Blog Archives
All the Books Show: Episode 103 – Spotlight on John Green
This week on the show, we talk about the man who makes teenagers cry and experience the “feels”, John Green!
Also, I hate ” the feels” as a phrase. If I was being harsh, and I am, it’s a lazy way to ignore real emotions that can make experiences deeper. Where the Wild Things Are didn’t give me “the feels”. It made me sad and melancholy and reminded me of making mistakes as a kid and thinking they’re the end of the world.
None of that ranting is about John Green, though! We talk all of his books, Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, Help! I Have Too Many Katherine’s and I Don’t Know What to Do With Them All!, and the rest. We have our own music master, Ben, on the show to help us through the books Nic and I haven’t read. It’s a good episode. And not just because it’s my birthday episode.
We also talk about how Ruth Ware’s new book can’t be as successful as the terrible Woman in Cabin 10. People had to get wise, right? Nic and Ben also review The Dark Tower, which I haven’t seen, but from all accounts sounds pretty embarrassing. And the trailers made it look like a bad 90s action flick, like The Last Action Hero. It should be easy, a dark western with some magic and maybe some horror. But the first book, The Gunslinger was underwhelming and I couldn’t finish the second one. I guess some ideas are too good for the world.
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See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 102 – James Patterson, At Last
The man, the myth, the huckster. James Patterson, this is YOUR life!
(clap clap clap)
When the show first started, we talked so much about Joyce Carol Oates that I worried people would think she was the real focus of the podcast. But, as we’ve gone on, I’ve grown to realize a new fear, an all too real one, and that’s James Patterson.
He’s in our book news segment, he’s in our spotlight, we do bits on him, sometimes he’s in our bookmarks or a book club! The guy is impossible to not talk about when doing a book podcast. We’d have to be genre specific to avoid him, but he’s even got science fiction books and his name is all over young adult and children’s books. And bookshots, right?
I don’t know what his goals are as a writer, other than making millions of dollars and never wanting for anything. When I see authors with co-authors, who barely write their own books anymore, or who have been writing the same series exclusively for years, I wonder how they feel about it. Is it the same as doing your fifty year tour as The Who or playing Wolverine for seventeen years? As a writer, do you feel fulfilled or satisfied? It’s interesting, because I doubt Patterson is bummed he’s not writing all his own books. He probably spends more time writing checks for new couches! I can’t even begin to imagine the couch a million dollars could get you. The fabric alone makes my mind boggle.
Also, so sorry for the audio problems. My laptop shut off during the first twenty minutes and than I forgot to turn the external mics back on for the middle section. But that last twenty minutes, man, are they good.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 101 – The 2000s 101
In which we actually discuss the early aughts. Not too much to add to this episode. We’ve reached the point where we won’t be looking at past decades anymore.
2000-2010 is where I stopped reading for a long time and then got back into it as an older teen. It’s when I got into the X-Men, Marvel and comic books. It’s when I bought my PS2, one of my favorite video game consoles ever. It’s when I dropped out of high school and enrolled in college. It’s when I started listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and got into classic rock. It’s when the family photo albums stops having pictures of me.
Important years, but we probably don’t won’t to dwell of go back there.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 100 – One Hundred
One hundred episodes down and we don’t look an episode over thirty.
That seems a bit crazy. A hundred is a lot, right? I listen to podcasts that haven’t reached that number. We must be doing something right.
We talk about a few different things this episode. James Patterson, for one. The amount of free press we’ve given that guy is silly. Not that he needs it. I guess I’m going to have to read his stuff soon. I don’t want to, though. And, surprising myself, I’m not loving Me, Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. Also, we learn Nic has an issue with Megs. No idea where that came from.
I wish I had more to say about us turning one hundred weeks old but I got to prepare for our two year anniversary next month. That’s a lot of book-related content. If you have thoughts about that, let me know. If you don’t, let me know too. Because I’d love to know why you hate our show. It’s Nic, right? I’ve known for at least forty of these shows.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 99- Unfinished Business
This week’s episode we discuss the great, unfinished works of literature. Not posthumous releases mind you, but books that were simply not finished before the author died. So, yes, still posthumous releases, but not…LOOK. You always do this!
As I say on the show, I don’t think it’s a big issue to release unfinished work after the artist himself has passed on. Academically, I think it’s interesting to see what could have been. And no one ever questions if we should collect unfinished CDs or music from bands or singers after they leave. I mean, they keep trying to put out new Beatles records.
But you might disagree, so let me know know and I’ll tell Nic and then we’ll tell you on the podcast. It’s a cycle and you’re the most important raindrop in it. Let us evaporate your thoughts. Also, I hope you understand the water cycle or that was all nonsense.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 98 – Harry Potter and the Podcaster’s Spotlight
Harry Potter turned twenty or hadn’t you heard? He’s so old now and so are you. Once, you were young, reading Harry Potter as a ten year old. Now, you’re thirty and you have to wonder if this what life is about, if Logan wasn’t one of the most poignant films you’ll ever see, if…okay, time to get of this magical train and get to the real topic at hand. Aging wizards.
I tend to be harsh on the whole Harry Potter world. I loved the first and third book when I was a kid but the long wait between installments caused me to drift away. The fandom also annoyed me and I didn’t want to be classified as whatever the millions of them were.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also grown annoyed that it seems like the Harry Potter series didn’t really create readers, so much as Harry Potter fans. While in college, and specifically writing classes, it seemed to me that most people loved the books/movies but never ventured far from home. I’d be much happier if it seemed like those that liked Harry Potter let it lead them to different books and life-long reading. Other urban fantasy or what-not. Or just the habit of reading the popular titles would be enough, as long as their holding a book. I’m not a fan of “I only read these books, nothing else.” Maybe it works for some, but I don’t like it.
I think we talked about other stuff this episode, but the majority of it is Harry Potter. We’re joined by super fan Sarah Badger, who is as super fan as they come. Seriously, it’s in her blood. And I’m not being funny. Medical science somehow found a way to transfer Harry Potter lore into her blood stream and now her heart pumps the stuff.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 97 – ReRead
This week’s episode on the podcast, we talk about rereading old favorites. Because we tackle the hard hitting subjects other podcasts are too afraid to cover.
“But, Eric, ” you might ask, “did you just talk about this very subject on your blog?”
I sure did! I wrote about a few posts a while ago and that blog was the inspiration for the episode. Maybe it was an inspiration to us all. But let us know how you go about rereading old books, if you do at all.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 96 – More Sexy New Books
And with this post, I am now caught up with my podcast. So, be sure to check back every Friday for the newest episode! Or, you know, subscribe and track it yourself. Don’t become one of those “vanishing adults” politicians are going on about.
We talk Sexy New Books, because what’s sexier than a new book? Nothing. Unless that book comes with more books. Like an ebook bundle. I got the entire Wheel of Time series in one digital packet. That’s sexy.
I always feel bad when we’re not won over by these new books we talk about, but I think there’s an audience for surfers turned skateboarders. If you like these titles that we don’t care for, let us know. My Future Ex-Girlfriend sounded fun, but who cares about romance between 8th graders? I do think I should have given The Wanderers a fair shake, as it strikes me as a book that gets better as it moves along. That’s the curse of a sixty minute podcast, though!
And Nic is reading Flamingo Island, so some parties won out.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 95 – Lookalikes
This episode we talk the Bailey’s Prize, discuss the Mummy and chat more about Woman in Cabin 10. We add another title to our Lonely Hearts Book Club, but I might have been annoying during that segment.
I reviewed The Mummy on the blog, but at least you get a second opinion from Nic. And I have started the Woman in Cabin 10 but my wife reviewed it on her site, so check that out.
Our Lonely Hearts Book this episode was by Kate Wilhelm, winner of the Hugo Award. Huysman’s Pets, to be specific. It might be a great book. But, when I get an idea as potent as a Chris Farley movie that never was, how am I to be expected to focus on anything else. Farley was hilarious, hampered by not-fantastic films. My movie would have out-shown them all.
If you’re mad about my lack of interest in Wilhelm’s pet mystery, let me know. Keep in mind, I will be reading her work in the future, as I continue my way through Hugo winners. Let’s just hope Tommy Boy isn’t on TV at that time.
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
All the Books Show: Episode 94 -Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom
Look, I tried to read it phonetically. I see my mistake now. I’m sorry.
Lots of book news, some review and then we dive back into the Guardian’s list for the 100 Best Non-Fiction Books.
We talk Double Helix, North, Awakenings, The Female Eunuch and Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom, all of which sound interesting. Some of which sound like a song. Awakenings sounds like a sci-fi book but it’s real!
We also talk more about The Woman in Cabin 10. Nic just started reading it and I have to for a book club, so the adventure begins…AGAIN!
You can follow us on Soundcloud, Youtube or iTunes and even Twitter! I’m sure there’s another, cool platform I’m forgetting but you can follow us on that too!
See you next week, podcats!
