Golden Girls Meets Dexter

Jenn Northington Nov 7, 2019

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Amanda and Jenn discuss books about female sociopaths, horror, romance picks, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by TBR, Flatiron Books, and Quantum by international bestselling author Patricia Cornwell.

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An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Questions

1. Hello Jenn and Amanda!

Thank you so much for all of your recommendations. I find myself looking forward to hearing a new episode all week!

I’ve always wanted to travel to Ireland, but haven’t been able to make it there yet. I was wondering if you could recommend for me a book that will teach me some of the regional history of Ireland, bonus for a multigenerational family saga where someone emigrates to America.

Some books I’ve loved with a similar feel to what I’m looking for are: The Rebels of Ireland by Edward Rutherford, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, Mexico or Texas by James Michener and Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. I enjoy fantasy, police procedurals, steampunk, YA, cozy mysteries and historical fiction, but I’ll read anything you recommend! Extra bonus points for a great audiobook option.

Thanks so much!
-Jennie

2. Hi guys! Thanks so much for this podcast, I love it!
So, I’ve only just recently started reading and watching horror. When I was a kid I was frightened very easily and stayed away from horror entirely, and up until this year I was under the impression I was still easily spooked. Turns out not so much! I have watched so much horror that other people have assured me is the scariest thing they’ve ever seen and I’m just like… uh??? No??? What’s scary???
I watched and read Haunting of Hill House recently and loved both but didn’t so much as feel vaguely unsettled when reading/watching it even in the dead of night. Same goes for It and the other Stephen King books I’ve read, the Quiet Place, and bunch of other horror movies.
I really like Pan’s Labyrinth and all of Del Toro’s films (though again, wasn’t scared), as well as It, and The Haunting of Hill House. I just haven’t been scared. Do you guys know of any books that will just scare the living hell out of me?
I’m really only interested in horror books with some sort of supernatural element by the way, I don’t have much interest in horror rooted in reality. Also, please don’t recommend Bird Box. I haven’t seen or read it, but to be perfectly honest the premise just does not interest me in the slightest.
-Katharine

3. Hello Ladies!

I find myself really wanting to read some sort of romance, but just can’t find the right thing. I really loved Heartless by Marissa Meyer and Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. I enjoyed Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. And I tried When Dimple met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, Upside of Unrequited, and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, which were okay. I also read The Selection which I did not like. I’ve read several mediocre adult romances (mostly stuff that I got for free, which may be where I’ve gone wrong) and do have Ramona Blue, Song of Achilles, Kiss Quotient, and The Wedding Date on my list (taken from previous recommendations here and on other Book Riot podcasts). I seem to do best when I stick with YA, but would definitely be open things more in the adult realm. Audiobook is a plus. No sexual violence please, I’m okay with passing mention, but nothing explicit on the page.

Thank you! Love the show!
-April

4. Hi ladies! I’ve recently started to dabble in some dark thriller reading, the book that set me on this path was Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. I loved the darkness of the kidnapping and the imprisonment, and the things she forced upon her prisoner (no judgement guys!) and the twists and innerworkings of the antagonist. Also enjoyed The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, where the bad guy got what she wanted and ultimately deserved all at the same time. I think I’m leaning more towards the bad guy winning. After years of reading fluffy, happy romances I’m really enjoying delving into this dark side of books. Not too much into the mystery/detective work aspect but more into reading something that is just so unthinkable and messed up and leaving me shocked due to the unspeakable acts these characters do. I’ve tried the Death of Mrs. Westaway and while it had some aspects I liked, it missed the mark for me. Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall was an interesting read but kind of fell flat, would’ve liked a bit more action. Also liked The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham. I have the Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena & The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks on my to-read list. Thanks!

-Andrea

5. I just finished The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles after having it on my tbr for a long while (from get booked maybe?) and loved it. I think I have also realized a favorite relationship trope and would love some other romance recommendations that feature: a straight laced, discreet, or serious character who “gets in over their head” with a livelier partner who distracts them from work, compels them to be honest, and/or otherwise coaxes them into opening up or stretching boundaries.

(In this book the partner is quite assertive in doing this – A-OK, A+ – but a flirt might do this more subtly as well.)

I’ll certainly be looking into this author further and other examples include Bound with Honor by Megan Mulry. The Ruin of a Rake by Cat Sebastien is also on my radar. I like historical settings obviously, but contemporary might be interesting for a change too. (Don’t know yet if they qualify but The Hating Game and Fight or Flight are also on my radar.)

LGBT or straight is fine but I would prefer a light tone and no trigger warnings. Thank you!

-Jessica

6. Hi!

I’m looking for some funny, witty, dry humor and sarcastic audio books. I have read Heartburn, a gentleman’s guide to vice and virtue, and where’d you go Bernadette. Each of these had me laughing out loud as I walked through the grocery store. I love fiction and would like to stay with that. The more back list the better. I borrow my audio books from the library. Newer books either aren’t available or have a long wait list. I dropped my goodreads list but I’m terrible at tracking with that. I track with your journal but I threw a few of some of my recent books on there.

Thanks so much!!

-Jessica

7. Dark. Creepy. Surreal, but written in plain, clear prose. I love a Southern Gothic. I loved Night Film, Murakami’s After Dark. Also loved The Woman in the Window and all of Gillian Flynn. I don’t mind a dark tale, but prefer to avoid graphic depictions of violence toward women/children/animals.

-Gina