Category Archives: Podcasts

Podcast audio files

by renata | August 3, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 154 – Redwall

In an extremely exciting Flashback Summer, we were joined by S. Jae-Jones (aka JJ, aka the New York Times-bestselling author of Wintersong and Shadowsong) to read Redwall by Brian Jacques! Well, it was exciting to talk to JJ. The book itself was…less exciting, although it did raise some questions about how the food chain works in the world of Redwall. Listen on your next journey by horse cart–quickly, before horses get redacted!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Redwall FAQ

Definitive Redwall Body Count

A Complete Redwall Feast Adapted For Your Kitchen

Overdue #307 – Redwall

XKCD #370 – Redwall

Candy Pairing: JJ says candied chestnuts, Kait says trail mix, Renata says #herbs.

Coming up next: The X-Files: Ground Zero by Kevin J. Anderson.

* 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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Tagged as Brian Jacques, Flashback Summer, podcast, Redwall

by renata | July 20, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 153 – Freeze Tag

Maybe it would be easier to practice social distancing if you knew that someone could literally freeze you solid with a single touch? It’s a theory worth exploring, as our pandemic edition of Flashback Summer continues with Freeze Tag, a Point Horror title by the 90s queen of teen thrillers, Caroline B. Cooney. With our guest Trina (@TrinaMareena) we dug into the story of the ultimate ice queen, and made an important stop along the way to discuss the relative fanciness of Pizza Hut. Stay frosty!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Point Horror: 25 years on, let us praise a forgotten ’90s craze” by Beth Rodgers

“HBO Max to Develop Anthology Series Based on ‘Point Horror’ Books” by Joe Otterson

Don’t Point That Horror at Me podcast

The Devil’s Elbow (Point Horror recaps)

Candy Pairing: Kait says a Popsicle, Renata says a packet of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, Trina says frozen gummy bears.

Coming up next: Redwall by Brian Jacques.

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

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Tagged as Caroline B. Cooney, Freeze Tag, podcast, Point Horror

by renata | July 6, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 152 – Mallory and the Trouble With Twins

Say hello to your friends! As Flashback Summer continues, we revisited the small, child-friendly town of Stoneybrook. We read Mallory and the Trouble With Twins by Ann M. Martin with returning guest Liz. Join us on a walk around the mall (remember malls?), where we discuss ear piercing, afterschool snacks, and the moral fortitude it takes to identify as a Mallory.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode #53 – Baby-Sitters Club

Book Recommendations Based On Your Favorite Babysitters From The Baby-Sitters Club by Alison Doherty

Robin Sparkles – Let’s All Go To the Mall

Cobie Smulders – Let’s All Stay at Home

The Baby-Sitters Club Is a Welcome Surprise and Utter Delight By Kathryn VanArendonk

Candy Pairing: Kait says candy buttons, Liz says a Twix, Renata says a mall pretzel.

Coming up next: Freeze Tag by Caroline B. Cooney.

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

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Tagged as ann m. martin, baby-sitters club, Flashback Summer, Mallory and the Trouble With Twins

by renata | June 22, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 151 – The Black Stallion Revolts

Flashback Summer is off to the races! Well, kind of. We eventually got to the races after a long slog through the wilderness. We read The Black Stallion Revolts by Walter Farley with returning guest Carrie. It’s the classic story of a horse and a horse boy. And a crime boy. Well, we’re still waiting for the fingerprint analysis to exonerate the crime boy. Listening to this episode might just cure your amnesia!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode #75 – The Saddle Club

I Don’t Even Own a Television #156 – The Danger (Dick Francis series)

Blank Check: War Horse

“When Aliens Join Your Horse Fantasy: Walter Farley’s The Island Stallion Races” by Judith Tarr

Animal House horse scene

Cat trots like a horse

Candy Pairing: Carrie says spice drops, Kait says oats, Renata says GORP.

Coming up next: Mallory and the Trouble With Twins by Ann M. Martin.

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

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Tagged as Flashback Summer, The Black Stallion, The Black Stallion Revolts, Walter Farley

by renata | June 8, 2020 · 12:00 pm

Episode 150 – Flashback Summer Super-Special

It’s our 150th episode, and to kick off our 4th Flashback Summer, we asked to hear from you, our listeners. We loved hearing about everyone’s childhood favorite books and sharing a little bit about ours.

Thanks: to Andrew and Craig of Overdue, Alan, Red, JJ (aka S. Jae-Jones, author of Wintersong and other books), Ashley R., Liz J., Genevieve, Devin, Kathryn and Melissa of Truer Words, Madelyn, Lucy, Nora, Imogen, Joyce, Hallie, Sarah Mirk (author of Guantanamo Voices and other books), April, Megan, Ashley K., Meredith Goldstein (Love Letters columnist and author of Chemistry Lessons and other books), Danielle, Meagan, Liz H., Courtney Summers (author of Sadie and other books), Celia, Emma, Rebecca Mahoney (author of The Valley and the Flood), Jess, Josie, Payge, Laura, Ben, Kellie, and Collision & J.W. of I Don’t Even Own a Television for their contributions, and extra thanks to our editor Becca for putting all of these clips together! And thanks to all of you for listening!

Congratulations: to our Flashback Summer raffle winners: Emma, Josie, Joyce, and Madelynn!

Notes: This episode was recorded and assembled weeks ago and contains no references to current events. But we would like to take a moment here to affirm that Black Lives Matter.

Full list of titles referenced in this episode below this cut:

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Filed under Podcasts, Readers Advisory

Tagged as Amy Hest, ann m. martin, Barbara Sleigh, Betty Ren Wright, Brian Jacques, Candice Ransom, Douglas Adams, Ellen Raskin, Eloise McGraw, Flashback Summer, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Gail Carson Levine, Helen Lester, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jean Webster, Jeanne Birdsall, K. A. Applegate, Katherine Paterson, Kevin J. Anderson, L. Frank Baum, Lemony Snicket, Lloyd Alexander, Madeline L'Engle, Marissa Moss, Nancy Garden, Rebecca Moesta, Richard Adams, Robert Lynn Asprin, Ron Roy, Russell Hoban, Ruth Stiles Gannett, S. E. Hinton, Saki, Scott Westerfeld, Sonja Lamut, Tor Seidler, Willow Davis Roberts, Wilson Rawls

by renata | May 25, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 149 – A Werewolf in Riverdale

Bad news: A Werewolf in Riverdale by Caleb Roehrig is not a tie-in to the CW show Riverdale, but rather to the town of Riverdale from the Archie comics. Well–from the Archie Horror comics. Good news: we once again teamed up with J. and Collision from I Don’t Even Own a Television to tackle the big questions raised by this novel, most importantly: did you know that Jughead’s little hat is called a “whoopee cap,” and when Jughead transforms into a werewolf, does he still wear his whoopee cap?

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “The Weird History of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa” by Avery Kaplan

“A Feud in Wolf-Kink Erotica Raises a Deep Legal Question” by Alexandra Alter

I Don’t Even Own a Television #146 – The Day Before (Riverdale prequel novel)

I Don’t Even Own a Television #157 – Resident Evil II: Caliban Cove (featuring Kait & Renata)

Candy Pairing: Collision says a Hershey bar when he expected a Mr. Goodbar, Jay says Laffy Taffy, Kait says cold French fries, Renata says a hamburger when she ordered a milkshake.

Coming up next: Flashback Summer Super-Special Edition!

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

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Tagged as A Werewolf in Riverdale, Archie Horror, Caleb Roehrig, podcast

by renata | May 11, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 148 – Planet X

We like X-Men. Our guest Anna (@lcarslibrarian) likes Star Trek. So we thought it would be fun to read the Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men crossover novel Planet X by Michael Jan Friedman. But it turns out that this exhausting crossover novel spends most of its time focused on a new character who isn’t particularly connected to either franchise. Set your phasers for “none” and don’t read this book!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 49 – X-Men: X-Cutioner’s Song

Episode 50 – X-Men 3: The Last Stand

Tsunkatse (Star Trek Voyager episode feat Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson)

Candy Pairing: Anna says earl grey macarons, Kait says X-Men ice cream, Renata says mixed Jelly Bellies.

Coming up next: A Werewolf in Riverdale by Caleb Roehrig.

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

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Tagged as Michael Jan Friedman, Planet X, podcast, Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men

by renata | April 27, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 147 – The Fast and the Furriest

When the going gets tough, the tough get to reading cozy cat mysteries. We read The Fast and the Furriest by Sofie Ryan, the story of a small coastal town plagued with murder and antiquers. Our opinions were split–Renata liked the cat but not the murder, Kait liked the murder but not the cat, and Duarte just hopes that feline detectives are paid a fair wage. Listen to this episode at a safe social distance from any murderers and/or antiquers!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Flashback Summer Featuring…You?

“Crime-Solving Cats And Cozy Mysteries Are A Publishing Juggernaut” by Hillary Kelly

Candy Pairing: Kait says a cup of tea, Renata says Annie’s fruit snacks.

Coming up next: Planet X by Michael Jan Friedman.

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

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Tagged as podcast, Second Chance Cat Mysteries, Sofie Ryan, The Fast and the Furriest

by renata | April 13, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 146 – American Royals

Katharine McGee’s novel American Royals dares to ask: what if the United States had a royal family? And what if the modern-day American royal children were a little bit horny? The Bellwether Friends, Anna and Alene, joined us to discuss this book’s baffling structure, insufficient world-building, and potential Wawa sponsorship.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Bellwether Friends #113 – ABBAsode

Royal Romance: 13 Stories Of Everyday People Who Fall In Love With Royalty by Ann Foster

Red Fox James on Wikipedia

Candy Pairing: Alene says Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (from Wawa), Anna says a Disney Princess Candy Fan, Kait says old timey penny candy, Renata says a caramel apple.

Coming up next: The Fast and the Furriest by Sofie Ryan.

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

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Tagged as American Royals, Katharine McGee, podcast

by renata | March 30, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 145 – Machines Like Me

We’ve been reading too much frivolous lady fiction around here, so we had to make time to read a Serious Book by an Important White Man. Our guest Amy used her human skills of persuasion to get us to read Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan, Finally, someone has dared to ask the questions: what if robots could have emotions and also working penises and also what if the UK had lost the Falklands War?

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Archana and Chandni” by Iona Datt Sharma

“Ian McEwan: ‘Who’s Going to Write the Algorithm for the Little White Lie?'” by Tim Adams

“In McEwan’s Latest, The ‘Machine’ Is Too Much Like You” by Heller McCalpin

Candy Pairing: Amy says Fry’s Turkish Delight, Kait says a potato battery, Renata says Mystery Airheads.

Coming up next: American Royals by Katharine McGee.

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