Mostly Fictional

In this episode, we pair flowers with books! Check out our garden of titles. 

Books mentioned, in order:
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
My Husband by Maud Ventura
Crash by Lisa McMann
Visions Trilogy by Lisa McMann
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn
The Martian by Andy Weir

Resources used:
https://www.almanac.com/flower-meanings-language-flowers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_plants_with_symbolism 
https://archive.org/details/miniaturelangua00burk/page/56/mode/2up...

In this episode, Pam is joined by her husband Marc for the first time on the pod! Listen as they unbox the surprise books he picked out for her birthday.

Books mentioned, in order:
Animal Friends of Pica Pau 2 by Yan Schenkel
Animal Friends of Pica Pau by Yan Schenkel
Animal Friends of Pica Pau 3 by Yan Schenkel
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children's Series)
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black<...

If you're reading this, Hallie's baby has arrived! This is a prerecorded episode about our favorite children's literature. (Though be warned, listeners, there is a PG-13 word for "butt" in this episode, so it may not be entirely family friendly.) Enjoy!

Books mentioned, in order:
Slinky Malinky, written and illustrated by Lynley Dodd
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, written and illustrated by Eric Carle
Red is Best by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Robin Baird Lewis
Stellaluna, written and illustrated by Janell Cannon
Look Out for Pirates! written by Iris Vinton, illustrated by H. B...

Hallie has a DNF and Pam has a book haul!

Books mentioned, in order: 
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
The Lies of Locke Lamorra by Scott Lynch
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S...

Pam has back-to-back John Greens to report, and Hallie starts one of her most anticipated reads of the year.

Books mentioned, in order: 
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
The Door by Magda Szabó, translated by Len Rix
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The Book of Goose of Yiyun Li
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Disease by John Green
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Hallie still hasn't finished a book, but she's trying! And Pam has a book haul. 

Books mentioned, in order:
The Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen
Emilienne by Pamela Binnings Ewen
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Door by Magda Szabó
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
La version qui n'intéresse personne (The Version That Interests No One) by Emmanuelle Pierrot
Wild Dark Shore by Cha...

Hallie is still struggling to find time to finish a book, but Pam has two titles to report!

Books mentioned, in order:

The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August
Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Misery by Stephen King
The Door by Magda Szabó
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Indifferent Stars Above: The...

Hallie shares two buddy read updates, and Pam has a French book haul. 

Books mentioned, in order:
Water Moon: A Novel by Samantha Sotto Yambao
O Pioneers by Willa Cather
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
The Door by Magda Szabó
The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August
La version qui n’intéresse personne by Emmanuelle Pierrot (The Version That Inter...

Pam shares three finished titles, and Hallie shares exciting news!

Books mentioned, in order:
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett
The Pretenders Jo Harkin 
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix 
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady...

Pam's book club rant continues! Plus, Hallie previews the buddy reads she's doing for March. 

Books mentioned, in order: 
Grievers by Adrienne Maree Brown
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Maroons by Adrienne Maree Brown
Ancestors by Adrienne Maree Brown
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
The Odyssey by Homer
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
The Pretenders by Jo Harkin
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
The Marriage Port...

This week, we had 5, 1, AND 3-star books to review!

Books mentioned, in order:
Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health by Marty Makary, MD
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Rednecks by Taylor Brown
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
The Unexpected Gift by Berna King<...

This week, we're catching up after our 100th episode bonanza last week! 

Books mentioned, in order: 
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
Loveless by Alice Oseman
The Guest by Emma Cline
Lifeform by Jenny Slate
Peaces by Helen Oyemi
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyemi
Mr. Fox by Helen Oyemi
American Rapture by CJ Leede
The Con Artist by Fred Van Lente, illustrations by Tom Fowler
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard
Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
The Sense of an Ending by Ju...

It's our 100th episode, can you believe it! We share some reflections on how we've changed since Episode 1, as well as share Book "Superlatives" and do what we're calling the Time Traveler Tag. 

Books mentioned, in order: 
Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
Geek Love by...

Pam read lots of books about the water, and Hallie has a library haul. 

Books mentioned, in order:
Celestial Harmonies by Peter Esterhazy, translated by Judith Sollosy
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
How Far The Light Reaches: A Life in 10 Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka, narrated by Kaleo Griffith
The Book of Eels: Our E...

We share 10 titles we are looking forward to in 2025! 

Books mentioned, in order: 
What If It's Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
How Far The Light Reaches: A Life In 10 Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Bad...

Pam read three books and Hallie read NONE!

Books mentioned, in order:
Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Albatross by Terry Fallis
The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World by Kyouka Izumi, Oumiya, Reiko Sakurada
Celestial Harmonies by Peter Esterhazy
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard 
Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
What If It's Us by Adam Si...

Hallie has her first DNF! And pushes Pam to pick three words to describe her reading.

Books mentioned, in order:
Clean Air by Sarah Blake
Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
Fox 8 by George Saunders
Open Throat by Henry Hoke
Tenth of December by George Saunders
Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
St. Lucy’s Home by Karen Russell
The Beast You Are by Paul Tremblay
Celestial Harmonies by Peter Esterhazy
Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close
A Secret Kept by...

It's a huge catch up episode! We've got a lot of books to tell you about today. Here we go!

Books mentioned, in order:
Data Baby: My Life in a Psychological Experiment by Susannah Breslin
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Diary of a Provincial Lady by EM Delafield (series)
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
The City We Became by NK Jemesin
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
True Grit by Charles Portis
Cyrano de...

Happy New Year, it's our end of year episode!! We hope you enjoy all our stats and reflections!

Books mentioned, in order: 
House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski
The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Guards Guards by Terry Pratchett
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Hunchback of Notre D...

Meanwhile, Hallie has no idea where her current read came from! 

Books mentioned, in order:
She’s a Lamb by Meredith Hambrock
Yellowface by RF Kuang
Pet by Catherine Chidgey
The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human by...

Hallie finished her 3000 year book, and Pam has some last minute library reads!

Books mentioned, in order:
The Actual Star by Monica Byrne
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer
The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
She’s a Lamb by Meredith Hambrock
Yellowface by RF Kuang
Friends of the Museum by Heather McGowan
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Gone with...

In this episode, we go on a Storygraph tangent!

Books mentioned, in order: 
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
James by Percival Everett
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Trees by Percival Everett
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Two Can Play Ali Hazelwood
Six Stories by Max Wesolowski
Sadie by Courtney Summers
Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter
The One by James Mars
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
The Most by Jessica Anthony
My Husband by Maud Ventura
Moon of the C...

In this episode, Hallie explains her reading bonaza, and Pam gives an unhaul update.

Books mentioned, in order:
Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell 
Held by Anne Michaels
The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
James by Percival Everett
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
D...

We finish some "just okay" books, and Pam picks Hallie's next read.

Books mentioned, in order:
Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Trust by Hernan Diaz
It Will Only Hurt for a Moment by Delilah S. Dawson
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
My Good Bright Wolf by Sarah Moss
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
What Feasts at Night...

In this episode, Pam has a gift card-driven book haul and Hallie is watching a documentary about one of her favorite nonfiction reads!

Books mentioned, in order:
Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
The Pallbearer’s Club by Paul Tremblay
Misery by Stephen King
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? By Dr. Julie Smith
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Two-Step Devil by Jamie Quatro
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Le Petit Prince: édition collector by...

Also, Hallie BBQ'd her flowers. 

Books mentioned, in order:
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica translated by Sarah Moses
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica translated by Sarah Moses
Popisho by Leone Ross
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
The Pall-Bearers Club by Paul Tremblay
Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin
It Will Only Hurt for a Moment by Delilah S. Dawson


Find Pam and Hallie online!
Follow Hallie’s Substack at wordsmithreads.substack.com
Pam can be found on Youtube and Bookstagram at...

Hallie visited three bookstores in San Diego for a work trip, and Pam found her October book purchase!

Books mentioned, in order:
Where You Come From by Sasa Stanisic, translated by Damion Searls
Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake
Whirlaway by Poe Ballantine
We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen, translated by Charlotte Barslund and Emma Ryder
The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins
Th...

In this episode, Hallie reads three translated books, and Pam reads two books where the main character is telling another character's story.

Books mentioned, in order:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
The Unsubscriber by Bill Knott
The Birthday Party by Laurent Mauvignier translated by Daniel Levin Becker
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Where You Come From by Sasa Stanisic translated by Damion Searls
Emily...

In this episode, Hallie has five finished titles and Pam has a giant book haul! 

Books mentioned, in order:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain by Maryanne Wolf
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover B...

As the year winds down, we are beginning to brainstorm what our goals will be next year!

Books mentioned, in order:
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Private Rites by Julia Armfield
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
The Night Circus by...

Pam shares some crochet projects, and Hallie reads a book about a drug that lets you jump realities.

Books mentioned, in order:
Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Chrysalis by Anna Metcalfe
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh
Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M Valente
McGlue by Otessa Moshfegh
West by Carys Davies
Clear by Carys Davies
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling
«C'est le Québec qui est né dans mon pays!» : Carnet de renc...

In this episode, Hallie breaks a podcast rule and Pam DNF's something straight into the giveaway pile.

Books mentioned in order: 
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Wellness by Nathan Hill
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
Friends of the Museum by Heather McGowan
Chrysalis by Anna Metcalfe
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M Valente
Gone with the Wind by Maraget Mitchell
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Lampedusa by Steven Price
The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

Hallie reads two art books and we revel in Stiefvater appreciation.

Books mentioned, in order: 
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Icarus by K Ancrum
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
The Scorpio R...

Hallie is still behind on her reading goal, but is many hundreds of pages into her current read!

Books mentioned, in order:
Great House by Nicole Krauss
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Landline by Rainbow Rowell
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
White Oleander by Janet Finch
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Shadow and Bone by...

In this episode, Pam continues her reread of the Raven Cycle and finishes Hallie's favorite book!

Books mentioned, in order: 
The Snap by Elizabeth Staple
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Andrea Pitzer
Great House by Nicole Krauss
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Mansfield Park b...

What is proper book club etiquette? Also, Pam begins a reread. 

Books mentioned, in order: 
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Playground by Richard Powers
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Emma by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Plays Well with Others by Sophie Brickman
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
The Overstory by Richard Powers

Our reading weeks are on the upswing! Plus, Pam picks her next book live on the pod.

Books mentioned, in order:
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
What You’re Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama
Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel 
Station of Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Sense and Sensibility by...

We read some stinkers this week! But that's OK -- better books are always on the horizon!

Books mentioned, in order:
Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin
Out There by Kate Folk
Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Bridgerton series by Jane Austen
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Why Ha...

We only read two books this week, but still somehow had a lot to talk about!

Books mentioned, in order: 
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Gone with the...

In this episode, we have 10 finished books to discuss! Plus, Pam did multiple reading challenges.

Books mentioned, in order:
The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox
The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
One Hundred Shadows by Hwang Jungeun
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
Not Another...