Tales In Our Times

Hello, beautiful readers. This week we talk about the ways in which different narratives are adapted. In a world with so many forms of media available, it’s interesting to see how some narratives are brought from one medium to another. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:How The Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith JrQuicksand by Nella LarsenBridge to Terabithia by Katherine PatersonRoom and The Wonder (erroneously referred to as “The Gift” by the hosts) by Emma DonoghueArtemis Fowl by Eoin ColferTwilight by Stephanie MeyerEragon by Christopher PaoliniWatership Down by Richard AdamsThe Witches and James and the Giant Peach by Roald DahlBridget Jones’s Diary by Helen FieldingPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeAnimal Farm by George Orwell

Hello, readers! We are back with another episode, this time all about the ways in which writers use magic. It’s such a keystone metaphor, it feels very interesting to us! Alright, I’m lying; this is a George episode. But Mum enjoyed herself, swear! See below for books mentioned.Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:Word Poem by Nicki GiovanniBright Red Fruit by Safia ElhilloQuicksand and Passing by Nella LarsenThey Were Her Property by Stephanie E Jones-RogersWoman, Eating by Claire KohdaThe Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion by JRR TolkienThe Chronicles of Narnia by CS LewisThe Broken Earth series by NK JemisinThree Parts Dead by Max GladstoneMrs Pepperpot Stories by Alf PrøysenHis Dark Materials by Philip PullmanThe Testament of SolomonThe Ring of Solomon by Jonathan StroudThe Library at Mount Char by Scott HawkinsThe Abhorsen series by Garth NixPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeDeltora Quest by Emily Rodda (Jennifer Rowe)

Hello again, our friends! Please join us for this incredible discussion with our friend and family member, Annmarie Lockhart. We talk about poetry and all the ways in which verse can open our minds. It’s a fantastic discussion, I sincerely became smarter for it. Hope you enjoy, and see below for a list of books mentioned! Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea LawlorGolden Enclaves by Naomi NovikIf Beale Street Could Talk and Giovanni’s Room by James BaldwinMonstrilio: A Novel by Gerardo Sámano CórdovaBright Red Fruit by Safia ElhilloThe Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments by Margaret AtwoodBeaver Girl by Cassie Premo SteeleThe Last Chairlift by John IrvingJames by Percival EverettAnnabel Lee by Edgar Allen PoeNow We Are Six and When We Were Very Young by AA MilneIf by Rudyard KiplingBeowulfThe Terrible Stories by Lucille CliftonThe Second Coming by William Butler YeatsThis Be The Verse by Phillip LarkinMitochondrial Night by Ed Bok LeeBright Dead Things by Ada Limónhttp://voxpoetica.com/

Hello, readers! It’s been so long! We’re so happy to be back with a few episodes we recorded earlier last year, and soon will be back with some new episodes, huzzah! This episode we get a little judgmental; we look over an updated Top 100 list and George runs his mouth (que sorpresa). It’s fun to chat a bit of trash! Hope you enjoy, and please see below for books mentioned.Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:If Beale Street Could Talk by James BaldwinStaying On Alone and The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook by Alice B ToklasChain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahAll The Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverAbout a Boy, Juliet, Naked, and High Fidelity by Nick HornbyGoosebumps by RL StineOn Beauty by Zadie SmithBrick Lane by Monica AliGone Girl by Gillian FlynnPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeThe Goldfinch by Donna TarttThe Thursday Murder Club by Richard OsmanThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg LarssonIn The Dream House by Carmen Maria MachadoGoblet of Fire by JK RowlingA Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer EganCirce and Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerThe Knowledge by Mark JacksonLincoln in the Bardo by George SaundersAmericanah by Chimamanda Ngozie AdichieThe Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Klay by Michael ChabonThe Book Thief by Markus ZusakThe Year of Magical Thinking by Joan DidionThe Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled HosseiniThe Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Rawwwwwr! It’s an episode about big bloomin’ lizards! Mum’s a huge dino fan, so we thought we’d look at some of the best narratives that include them, and what they’re helpful for. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyanIf Beale Street Could Talk by James BaldwinJurassic Park and Dragon Teeth by Michael CrichtonThe Fossil Hunter: Dinosaurs, Evolution, and the Woman Whose Discoveries Changed the World by Shelley EmlingDinotopia by James GurneyDeltora Quest by Jennifer Rowe as Emily RoddaThe Last Dinosaur by Jim MurphyHell Creek by C Robert Cargill

Hello, again! We’re fresh off of George’s wedding, finally back to weekly posting, first off with our episode on Dystopian Narratives! A dystopia is…well, we probably don’t need to describe it to our listeners in the US, but there’s a rich vein of books and stories written in dystopian society settings, whether you think of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, Margaret Atwood’s A Handmaid’s Tale, or Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, we’re sure everyone has enjoyed a narrative like this in their time. Chune in, we hope you enjoy! See below for a list of the books mentioned.Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.

We are so blessed to have had the opportunity to interview friend and excellent librarian, Amelia Zimmerman!!! We talk to her about the need for third places, the ways that librarians work to provide valuable resources to their communities, and generally just have a laugh about the books we love. Thanks so much to Amelia for coming and hanging out with us, she’s the best. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:If I Survive You by Jonathan EscoffreyThe Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuinThe Reformatory by Tananarive DueThe Prisoner’s Throne by Holly BlackA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J MaasPassing and Quicksand by Nella LarsenGiovanni’s Room by James BaldwinThe Incendiaries by RO KwonA Visit from the Goon Squad and The Invisible Circus by Jennifer EganInfinite Jest and Broom of the System by David Foster WallaceAre You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy BlumeTuck Everlasting by Natalie BabbittThe Watchmen by Alan MooreThe Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

In this week’s episode, we take an excursion through the work of one of our literary heroes: the excellent Terry Pratchett! The nerds talk about his beginning and evolution into the wizard of the Discworld that he became. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:If I Survive You by Jonathan EscoffreyPassing and Quicksand by Nella LarsenThe Immortals of Tehran by Ali AraghiPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeClear by Carys DaviesKick the Latch by Kathryn ScanlanThe Discworld series: The Color of Magic, Mort, Guards, Guards!, Feet of Clay, Men at Arms, The Truth, Going Postal, Moving Pictures, Making Money, Raising Steam and many more by Terry PratchettGood Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil GaimanMy Man Jeeves by PG WodehouseTime Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth by Lloyd Alexander

Give it to me; ONE TIME! And then never again. That’s what we’re talking about today, those authors who crushed the assignment so completely that they simply could not touch that record again. We don’t want this to seem like a list of “one-trick ponies”—this is a celebration. Come and have a giggle at how poorly we misremember titles from beloved authors like Harper Lee and JD Salinger. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:The Rise of a New Left: How Young Radicals Are Shaping the Future of American Politics by Raina LipsitzThe Great and Secret Show by Clive BarkerAliss at the Fire by Jon FosseIf I Survive You by Jonathan EscoffreyHood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki KendallGirl in Pieces by Kathleen GlasgowThe Poet X by Elizabeth AcevedoThe Bible by GodBabel: Or The Necessity of Violence by RF Kuangthe bell jar by Sylvia PlathFrankenstein and The Last Man by Mary ShelleyDracula by Bram StokerTo Kill A Mockingbird and Go Set A Watchman by Harper LeeWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëA Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy O’TooleBlack Beauty by Anna SewellThe Invisible Man by Ralph EllisonDoctor Zhivago by Boris PasternakGone With the Wind by Margaret MitchellCatcher in the Rye, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters by JD Salinger

Ooh, flippin’ ‘eck. It’s gettin’ dark in ‘ere. Today the nerds talk about the dark night of the soul! We discuss the ways in which depressing narratives can secretly be liberating, and we highlight some of our absolute faves. See below for books mentioned. Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:Toska by Alina PolyskavaProphet Song by Paul LynchAliss at the Fire by Jon FosseThe Eyes of the Impossible by Dave EggersBig by Vashti HarrisonIn the Dream House by Carmen Maria MachadoHellraiser by Clive BarkerTender is the Flesh by Agustina BazterricaA Certain Hunger by Chelsea G SummersThe Book of Lost Things by John ConnollyNausea by Jean-Paul Sartre1984 by George Orwell

Hello, dear listener! Today’s episode is our first Author Highlight episode. We told you we’d be trying new things in the second season, and this is one! The nerds take a dive into the writing of China Miéville and come up with recommendations based on where to start if you’re looking to get into him. We think he’s dope, and we think you will, too! See below for books mentioned.Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:Prophet Song by Paul LynchA Little History of Philosophy by Nigel WarburtonThe Christmas Card Crime And Other Stories by Martin EdwardsA Little History of the World by EH GombrichAliss at the Fire by Jon FosseThe Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeerHot House, The Saliva Tree, and The Heliconia series by Brian AldissUn Lun Dun by China MiévilleA Madness of Angels by Kate GriffinNeverwhere by Neil GaimanEmbassytown, The City and The City, Kraken, The Last Days of New Paris, and the Bas Lag Trilogy by China Miéville

FINALLY. WE RISE FROM THE GRAVE. Hey all. Sorry for the wait. One of us had to move house, and it really ballsed up our scheduling. Here’s an episode a day for the rest of the week to make up for it. First on the list is our chat about gift-giving narratives. We both love getting and giving presents, and we thought it was interesting to examine the way that we tell stories about what they mean. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:Prophet Song by Paul LynchMusicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales, and Awakenings by Oliver SacksA Master of Djinn by P Djeli ClarkMonstrilio by Gerardo Sámano CórdovaAliss at the Fire by Jon FosseWestern Lane by Chetna MarooOur Wives Under The Sea by Julia ArmfieldThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark HaddonThe Vorrh by B CatlingPilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie DillardChristmas Days by Jeanette WintersonOrange Is Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette WintersonThe Giving Tree by Shel SilversteinThe Gift of the Magi by O Henry

The nerds are back again with another proper late review of one of the events we went to. We took a moment at the top of the episode to remember the poet Refaat Alareer, killed by the war in Gaza. May he rest in peace. See below for books mentioned.Books Mentioned:King Lear by William ShakespeareA Master of Djinn and Ring Shout by P. Djèlí ClarkOur Wives Under the Sea by Julia ArmfieldA Christmas Carol by Charles DickensThe Outsiders by SE HintonTrainspotting by Irvine WelshThe Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Dune by Frank Herbert

In this episode, the nerds talk about their expectations leading into the Rare Book Fair in Philadelphia, hosted by the fine folks over at Fine Book Fairs! We’re posting these as a duo, so look forward to our reflections on the event in the next episode. See below for books mentioned, and the socials of the folks mentioned!

On this episode, George and Janet review the fallacies surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday. We give a super late status update on the Booker Prize (congratulations in the present, Mr Lynch!), unpack some of the narratives surrounding Thanksgiving, and take a look at some good alternative options for honest narratives of the history. George does way too much of an uwu voice, and we try our best to wring a laugh or two out of a stunningly depressing topic. Check out the Booker Prize’s YouTube (linked on our website) to hear some actor-narrated sections from the books on their shortlist! See below for books mentioned!Books Mentioned:The Sentence Is Death and The Word Is Murder by Anthony HorowitzThe Three Dimensions of Freedom by Billy BraggOur Wives Under the Sea by Julia ArmfieldThis Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving by David J SilvermanAn Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States and Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment by Roxanne Dunbar-OrtizThe Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse

In their second episode of the second season, George and Janet review another holiday narrative: Bonfire Night. We review the history of the man who sparked the holiday, and some book options to introduce those of us who are unfamiliar. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:The Sentence Is Death by Anthony HorowitzMusicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver SacksThe Feminist Subversion of the Economy: Contributions for a Life Against Capital by Amaia Perez OrozcoKensington Homestead by Nic Esposito Numamushi: A Fairy Tale by Mina Ikemoto GhoshFawkes by Nadine BrandesThe Firemaster’s Mistress by Christie DickasonBlack Powder by Ally SherrickHovis the Hedgehog: Bonfire Night by Lynda Leigh-CrawfordV for Vendetta by Alan Moore, illus. David Lloyd

We’re back from a brief hiatus with our second season! Janet and George change it up for this season, discussing the recipe for a perfect Halloween story. However, they remain consistent with the time delay between current events and their episode topics. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales, and Awakenings by Oliver SacksThe Feminist Subversion of the Economy: Contributions for Life Against Capital by Amaia Pérez Orozco, trans. Liz Mason-DeeseThe Last Graduate, A Deadly Education, and Uprooted by Naomi NovikThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

For our last episode of what we’re dubbing Season 1, Janet and George take a look back over their favorite bits so far. Mainly, it’s another chance for us to talk about how much we love Carmen Maria Machado. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:The Flight From the Enchanter by Iris MurdochOut of Bounds by Val McDermidCarmilla by Sheridan Le FanuGiovanni’s Room by James BaldwinDracula by Bram StokerIn the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

In this episode, Janet and George are joined by their second guest ever, a member of their family: Becky! She comes in to chat with us about one of Janet’s most-read genres, Young Adult fiction. We look over the history of YA and reflect on what purpose it serves in the literary canon. Hope you enjoy this one, as we had a very enjoyable (silly) time. See below for books mentioned!Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.

In this episode, Janet walks us through an art movement that influenced her during her childhood: kitchen sink realism. Join in as we walk through the history of kitchen sink paintings, the inspiration taken from the similar ash can movement in the US, and the ways that people have always spoken up about societies that don’t provide for their needs. This was such an interesting episode to record, and we hope you’ll learn something new. See below for books mentioned! Intro song Bookmark and audio editing by Quatroizer.Logo art by Gabriel de Mello.Books Mentioned:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky ChambersThe Return of Faraz Ali by Aamina AhmadWestern Lane by Chetna MarooProphet Song by Paul LynchThe Bee Sting by Paul MurrayStudy for Obedience by Sarah BernsteinThis Other Eden by Paul HardingLook Back in Anger by John OsborneSaturday Night or Sunday Morning by Alan SillitoeThe L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid BanksA Kestrel for a Knave by Barry HinesA Kind of Loving by Stan Barstow