The Blume Saloon: A Judy Blume Book Podcast

Happiest New Year Harriet-Heads! We bring closure to our epic "Harriet The Spy" journey by watching the totally adorable Nickelodeon movie starring Michelle Trachtenberg, reading film and book reviews, getting Judy Blume's perspective on the novel, and a new listener letter (thank you, Jennifer!). Get ready to weigh in soon on our NEXT JUDY BOOK – peep social meeds for details. See you in 2024!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 16. It's a SURPRISE FINALE! Jody and Alison finish Louise Fitzhugh's 1964 kid lit novel and cannot believe it's over. Harriet writes some truly awful editorials for the Sixth Grade Page, witnesses the implosion of the Spy Catcher Club, and makes good with a vague public apology. Join the gals for dramatic readings and commentary, and join us next week for a super special Odds and Ends! It's a (sometimes) Judy Blume book club. Join us (almost) every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapters 14-15 (it's a twofer!). Harriet sees a shrink, takes a forced sabbatical, and gets a major dissing from besties Janie and Sport. On a brighter note, she receives a much-needed letter from beloved Ole Golly and returns to class with a vengeance – much to Marion Hawthorne's dismay. Join Alison and Jody as they near the end of this 1964 instant classic, written by Louise Fitzhugh. And giant thank you to Blume Head Bex for her authority on ASBOs! It's a (sometimes) Judy Blume book club. Join us (almost) every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 13. Harriet has entered Gremlin Sociopath mode and we are here for it. Jody and Alison discuss this wild and weird 1964 kid lit classic by Louise Fitzhugh, and can't get over our heroine's descent into sadistic nihilism. To keep things light, Jody presents a Special Report on cancer fighting pigeons. And of course there's lots of dramatic reading and the usual Cocoon shenanigans. It's a (sometimes) Judy Blume book club. Join us (almost) every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 12. Alison and Jody read, discuss, and dissect Louise Fitzhugh's 1964 kid lit nonvel about a child creeper and her vengeful classmates. The big news this week is the retaliation parade. Harriet's starting to get worried. There's dramatic readings, retro commercials, and TWO A+ Blume Head letters from Sawyer and Anne! lt's a (sometimes) Judy Blume book club. Join us (almost) every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 11. Harriet has been SHUNNED. There's ink spilling, clubhouse construction, and a grapefruit-sized spitball. Thank you, Louise Fitzhugh, for ramping up the dramz this week! Join Alison and Jody for a romp through 1964 Manhattan, dramatic readings, pet sounds, and a listener letter (shout out Blume Head Sue!). It's a (sometimes) Judy Blume book club. Join us (almost) every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 10. The bully gets bullied! We've seen this before (hi, Blubber!), and it ain't pretty. Join Jody and Alison as they make their way through Louise Fitzhugh's 1964 novel about a sixth grade Mata Hari wannabe. Harriet's notebook gets stolen along with her tomato sandwich and dignity. Even Sport and Janie have turned against her! Tune in for dramatic readings and kid lit comedy. It's a Judy Blume book club (sometimes). Join us every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapters 8-9. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have a 6-foot baby and the Dei Santis have some DRAAAMA. Also – Harriet gets caught! In the dumb waiter! But not before she has her iconic moment rolling around in an onion trance. Thank you, Louise Fitzhugh, for this INSANE book about a little rascal in 1964 Manhattan. Join Jody and Alison for bad Italian accents, a new drinking game, and a spliendid listener letter (thank you Blume Head Dani! It's a Judy Blume book club (sometimes). Join us every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 7. Ole Golly, we miss you! Harriet has been deemed a fat lady and an onion and she ain't happy about it. Miss Berry loses her mind amid a vaguely sexual monologue re: vegetables. Join Jody and Alison as they bury themselves in Harriet's weird world, with dramatic readings and 1964 commercials. Thank you Blume Head Amanda for the wonderful letter! It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 6. Ole Golly LEAVES! What?! We have not recovered. But please accompany us in reading this Louise Fitzhugh best-seller to find out how it all unfolds. There's a Berkeley Bike Basket adventure date, more egg creams, and an epic mother meltdown. We talk about the mystery Paul Newman flick, milk radiation, and the infamous Sunshine Project. Content warning: there is mention of child cadavers so please skip the Special Report if you need to. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 5. Alison and Jody journey back to Louise Fitzhugh's depiction of 1964 Manhattan, a world of little twerps and wise nannies. Ole Golly goes on a perfectly lovely Mary Poppins-ish date and – of course – Harriet stalks her. Mom talks about her vomitorious meet-cute with Dad. Harriet gets existential about loneliness. There's a weird tickle. Jody presents TWO Special Reports on yogurt and Elizabeth Arden, while Alison drops some Mata Hari knowledge. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 4. Alison and Jody read and discuss this childhood favorite, written by icon Louise Fitzhugh in 1964. We learn the cat-man is also a yogurt-man. The Robertsons show off their furniture. Janie blows up the house to avoid dance class. Harriet daydreams of her future office hours. Let's gather in the Cocoon to chat about insomnia, Barbie, and... does Jody like this book?! It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us (almost) every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 3. Harriet breaks and enters. Sport balances the books. Dad goes on a fink rampage. Ole Golly has... a BOYFRIEND?! So much is going down in this cherished and contentious novel by Louise Fitzhugh. Alison and Jody follow Harriet through Manhattan, from inside the famous dumbwaiter to the luncheonette for an egg cream. Speaking of egg creams – do you know WHY they're called egg creams? We'll tell you! Join us for fun facts, radio plays, and1964 commercials. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"Harriet the Spy," chapter 2. Jody and Alison barrel ahead with this beloved and controversial Louise Fitzhugh novel! Harriet starts 6th grade (just like Margaret!) and there's no holds barred when it comes to talking sh*t about her classmates and teachers. The only acceptable ones are Sport who needs to give his face a good rinse and Janie who may or may not be a human doomsday machine. Don't even get us started on the Boy with Purple Socks. Hop into this 1964 time machine and join us for dramatic readings, jokes, and judgements. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

“Harriet the Spy,” chapter 1. NEW BOOK, NEW BOOK! Jody and Alison start in on Louise Fitzhugh’s seminal kid-lit novel about a 11-year-old Manhattan scamp in 1964. They unpack the movies, TV, music, and newsworthy events of the year – including the New York World’s Fair, the Boston Strangler, Beatlemania, and Pop Tarts. We meet Harriet M. Welsch, Sport, Ole Golly, and let’s not ever EVER forget Mrs. Golly. Come for the literature, stay for the dramatic readings, commentary, and vintage commercials. It’s a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

It's the long-awaited "Here's To You, Rachel Robinson" Odds and Ends! Come along with Jody and Alison as they lead you through an epic Rachel extravaganza. They read fabulous listener letters (thank you so much Molly and Brooke!), present two Special Reports on Natural Helpers and Birth Order Theory, perform Palfrey's Pond fanfic, and share some choice one-star reviews. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

“Here’s To You, Rachel Robinson,” chapters 23-24. It’s the finale y’all! The last of Macbeth! The last Jeremy Dragon Roll Call! It’s so haaard to say goodbyyye to Palfrey’s Pond. Rachel reveals to the gang that she and Jeremy made out and she’s joining Challenge. Alison and Steph slip up with some shady politician plans. Charles continues to talk with a mouthful of cold food. Join Alison and Jody for early-’90s vintage ads, dramatic readings, and a Sea Band Special Report. And in two weeks we’ll do our big Rachel Wrap-Up! It’s a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

“Here’s To You, Rachel Robinson,” chapters 21-22. OMG, can you EVEN handle the excitement?! Rachel and Paul go on their date(?!) and Cousin Tarren throws a major curveball. Jeremy Dragon and his Monopoly car pay a surprise visit and (spoiler!) there’s some epic Frenching by the Raccoon Tree. Join Alison and Jody as they journey back to 1993 for some Palfrey’s Pond shenanigans, dramatic readings, and a fascinating Special Report on Ellis Island name changes. Godfather II, how dare you? It’s a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"Here's To You, Rachel Robinson," chapters 19-20. It's the big Ellis Island trip, baby! Rachel tries her Sea-Bands, fights with a 10-year-old, and plans a DATE(?!) with Paul Madeiros. Dad and Charles reconnect. Mom is nowhere to be found. Join Alison and Jody for an extremely thorough run-down of the incredible Are You There God, It's Me Margaret film, dramatic readings, advice on how to tune up your 'tude, and a wonderful letter from Blume Head Laura. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"Here's To You, Rachel Robinson," chapters 17-18. Jody and Alison invite you into the Cocoon to talk about this 1993 Judy Blume follow-up to "Just as Long as We're Together"! A Robinson-Rybczynski family dinner turns sour, Dad gets mad, Charles turns into a gargoyle and quotes Tolstoy, and Rachel finds her feelings in therapy. There's dramatic readings and listener letters about sex hotlines and mom purse smells (thank you Dawn and Chalon), so come on in! It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!