Tag Archives: podcast

by | February 29, 2016 · 12:01 pm

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.)

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by | February 15, 2016 · 12:01 pm

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.)

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by | February 1, 2016 · 12:01 pm

Episode 41 – Gerald’s Game

Gerald's Game by Stephen King

 

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.

Footnotes: Cannes: Stephen King Novel ‘Gerald’s Game’ To Be Adapted By ‘Oculus’ Helmer Mike Flanagan And Intrepid Pictures

“Degloving” on Wikipedia

Jessie or Nessie by Stephen King

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.)

 

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by | January 18, 2016 · 12:00 pm

Episode 40 – Twilight Life and Death

Twilight Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer

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

New Moon

Footnotes: Twilight vs. Life and Death: A sexy vampire glossary

Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy review

Twife or Death

36 Ways Twilight changes when the genders are reversed

Twilight Wiki: Sulpicia

Twilight Wiki: Life and Death to Twilight Book Differences

Storytellers: New Voices of the Twilight Saga

Fanfiction 101

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.)

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by | December 7, 2015 · 12:01 pm

Episode 36 – The Mistletoe Promise

The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

Kait, Renata, and their returning guest Caitlin read The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans and unanimously agreed: it’s not nearly as bad as The Christmas Sweater was! In fact we actually… kinda liked The Mistletoe Promise? We liked it almost as much as the heroine of this book likes sweet pork salads, which is a lot. Listen now to hear us learn what exactly a sweet pork salad is, plus an important moral lesson (but not the lesson we were expecting to learn).

Content warning: This book contains infant death, and so does our discussion of it.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Fatal Distraction by Gene Weingarten

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salads

Alton Brown’s Mincemeat Pie

Special note: We’re having a contest and the grand prize is a signed copy of The Mistletoe Promise. Click here for details on how to enter!

Candy pairing:  Caitlin says Necco wafers, Kait says peppermint bark, Renata says kettle korn.

Coming up next: Bests & Worsts of 2015 (Part 1, Children’s and YA)

 

* 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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by | November 23, 2015 · 12:01 pm

Episode 35 – Purity

Purity by Jonathan Franzen

Kait, Renata, and their guest Sophie (of Two Bossy Dames) read Purity by Jonathan Franzen, a length tome on technology, privacy, and mostly, how women are the worst. They are just the worst! Luckily, these women often have older men around, on whom to fixate their attention. If they’re lucky, they might even get to bone a writer! Also: Jonathan Franzen never got around to adopting that orphan to explain Youth Culture to him, and it shows. Listen now to hear us womansplain the internet!

Content warning: This book contains some questionable sexual content, and so does our discussion of it.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: The Song Franzen Called A “Great Song” At The End Of Purity Is The Worst Thing About Purity

Lunch With The FT: Jonathan Franzen

Orange Is The New Black Book Funeral

Purity by Jonathan Franzen review – dazzling, hilarious, and problematic

Candy pairing:  Kait says overpriced organic fair trade chocolate, Renata says anything that’s been recalled, Sophie says 3 Musketeers.

Coming up next: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans.

 

* 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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by | November 9, 2015 · 12:01 pm

Episode 34 – Whisper of Death

Whisper of Death by Christopher Pike

Kait, Renata, and their guests Abby (The Librarian) and Molly (author of The Princesses of Iowa) read Whisper of Death by Christopher Pike. It’s arguably even more bonkers than the last Christopher Pike book they read, even though it doesn’t even have any lizard people in it (as far as we can tell). Listen now to hear us attempt to unpack this convoluted, anti-bullying, anti-choice, 90s teen thriller!

Content warning: This book contains sexual assault and abortion, and so does our discussion of it.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Tips for Teens from Christopher Pike

Candy pairing:  Abby says Baby Bottle Pops, Kait says Milk Duds, Molly says Snickers with glass shards, Renata says dark chocolate espresso beans.

Coming up next: Purity by Jonathan Franzen.

 

* 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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by | October 26, 2015 · 12:01 pm

Episode 33 – The President Did Me From Behind and I Liked It

The President Did Me From Behind and I Liked It by Raven Blackbird

Kait, Renata, and their guests Becca and Kristi read The President Did Me From Behind And I Liked It, I Got Freaky With Santa Claus And I Liked It, and Bigfoot Did Me From Behind And I Liked It by Raven Blackbird. These self-published erotic comedies proved to be neither very erotic nor very comedic, but they are available for 99 cents on Amazon. Listen to this NSFW (unless you happen to work at the North Pole with Dirty Santa) episode now to hear us long for the straightforward world of dinosaur erotica.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Fanfiction 101

Forget Dinosaur Erotica, It’s All About Bigfoot Erotica Now

Candy pairing:  Becca says root beer barrels, Kait says Sour Skittles, Kristi says Reese’s peanut butter cups, Renata says Cadbury Screme Eggs.

Coming up next: Whisper of Death by Christopher Pike.

 

* 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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by | September 28, 2015 · 12:01 pm

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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by | September 14, 2015 · 12:01 pm

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.)

 

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