Elton Reads A Book A Week

Picture this: It's the 1960s, your Welsh hometown is dying, and everyone's telling you to accept reality and move to London. Instead, you read about American libraries closing down and think, "You know what? Opportunity." So you buy crates of abandoned books, ship them to Wales, open a bookshop in an old fire station, purchase a medieval castle, and turn it into a 24-hour honor-system bookstore. Then, for your next trick, you declare your town an independent kingdom and crown yourself monarch. The media goes insane, tourism explodes, and suddenly your "joke" has spawned dozens of copycat book towns worldwide and an international literary festival that attracts more visitors than your entire town's population. Meet Richard Booth, the Oxford-educated madman who proved that sometimes the most ridiculous ideas are also the most brilliant. This is the story of Hay-on-Wye: the town that books built, the kingdom that never was but somehow still exists, and the beautiful audacity of believing that literature can literally save the world—one used paperback at a time.GET A BOOK ABOUT IT HERE: To support independent book shops use this link.Or to just use Amazon use this link.BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE:⁠⁠⁠⁠Elton Reads A Book A Week Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tips!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠This is the LINK TREE!⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Discord server!⁠EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.comThe following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode--THE APOLOGIES SECTION: Pee-pees, horse politicians, Pac-man, decent people, Hay-on-Wye, the 1960s, fictional pregnancies, etc.A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.[Books, True Story, Biography, Welsh History, Independent Bookstores, Small Town Success, Entrepreneurship, Literature, Tourism, Medieval History, Book Towns, Hay-on-Wye, Richard Booth, Hay Festival, Used Books, Secondhand Books, Literary Tourism, Book Collecting, Wales Travel, Castle History, Eccentric, Self-Made King, Visionary, Maverick, Underdog Story, Against All Odds, Audacious, Unconventional Success, Supporting Local Business, Anti-Corporate, Community Revival, Sustainable Business, Cultural Preservation, Historic Preservation, Honor System, Trust-Based Economy, Comedy Podcast, Educational Entertainment, History Podcast, British History, European History, Business Success Story, Cultural Stories, Travel Stories, Inspiring, Funny, Unbelievable, Motivational, Quirky, Heartwarming, Revolutionary, Transformational, "How books saved a town", "Real life kingdom", "Medieval castle bookstore", "Honor system bookshop", "Self-proclaimed king"]

Brian Wilson had a gift, and a curse. His mind worked in a magically musical way, in that he could "see" whole, elaborate songs all in his head. It also allowed him to manifest those wonderful ideas in the real world, via the help of his family and friends. It would lead him to cofound a group that would change pop music forever, and have his particular genius recognized the world over as a unique and singular voice in the pantheon of singer-songwriters and composers.His mind was also his worst enemy that would send him spiraling into madness and self loathing that he would turn to drugs and nefarious characters for help, eventually becoming a recluse and musical oddity."As a cofounding member of the Beach Boys in the 1960s, Wilson created some of the most groundbreaking and timeless popular music ever recorded, forever expanding the possibilities of pop songwriting. Derailed in the 1970s by mental illness, drug use, and the shifting fortunes of the band, Wilson came back again and again over the next few decades, surviving and--finally--thriving. Now he weighs in on the sources of his creative inspiration and on his struggles, the exhilarating highs and the debilitating lows. Whether he's talking about his childhood, his bandmates, or his own inner demons, Wilson's story, told in his own voice and in his own way, unforgettably illuminates the man behind the music, working through the turbulence and discord to achieve, at last, a new harmony."Join Elton as he ventures through Brian Wilson's second attempt at a memoir, and listen to him wrestle with guilt about taking advantage of the dead. Um,...oh, that came out wrong.GET THE BOOK: ⁠⁠From Amazon⁠⁠From an Indie Book Seller⁠BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE:⁠⁠⁠Elton Reads A Book A Week Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tips!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠This is the LINK TREE!⁠⁠Join the Discord server!EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.comThe following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode--THE APOLOGIES SECTION: Beach Boy fans, Brian Wilson's ghost, falsetto singers, gangster rappers, Elton John (probably), Bernie Taupin (also probably)...A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.

Elton's diving into Arthur C. Clarke's absolute acid trip of a book (okay, maybe just the ending), "2001: A Space Odyssey" – you know, the one with the soft spoken computer that murders it's crew to keep a secret? [SPOILERS] And those mysterious black rectangles that basically trolled humanity for millions of years.Here's what's happening this episode:Who was Arthur C. Clarke anyway? Turns out the guy invented the satellites that keep your phone connected to the world...in the 1940s. He even predicted we'd all be doom-scrolling on the internet way before anyone knew what WiFi was. Plus, he was part of sci-fi's holy trinity with Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. So, a nerd circle jerk. Well, maybe not...THAT, but a pretty important guy. He did well for guy who started out fiddling with radar during WWII.Join Elton as he walks through this wild ride from cavemen discovering tools to humans becoming space gods. There's evolution, mystery, and murder A.I., and honestly? A lot of nerdly nerd stuff that'll make your brain EXPAND in the best way. Don't worry – Elton takes a brunt of the load.The Clarke-Kubrick team-up: Clarke and director Stanley Kubrick basically wrote the book and movie at the same time, which sounds like a nightmare but somehow worked. They turned a short story called "The Sentinel" (Arthur hates that) and turn it into the most mind-f*cking sci-fi movie ever made, though it wasn't all dry humping and champagne.Whether you're into classic sci-fi, love a good book-to-movie story, or just want to understand why HAL 9000 is everyone's least favorite AI, this episode's got you covered. Fair warning: you might have an existential crisis. So, go easy on the sci-fi.GET THE BOOK: ⁠From AmazonFrom an Indie Book SellerBECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE:⁠⁠Elton Reads A Book A Week Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Tips!⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA!⁠⁠ ⁠This is the LINK TREE!⁠EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.comThe following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode--THE APOLOGIES SECTION: Sci-fi fans, nerds, Arthur C. Clarke, special effects teams, drug addicts, spoilers, and other nerds.A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.[MUSIC]Arabesken über 'An der schönen blauen Donau' von Johann Strauss (Schulz-Evler, Adolf)Charlie Albright (Piano)Publisher Info.Boston: Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumCopyrightCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Also sprach Zarathustra, Op.30 (Strauss, Richard)University of Chicago Orchestra (orchestra)Barbara Schubert (conductor)Publisher Info.Chicago: University of Chicago OrchestraCopyrightCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Misc. NotesPerformed 27 May 2000, Mandel Hall. From archive.org.

Join Elton as he stumbles through the lives of two women; one real, one fake. This time around Elton's irreverence locks onto "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue", a book all about cutting deals with the devil, living forever, and learning that, when cutting a deal with Satan, it's all about the details. On his hilarious journey, Elton discovers the nature of how others affect your identity, and what a Faustian bargain is all about. Come along,...and stop all that "smirkstibating.""France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever―and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name."GET THE BOOK: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E SchwabElton Reads A Book A Week Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tips!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠This is the LINK TREE!⁠EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.comThe following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode--THE APOLOGIES SECTION: Satan, God, fanatical Christians, Rodney Mullen, Tony Hawk, skateboarders from the "Golden Age", and psychologists, and Goethe.A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.[Addie LaRue, V.E. Schwab, invisible life, forgotten curse, immortal woman, dark fantasy romance, contemporary fantasy, book review comedy, YA fantasy, adult fantasy crossover, Faustian bargain, deal with devil, supernatural contracts, cursed deals, immortality curse, dark magic, price of wishes, soul selling, supernatural consequences, devil's bargain, looking glass self, social identity, self perception, identity crisis, how others see us, social psychology, Charles Horton Cooley, invisible identity, forgotten existence, social reflection theory, book comedy podcast, funny book review, literary humor, book roast, comedy book club, sarcastic book review, witty literary analysis, humorous fantasy review, book parody, literary comedy, fantasy podcast, book podcast, solo podcast, literary podcast, bookish humor, reading comedy, book discussion, fantasy book review, romance fantasy, dark academia adjacent, book recommendations, fantasy book lovers, bookstagram, booktok, book community, reading humor, literary memes, book obsessed]

Oh, those damn Democrats and their getting hacked by Russians, and putting thumbs on the scales of primaries, LOSING THE 2016 ELECTION! How did this happen? How did they get here? Where did it start? THERE'S SO MUCH DRAMA! It's crazy that they've gotten this far as a political party! Join Elton on a weird ride through former DNC chairwoman Donna Brazile's memoir "Hacks", as he tries to make sense of donkey politics."From Donna Brazile, former DNC chair and legendary political operative, an explosive and revealing new look at the 2016 election: the first insider account of the Russian hacking of the DNC and the missteps by the Clinton campaign and Obama administration that enabled a Trump victory.In the fallout of the Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee--and as chaos threatened to consume the party's convention--Democrats turned to a familiar figure to right the ship: Donna Brazile. Known to millions from her frequent TV appearances, she was no stranger to high stakes and dirty opponents, and the longtime Democratic strategist had a reputation in Washington as a one-stop shop for fixing sticky problems.What Brazile found at the DNC was unlike anything she had experienced before--and much worse than is commonly known. The party was beset by infighting, scandal, and hubris, while reeling from a brazen and wholly unprecedented attempt by a foreign power to influence the presidential election. Plus, its candidate, Hillary Clinton, faced an opponent who broke every rule in the political playbook.Packed with never-before-reported revelations about what went down in 2016, Hacks is equal parts campaign thriller, memoir, and roadmap for the future. With Democrats now in the wilderness after this historic defeat, Hacks argues that staying silent about what went wrong helps no one. Only by laying bare the missteps, miscalculations, and crimes of 2016, Brazile contends, will Americans be able to salvage their democracy."GET THE BOOK: ⁠American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump⁠BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE:⁠⁠Elton Reads A Book A Week Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Tips!⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA!⁠⁠ ⁠This is the LINK TREE!⁠EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.comThe following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode--THE APOLOGIES SECTION: Voters, The United States of America, Houston, democracy, strategists, the numbers 3,4,5,6, and 7.A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.

Just when you thought it was safe to vote again, he's baaaccck! Yes, while we're in the midst of a second Donald Trump term, Elton read a book about the first, and whoa was it an eye opener. Join Elton as he headaches his way through how we all got here in the first place. It's going to be a bizarre journey into the heart of frustration, with a cast of ridiculous characters to help you not wish the next four years, were forty years in the past already. GET THE BOOK: American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President TrumpBECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE:⁠Elton Reads A Book A Week Patreon⁠⁠Tips!⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA!⁠ This is the LINK TREE!EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.comThe following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode--THE APOLOGIES SECTION: The non-racists, The Dukes of Hazzard, voters, whiffle ball pros, George Washington's desiccated corpse, Washington reporters, etc.A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.

This is my first ever "Short-isode", a shorter format episode that I did quickly. Please forgive me. Okay, okay, I'm behind. I tried to to reach for the sun and got burned. Luckily, I managed to get this together, so all hope is not lost. I promise I'll do better next time. Until then, this peace offering about weird taxes, and weird political promises, plus MUSIC! The next full episode about the book "American Carnage" by Tim Alberta, will be up very soon. Here are the lyrics to the song "American Carnage" (American decay): "From the ashes of Bush, the ratings slung low, Obama rose up, and stole the whole show G-O-P party's in ruins, no vision, no fight Their base fell asleep and has been there all night. [PRE-CHORUS] Bombs away, by progress on display, Change hit the right like a brick to the face. Factions at war, blood on the walls, A billonaire bullshitter grabbed them by the balls [CHORUS] American Carnage, for American decay, Marching to the edge, to throw it all away American Carnage, it’s a G-O-P ride No place to run—no place to hide. [VERSE] Jordan and Cruz on absolutist fire, Boehner and Mitch try to hold the line. Coups and clashes, the rhetoric like acid, That's it! Impotence grew, and the base got flaccid. [PRE-CHORUS] Bombs away, on progress on display, Change hit the right, like a brick to the face. Factions at war, blood on the walls, A billonaire bullshitter grabbed them by the balls [VERSE] On a golden escalator, came a golden clown, He tore them to shit, and burned their house down. Trillion-dollar debt for a nationalist jerk-off, Morals and family values are sold off [CHORUS] American Carnage, for American decay, Marching to the edge, to throw it all away American Carnage, it’s a G-O-P ride No place to run—no place to hide. [BRIDGE] Muslim bans, walls, and the families torn, The old guard’s dead, now the new breed’s born. Cultural shifts, tech disrupts, America’s soul ripped and fucked up. [BREAKDOWN] How did we get here? Do we survive? Is this a death rattle, Are we alive? Decades of division, resentment, and greed, The roots of the party now strangled by sleaze. [CHORUS] American Carnage, for American decay, Marching to the edge, to throw it all away American Carnage, it’s a G-O-P ride No place to run—no place to hide. [OUTRO] It’s American Carnage, (AMERICAN CARNAGE!) Our American Carnage (AMERICAN CARNAGE!) We won't get very far with...(AMERICAN CARNAGE!) We'll all have to live with...(AMERICAN CARNAGE!)" APOLOGIES SECTION (The following section is reserved to apologize to the numerous people, places, and things Elton offended in this episode.): Oral sex, punk rock, elephants, people expecting whole episodes, people who dislike unintelligible lyrics in songs, etc. A special thanks to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader

Dating in the age of the internet is a weird endeavor. All of the indulgence of endless choices, and the anxiety of communicating with people rolled into one. What's a single person to do? Luckily, comedian Aziz Ansari wrote a book about it and Elton is here to talk about it. Does that help you find that special someone in this sea of misfit toys? Maybe? Elton's no "love doctor," but he is awkward enough for everyone involved. Listen to this episode and get a wild ride through modern dating, and some tips on how to improve your odds! GET THE BOOK HERE!--> Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: Elton Reads A Book A Week Patreon Tips! SOCIAL MEDIA! https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com The following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode-- THE APOLOGIES SECTION: The LGBTQ+ community, mouth fingering fetishists, the English language, sociologists, dating, God, people living in apartment buildings, etc. A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.

Okay, so, I got a little overzealous with my first attempt at this trailer...and I uploaded it without making sure everything was up to snuff. So, I'm re-doing it. Not gonna lie, it's not the first time I've released prematurely, and it won't be the last, I'm sure.

God, himself, announced her birth, with a lightning bolt and a peal of thunder,...and that's just a footnote. Bette Davis would redefine what it was to be an actress, and an actor overall. She was tough, determined, and principled at a time when men laid down the law in Hollywood. When she took her stand, women were seen as little more than eye candy, and using them to make a quick buck ruled the day. Bette was having none of that. From her earliest beginnings to her last days, Bette Davis knew she was special, and she was determined to let the world know it. Sure, we're familiar with that personality type, but Bette had the talent and drive to back it up. Confident, opinionated, and never afraid to fight for what she felt was right, Bette changed how actors saw themselves and their profession. She slapped around Hollywood, and walked away an icon. Join Elton as he tries to navigate the early life of the amazing Bette Davis, and trying his best not to crap his pants in the process. GET THE BOOK HERE! https://amzn.to/3LdHS2B BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com VOTE FOR THE STREET SWEEPER NAME (not "Police Brutality", sadly) HERE! https://lowellma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=853 The following section is reserved for the people, places, things, and more that Elton probably offended in this episode-- THE APOLOGIES SECTION: Lowell, Massachusetts, Christmas pranks, the English language, World War II, God, the Lowell Massachusetts City Council, burn victims (specifically children), incarcerated fathers, etc. A special thanks to Diedrich Bader and Jenna Fischer for all their inspiration.

Buckle Up for Laughs & Feels! Elton Reads "Friends, Lovers & the Big Terrible Thing," well, "has read" and will tell you about it! This one is a doozy. Hold onto your coffee mugs, "Friends" fans, you're about to get rocked with some tragi-comedy! Elton tackles Matthew Perry's memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing," on Elton Reads A Book A Week. Was Chandler funny IRL? Did Matthew Perry steal Elton's woman? How many Vicodin is a lot? We uncover the life of Matthew Perry, and delve into overcoming addiction with humor, and ask: is Chandler more like Matthew than we thought? Tune in for a must-listen episode! #Friends #MatthewPerry #ComedyPodcast #MemoirReview #EltonReadsABookAWeek GET THE BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3WJ9kfK BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com [[[NOTE: My description of 'Friends' is almost entirely from this article: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190920-friends-the-show-that-changed-our-idea-of-family]]] SOURCES: Vicodin 55 Vicodin Matty's Lost Teeth Giving up tennis https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/29/alcoholic-troubled-life-matthew-perry-addicted-substance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Perry APOLOGIES SECTION: Elton would like to apologize to the following people/places/things: The citizens of Williamstown, MA, the aftershave industry, internet pornography, the porn industry, people with addiction, Justin Trudeau, Canada, Ottawa, Queen Victoria, Van Gogh, John Bennett Perry, Suzanne Marie Morrison, and anyone/anything/any place not already mentioned. A special thanks to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader

Grumpy Genius? Hilarious Curmudgeon? You Decide! We Dissect Andy Rooney Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a 70-year-old man with a microphone? This week on Elton Reads A Book A Week, we delve into the life, career, and written word of the iconic (and sometimes infamous) Andy Rooney. Through the exploration of his book "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney" we'll get to the bottom of questions like: Was he a grumpy genius who held a mirror to society's quirks? Or a hilarious curmudgeon who made us laugh at the absurdity of the everyday? Join us as we unpack: Rooney's Rise to Fame: From WWII reporter to newspaper writer to "60 Minutes" curmudgeon, we explore his unlikely path to superstardom. The Power of the Postscript: We dissect Rooney's signature segment and analyze its enduring comedic appeal. Love Him or Hate Him? The Legacy of Andy Rooney: We debate his impact on journalism and comedy, and ask: is his brand of humor still relevant today? Prepare for laugh-out-loud moments, insightful commentary, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. This episode is perfect for anyone who remembers tuning in for Rooney's signature sign-off, or anyone who simply enjoys a good rant (or ten). So, grab your pipe and slippers, and get ready to reminisce about the man who wasn't afraid to tell it like it is! Plus, special guest Lemon McNally joins Elton to deliver a closing monologue called "Whiskey!" GET THE BOOK HERE: A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney by Andrew A. Rooney CONTRIBUTE HERE: Elton Reads A Book A Week Patreon SOCIALS: All the social media links here! EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com [[[[FOR SOURCES JUST EMAIL AND ASK]]]] MUSIC: "Apero Hour", "Backbay Lounge", "Intractable", "No Good Layabout" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ [APOLOGIES SECTION] Elton would like to apologize to the following people, places, and things: Albany, NY, newborns, WWII veterans, unicorns, leprechauns, special needs folks, Haagen Daz...again, and everyone and everything else I might have missed. A special thanks to: Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader.

In this episode we explore the life and writing of a founding father of hardcore punk, Henry Rollins. A man that dove head first into his life and has become...almost everything. He's a punk rock and music legend, a movie start, writer, television host, a producer, DJ, a reporter, an interviewer, and so, so much more. We'll also delve into one of his books and along the way discover the greatest neighborhood ever imagined, how to seize life's reins, and beat the hell out of ice cream store customers. Join me for "Before the Chop III" by Henry Rollins, I promise you'll never look at circumcision the same way again. You heard me. GET THE BOOK HERE: Before the Chop III Kindle Edition BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR HERE: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: ⁠https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek ⁠ EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com MUSIC: "Bass Vibes", "Walking Along" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Melo Rock 4 by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/346-melo-rock-4 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Melo Rock 7 by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/362-melo-rock-7 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license APOLOGY SECTION: Elton would like to apologize to the following people, places, things, etc.: Häagen-Dazs, Henry Rollins for the awkward picture, punk rock fans, circumcisions', Paul Simon, Henry Rollins, all of music.

Welcome to 1978! The year of Garfield, Van Halen, Lego, and a murder mobile named "Christine. In this episode humor meets horror as Elton embarks on a comedic journey through the pages of Stephen King's iconic novel, 'Christine.' Buckle up for a rollercoaster of killer laughs, and deadly driving as he explores the eerie world of a possessed car with a wicked sense of humor. Good. God...with the puns. Discover Elton's unique take on the classic thriller, as he delves into a devilish story with a touch of dark absurdity laced witty commentary, hilarious anecdotes, and side-splitting insights. Whether you're a die-hard Stephen King fan or just looking for a good laugh, this episode promises entertainment, factoids and that are equal parts spooky and hilarious. Tune in and get ready to laugh your way through the supernatural twists and turns of 'Christine'! GET THE BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3rabgAD BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com SOURCES: Stephen King has spent half a century scaring us, but his legacy is so much more than horror Stephen King: his childhood, his family, what scares him Stephen King - The Author Stephen King revealed the one thing that scares him more than anything else The Tough Childhood In Stephen King's The Shining Stephen King, The Art of Fiction No. 189 INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN KING ONCHRISTINE THE TRAGIC REAL-LIFE STORY OF STEPHEN KING Stephen King Wiki : Christine Stephen King Biography 75 Facts About Stephen King ...apparently taken from a Cinefantastique article in the Feb 91 issue. Rereading Stephen King: week 15 – Christine APOLOGIES SECTION: Elton would like to apologize to the following people, places and things: Stephen King, Ruth King, David King, People that are gray flannels, and people that are regular flannels (may war never find you). Also, Portland, Maine, V8, Hawaiian Punch, grandmothers, and cheese. A special thanks to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader

Great Expectations, the story of a boy who turns into a man while being surrounded by a**holes, gets the Elton Reads A Book A Week treatment! Join Elton on a trip down Dickensian way before meeting up with a prime example of Victorian drama. It's weirder than you think. The life of Charles Dickens starts like many did in the Georgian Era of England's history...crap. He was a sickly kid from a big, poor family. Then, as he got older and his entire family was thrown in debtor's prison, he was factory bound. There he learned to love to hate every day! Later, he learns to spin sh*t into gold. Listen for more... Thank you for listening! GET THE BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/44H2ZT5 BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week FOLLOW THE PODCAST HERE: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com SOURCES: https://exec.typepad.com/greatexpectations/what-is-a-gentleman.html https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17017791 https://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/debtors-prison/#:~:text=It's%20called%20the%20Debtors'%20Prison,them%20to%20be%20held%20here. https://www.charlesdickenspage.com/dickens-and-the-theatre-moskovitz.html https://thebookhabit.co.uk/2018/11/07/literary-lifestyles-the-writing-habits-of-charles-dickens/#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20ensure%20that,keep%20track%20of%20his%20story https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/night-soil-men-victorian-era-poop https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2012/11/30/today-in-history-charles-dickens/34378631007/ https://dickenssociety.org/archives/1630 https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/dickens-quarterly https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Dickens-British-novelist THE APOLOGIES SECTION Elton would like to apologize to the following people, places, and things: The Dickens Family, Karl Marx, Victorian & Georgian eras of English history, El Debarge, Boys II Men, Lionel Richie, Portsmouth England, and English dentists. A special thank you to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader

As a little break in the booky-book episodes I thought I'd kick out something different. Here's a preview of a series I'll be putting on Patreon. It's a limited series about The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse meeting every Saturday to end the world as, you find out, they've been doing for millennia...and still haven't done it. This is the first of a lot of Jovial Horsemen scripts I wrote years ago. Enjoy the free preview, folks! Oh, when posted on Patreon, everything is ad free, including these. Also, there's a little slider at the bottom when I post these that lets you call an upload a "bonus." I'm going to try it. I don't know what's going to happen, so...hopefully it all works out. If not, I'll change it back...if I can. Fingers crossed. Let me know what you think! I'll include a poll via Spotify to let me know directly...or email me at: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com OR via any of the social media things. You can also contribute to the pod via Patreon! Help me produce this thing! Thanks you for listening... BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek AND/OR https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com

Content Warning: Suicide This episode discusses suicide and may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, seek help from a mental health professional or a helpline in your country, which can be reached by dialing 988 if you're in the United States or if you're online via https://988lifeline.org/ You are not alone, and support is available. Listener discretion is advised. Elton as he explores the life and tragic end of Sylvia Plath, her work, her impact, and especially her book "Ariel", considered by many to be one of the greatest poetic works of the 20th century...and all while running into so many inexplicable bee coincidences. So, so many bees. Oh, and laughs, there's a couple of those too. GET THE BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/43Bidbd BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com SOURCES: https://allpoetry.com/All-The-Dead-Dears\ Otto Plath https://dbpedia.org/page/Otto_Plath https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/aug/17/sylvia-plath-otto-father-files https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1464-5491.1995.tb00545.x#:~:text=2%20Her%20father%2C%20Dr%20Otto,of%20German%20and%20Polish%20parents. Aurelia Plath https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurelia_Plath#:~:text=Aurelia%20Plath%20was%20born%20in,Bachelor%20of%20Secretarial%20Sciences%20(B.S.S.) Sylvia Plath https://www.wnyc.org/story/full-bio-sylvia-plath/ https://lithub.com/on-sylvia-plath-and-the-many-shades-of-depression/ https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/literary-musings/sylvia-plaths-suicide-note-death-knell-cry-help/ http://dublinbees.com/sylvia-plath-and-the-bees/#:~:text=She%20had%20taken%20up%20beekeeping,born%20there%20in%20January%201962. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,913753,00.html https://daily.jstor.org/sylvia-plaths-ariel-50-years-later/ https://theconversation.com/how-sylvia-plaths-secret-miscarriage-transforms-our-understanding-of-her-poetry-173813 https://archive.org/details/the-dedalus-book-of-literary-suicides-dead-letters-lachman-gary-z-lib.org/page/n131/mode/2up?view=theater&q=oven https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC539515/ https://www.geniuses.club/genius/sylvia#Collegeyearsanddepression https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/literary-musings/sylvia-plaths-suicide-note-death-knell-cry-help/ https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Book-Reviews/2020/1103/Red-Comet-is-the-biography-Sylvia-Plath-has-always-deserved https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/the-bell-jar/sylvia-plath-biography https://historycollection.com/34-facts-that-make-us-fall-in-love-with-tragic-author-sylvia-plath/12/ https://www.notablebiographies.com/Pe-Pu/Plath-Sylvia.html https://ssristories.org/sylvia-plath-maybe-it-was-just-the-drugs-mctaggart/ https://lithub.com/a-new-monumental-biography-shows-plath-as-a-woman-of-her-time/ https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/sylvia-plath https://zigzageducation.co.uk/biography/timeline/plath https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/14/archives/the-girl-who-tried-to-be-good.html https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sylvia-Plath https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2004/12/sylvia-plath-s-ariel.html https://literariness.org/2018/02/18/sylvia-plath-poetry-and-survival/#:~:text=Some%20critics%20have%20seen%20her,for%20her%20own%20inadequate%20marriage. https://www.stylist.co.uk/people/sylvia-plath-the-life-of-a-tortured-poet/17027 https://www.academia.edu/33232495/What_were_the_significant_effects_of_Ted_Hughess_approach_to_the_editing_of_Sylvia_Plaths_Ariel_collection_of_poems_following_her_death APOLOGIES SECTION: Elton would like to apologize to the following people, places and things: Bee keepers, the people of Germany, anyone with an authentic German accent, ghosts, Hillary Clinton, underground boxers, and aerial antennas. A special thanks to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader

Jean Shepherd is a man with a famous past in the largely "Who the f*ck is he?" present. Yet, you've probably heard the gruff timbre of his voice every year since you were a kid and enjoyed his work for decades, literally. Born on an unspecified date, in a town that might be in Illinois or Indiana, Jean Shepherd made up a world that people actually believed was real. Created a story that may have created an entirely new genre, and remade Christmas forever. Or...until videos are no longer shared. AND he warned us about the dangers of blinding ourselves with BB guns. Join Elton as he explores his life of a forgotten raconteur and his amazing stories! Plus, he tries to raise the dead and may even succeed. Listen to find out how and why! GET THE BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3Loz5ut BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com SOURCES: https://newterritorymag.com/literary-landscapes/jean-shepherd-hammond-indiana/ https://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/a-christmas-story-movie-facts/trivia/#:~:text=Thus%20A%20Christmas%20Story%20disappeared,good%20showing%2C%20but%20not%20great. https://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,92545,00.html https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/how-a-christmas-story-became-an-american-tradition https://youtu.be/L1V3ctOWH-I http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ https://www.flicklives.com/index.php?pg=234&year=1982 https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/12/the-largely-forgotten-cynical-genius-behind-em-a-christmas-story-em/282650/ https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/28/books/no-headline.html https://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,92545,00.html https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Shepherd-4479 https://soundcloud.com/jean-shepherd-official/albums https://www.tvinsider.com/1068729/a-christmas-story-backstory-jean-shepherd-tv-movies/#:~:text=As%20Christmas%20Story%20buffs%20might,station%20between%201955%20and%201977. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/jean-shepherd-10840.php http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-a-fistful-of-fig-newtons/#gsc.tab=0 https://web.archive.org/web/20061205045059/http://hammondindiana.com/personalities.htm https://lithub.com/11-legendary-literary-hoaxes/ https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/18/nyregion/jean-shepherd-a-raconteur-and-a-wit-of-radio-is-dead.html https://jrabold.net/ks6m/licensing/#:~:text=It's%20not%20difficult%20to%20do,local%20routine%20and%20emergency%20communications. APOLOGIES SECTION: Elton would like to apologize to the following people, places and things: Hammond, Indiana, Jean Shepherd, Ham radio operators, professional interviewers, Larry King, David Letterman, and people that try on elf costumes for a living. A special thanks to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader

When I say the word “ocean”, what do you think about? For me, it's a mix of fascination and abject terror. I'd chock that up to my innate ability to sink in almost any body of water and/or liquid...and my fear of dying in it. That and if I go in too far and can’t feel the bottom, I freak out a little. It’s because I picture all the giant man eating monsters that definitely are swimming all around and beneath me, so, I panic and move back to shallower waters. In this episode, we're going to meet one of those nightmares and find out just how close we are to being it's next meal! GET THE BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/40uWUXU BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book A Week CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com SOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalopod_attack https://www.thebermudian.com/heritage/heritage-heritage/isles-of-a-thousand-wrecks/ https://study.com/academy/lesson/kraken-overview-history-facts.html https://www.molluscs.at/cephalopoda/index.html?/cephalopoda/giant_squid.html https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-discarded-fishing-net-can-keep-killing-centuries https://phys.org/news/2021-02-grisly-problem-illegal-fish.html https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/16/new-study-reveals-staggering-scale-of-lost-fishing-gear-drifting-in-earths-oceans https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/our-oceans-are-haunted-by-ghost-nets-why-that-s-scary-and-what-we-can-do--24 https://www.science.org/content/article/astounding-amount-fishing-gear-lost-ocean-each-year https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/innovative-research-aims-prevent-derelict-fishing-trap-impacts-0 https://www.peterbenchley.com/about/peter/full-biography https://www.towntopics.com/feb1506/story2.html https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/5/23/benchley-wrote-peter-jaws/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Benchley https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/14/guardianobituaries.obituaries https://books.google.com/books?id=VmrQe3ty5koC&q=wendy+benchley+tv+appearances&pg=PA46#v=snippet&q=wendy%20benchley%20tv%20appearances&f=false https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Benchley https://peterbenchley.com/articles/peter-benchley-the-father-jaws-and-other-tales-the-deep Elton would like to apologize to the following: Chinese restaurants, the middle of oceans, any squid named Sid, sea shanties, Harvard, teuthiphobics, thalassophobics, people who don't like ads, and Steven Spielberg. A special thanks to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader.

Elton navigates the action packed weirdness that is "The Devil's Black Rock." It's a story so insane it defies logic. When you start in rural Arizona desert with a prospector trying to make ends meet, and end with selling nuclear bomb material to Nazis, there's bound to be a lot of wholesale killing in between. If Doc Savage is involved, it's practically guaranteed. Join Elton as he carves out a path through the insane hellscape that is a story set in the Doc Savage universe. There are nuclear bombs, killer dogs with poison tipped metal jaws, a cannon firing at the Empire State Building, bombs in the streets of New York, bullet proof penthouse windows, a real life unsolved mystery, and more. Plus, Elton gets it in his head that Doc Savage and The whole Fabulous Five could possibly be the world's first gay superheroes. What's that all about? Listen and find out. Enjoy the show! GET THE BOOKS HERE: https://amzn.to/3knQBoG GET David Avallone's Doc Savage BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3lxKRK7 LISTEN TO "WORDS ABOUT BOOKS"! https://podcast.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/ BECOME AN Elton Reads A Book CONTRIBUTOR HERE: https://www.patreon.com/eltonreadsabookaweek https://anchor.fm/elton-reads-a-book-a-week SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/EltonReadsABookAWeek EMAIL: eltonreadsabookaweek@gmail.com The following music was used for this media project: Music: George Street Shuffle by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3800-george-street-shuffle License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://incompetech.com The following music was used for this media project: Music: Crinoline Dreams by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3560-crinoline-dreams License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://incompetech.com The following music was used for this media project: Music: Long Stroll by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3997-long-stroll License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://incompetech.com The following music was used for this media project: Music: Chilled by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/117-chilled License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://www.sascha-ende.de The following music was used for this media project: Music: Countdown by Alexander Nakarada Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4865-countdown License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/ SOURCES: https://www.webfx.com/digital-advertising/pricing/cost-to-advertise-in-national-newspapers/ https://nycitylens.com/cold-case-bomb-killed-two-cops-1940-remains-source-intrigue/ https://gizmodo.com/who-planted-bomb-1939-1940-new-york-worlds-fair-killed-1849188678 Elton would like to apologize to the following: Norma Dent's vagina, New York City, gay folks, bomb squads, bronze icon dealers, the people of Arizona, conspiracy theorists, and the Empire State Building. A special thanks to Jenna Fischer and Diedrich Bader