So we started a book club but never talked about the books so we decided to start a podcast to talk about the book club books.
In episode 174, we team up with one of our favourite local indie publishers, Coach House Books. This year we're reading the newly released novel, Born by Heather Birrell, which tells the story of a high school teacher going into labour during a lockdown, diving deep into character through multiple viewpoints.Show NotesThe Coach House Books episode is truly one of our favourite episodes of the year. Their books are always incredible, and of course Paper Houses remains an all time fave. This book was so good, so you know we rambled about that a bit, but we did get aroung to highlighting some of the amazing writing.Heather Birrell has several other books, including two short story collections also published by Coach House: Mad Hope and I know you are but what am I?In our next episode, we're reading How We End by LM Juniper. It's our queer rep Pride pick, but it turns out we're keeping that theme going into July.Speaking of which, don't forget to read along with our next book club pick, Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy.After that, we finally get to the next installment of Her Majesty's Royal Coven: Human Rites. It better not end with a cliffhanger this time!Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and check out our website!
Episode 173 is another spring hangout episode! Yes, somehow spring has been the longest season and yet somehow May is already over?? Anyway, come hangout with us while we chat about our fun little trips and how we're both crushing our reading goals this year.Show NotesSnag some cute knitting notions, like button and stitch markers, from our talented friend Riley! She's @_soft.spoken on Instagram and she's going to have a shop update very soon. Speaking of knitting, Jette went to the Fibre Witch Festival when she was in Salem!She also hit up the Harvard National History Museum and got to look at a lot of cool, weird rocks. Is spooky crystal/rock horror a thing? Jette is going to make it a thing.Check out the Woo Woo Podcast for more witchy and weird content! Our next episode is our annual Coach House Books episode! We'll be reading on of their upcoming novels, Born by Heather Birrell.We're all set for Pride month with How We End by LM Juniper. Think zombie apocalypse with a cool trans main character!And don't forget to read along with our current book pick, Scorched Grace by Margaret Douaihy. Other Books and Media MentionedAfter We Were Stolen by Brooke BeyfussBeautiful Ugly by Alice FeeneyHorse by Gerladine BrooksThe Honeys by Ryan LaSalaWeyward by Emilia HartDon't Let the Forest In by CG DrewsAnnihilation by Jeff VandermeerSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsUniversality by Natasha BrownThe Strawberry Pancake House by Laurie GilmoreSo Thirsty by Rachel HarrisonBad Dolls by Rachel HarrisonAlone in Space by Tillie WaldenSuch Sharp Teeth by Rachel HarrisonFreaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek by Thea GlassmanParanoid Gardens by Gerard Way and Shaun SimonGreen Fuse Burning by Tiffany MorrisParable of the Sower by Octavia ButlerUnderstanding Comics by Scott McCloudWalking in the World by Julia CameronSyllabus by Lynda BarryMaking Comics by Lynda BarryWonderbook by Jeff VandermeerGraveyard Shift by M.L. RioThe Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lydia Cohen LoigmanGold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian
Episode 172 is a book club book! This month we're talking about Gen's pick, Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. The novel follows Lauren through her journal entries as she is forced from her home and navigates a hostile world ravaged by climate change and social inequality.Show NotesGen has been putting off this book for a long time because it takes place largely in the mid-late 2020s and that felt a little too close to home.Parable of the Sower is the first book in a planned series that Octavia Butler unfortunately didn't have the chance to finish, as she died of a stroke in 2006. The second book is Parable of the Talents, which was published in 1998. The planned third book was to be called Parable of the Trickster.As you can probably guess, a lot of what happens in this book was distressingly familiar.Did Suzanne Collins read Parable of the Sower? Inquiring minds would like to know. There are definitely some common themes with The Hunger Games series.Our next book club selection is Jette's pick, Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy. It's about a tattooed, queer nun who solves mysteries! What more could you ask for? This is the first book of the Sister Holiday mysteries and we'll be talking about it in July.Next episode is a(nother) spring hangout episode. We'll be talking about everything else we've been reading, which is always a fun time.Keep an eye out for our annual Coach House episode. We'll be reading their forthcoming publication, Born by Heather Birrell.Other Books MentionedKindred by Octavia ButlerThe Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodOryx and Crake by Margaret AtwoodThe Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
Episode 171 is another instalment of our series #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt and this time we're reading Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews. This one has all the things we love: dark academia vibes, queer representation, and creepy forests that start growing inside your body (literally!)Show NotesYou might know C.G. Drews on Instagram as @paperfury! They always have funny writing memes and gorgeous bookish flat lays. You've also probably seen Don't Let the Forest In because it's been all over Bookstagram and BookTok. It fit so perfectly with our current creepy nature horror vibes that it was a natural pick for this episode.Somehow Jette and Gen both ended up listening to The Honeys by Ryan La Sala at almost the same time without even knowing it. That one also features twins and nature being weird and creepy. (And if you listen to the audio, you'll hear some extra buzzy sound effects, too!)On May 1, C.G. Drews is releasing a prequel short story to Don't Let the Forest In about Thomas! It will be available on their Instagram as a carousel or downloadable on their Patreon.In our next episode, we'll be talking about Gen's book club pick, Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Buckle up for a dystopian world that's set in our current time! Is this what it was like to read 1984 in 1984?Jette is keeping our next book club pick a secret until we record the next episode, so stay tuned to find out what it will be!Other Books and Media MentionedThe Sixth SenseThe Honeys by Ryan La SalaThe Afterdark by E. LatimerPET by Akwaeke EmeziHazelthorn by C.G. Drews (Coming October 2025)You Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews (Coming 2026)
In Episode 170, Gen and Jette chat about Tillie Walden's graphic novel collection, Alone in Space. This collection includes Walden's first three books, as well as earlier comics from her younger years. Show NotesWe love books like this that inspire us to make little stories in unexpected forms. Should we be keeping a journal with sketches?Lynda Berry has daily journal-style drawing exercises in her book Syllabus.Shout out to Little Ghosts Books in Toronto. We love them so much! Buy some of their books or their cool merch and know you're supporting an amazing queer owned indie bookshop.In our next episode we'll be reading Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews. If you've been on Bookstagram for a while you might know them as @paperfuryAfter that, it's time for our book club episode! We'll be talking about Gen's pick, Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.Other Books & Media MentionedBy Tillie Waldon: On A Sunbeam, Clementine, SpinningDavid Sedaris DiariesAll + Flesh by Brandi Bird Because the Sun by Sarah BurgoyneDon't forget to follow us on Instagram and check out our website!
Episode 169 is another instalment of Page to Screen, where we read a book, watch the screen adaptation, and talk about both. This time we're discussing Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and the 2018 film adaptation of the same name, directed by Alex Garland. Show NotesThe book and the movie are so different, but they're both so good in their own ways!We can't wait to read the rest of the books in the Southern Reach series: Authority, Acceptance, and Absolution. Neither of us had ever heard of the New Weird literary genre, which Vandermeer is considered a part of, but we are here for it.We continue to take a firm stance against deckled edges on books. Our next episode we'll be talking about the graphic novel Alone in Space by Tillie Walden, a collection of Walden's early short comics,Read our latest blog post, March 2025 Book Releases for Comfort Reading, where Gen rounds up anticipated March releases. (Which are now all out for you to read! Comfort not guaranteed.) Other Books and Media MentionedWonderbook by Jeff VandermeerHummingbird Salamander by Jeff VandermeerThe Martian by Andy WeirProject Hail Mary by Andy WeirGiden the Ninth by Tamsyn MuirEat the Ones You Love by Sarah Maria GriffinPan's LabyrinthMulholland DriveOther Page to Screen Episodes151: Under the Bridge130: Silence of the Lambs119: Fight Club102: Little Women91: The Martian80: Jurassic Park61: If Beale Street Could Talk48: Mystic River27: The Virgin Suicides18: Sharp ObjectsDon't forget to follow us on Instagram and check out our website!
Episode 168 is our first hangout episode of 2025! As always we chat about what we've been up to, what we've been reading, and what we've been (not) writing.Show NotesShout out to all our library apps always (Libby and Hoopla, we're looking at you), and also LibroFM. It's the audiobook app that lets you support your favourite local bookstore at the same time. (This is not a paid ad, we just love them.) We both support our local indie horror bookshop, Little Ghosts Books.We both agree that 2025 has not been it so far, but there are so many books coming out this year that we're looking forward to. Keep an eye out for Gen's upcoming blog post about their most anticipated releases in March!Our next episode is an instalment of Page to Screen. We'll be reading Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and watching the film adaptation of the same name. After that we'll be reading Alone in Space, a graphic novel by Tillie Walden. (You might remember Tillie Walden as the artist for Tegan and Sara's graphic novel Junior High. We talked about it in Episode 123.) Don't forget to read along with our book club pick, Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.Books and Media MentionedHer Majesty's Royal Coven Trilogy by Juno DawsonGreywaren by Maggie StiefvaterRun Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel KayThe Nineties by Chuck KlostermanThe Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip WilliamsGo Tell It On the Mountain by James BaldwinCamp Damascus by Chuck TingleBook Lovers by Emily HenryLight Carries On by Ray NadinePrivate Rites by Julia ArmfieldOur Crooked Hearts by Melissa AlbertLittle Fish by Casey PlettSeason of the Bruja by Aaron Duran and Sara SolerPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeThe Cull by Kelly Thompson and Mattia de IuliusOver My Dead Body by Sweeney BooHouse of Slaughter Vol. 2 by James Tynion IV, Sam Johns, Letizia Candonici The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia CandoniciAnaïs Nin: A Sea of Lies by Léonie Bischoff and Jenna AllenThe Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie GilmoreCanadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday (audiobook featuring voice work by Joshua Jackson!)Black Sheep by Rachel HarrisonCackle by Rachel HarrisonA Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne YoungModel Home by Rivers SolomonGoddess of Filth by V. CastroThe Afterdark by E. LatimerWeyward by Emilia HartCatching the Big Fish by David LynchDidion and Babitz by Lili AnolikThey Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran The Nice House on the Lake by James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno
In Episode 167, Gen and Jette discuss their latest book club pick, The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman. As children of the nineties ourselves, we loved revisiting this decade through Klosterman's pop culture lens.Show NotesOne of our earliest episodes—episode 9!—was also a Chuck Klosterman book. We read his essay collection Eating the Dinosaur and absolutely loved it.This might be our longest episode. There was so much jam-packed into this book we could have talked about each chapter for an hour. Our next episode is a hangout episode. We'll be talking about everything we've been up to lately.Later this month we'll be doing another Page to Screen episode about Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and the film adaptationFor our next book club pick we'll be reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. It's a dystopian novel that takes place in 2024, in a world ravaged by climate change. Gen's been meaning to read it for years, and decided it's finally time.More Books by Chuck KlostermanFargo Rock CitySex, Drugs, and Cocoa PuffsKilling Yourself to LiveBut What If We're WrongI Wear the Black HatChuck Klosterman IVChuck Klosterman XOther Books and Media MentionedGeneration X by Douglas CouplandInfinite Jest by David Foster Wallace Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel Falling DownIn the Company of MenAmerican History XJurassic ParkDallasThe SopranosSeinfeldThe PitRomeo + JulietTitanicThe Phantom MenaceThe MatrixAmerican BeautyThe Blair Witch Project
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, it's time for our annual James Baldwin episode. This year we're reading Baldwin's first novel, Go Tell It On the Mountain. Show NotesThankfully, we're not close to running out of Baldwin books just yet, but we may have to do a retrospective at some point anyway. Really we just want an excuse to re-read Another Country.Go Tell It On the Mountain is on both Modern Library and Time's list of Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. (The Time list is actually weirdly specific to between 1923 and 2005, but it's easier to say 20th century.)Find the full list of all our James Baldwin episodes below.The next episode is a book club episode and we'll be reading Jette's pick, The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman. As children of the 90s, we're looking forward to revisiting this decade.Other James Baldwin Episodes55: Another Country61: If Beale Street Could Talk113: Giovanni's Room141: Notes of a Native Son
Episode 165 is another instalment of #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt, and this time Gen and Jette are reading Book Lovers by Emily Henry. Show NotesThe banter between Nora and Charlie is perfect and we need to know if this is true for all Emily Henry books.The town hall meeting was giving major Gilmore Girls vibes and we loved it. We love a Sarah MacLachlan reference.The next episode is our beloved annual James Baldwin episode. We'll be reading Go Tell It On the Mountain.Don't forget to read along with our book club pick, The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman, which we'll be talking about in early March.Update - The Rural Diaries and Slouching Towards Bethlehem are still holding strong at #1 and #2 Other Books by Emily HenryBeach ReadPeople We Meet on VacationHappy PlaceFunny StoryGreat, Big, Beautiful Life (Coming April 2025)Other Books MentionedThe Dream Harbor Series by Laurie GilmorePayback's a Witch by Lana HarperMore #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt Episodes60: The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes by Elissa R. Sloan69: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong75: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley 86: Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong99: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid114: Hayley Aldridge is Still Here by Elissa R. Sloan118: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi 125: Verity by Colleen Hoover139: The Twist of the Knife by Anthony Horowitz154: I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
In Episode 164, Gen and Jette talk about the graphic novel, Light Carries On, by Ray Nadine. The story follows Leon and the ghost of Cody, who is tethered to Leon's camera. Show NotesIs ghost romance it's own sub-genre? It should be. And if it is we would like to read all the rest of them please. So far in this theme we also have Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore and Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.Speaking of Cemetery Boys, the sequel comes out later this year and we are stoked!We loved the art style in this one and the way that it helped build the atmosphere and tone of the story.Of course graphic novels always get us excited for TCAF (Toronto Comic Arts Festival). It's already in our calendars even though it's not until June. Our next episode is #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt and we're finally reading some Emily Henry. We're leaning into our love of books with, you guessed it, Book Lovers. Other Books & Authors MentionedEverything is Going Wrong edited by Mark Bouchard Raise Hell by Jordan Alsaqa & Ray NadineA Sea of Unspokend Things by Adrienne YoungMonstress by Sana Takeda & Marjorie LiuThe Night Eaters by Marjorie LiuLucy Foley Don't forget to follow us on Instagram and check out our website!
It's a new year and we're kicking it off, as always, with a book club episode. Gen's pick for the end of 2024 was Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. It follows the narrator through his journal entries as he records his life amongst the statues and tides that occupy a series of labyrinthine halls that he calls home. Show NotesThis one prompted a discussion about what counts as fantasy. Piranesi is only Susanna Clarke's second novel, published sixteen years after her debut, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell was adapted for TV as a miniseries by BBC1. It came out in 2014.Our next book club book is Jette's pick and we're revisiting Chuck Klosterman with his essay collection, The Nineties.As is now January tradition, our next episode is a graphic novel episode. We'll be talking about Light Carries On by Ray Nadine.Other Books & Media MentionedPeter Pan by JM BarrieHis Dark Materials by Phillip PullmanStephen KingStarling House by Alix E. HarrowThe Wood at Midwinter by Susanna ClarkeThe Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke
It's the end of the year, which means it's time for Gen and Jette to see how they did on the reading and writing goals they set back in January. (Spoiler: We crushed the audiobook minutes.)Show NotesWe recorded part of the episode and then had technical difficulties, so the first part of this is re-recorded. Since it's the first time we've lost any significant audio in 162 episodes, we think we've done pretty well so far.We're already pencilling in an episode for Her Majesty's Royal Coven, Book 3.Our first episode back in January will be on Wednesday the 8th, since doing it on the 1st seemed kinda weird. We'll be talking about Gen's book club pick, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.Jette's book club pick for January/February is The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman. Going back to our roots to kick off the year!Books and Media MentionedHouse of Hollow by Krystal SutherlandThe Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling The Kiss Curse by Erin SterlingRules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay ShoreThe Society for Soulless Girls by Laura StevenThe Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie GilmoreSouthern Cross by Becky CloonanGraveyard Shift by M.L. RioPayback's a Witch by Lana HarperGhost Wall by Sarah MossThe Ex Hex by Erin SterlingJust Kids by Patti SmithThe House Where Death Lives edited by Alex BrownWe Mostly Come Out at Night edited by Rob CostelloFrom Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley & Riley KeoghMy Murder by Katie WilliamsThe Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie GilmoreIf Something Happens to Me by Alex FinlayThe Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne YoungSorrowland by Rivers SolomonHorror Movie by Paul TremblayFierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir by Kai Cheng ThomThe Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports by Michael WatersThe Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie GilmoreCanadian Boyfriend by Jenny HolidayCome Out Come Out by Alexia OnyxPrivate Rites by Julia Armfield
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It's Non-Fiction November and NaNoWriMo, so for Episode 160 we decided to read Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami. In this essay collection, Murakami talks about everything from his journey as a novelist to his writing routine to his thoughts on school and literary prizes. Show NotesAs you can probably guess, we absolutely loved this one and we're thinking it's time to read a Murakami novel on the pod. Anyone have any favourites?Shout out to all translators and especially Rhonda Mullins, who translated several of the books in translation that we've read for the podacst, including pod favourite, Paper Houses.Our next episode is our annual F*ck You JK episode. We're reading Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore, which is super queer and will also let us have a bit of a spooky season revival.Other Books and Authors MentionedThe Writing Life by Annie DillardOn Writing by Stephen KingBooks by Haruki MurakamiWhat I Talk About When I Talk About RunningNorwegian WoodWind Up Bird ChroniclesHard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World1Q84Kafka on the Shore(and more!) Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
Episode 159 is a book club episode. Gen and Jette talk about Patti Smith's memoir Just Kids. The book chronicles her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe and their early days in New York City before they were the artists we know them as today. Show NotesThis book. THIS BOOK! We just want to be artists doing all the things with our soulmate muses.We saw Patti Smith at Budweiser Stage last summer. She was incredible and exactly as cool as you'd think. Listen to her cover of Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush" if you want to cry. Patti Smith wrote this book for Robert Mapplethorpe and we'll by crying about it forever.Check out the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation to see some of his work. We're going to be reading everything else Patti Smith has written.This podcast is taking a stand against deckled edges. They are the WORST.Next episode we'll be honouring non-fiction November and NaNoWriMo (though we are not participating) with Haruki Murakami's book, Novelist as a Vocation.Our next book club selection is Gen' pick, and we'll be reading Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, about a labyrinthine house.Other Books by Patti SmithM TrainDevotion
In Episode 158, we're talking about our official spooky season book pick: We Mostly Come Out at Night. This short story collection, edited by Rob Costello, features queer retellings and re-imaginings of classic monster stories and tropes. It was super fun and we had a great time reading it.Show NotesRob Costello's book, The Dancing Bears: Queer Fables for the End Times, came out earlier this year. Did anyone else play creepy games at sleepovers like Bloody Mary or that Concentrate one? Here's the full Concentrate text. It's, uh, way creepier than I remembered. In our next episode we'll be talking about Just Kids by Patti Smith, our current book club and Jette's pick. We're excited to read it, but not excited about the deckled edges.For non-fiction November and in honour of NaNoWriMo (which neither of us is even going to pretend to attempt this year), we'll be reading Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murikami. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 157, we're celebrating our 6th anniversary of the podcast! It's been an amazing six and we can't wait for another six more.Show NotesA huge thank you to all of our regular listeners! We're just a little podcast and we appreciate each and every one of you. We're so glad you join us every episode to talk about books and writing.We're at more than 13,000 total listens, which may not sound like a lot compared to bigger podcasts, but it's kind of mind blowing for us.The Bonne Maman advent calendars aren't sold out yet, so you can still get one. Or get a cookie one from Gen (shamelessly self-promoting the cookie business). In our next episode, we'll be talking about We Mostly Come Out at Night, a collection of queer horror YA stories edited by Rob Costello.Read along with our current book club pick, Just Kids by Patti Smith. We'll be discussing it first thing in November.Books MentionedPayback's A Witch by Lana HarperWe Used to Live Here by Marcus KliewerThe Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie GilmoreWho Will Bury You by Chido MuchemwaSummer Sons by Lee MandeloReality Squall by Jason KrawcykI Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham JonesAmazing Spiderman Edge of the Spiderverse by Gerard WayQueen B by Juno DawsonSaving Noah by Lucinda BerryThe Five Year Lie by Sarina BowenGhost 19 by Simone St. JamesFreaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek by Thea GlassmanThe Return by Rachel HarrisonSilence for the Dead by Simone St. JamesPractical Magic by Alice HoffmanSpells for Forgetting by Adrienne YoungThe Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne YoungIf Something Happens to Me by Alex FinlayThe Poet X by Elizabeth AcevedoMargaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body by Megan MilksThe Pairing by Casey McQuistonThe Lost Girls of Paris by Pam JenoffSilver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-GarciaBury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle
In Episode 156, we've teamed up with one of our favourite indie publishers, House of Anansi Press, to read the short story collection Who Will Bury You? Written by Zimbabwean author Chido Muchemwa, the stories take place across generations, in Toronto and Zimbabwe, and grapple with loss, family, and the meaning of home.Show NotesWe love working with House of Anansi! This is our seventh episode featuring their books, and we hope to read even more in future episodes. Check out the list of previous HOA books below.One of the best parts of reading is learning new things and we both realized how little we know about Zimbabwean history and culture. Now we want to know all about the construction of the Kariba Dam, the story of the Zambezi river god Nyami Nyami, and more about the mermaids.When we talked about flash fiction, Gen talked about The Forever Workshop, available through Substack and run by the cool people at Chill Subs/Write or Die. If you sign up for their paid newsletter, you get the entire back catalog of their self-paced workshops! Our next episode is our anniversary episode! This one marks six years of being in the podcast business. Can you believe it? We can't. It was 2018. It was a different world.Other House of Anansi Episodes20: Dual Citizens by Alix Ohlin & Autopsy of a Boring Wife by Marie-Renee Lavoie 39: Coming Up for Air by Sarah Leipciger & Pallbearing Stories by Michael Melgaard 43: You Are Not What We Expected by Sidura Ludwig 70: A Boring Wife Settles the Score by Marie-Renee Lavoie 97: A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm 128: The All + Flesh by Brandi Bird
Episode 155 is a book club episode, and we're talking about Gen's summer pick, Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo. It offers up some spooky southern gothic vibes with a side of car races and a family curse. Show NotesAfter picking this book, Gen realized it was blurbed by the author of her last book club pick, Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.As Jette aptly pointed out, this is the most Gen book ever, complete with fast cars and ill-advised road races.This is Lee Mandelo's debut novel. He has since written two novellas, Feed Them Silence, and The Woods All Black, the latter of which made it onto Gen's Top 10 Books for 2024. Our next book club pick has been on Jette's list for ages: Just Kids by Patti Smith. She's finally diving in, and Gen is reading it for a second time. She's ready to be wrecked by it all over again.In our next episode we'll be talking about Who Will Bury You? by Chido Muchemwa, a short story collection generously sent to us by House of Anansi Press. We love working them and are super excited to see what this one is all about. Other Books MentionedHer Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno DawsonThe Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-GarciaThe Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
In Episode 154, it's time for another instalment of #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt with I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. We just can't stay away from the spooky books this summer, but this one has a distinctly summer vibe with it's unique twist on the slasher genre. You'll want to read it with a bowl of popcorn handy!Show NotesIf you like your horror with a dose of meta, Scream-style, then this book is for you. We had a such a great time reading and talking about this. It's so much fun!You might recognize Stephen Graham Jones from his New York Times bestselling book, The Only Good Indians, or My Heart is a Chainsaw. He's written so many books, and we're definitely eager to check them out!Our next episode is a book club episode, and we're sticking with our spooky summer vibes. We'll be discussing Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo, so get ready for some ghosty southern gothic goodness. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 153, Gen and Jette talk about Reality Squall by J. Krawczyk. Space-time gets funky in this one, so you know we loved it! Show NotesOne of Jason's other books, It Look Like Dad, was published by Little Ghosts Books, one of our favourite Toronto bookstores that is also a publisher! Jason Krawczyk is not just a writer of books, but a filmmaker too. His production company is called Alternate Ending Studios. We've talked about time travel before on the pod—the first time being way back in Episode 9 with Eating the Dinosaur—but we've never read about different dimension and universes colliding. Whoa.Shout out, as always, not just to our local bookstores, but also our local libraries. Even if you don't use your library card, just getting one helps support them. Plus, why wouldn't you want access to everything that Hoopla and Libby and Kanopy has to offer?Summerween continues in our next episode with I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. Other Books by Jason Krawczyk“Crusade” – Hellbound Books – Madame Gray's Vault of Gore 2021“An Earth That Knows Magic” – Black Hare Press – Novella 2022“It Looks Like Dad” – Little Ghosts Books – Novella 2023Films by Jason Krawczyk Writer/Director, The Briefcase (2013) Ft. Vincent Pastor and Kip Pardue. Crystal Palace FestivalWriter/Director, He Never Died (2015) Ft. Henry Rollins and Steven Ogg. SXSW, FantasiaWriter/Producer – She Never Died – (2019) Companion sequel to He Never DiedWriter/Director – Sunset Superman (2023) Ft. Michael Jai White and Billy Zane Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
The sun is out, the weather is sweaty, which means it's time for our summer hangout episode. We're talking about what we've been reading over the last couple months and checking in on our reading goals now that we're halfway through the year.Show NotesThe Aberfoyle Antique Market runs until late October if you want to check it out. Write or Die has some amazing writing workshops. If you're interested in Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya's Queer Imagination workshop, she's running it again in September. Or sign up for her Gays and Ghouls queer horror workshop in October. Keep an eye out for Gen's next blog instalment of most anticipated 2024 book releases coming soon.Read along with our current book club pick, Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo, which we'll be talking about in September.Books MentionedThe Return of Ellie Black by Emiko JeanAngels in America by Tony KushnerWitchcraft: A History in 13 Trials by Marion GibsonGender Queer by Maia KobabeMiddle of the Night by Riley SagerThe Midnight Feast by Lucy FoleyThe Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-GarciaThe Five Year Lie by Sarina BowenSilence for the Dead by Simone St. JamesUS by Sara SolerYellowface by R.F. KuangRainbow Black by Maggie ThrashUnder the Bridge by Rebecca GodfreyBeautyland by Marie Helene-BertinoFuture Feeling by Joss LakeThe Artists Way series by Julia CameronThe Only One Left by Riley SagerGhost 19 by Simone St. JamesMurder Road by Simone St. JamesMargaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body by Megan MilksThe Pairing by Casey McQuistonBody Work by Melissa FebosCraft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses Corpses, Fools and Monsters: The History and Future of Transness in Cinema by Caden Mark Gardner & Willow Catelyn Maclay Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 151, we're doing another instalment of Page to Screen with Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey and the mini series of the same name. It's a true crime story based on the 1997 murder of Reena Virk in Victoria, BC.Show NotesThis is our second true crime story, the first being way back in Episode 8 with Killers of the Flower Moon. In a strange coincidence, that film adaptation stars Lily Gladstone, as does Under the Bridge. We're fully committed to Summerween at this point. Next up we have a hangout episode, which will surely feature some thrillers, then a book from Little Ghosts Books, followed by Stephen Graham Jones' upcomjng release, I Was a Teenage Slasher.Don't forget to read along with our book club book, Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo.Other Books MentionedKillers of the Flower Moon by David GrannThe Torn Skirt by Rebecca GodfreySharp Objects by Gillian FlynnUnder the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
It's our 150th episode! Very fittingly, it's a book club episode, which is the entire reason this podcast exists. In this episode, we're talking about Jette's pick, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and we loved reading more of Moreno-Garcia's work. Show NotesWe can't believe we've recorded 150 episodes of book content! Of those episodes, 38 have been book club discussions. That's...a lot of books. And somehow our TBRs are still threatening to topple over. It was way back in Episode 59 that we talked about Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This book is loosely based on The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells, which was published in 1896. The film of the same name starring Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer came out in 1996. Our next episode is another instalment of Page to Screen and we'll be discussing Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey and the series adaptation of the same title. Our next book club pick is Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo. Other Books MentionedBy Silvia Moreno-Garcia — Silver Nitrate, Certain Dark Things, Velvet Was the Night, The Seventh Veil of SalomeBy H.G. Wells — The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, The War of the WorldsHorror Movie by Paul Tremblay Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 149, Gen and Jette continue to celebrate Pride Month with Tony Kushner's award-winning play, Angels in America. We had to cut ourselves off eventually because we could talk about this play forever.Show NotesWe went to see this play last December at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto. It was produced by That Theatre Company and directed by Craig Pike. (Yes, Torontonians, Craig Pike of Craig's Cookies.) It was phenomenal and we knew we had to read the play and dedicate an episode to it. The play runs about 7 hours long in total and is technically two separate plays: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika.HBO made a mini series, adapted for the screen by Tony Kushner, in 2003.In 2017, The National Theatre produced a revival starring Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane and it eventually went to Broadway. This play has won a lot of awards and it's very clear why. We'll definitely make it a point to see any production of this that we can get to.This spring, Gen went to see another 7-hour long play called The Inheritance, put on by Canadian Stage Company. It's a reimagining of E.M. Forester's novel Howard's End and also deals with AIDS and being gay in America, but in a contemporary setting that takes place before and after the election of Donald Trump. Our next episode is our 150th! Appropriately, it is a book club episode. We'll be talking about Jette's pick, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno Garcia. Other Media MentionedThe Inheritance by Matthew LopezCaroline, or ChangeMunich (2005)Lincoln (2012)West Side Story (2021)The Fabelmans (2022) Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 148, Gen and Jette are kicking off Pride Month with Maia Kobabe's graphic novel memoir, Gender Queer. Show NotesThis graphic novel memoir was such a great entry point for talking about gender and sexuality. Maia Kobabe uses Spivak pronouns, e/em/eir.You can check out Kobabe's other work in a number of anthologies, including Gothic Tales of Haunted Love and Be Gay, Do Comics.Super into all the required classes that Kobabe took in High School at the Waldorf School.Watch our Instagram for some Pride book recs this month, and check out some of our queer reading lists on the blog:A Queer Reading List to Keep Pride Going All Year LongTop 7 Pride Month Books to Celebrate Queer JoyOur love for The Storygraph is never ending, especially the reading stats. In our next episode we'll be talking about Angels in America by Tony Kushner. We went to see the play last December, so now we're going to read it, and probably watch the HBO mini series and/or the National Theatre production.Other Books and Media MentionedPet by Akweke EmeziTranny by Laura Jane GraceThe Laramie Project Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 146, Gen and Jette talk about their most recent book club pick—Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. We are so here for the spooky houses and gothic vibes!Show NotesEleanor Starling was giving Mark Ryden and Margaret Keane vibes.Starling House is a portal fantasy of sorts, as is Harrow's debut novel, The Ten Thousand Doors of January. She also wrote a short story called "A Witch's Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies." Our next book club pick is The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia MorenoGarcia. It's based on H.G. Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau. So we're sticking with the gothic, spooky vibes. We loved Mexican Gothic and we're sure this one is going to be great! We'll be discussing it first thing in July.We may also have to watch the 1996 film, The Island of Doctor Moreau, starring Val Kilmer, Marlon Brando, and Fairuza Balk, among others. It looks like a wild time. Other Books MentionedLost in the Neverwoods by Aiden ThomasPeter Pan by J.M. BarrieBefore the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu KawaguchiThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisAlice in Wonderland by Lewis CarrollVelvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno GarciaCertain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno Garcia Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno Garcia Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 144, Gen and Jette read the first volume of Night Eaters, a horror graphic novel by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda. You know we're all about the creepy graphic novels, but this one had the added bonus of being very funny. Safe to say we loved it!Show NotesMarjorie Liu and Sana Takeda have worked in all corners of the comic/graphic novel world, including Marvel and their co-created series, Monstress, published by Image Comics. They've both won Hugo and Eisner awards, and Liu is the first ever woman (and woman of colour) to win an Eisner in the Best Writer category.Shout out to Hoopla, as always. We love being able to read even more graphic novels through their library platform.Somehow we stumbled across this graphic novel separately...maybe? Hard to say. We might just share a brain now.Another shout out belongs to the Concord Bookshop, where Jette snagged her copy of Night Eaters from their amazing graphic novel section. In our next episode, we'll be talking about the sequel to Her Majesty's Royal Coven, The Shadow Cabinet, because that cliff hanger means we need to discuss it ASAP!!Other Books MentionedSomething is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'EderaPaper Houses & Pale Shadows by Dominique Fortier, translated by Rhonda MullinsThe Martian by Andy WeirFight Club by Chuck PalahniukMystic River by Dennis Lehane Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 143, Gen and Jette talk about everything they've been up to so far this year, including what books they've been reading and what they've been writing.Show NotesWe may end up squeezing in an episode on The Shadow Cabinet as a follow up to Her Majesty's Royal Coven. Word to the wise if you decide to work through The Artist's Way — buy a smaller notebook.In our next episode we'll be talking about the graphic novel The Night Eaters by Marjorie Liu, illustrated by Sana Takeda. Our current book club pick is Starling House by Alix E. Harrow, so make sure to read along with us before the episode drops on May 8.Books MentionedThe Artist's Way by Julia CameronThe Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana EnriquezFlung Out of Space by Grace Ellis and Hannah TemplerA Twist of the Knife by Anthony HorowitzNotes of a Native Son by James BaldwinPaper Houses by Dominique Fortier, translated by Rhonda MullinsPale Shadows by Dominique Fortier, translated by Rhonda MullinsHer Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno DawsonThe Last Thing He Told Me by Laura DaveCouplets by Maggie MilnerThe Silent Woman by Minka KentLeslie F*cking JonesFamily Lore by Elizabeth AcevedoFall On Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonaldCome Tumbling Down by Seanan MaguireHangsaman by Shirley JacksonConfessions of the Fox by Jordy RosenbergAmateur by Thomas Page McBeeFreaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek by Thea GlassmanThe Fran Lebowitz Reader Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 142, Gen and Jette discuss their latest book club selection, Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. Obviously we loved the witchy vibes and the stellar queer rep, but also the end of this book had us screaming. Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger!Show NotesWe haven't done a book quite like this one before! Obviously we've done witchy books in the past, but not one that was so action-packed and full of such cool world building.Spoilers abound! Especially by the end. We need to read the next book immediately and may have borrowed it on Libby while we were recording lolIf you loved the series about a certain boy wizard about which we no longer speak, but find that author loathsome, this book is exactly the grown-up, queer positive version you're looking for.Our next book club selection is Gen's pick and we'll be reading Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. It has some gothic haunted house vibes that sound amazing.Next episode is a hangout episode to catch you up on everything we've been reading, writing, etc. and there's a high chance we'll end up talking about the sequel to HRMC.Other Books by Juno DawsonHRMC #2: The Shadow CabinetThis Book Is GayMind Your HeadMargot & MeThe Gender GamesCleanMeat Market Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 141, it's time for another James Baldwin book! If you've been around for a while, you'll know that James Baldwin is one of our favourite authors, so we've turned it into an annual tradition to read one of his works every February. This time we're reading Baldwin's non-fiction with his first essay collection, Notes of a Native Son. As usual, we had an incredible time talking about this, and we just need more Baldwin in our lives.Show NotesBaldwin wrote the introduction to the 1984 edition while he was in Amherst, Massachusetts. The universe is telling us we need to go visit.Another Country was our first Baldwin book, and it's still one of our favourites. You could start anywhere with his work, but this one remains high on the list and we're so glad it was the first one we read.We loved getting to learn more about Baldwin's life in America and abroad in Europe.Be sure to read Jette's blog post 5 Must-Read James Baldwin Books That Will Change Your Life. Yes, we already dropped a Pale Shadows reference in this episode.In our next episode we'll be talking about Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. Other Books by James BaldwinGo Tell It on the MountainThe Devil Finds WorkThe Fire Next TimeAnother Country (Episode 55) If Beale Street Could Talk (Episode 61) Giovanni's Room (Episode 113) Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 140, Gen and Jette get to revisit one of their favourite books, Paper Houses, with the sequel, Pale Shadows. Dominique Fortier's follow-up to her reimagining of Emily Dickinson's life, traces the publication of Dickinson's poems after her death and the women who helped it happen. Obviously we loved this. It's time to add every Emily Dickinson collection to our reading lists. Show Notes We learned a lot about the process of readying Emily's poems for publication, which included removing dashes and deciding on which word Emily intended for the poem. There are several different collections with slightly different versions of the poems. The one being published in Pale Shadows was edited and transcribed by Mabel. A later edition was done by her daughter, Millicent. Shout out to Coach House Books for never steering us wrong. Paper Houses was the first book of theirs we ever read on the podcast. If you haven't listened yet, check out Episode 26 on Paper Houses. Emily Dickinson's Herbarium was also published and it has been digitized by Harvard Library for anyone to look through. In our next episode we'll be reading James Baldwin's essay collection, Notes of a Native Son. Other Books and Media Mentioned Dickinson (HBO TV series) The Letters of Emily Dickinson Other Coach House Books Episodes 36: Disfigure by Amanda LeDuc 51: 2020 Fall Releases 62: Because the Sun by Sarah Burgoyne 74: And Miles to Go Before I Sleep by Jocelyne Saucier 88: Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu 117: Sing, Nightingale by Marie Hélène Poitras Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 139, Gen and Jette continue their #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt series with The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz. It's our first whodunnit style mystery, and we had a great time.Show NotesWhile we've definitely seen this book floating around Instagram (hence why we picked it), we've also seen a lot of others by Anthony Horowitz. Probably because he's written...to say a lot would be an understatement. Fun fact: it's possible that Horowitz has committed more fictional murders than any other living author!He's written instalments for both Sherlock Holmes and James Bond, having been selected by the Arthur Conan Doyle and Ian Fleming estates to continue the respective stories.Did you catch our brief mention of our other podcast? To follow our rewatch of One Tree Hill (and The OC before that), check out Teenage Daydream Podcast. Our next episode we've been anticipating since the books was announced — it's the follow-up to podcast favourite, Paper Houses by Dominique Fortier, which we talked about way back in Episode 26. This one is called Pale Shadows and we can't wait to be incoherent messes about it.After Pale Shadows, join us for our annual James Baldwin read on February 28. Other Books and Media MentionedKnives OutGlass OnionColumbo The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura DaveRiley SagerSue Grafton Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 138, Gen and Jette discuss the graphic novel Flung Out of Space by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer. It reimagines the life of author Patricia Highsmith and the inspiration for her classic lesbian novel The Price of Salt. Show NotesWe've begun a bit of a tradition of reading a graphic novel as our second episode of the year, and we're loving it. It's especially fun to talk about the illustrations alongside the writing.It was fascinating to learn more about Patricia Highsmith—both the good and the bad—and we'd love to learn more.Did you catch the Paper Houses references? We're going to have many more coming when we read the follow up book, Pale Shadows, in early February.Our next episode we'll be talking about The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz.Don't forget to read along with our current book club pick, Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. We'll be talking about that one first thing in March.Other Books & Media MentionedCarol (2016 film)May December (2023 film)Highsmith: Her Secret Life (2004 film)Strangers on a Train by Patricia HighsmithThe Price of Salt/Carol by Patricia HighsmithThe Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
It's our first episode of 2024, and as usual we're kicking it off with last year's final book club book. In episode 137, we're talking about The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez. It's a fantastically strange and creepy collection of short stories, so of course we loved it.Show NotesNeither of us knows enough about Argentinian history, so some of the sociopolitical context goes over our heads, but it's clear that the disappearances during Argentina's Dirty Wars have a significant influence on some of the stories.Jette has never used a Ouija board. It seems to be one of those things that people are genuinely afraid to use. We don't need to accidentally conjure malevolent spirits! (Power to the teenage girls who are trying to though.)Our next book club book is Jette's pick, and we're reading Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson. There's witches and gender stuff and the corruption of power. It sounds like it's going to be great. We'll be talking about that one in March.We'll be back in two weeks with a graphic novel. It was TBD when we recorded, but we've since decided to read Flung Out of Space by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer. It's a reimagining of real life author, Patricia Highsmith, and her inspiration for the classic lesbian novel, The Price of Salt.Until next week, check out our latest blog post all about the thrillers you can cozy up with this winter and keep an eye out for Gen's round up of anticipated reads for 2024.Other Books MentionedBy Mariana Enriquez – Things We Lost in the Fire, Our Share of NightSalt Slow by Julia ArmfieldLesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim FuHer Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
It's the end of the year, so it's time for our annual wrap-up episode! Join us as we chat about what we've been up to the last few months, how we did with our reading and writing goals this year, and what we have coming in the new year. We've got a few teasers in there to look out for!Show NotesObviously one of our most hotly anticipated 2024 episodes is the sequel to Paper Houses. We'll be talking about Pale Shadows early next year.We both read a lot of horror and queer lit this year.Our first episode in January will be Gen's book club pick, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez. We're ready for some weird short stories, so grab your copy and read along over the holidays!Books MentionedLittle Weirds by Jenny SlatePluralities by Avi SilverThe Cabin at the End of the World by Paul TremblayMother, Nature by Jedidiah JenkinsGrimoire Girl by Hilarie Burton MorganThe House Across the Lake by Riley SagerYou're on an Airplane by Parker PoseyLeslie F*cking Jones by Leslie JonesDefending Jacob by William LandaySeason of the Bruja by Sara Soler and Aaron DuranYoga For Witches by Sarah RobinsonLuna by Tamara Driessen The Photographer's PlaybookOur Wives Under the Sea by Julia ArmfieldEyes Guts Throat Bones by Moira FowleyHer Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria MachadoCertain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-GarciaSalt Slow by Julia ArmfieldA Shot in the Dark by Victoria LeeBeneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuireIn an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 135, it's time for our annual FUJK book selection. Once upon a time, before a certain author who wrote a book about a certain boy wizard revealed herself to be a piece of trash, we had begun working out way through the series. Now we choose a queer trans author to read instead!This year we're reading Pluralities by Avi Silver. We absolutely loved it! Prepare for some obsessed rambles. This was definitely a favourite!Show NotesWe've read so many good books for this series! See below for the full list.You may recognize Avi Silver from Episode 42 about The Shale Project. We read Silver's book Two Dark Moons and Sienna Tristen's The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming.In our next episode we're wrapping up 2024 (HOW?!). Join us for a chat about our favourite books and episodes of the year, and some of our reading and writing goals for the new year.Other FUJK Episodes57: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas 83: A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee 109: Pet by Akwaeke Emezi Other Books MentionedThe Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky ChambersProject Hail Mary by Andy WeirHow Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee
In Episode 134, it's the re-return of podcast fave Jedidiah Jenkins. We're talking about Jenkins' latest book Mother, Nature, about a road trip he takes with his mother and their relationship.Show NotesThis is Jenkins' third book and our third episode about one his books (yes, we've done all of them). I think that officially makes him our most revisited author!Are we going to have to do a cult book soon? Jedidiah and his mom listen to some really interesting sounding podcasts on their trip, including ones about DB Cooper, the feral pigs tweet, and cult leader Sherry Shriner. We've got an eye any future Jedidah Jenkins writing retreats.Our next episode is our annual middle finger to JKR, and this time we're reading Pluralities by Avi Silver — another author we've read before! You might recognize them from our episode on The Shale Project.Books, Authors and Episodes MentionedTo Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins (Episode 12)Like Streams to the Ocean by Jedidiah Jenkins (Episode 65)These Violent Delights (Episode 69) & Our Violent Ends (Episode 86) by Chloe GongThe Rural Diaries (Episode 46) & Grimoire Girl (Episode 133) by Hilarie Burton MorganThe Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes (Episode 60) & Hayley Alrdrige is Still Here (Episode 114) by Elissa R. SloanAutopsy of a Boring Wife (Episode 20) & A Boring Wife Settles the Score (Episode 70) by Marie-Renée Lavoie Paper Houses (Episode 26) by Domnique Fortier Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 133 Gen and Jette revisit one of their favourite authors, Hilarie Burton Morgan, and kick off Non Fiction November with Grimoire Girl. Burton's latest book combines personal stories with her tips and simple spells for creating your own personal grimoire. Show NotesWe have allll the ideas and creative inspiration now. Like so many projects are brewing.Some questions we got to consider while discussing this book include: What body of water do you most relate to? Which planet/celestial body is your favourite?We need to visit Wethersfield Garden. The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan is still our top episode ever. Will Grimoire Girl beat that? If you're not quite ready to create your own oracle deck, check out The Tessera Oracle.For some essay writing ideas check out Summer Brennan's Essay Camp on Substack. Our next episode we'll be re-revisiting another podcast favourite, Jedidiah Jenkins. We'll be talking abouy his latest book Mother, Nature.Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 132, Gen and Jette tackle a horror novel with The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. It had a moment that shocked both of us and definitely gave us lots to talk about.Show NotesWe're officially in our fifth season of the podcast! Gen has a theory that the horror genre is like country music. Listen to the end of the episode to find out why.The movie adaptation with M. Night Shyamalan is called Knock at the Cabin and has a few changes to the books that we talk about.Spoilers abound in this episode, for both the book and the movie, even though neither of us has seen it.Will we watch the movie? Undecided.In keeping with the spooky theme, but on a completely different note, we'll be discussing Grimoire Girl by Hilarie Burton Morgan in our next episode. Other Books and Media MentionedThe Silence of the LambsRiley SagerThe ExorcistSawFunny GamesStephen KingOur Wives Under the Sea by Julia ArmfieldCertain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-GarciaHer Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria MachadoEyes Throat Guts Bones by Moïra FowleyOther Books by Paul TremblaySurvivor SongA Head Full of Ghosts
Episode 131 is an anniversary hangout. We're celebrating 5 years of Another Book on the Shelf. 5 years of great books, great discussions, and amazing listeners! We can't wait to bring you another 5 more! Show Notes We're actually going places out in the world now and it's very exciting. Check out Gen's cookie website Honeybee Cookie Co. and get your Christmas orders in! Our next episode we're sticking with the creepy October theme and reading The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay just in time for Halloween. Don't forget to read along with our current book club selection, Grimoire Girl by Hilarie Burton Morgan. Books Mentioned The All + Flesh by Brandi Bird Gotham Academy, Volume 2: Calamity by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl, and Mingjue Helen Chen Bear by Marian Engel Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Volume 1 by Jordie Bellaire and Dan Mora The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris You're On and Airplane by Parker Posey What Draws Us Near (published by Little Ghosts Books) The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager Tombs by Junji Ito Still A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In our latest instalment of Page to Screen, Gen and Jette talk about The Silence of the Lambs. We had a great time talking about the classic film and the novel by Thomas Harris to kick off spooky season. It's easy to see why Hannibal Lecter has captivated people! We're not saying we like him necessarily, but he's definitely fun to read about (and watch!)Show NotesThe Silence of the Lambs film is one of only three to have won all five major awards at the Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, and Best Actress for Jodie Foster.The film is also the only horror film to have won Best Picture.We're both ready to dive deep into the Hannibal Lecter canon, including all the books, films, and tv adaptations.In our next episode we'll be celebrating our fifth (!!!) anniversary of the podcast!Other Books & Screen Adaptations in the Hannibal SeriesRed Dragon by Thomas HarrisHannibal by Thomas HarrisHannibal Rising by Thomas HarrisHannibal (2001 film)Red Dragon (2002 film)Hannibal Rising (2007 film)Hannibal (2013-2015 tv show) Clarice (2021 tv show)Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 129, Gen and Jette dive into "the most controversial Canadian novel" ever written. A woman goes to work in Northern Ontario and begins a relationship with a bear. Spoiler in 2023, it wasn't that wild. Or was it? Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 128, Gen and Jette team up with one of their favourite local publishers, House of Anansi Press, to read The All + Flesh by Brandi Bird. It's the second book of poetry for the pod and we absolutely loved it.Show NotesHouse of Anansi's namesake comes from the spider god of West-African tradition, Kwaku Anansi, who created the world.House of Anansi is located in Toronto. Be sure to check out their sister imprint, Groundwood Books, for children's and young adult lit. If you're looking for the book version of the annual CBC Massey Lectures, it's House of Anansi you want! The All + Flesh was published on August 8 and is available for purchase. The other book of poetry we talked about on the pod is Because the Sun by Sarah Burgoyne, published by our other fave indie publisher, Coach House. Our next episode is a book club episode! We'll be talking about Bear by Marian Engel (also published by House of Anansi). It's going to be an interesting one!If you haven't already, take a look at the Narcisse snake pits in Manitoba, but be warned! It is very much a writing pit of snakes. Other House of Anansi Episodes20: House of Anansi Press 2019 Spring Books 39: House of Anansi New Releases 43: You Are Not What We Expected – Interview with Sidura Ludwig 70: A Boring Wife Settles the Score by Marie-Renée Lavoie 97: A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm Other Book MentionedI Am Still Too Much by Brandi BirdThe Rez Sisters by Thomson HighwayPaper House by Dominique Fortier
It's time for another hang out episode! In this episode, Gen and Jette talk about what they've been up to and what they've been reading (actually so much!). We may be ready for fall already, but we're making the most of summer while it's still here.Show NotesCheck out our latest blog post, Top 7 Most Anticipated Books for Fall 2023The new show on Netflix about the Sacklers and the opioid crisis is called Painkiller.Our next episode we team up with House of Anansi Press to read a new poetry collection, The All + Flesh by Brandi Bird.Books MentionedIt's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe ThorogoodThe Impending Blindness of Billie Scott by Zoe ThorogoodSurfside Girls by Kim DwinellThe Grownup by Gillian FlynnSomething is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'EderaThe Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen The Writing Retreat by Julia BartzThe Book of Phobias and Manias by Kate SummerscaleAlways Never by Jordi LafebreRipple Effects by Jordan Hart and Matthew NoeMy Heroes Have Always Been Junkies by Ed Brubaker and Sean PhillipsHow Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina ImblerThe Beauty by Jason A. Hurley and Jeremy HaunWelcome to Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan (of The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys), Brendan Fletcher, and Karl Kerschel Stillwater by Chip ZdarskyGhost Tree by Bobby CurnowLife is Strange: Dust by Emma VieceliTell Me Everything: A Memoir by Minka KellyHouse of Slaughter by James Tynion IV (Something is Killing the Children spin-off)You're On An Airplane by Parker PoseyMother, Nature by jedidiah JenkinsThe House Across the Lake by Riley SagerJunior High by Tegan and Sara QuinThe Memory Police by Yoko OgawaThe Book of Magic by Alice HoffmanThe Magicians by Lev GrossmanThe Writing of Fiction by Edith WhartonSteering the Craft by Ursula Le GuinMy Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady HendrixSordidez by E.G. CondéJonny Appleseed by Joshua WhiteheadSyllabus by Lynda BarryRomancing the Beat by Gwen HayesMoonheart by Charles de LintSeven Tears into the Sea by Terri FarleyWho Will Run the Frog Hospital by Lorrie MooreDown Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuireThe Blue Salt Road by Joanne M. HarrisSealskin by Su Bristow Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 126, Gen and Jette team up with indie publisher Stelliform Press. They generously sent us a copy of their recent release Sordidez by E.G. Condé, which follows different members of communities trying to survive in a world ravaged by war and climate catastrophe. Show NotesWe first heard about Stelliform Press at last year's Word on the Street festival. They publish stories that centre climate change and environmental justice. The book about Guatemala that Gen couldn't remember the name of is Bitter Fruit by Stephen Schlesinger. It details the CIA's operation to overthrow the country's democratically elected government in 1954.Find more of E.G. Condé's work at www.egconde.com or follow him on social media — @CloudAnthro on Twitter and @boricuascribe on Instagram.Our next episode is going to be our summer hangout! Join us for some iced tea and reading/writing updates. Other Books MentionedThe Impossible Resurrection of Grief by Octavia Cade (also published by Stelliform) Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
It's time for another round of #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt! Actually, it was mostly BookTok this time. We're finally diving into one of Colleen Hoover's books. Verity has been all over Instagram and TikTok, and when friend of the pod Kattie read it, we knew it was time. We had a lot to say about this one. Let us know where you fall on the CoHo books – love or hate? We want to know. Show Notes Are we going to read another CoHo book for the pod? Maybe. In our next episode we're teaming up with a new indie book publisher that we discovered at Word on the Street—Stelliform Press. They publish mostly speculative climate fiction and we'll be talking about their new release, Sordidez by E.G. Condé. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!
In Episode 124, Gen and Jette talk about The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa, translated by Stephen Snyder. This was Jette's pick for our book club and we loved the dystopian vibes and talking all about memories. Show NotesYōko Ogawa has won every Japanese literary award, including the Akutagawa Prize and Yomiuri Prize.Playing It Cool is a 2014 film starring Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, Michelle Monaghan, Anthony Mackie, Topher Grace, and Luke Wilson. With such a stacked cast, you'd think Gen would've heard of it. Our next book club pick is Bear by Marian Engel Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter or email us at hello@anotherbookontheshelf.com. We'd love to hear from you! Sign up for our newsletter and add us to Pinterest!