Gaggle of Vampire Slayers

Jenn Northington Oct 6, 2016

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Amanda and Jenn discuss road trip audiobooks, quirky short stories, dystopian novels, and more on this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo and The Lovely Reckless by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia.

Questions

1. Love the show!
My big brother (age 42) was in a terrible car accident in early August which kept him on a respirator in the ICU for a few weeks with many broken bones and 2 punctured lungs. A few days ago the docs finally let him go home which means he is moving back in with my mom while he is on the mend. The three of us are all big readers and thought it might be fun to start a book club as a way to pass the time and keep our spirits up. His request at this time is that the books be not too sad or scary. I recommended Where’d you go Bernadette? and that was a big hit (a book my mom and I also really enjoyed). Traditionally, he has mostly read sci-fi/fantasy (Game of Thrones/Dune/Gunslinger series etc) but I’m having a hard time coming up with recs that are not sad and/or scary (and are not too awkward to read with your mom (age 66) and little sister (age 33)). Thanks so much for your help!
–Elizabeth

2. Are you guys ready to be armchair therapists for a moment? 😉
I am almost 31 years old with a three year old son, and my boyfriend and I have decided to separate after almost TEN YEARS together. I am moving cross country to be with family (after doing a cross country trip to be with my boyfriend 4 years ago!), and I am sad, depressed, angry, anxious. I’m moving in with my dad, and I feel like I am basically going back to where I was when I was 20, 21, but worse because I won’t have my own place yet, won’t have much of my own money initially, and I have my sweet son to take care of. I’m wondering if you have any book recommendations to help me with this transition? Fiction, Nonfiction, Self-help, whatever, as I don’t really have an idea of what exactly I’m looking for. I said this was somewhat time sensitive, because we’re planning on heading out on our depressing road trip in mid-October, so if possible it’d be nice to be able to read something before or during the journey. And if you happen to know of a book for toddlers about parents separating, that would be an added bonus. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, I’m sorry it’s a little long winded!
–Carrie

3. Hello Ladies,
My husband and I are driving to Williamsburg VA for a week vacation to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. We are looking for an audiobook or maybe two since we are driving from Midcoast Maine to listen to on our way down and back? In the past we have listened together to 14 by Peter Clines, Nevermore by Neil Gaiman, Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory, and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. We liked all of these. Our plan for the week is to do some halloween stuff as well as historical things. So what do you think would be a couple of great suggestions based on these details?
Thank you for the awesome podcast by to read list is ever growing because of it.

Thanks
–Lori

4. Hi Amanda!

I know you’ve had a recent string of recommending books to significant others who don’t read – but this one’s a bit different! My boyfriend DOES like to read (yay!), but he doesn’t like to be “tied down” to a book for days/weeks on end. His ideal reading session is to be able to complete a story in one (rather short) sitting. I, on the other hand, can sit and read for hours and hours, and carry on reading the same book for days on end. He’s almost amazed that I have this ability.

I’d love to find him some collections of short stories so he has something to keep him occupied while I do my own reading! The quirkier/more fantastical, the better (for example, he loves Welcome to Night Vale).

Thank you so much!! I can’t wait to be able to read comfortably without him saying, “wait, are you STILL reading?” every half hour or so 🙂
–Chelsea

5. Hello! I LOVE this podcast, and I get so many excellent recommendations every episode.

I’m looking for something that is pretty amorphous, but I know it when I read. I love fun books. I told you it was amorphous! But what I mean by that are books that make the words “pure fun” come to mind. I’m thinking in particular of The Martian and Ready Player One, two books that, in terms of subject matter, are not at all what I’m normally into. But I loved both of these books so much. The absolutely brilliant The Eight by Katherine Neville (have you read this book?? it’s feminist Dan Brown!), Magnus Flyte and Gail Carriger books also fit into this “category.” Basically, what are some books you would recommend to someone looking for just a fun reading experience.

My second recommendation request is kind of related. Ever since I read The Westing Game as a kid, I love books that are what I think of as “puzzly.” A lot of these books are for children or YA, like From the Mixed Up Files, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, or the Kiki Strike and Ruby Redford books (all of these are brilliant, by the way). I suppose Dan Brown would also fit into this category.

Sorry for the long message. Thank you in advance!
–Jenny

6. I have always loved dystopian fiction. I feel like I’ve read a lot of the popular YA dystopian novels, but I’m trying to find some books that are a bit grown up. I’m ready for some characters that are past their teen years. I really, really enjoyed the Handmaid’s Tale, so something with some feminist themes would be great. I’m ready for a dystopia with some weight that will leave me with a lot to think about.

Thanks and I love you guys!

–Dani

Books Discussed

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Bellwether by Connie Willis

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Split by Suzanne Finnamore

A Day With Dad by Bo Holmberg

Two Homes by Claire Masurel

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes