Laffy Taffy, Sigrid says Candy Blox.

Coming up next: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.

Special note: Our New Moon episode is our one-year anniversary! To celebrate, we plan to play a drinking game while we record. Please send us suggested rules for the drinking game, either on Twitter, Facebook, or email at worstbestsellers at gmail. We are also tentatively planning a Twilight movie tweet-along for some time the evening of October 4th. It’s currently streaming on Netflix, but if you don’t have Netflix and want to participate, start tracking down a DVD now.

Thanks, Best Listeners!

 

 

* 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 30 – Dianetics

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!

Continue reading

Filed under Readers Advisory

Episode 29 – Grey

Grey by E. L. James

By popular demand, Kait, Renata, and returning guest Anna of Bellwether Friends read Grey by E. L. James. It’s Fifty Shades of Grey from the point of view of Christian Grey and his talkative cock. We went on record as… well, not quite fans of the original book, but we didn’t hate it. Unfortunately, Christian’s POV made us long for Ana’s inner goddess. If you take a drink every time we say the word “gross” in this episode, you’ll be very well-hydrated!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Anna’s Fifty Shades Readalikes Project

In Defense of Fifty Shades of Grey (Sort Of)

All the Things Christian Grey’s Cock Gets Up to in the New Fifty Shades

An Epic Chart of 162 YA Retellings

Only Your Housekeeper Knows For Sure

Candy pairing: Anna says ABC gum, Kait says generic Valentine’s chocolates (forgotten at the bottom of a purse), Renata says apples.

Coming up next: Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard.

 

* 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 29 – Grey

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Grey by E.L. James. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth! See also: our readers advisory for Fifty Shades of Grey.

Continue reading

Filed under Readers Advisory

Episode 28 – Black Hills

Black Hills by Nora Roberts

Welcome to Cougartown! Kait, Renata, and their guest Kathryn read Black Hills by Nora Roberts. Nora Roberts has written over 200 books, and this one is about a murder mystery on a big cat sanctuary. It’s a sexy page-turner with something for everyone, including Duarte. We hope you have enjoyed Worst Bestsellers, because we loved this book so much that from this point forward we’re changing focus to become a Nora Roberts Fan Club.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Nora Roberts: The woman who rewrote the rules for romance fiction

Nora Roberts & Inn BoonsBoro

How Harlequin Became the Most Famous Name in Romance

If You Got Mad Over Cecil the Lion, Here are 5 Ways You Can Bring About Change

Candy pairing:  Kait says mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, Kathryn says black panther Endangered Species Chocolate, Renata says Girl Scout cookies.

Coming up next: Grey by E.L. James

* 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 28 – Black Hills

Here’s what we suggest instead of/in addition to reading Black Hills by Nora Roberts. Listen to the podcast to hear us talk about some of these titles in more depth!

Continue reading

Filed under Readers Advisory

Episode 27 – Inferno

Inferno by Dan Brown

Kait, Renata, and their guest, actual scientist Sarah (@allthatihavemet, @sarahnbay) read Inferno by Dan Brown. It’s the fourth book about Robert Langdon, and probably the only one where he faces a problem that cannot be solved with symbology alone and must ally with the World Health Organization. We struggle to comprehend all of the book’s double, triple, and even quadruple crosses. Listen now to hear Sarah explain why Dan Brown should have talked to a geneticist before trying to write about genetics!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Fact-Checking Dan Brown’s “Inferno”

Dan Brown’s “Inferno”: Good Plot, Bad Science

WHO releases guidance on mental health care after trauma

Candy pairing:  Kait says unidentified Asian supermarket candy, Renata says cotton candy Italian ice, Sarah says black licorice.

Coming up next: Black Hills by Nora Roberts.

 

* 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