Gruesome But Funny

Jenn Northington Feb 22, 2018

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Amanda and Jenn discuss independent ladies, fantasy short stories, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel reading comps, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton and The Birthday Girl by Sue Fortin.

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Questions

1. Hi ladies!

I recently finished reading Red Clocks by Leni Zumas, and I really, really loved and related to Ro (the biographer) and Gin’s (the mender) independence. They didn’t have current romantic/life partners, and they weren’t agonizing over being alone or over trying to find someone. I am getting sick of novels where women spend a lot of time worrying about being “on the shelf.” I would like to read more books with women who are single and proud, and romance isn’t anywhere near the top of their priority list. I am willing to read any genre, length, or format. Can’t wait to hear what you have to recommend! Thanks so much!

Best,
–Mary Beth

2. Hi! My friend and coworker is transferring to a new position within our company to Phoenix, Arizona. She will be driving from Ohio to Phoenix with whatever she can fit into her car. While working together I introduced her to audiobooks, and I thought a list of great audiobook recommendations would be the perfect parting gift. She loves steamy romance novels, and a great male narrator’s voice. I know that she has listened to all of Meghan March’s books, Anna Todd, and has just recently discovered the Fifty Shades of Grey series.
Hoping to make her long drive enjoyable. Thanks so much! I greatly enjoy your show!
–Kristin

3. Hello!

I’m a first year 7th grade English at a school in Massachusetts, and we are about to start a unit of fantasy short stories. I’m very excited about this unit, but after looking through the anthology that we’ll be using, I’ve noticed something that I want to change – the anthology only contains one story by an author of color (“Caleb’s Colors” by Neal Shusterman).
I’d love to teach a more diverse set of stories, so I’m looking for suggestions of fantasy short stories that would be appropriate for a middle school reading level. Do you know of any anthologies that exist? I would also be happy to read them a picture book or two.
Please let me know if you can help me diversify my reading list!
–Jessi

4. I’m about six weeks away from giving birth to my first child, and I’m looking for something to read that will be a real page-turner but light enough that I can read it during my leave regardless of how much (or little) sleep I’m getting. I read pretty widely in terms of genre, but I do prefer fiction to non-fiction and I don’t really do suspense or thrillers. Thanks!
–Aaryn

5. Love love love your show.
I’ve just moved from a very queer loving and welcoming college campus to a not so much welcoming and loving work environment :(. I’m on a desperate search for stories with badass lesbian and queer women protagonists to dive into to remind myself my gay poc identity is valid and wonderful and loved on those tough work days.

I just finished Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Riviera and absolutely loved and dying for another woke read with a confident lesbian/gay/queer woman in her 20s being a total badass and rocking who they are through whatever life throws at them.

Here’s my search criteria:
– coming out not being a major plot point.
– Not YA. Characters in their 20s like me or 30s would be preferable.
– Light, fun & empowering with some humor thrown in
– contemporary
– not a mystery, thriller, or including issues of domestic violence, or sexual assault.
– a person of color protagonist would be awesome but I understand this list might be a tall order so am lenient in this category

I’m new to romance but very much open to it and am not shy about sex scenes. Open to non-fiction of all kinds, and some light fantasy and sci-fi.

Books I’ve loved the feel of
Sourdough by Robin Sloan’s themes of figuring out adulthood, and what one wants to do with their life.

River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey.

I Hear She’s a Real Bitch by Jen Agg

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit made my cry – not in a good way with the having to go back into the closet kind of thing so I’d love to stay way clear of anything like that.

Thanks! I hope you can help!

Sincerely,
–Courtney

6. Hi ladies!

I just blew through the charming new Amazon Prime original TV series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and am really thirsting for more content like it. If you haven’t had the pleasure, it’s about a well-to-do house wife in the late 1950s in Manhattan who discovers her incredible talent for raunchy standup comedy as her life is falling apart around her. It’s sharp, witty, smart, and has a good dose of drama. It’s by the same folks as Gilmore Girls and is tonally very similar. The main character also reminds me of Joan Rivers a lot. I’d love to read some books that put me in the same mind-space while I wait (a year) for season two, but I’m not sure where to start. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Best,
–Jocelyn

7. Don’t judge but one of my favorite movies is The Mummy (the one with Brendan Fraser) and years ago I was swept away by the Anton Rider series by Bartle Bull which is similar in tone to The Mummy. I’ve been having a hard time finding other books that give me a similar feeling. Any recommendations for books that have adventure, maybe a monster, a rogueish hero and some romance?
–Emily

Books Discussed

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper

Make Trouble by Cecile Richards

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg

A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean

Destiny’s Captive by Beverly Jenkins (rec’d by Jess Pryde)

Unnatural Creatures edited by Neil Gaiman and Maria Dahvana Headley

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman (out June 26 2018)

Fresh Ink edited by Lamar Giles

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum

The Paper Menagerie: Stories by Ken Liu