1 00:00:11,104 --> 00:00:15,024 Speaker 1: So much. You're listening to a Muma Mia podcast. Mamma 2 00:00:15,104 --> 00:00:18,784 Speaker 1: Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and borders that 3 00:00:18,864 --> 00:00:20,584 Speaker 1: this podcast is recorded on. 4 00:00:20,864 --> 00:00:24,504 Speaker 2: Hey spillers, this is producer of This spill Minisha, just 5 00:00:24,624 --> 00:00:28,144 Speaker 2: jumping in because today is a public holiday here in Australia, 6 00:00:28,544 --> 00:00:31,624 Speaker 2: so we don't have our usual daily episode for you. 7 00:00:31,984 --> 00:00:34,704 Speaker 2: But don't worry, we would never leave you without something 8 00:00:34,744 --> 00:00:37,904 Speaker 2: to listen to. So we're bringing back an absolute classic 9 00:00:38,064 --> 00:00:40,064 Speaker 2: where Laura and m hit you with all their top 10 00:00:40,064 --> 00:00:43,344 Speaker 2: book recommendations of all time. Just perfect if you're looking 11 00:00:43,384 --> 00:00:45,824 Speaker 2: to curl up with a great read over the wintery 12 00:00:45,904 --> 00:00:46,584 Speaker 2: long weekend. 13 00:00:47,064 --> 00:00:50,544 Speaker 1: Enjoy. So you might have heard me mention this before. 14 00:00:51,064 --> 00:00:54,424 Speaker 1: It is my single biggest achievement in life, my system 15 00:00:54,464 --> 00:00:57,144 Speaker 1: of how I organize books and how I recommend books, 16 00:00:57,424 --> 00:00:59,344 Speaker 1: and it was born out of this idea of that 17 00:00:59,704 --> 00:01:01,664 Speaker 1: so many of my friends and colleagues over the years 18 00:01:01,704 --> 00:01:04,464 Speaker 1: would come to me and want book recommendations because I'm 19 00:01:04,464 --> 00:01:06,864 Speaker 1: such an avid reader and I get very passionate about 20 00:01:06,864 --> 00:01:09,784 Speaker 1: my books, and a lot of the time, to sort 21 00:01:09,824 --> 00:01:11,904 Speaker 1: of forget the tone of what someone wants, you have 22 00:01:11,944 --> 00:01:13,784 Speaker 1: to ask them what they're in the mood for and 23 00:01:13,824 --> 00:01:15,584 Speaker 1: I feel like the best way to do that is 24 00:01:15,624 --> 00:01:17,864 Speaker 1: to liken it to a food or beverage, because you know, 25 00:01:17,864 --> 00:01:19,304 Speaker 1: when you're like you're deciding to go out, You're like, 26 00:01:19,304 --> 00:01:20,544 Speaker 1: what do you feel like? Do you feel like this? 27 00:01:20,624 --> 00:01:22,504 Speaker 1: VI dinner? Do you feel like that? And that's how 28 00:01:22,544 --> 00:01:23,984 Speaker 1: you get to the heart of what someone wants. You 29 00:01:24,024 --> 00:01:26,104 Speaker 1: can't just give them a random book. And so I 30 00:01:26,144 --> 00:01:29,224 Speaker 1: set up this system, which is the vodka, vegetable chocolate. 31 00:01:28,864 --> 00:01:34,064 Speaker 3: System, the most chaotic types of meals and drinks I know. 32 00:01:34,144 --> 00:01:36,064 Speaker 1: And some people are like, but vodkas are drinking. It's 33 00:01:36,104 --> 00:01:37,624 Speaker 1: a food. I'm like, no, no, we don't. 34 00:01:37,544 --> 00:01:39,864 Speaker 3: Like, I'm not alcoholic. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. 35 00:01:39,664 --> 00:01:41,744 Speaker 1: It's just a vibe. It's a feeling. You can drink 36 00:01:41,824 --> 00:01:43,704 Speaker 1: vodka as you read, but you don't have to. That's 37 00:01:43,704 --> 00:01:46,224 Speaker 1: not the rule. So it's the way I categorize my books. 38 00:01:46,264 --> 00:01:48,344 Speaker 1: So my friends and I now have a shorthand whether 39 00:01:48,344 --> 00:01:50,624 Speaker 1: they'll want a book, and I'll say and they'll be like, oh, 40 00:01:50,744 --> 00:01:52,624 Speaker 1: I need a vodka, but I also like, I'll take 41 00:01:52,624 --> 00:01:54,624 Speaker 1: a vegetable with me. And that's how I dole out 42 00:01:54,664 --> 00:01:59,024 Speaker 1: my books. So just sort the categories out vodka. These 43 00:01:59,064 --> 00:02:02,464 Speaker 1: are books that you potentially want to hit really hard 44 00:02:02,464 --> 00:02:06,224 Speaker 1: and fast in one night. A page turner, a thriller, 45 00:02:06,664 --> 00:02:09,864 Speaker 1: something exciting. You have to know what happens next, Yeah, exactly, 46 00:02:09,944 --> 00:02:12,904 Speaker 1: So potentially will keep you up all night because you 47 00:02:12,944 --> 00:02:15,384 Speaker 1: have to finish it. All of my biggest vodka books 48 00:02:15,544 --> 00:02:17,864 Speaker 1: I've started in the afternoon. I finished at like one am, 49 00:02:17,904 --> 00:02:20,464 Speaker 1: two am, so you sometimes do have a little bit 50 00:02:20,504 --> 00:02:22,584 Speaker 1: of a hangover the next day. And it's not the 51 00:02:22,664 --> 00:02:24,744 Speaker 1: kind of book you can read every day or every week, 52 00:02:24,784 --> 00:02:26,824 Speaker 1: and like you have to space your vodka books out, 53 00:02:27,344 --> 00:02:29,224 Speaker 1: But they are the books that will give your buzz. 54 00:02:29,384 --> 00:02:30,624 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a good one. 55 00:02:30,744 --> 00:02:33,664 Speaker 1: Vegetable books. Now, some people think that vegetable books are 56 00:02:33,664 --> 00:02:34,904 Speaker 1: the books that we don't want to read, but that 57 00:02:34,944 --> 00:02:36,864 Speaker 1: is not true. Now, they're not the boring books because 58 00:02:36,984 --> 00:02:39,624 Speaker 1: we need vegetables exactly. The thing is, you need vegetables 59 00:02:39,664 --> 00:02:43,744 Speaker 1: in your diet, and when prepared correctly and when written correctly, 60 00:02:43,984 --> 00:02:47,504 Speaker 1: vegetables can be delicious. It's just that sometimes if you 61 00:02:47,544 --> 00:02:50,024 Speaker 1: want something sugary or like a hit of vodka, that 62 00:02:50,064 --> 00:02:52,544 Speaker 1: you're not in the mood for vegetables. But there's something 63 00:02:52,584 --> 00:02:56,024 Speaker 1: that you that are very satisfying, that good for you, 64 00:02:56,624 --> 00:02:59,504 Speaker 1: and you feel very good after consuming them, and that 65 00:02:59,584 --> 00:03:01,344 Speaker 1: is what a vegetable book will do for you. So 66 00:03:01,424 --> 00:03:04,504 Speaker 1: they can sometimes be like, you know, a classic book 67 00:03:04,544 --> 00:03:07,464 Speaker 1: or historical book or something. Everyone's books and these genres 68 00:03:07,464 --> 00:03:09,104 Speaker 1: are different. But for me, it's a book that I 69 00:03:09,224 --> 00:03:12,784 Speaker 1: might It's not one I'm like craving, but when I 70 00:03:12,904 --> 00:03:16,144 Speaker 1: consume it, it's satisfying and I feel good, and I 71 00:03:16,224 --> 00:03:18,064 Speaker 1: know that these books should make up a big part 72 00:03:18,104 --> 00:03:20,704 Speaker 1: of my diet. That's a vegetable book. But vegetable books 73 00:03:20,744 --> 00:03:22,744 Speaker 1: are also some of my favorite books. Yeah, me too, 74 00:03:22,864 --> 00:03:24,504 Speaker 1: So again, vegetabooks aren't bad, we have. 75 00:03:24,584 --> 00:03:26,704 Speaker 3: Vegetable books are also the best ones to preach about 76 00:03:26,744 --> 00:03:28,544 Speaker 3: when someone asks I need something new to read. 77 00:03:28,664 --> 00:03:30,944 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. It's like you want to say to someone, oh, yeah, 78 00:03:30,984 --> 00:03:33,944 Speaker 1: I made like a butternut squash bake last night. 79 00:03:35,344 --> 00:03:36,144 Speaker 3: I've made a salad. 80 00:03:36,224 --> 00:03:38,024 Speaker 1: You're like, yeah, I made a salad, and I feel 81 00:03:38,064 --> 00:03:39,984 Speaker 1: good about that. That's the same as telling someone that 82 00:03:40,024 --> 00:03:42,384 Speaker 1: you read a vegetable book. So often they're the ones 83 00:03:42,384 --> 00:03:44,944 Speaker 1: that people have prominently displayed in their homes, or they're 84 00:03:45,064 --> 00:03:47,704 Speaker 1: vegetabooks are ones that people love to put on Instagram, 85 00:03:47,904 --> 00:03:49,344 Speaker 1: like just casually reading. 86 00:03:49,304 --> 00:03:52,944 Speaker 3: Casually read quiet all the rest in front of British furniture. 87 00:03:52,744 --> 00:03:56,104 Speaker 1: Just casually read War and Peace. That's a vegetable vegetable book. 88 00:03:56,184 --> 00:03:58,864 Speaker 1: And then we get to chocolate books, which is just 89 00:03:58,984 --> 00:04:02,464 Speaker 1: a little sweet treat. I've got to say a lot 90 00:04:02,504 --> 00:04:04,464 Speaker 1: of my diet of books is chocolate books. 91 00:04:04,504 --> 00:04:05,424 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm like eighty percent. 92 00:04:06,184 --> 00:04:09,304 Speaker 1: If that's nothing wrong with that, because again, chocolate import 93 00:04:09,344 --> 00:04:11,744 Speaker 1: it doesn't mean they're frivolous, doesn't mean they're silly. It 94 00:04:11,864 --> 00:04:13,784 Speaker 1: just means that they can be a bit comforting, they 95 00:04:13,784 --> 00:04:16,224 Speaker 1: can be a bit light. They're easy to just pick 96 00:04:16,304 --> 00:04:17,864 Speaker 1: up and snack on, like you could just read a 97 00:04:17,864 --> 00:04:20,264 Speaker 1: few chapters here and there, and they just make you 98 00:04:20,304 --> 00:04:22,824 Speaker 1: feel good. They're like a delightful little treat that comes 99 00:04:22,864 --> 00:04:25,264 Speaker 1: into your life. So that is how we are setting 100 00:04:25,344 --> 00:04:27,184 Speaker 1: up the episode today. We're going to do one book 101 00:04:27,224 --> 00:04:31,584 Speaker 1: each for vodka, vegetable, chocolate, and yeah the best. The 102 00:04:31,584 --> 00:04:33,624 Speaker 1: only kind of diet we care about is a book diet, 103 00:04:33,664 --> 00:04:35,664 Speaker 1: and that's all we're here to talk about. 104 00:04:37,064 --> 00:04:40,544 Speaker 3: So I'm going to go first. I'm starting with the Veggies. 105 00:04:41,024 --> 00:04:45,024 Speaker 3: This is a book that I have actually read twice, 106 00:04:45,304 --> 00:04:48,064 Speaker 3: So I know a vegetable book twice, that's impressive. I 107 00:04:48,144 --> 00:04:51,224 Speaker 3: think I read it twice because I didn't fully grasp 108 00:04:51,264 --> 00:04:52,904 Speaker 3: it the first time I read it, And there are 109 00:04:53,024 --> 00:04:56,144 Speaker 3: like a lot of storylines that I felt like I 110 00:04:56,184 --> 00:04:58,544 Speaker 3: skimmed over when I probably should have really concentrated on. 111 00:04:58,624 --> 00:05:01,464 Speaker 3: The issue I have is that I'm a really fast reader, 112 00:05:01,944 --> 00:05:04,864 Speaker 3: and that doesn't change depending on what type of book 113 00:05:04,904 --> 00:05:07,864 Speaker 3: I'm reading. And when you read a vegetable book really fast, 114 00:05:07,904 --> 00:05:10,904 Speaker 3: you don't actually sit with everything. I only said with 115 00:05:10,944 --> 00:05:13,704 Speaker 3: what you finish. And I had to go back in 116 00:05:13,704 --> 00:05:15,544 Speaker 3: this book and then take it much slower. 117 00:05:15,624 --> 00:05:17,584 Speaker 1: Do you find that sometimes when you're reading that your 118 00:05:17,624 --> 00:05:19,824 Speaker 1: eyes are darting ahead, like the bottom of the next 119 00:05:19,824 --> 00:05:21,664 Speaker 1: page because you know where that's where the cliffhanger is 120 00:05:21,664 --> 00:05:21,944 Speaker 1: going to be. 121 00:05:21,984 --> 00:05:24,504 Speaker 3: And I get excited. Yeah, I'm kind of like when 122 00:05:24,504 --> 00:05:26,664 Speaker 3: you're watching a movie and you get like really like 123 00:05:26,824 --> 00:05:29,184 Speaker 3: angsy about it. Yeah, it's similar with books. And then 124 00:05:29,224 --> 00:05:31,664 Speaker 3: I'm like, wait, oh what your mind wanders and then 125 00:05:31,744 --> 00:05:33,224 Speaker 3: you're like, oh, I have to read this page again 126 00:05:33,224 --> 00:05:34,664 Speaker 3: because I have no idea what just happened. 127 00:05:34,744 --> 00:05:36,784 Speaker 1: My trick for that because I only maybe it's different 128 00:05:36,824 --> 00:05:38,304 Speaker 1: if you're on an e reader or something, but I'm 129 00:05:38,384 --> 00:05:42,104 Speaker 1: old school only read physical books. Cover it. Yeah, I 130 00:05:42,224 --> 00:05:44,344 Speaker 1: hold it because it's always the cliffhanger is on the 131 00:05:44,424 --> 00:05:46,584 Speaker 1: second page on the right hand side. So I read 132 00:05:46,664 --> 00:05:48,464 Speaker 1: like this where I have my hand over the page 133 00:05:48,704 --> 00:05:50,344 Speaker 1: and I don't lift it up until I'm getting to 134 00:05:50,384 --> 00:05:51,224 Speaker 1: that bit. So weird. 135 00:05:51,224 --> 00:05:53,024 Speaker 3: Why do we do that? Like why do your eyes 136 00:05:53,184 --> 00:05:54,344 Speaker 3: just like have a mind of the I. 137 00:05:54,264 --> 00:05:56,144 Speaker 1: Also sometimes if I'm in a really exciting part of 138 00:05:56,184 --> 00:05:58,744 Speaker 1: a book, I stand up because I just I just 139 00:05:58,744 --> 00:06:00,504 Speaker 1: see it from the book to know that I'm present, 140 00:06:00,544 --> 00:06:01,104 Speaker 1: I'm in there with. 141 00:06:01,384 --> 00:06:03,024 Speaker 3: Don't do that like when you're in public, because that's 142 00:06:03,064 --> 00:06:05,824 Speaker 3: quite alarming. I just stand up on a plane. So 143 00:06:05,904 --> 00:06:10,344 Speaker 3: my vegetable book is Girl Woman Other and it's a novel. 144 00:06:10,624 --> 00:06:14,304 Speaker 3: It's a novel by Bernardine Evaristo. She won the Book 145 00:06:14,304 --> 00:06:17,184 Speaker 3: of Prize in twenty nineteen for it, and it is 146 00:06:17,504 --> 00:06:20,104 Speaker 3: extremely complex. Have you read it? 147 00:06:20,304 --> 00:06:20,464 Speaker 2: Yeah? 148 00:06:20,504 --> 00:06:20,664 Speaker 1: I have. 149 00:06:20,944 --> 00:06:23,904 Speaker 3: It's so confusing. So that's the main reason why I 150 00:06:23,944 --> 00:06:26,184 Speaker 3: had to read it twice because I would always recommend 151 00:06:26,224 --> 00:06:27,704 Speaker 3: it to people and they're like, what's it about? And 152 00:06:27,744 --> 00:06:30,424 Speaker 3: I had to be like, wait, you explained the witch 153 00:06:30,424 --> 00:06:33,504 Speaker 3: shot explaining it's literally that they're like, so, why are 154 00:06:33,504 --> 00:06:36,064 Speaker 3: you recommending this? But I am recommending it because I 155 00:06:36,104 --> 00:06:38,464 Speaker 3: read it twice and I love it. So it focuses 156 00:06:38,504 --> 00:06:42,264 Speaker 3: on the experiences of Black British women across different generations, 157 00:06:42,584 --> 00:06:46,024 Speaker 3: and it does like all the themes like identity, race, gender, 158 00:06:46,144 --> 00:06:50,824 Speaker 3: except in sexuality. There's twelve characters like I count to twelve. 159 00:06:50,824 --> 00:06:54,024 Speaker 3: That possibly is more, but each character has their own 160 00:06:54,144 --> 00:06:57,144 Speaker 3: unique storyline, which is where I think I got confused 161 00:06:57,184 --> 00:07:00,664 Speaker 3: the first time around. But the three main characters that 162 00:07:00,704 --> 00:07:03,704 Speaker 3: I think have the deepest storylines that are constantly hearing from. 163 00:07:03,824 --> 00:07:07,584 Speaker 3: We first hear from Ama, who's like a playwright. She's 164 00:07:07,624 --> 00:07:09,504 Speaker 3: a feminist, and she's kind of like one of those 165 00:07:09,504 --> 00:07:13,904 Speaker 3: really strong femine that's also trying to navigate the landscape 166 00:07:13,944 --> 00:07:16,304 Speaker 3: of feminism as it's changing and as we become like 167 00:07:16,344 --> 00:07:19,104 Speaker 3: more modern. She has a daughter named Jazz, who's a 168 00:07:19,184 --> 00:07:22,584 Speaker 3: university student who's also a bit confused in her life. 169 00:07:22,744 --> 00:07:25,544 Speaker 3: And then AMA's best friend's name is Dominique and she's 170 00:07:25,584 --> 00:07:29,664 Speaker 3: currently struggling in a domestic abuse of relationship. They all 171 00:07:29,824 --> 00:07:34,584 Speaker 3: are such interesting, well thought out characters, and the entire 172 00:07:34,704 --> 00:07:38,304 Speaker 3: novel like spans across more than a century in British history, 173 00:07:38,344 --> 00:07:41,024 Speaker 3: so you're seeing also history come within this novel, which 174 00:07:41,064 --> 00:07:45,464 Speaker 3: is really interesting. The hardest thing about this book is 175 00:07:45,544 --> 00:07:49,064 Speaker 3: that every Stow's style of writing is described as free 176 00:07:49,104 --> 00:07:54,304 Speaker 3: flowing and poetic, and that means there's no punctuation in 177 00:07:54,504 --> 00:07:57,504 Speaker 3: the entire book. I think there's one full stop in 178 00:07:57,544 --> 00:08:04,144 Speaker 3: the entire novel relief for me, I can breathe. But 179 00:08:04,264 --> 00:08:05,904 Speaker 3: I think that's why I read it so fast the 180 00:08:05,904 --> 00:08:08,064 Speaker 3: first time. There's no sentences, so. 181 00:08:08,064 --> 00:08:09,304 Speaker 1: You didn't know where to stop. You just kept going. 182 00:08:09,544 --> 00:08:09,704 Speaker 2: Yeah. 183 00:08:09,704 --> 00:08:11,784 Speaker 3: I probably had my first broke at that one full 184 00:08:11,784 --> 00:08:14,224 Speaker 3: stop halfway through, and I just kept going. But I 185 00:08:14,264 --> 00:08:16,304 Speaker 3: think a lot of people struggle with this book because 186 00:08:16,304 --> 00:08:18,864 Speaker 3: I can't get past that. And when I read it 187 00:08:18,904 --> 00:08:22,784 Speaker 3: for the second time, it just made everything so much better, 188 00:08:22,864 --> 00:08:26,224 Speaker 3: Like I fully immersed myself into her style of writing, 189 00:08:26,544 --> 00:08:29,704 Speaker 3: and it just felt like one big, massive thought that's 190 00:08:29,744 --> 00:08:32,904 Speaker 3: just spanning across these generations and these years, and it 191 00:08:32,944 --> 00:08:34,984 Speaker 3: was just such an experience of reading that I've never 192 00:08:35,024 --> 00:08:37,704 Speaker 3: had before, and it was just so beautiful. It's such 193 00:08:37,784 --> 00:08:41,024 Speaker 3: a brilliant book. I highly recommend it to everyone. I 194 00:08:41,064 --> 00:08:43,304 Speaker 3: would say if you're not an avid reader, this is 195 00:08:43,304 --> 00:08:45,344 Speaker 3: probably a really big one for you to start with. 196 00:08:45,504 --> 00:08:47,064 Speaker 1: Don't if you haven't read a book for ten years, 197 00:08:47,104 --> 00:08:48,304 Speaker 1: don't leap in with this one. 198 00:08:48,384 --> 00:08:50,464 Speaker 3: Don't leap in with this one. But if you love 199 00:08:50,544 --> 00:08:53,184 Speaker 3: reading and you love like just the description I gave you, 200 00:08:53,224 --> 00:08:54,824 Speaker 3: this needs to be on your list. 201 00:08:55,344 --> 00:08:58,464 Speaker 1: Oh I really love that. Okay, my vegetable book. I 202 00:08:58,504 --> 00:09:00,664 Speaker 1: only realized after I had finished making my notes of 203 00:09:00,704 --> 00:09:03,264 Speaker 1: this episode, and I had very painstakingly picked my book 204 00:09:03,264 --> 00:09:06,224 Speaker 1: for each category that I've picked novels that I all 205 00:09:06,264 --> 00:09:08,984 Speaker 1: read as like a young teenager, because this is the 206 00:09:09,024 --> 00:09:11,224 Speaker 1: first time this idea started for me in my head 207 00:09:11,264 --> 00:09:13,744 Speaker 1: of like these different books. So I've somehow picked my 208 00:09:13,904 --> 00:09:18,944 Speaker 1: very first vegetable word cod chocolate books by accident. So 209 00:09:19,104 --> 00:09:23,944 Speaker 1: my vegetable book is The Color Purple, which so good. 210 00:09:23,984 --> 00:09:25,744 Speaker 1: I had such a vivid memory of I think I 211 00:09:25,944 --> 00:09:28,464 Speaker 1: got it from the library and like the school holidays 212 00:09:28,504 --> 00:09:30,264 Speaker 1: when I was like fourteen. I was like, I read 213 00:09:30,264 --> 00:09:30,864 Speaker 1: it around. 214 00:09:30,664 --> 00:09:32,344 Speaker 3: The same age. Yeah, my nana gave it to me 215 00:09:32,384 --> 00:09:34,504 Speaker 3: and I was like, Nana. 216 00:09:35,144 --> 00:09:37,464 Speaker 1: Famous book. And I remember just like through the school 217 00:09:37,504 --> 00:09:40,344 Speaker 1: holidays really trying to like I loved reading it. But 218 00:09:40,344 --> 00:09:41,864 Speaker 1: I also it was the first time I was really 219 00:09:41,984 --> 00:09:43,864 Speaker 1: struggling to get through a book and I had to 220 00:09:43,864 --> 00:09:46,184 Speaker 1: sort of sometimes remind myself to go and read it 221 00:09:46,264 --> 00:09:47,824 Speaker 1: and finish it. And it's the first time I remember 222 00:09:47,864 --> 00:09:50,464 Speaker 1: telling myself as like a teen, like, no, no, this 223 00:09:50,464 --> 00:09:51,944 Speaker 1: book is good for you. You need to read it, you 224 00:09:51,944 --> 00:09:54,624 Speaker 1: need to finish it. And so The Color Purple came 225 00:09:54,664 --> 00:09:57,024 Speaker 1: out in nineteen eighty two. It's a novel by an 226 00:09:57,024 --> 00:10:01,024 Speaker 1: American author called Alice Walker, and it was hugely successful 227 00:10:01,064 --> 00:10:03,464 Speaker 1: after it came out. It won the nineteen eighty three 228 00:10:03,504 --> 00:10:06,624 Speaker 1: Pulit Surprise for Fiction and also the National Book Award 229 00:10:06,624 --> 00:10:09,024 Speaker 1: for Fiction. That Alice Walker is actually the first black 230 00:10:09,064 --> 00:10:12,224 Speaker 1: woman to win for fiction in the Plitzurprise category. So 231 00:10:12,464 --> 00:10:15,024 Speaker 1: that is obviously so well deserved. And one reason I 232 00:10:15,064 --> 00:10:17,664 Speaker 1: wanted to read the book before I saw the movie 233 00:10:17,704 --> 00:10:19,784 Speaker 1: or anything like that is that The Color Purple has 234 00:10:19,864 --> 00:10:23,344 Speaker 1: kind of sprung up into this whole cornerstone of pop 235 00:10:23,384 --> 00:10:27,544 Speaker 1: culture and entertainment over the years. And when something like that, yeah, exactly, 236 00:10:27,624 --> 00:10:29,184 Speaker 1: and when something like that happens, I think it's really 237 00:10:29,184 --> 00:10:31,424 Speaker 1: important to read the source material so you can you 238 00:10:31,424 --> 00:10:34,064 Speaker 1: can understand what it's across. So it was adapt into 239 00:10:34,104 --> 00:10:37,464 Speaker 1: a film in nineteen eighty five, directed by Steven Spielberg, 240 00:10:37,504 --> 00:10:40,384 Speaker 1: and it had Whoopi goldbergs star as the lead. And 241 00:10:40,424 --> 00:10:42,824 Speaker 1: then it became a men Epra. Yes, Oprah was in 242 00:10:42,864 --> 00:10:46,344 Speaker 1: it too, as Sofia Danny Glover. Like all Star cast. 243 00:10:46,464 --> 00:10:49,144 Speaker 1: There was no Made for eleven Academy Awards. Didn't win any, 244 00:10:49,184 --> 00:10:51,064 Speaker 1: but it was no Made for eleven Academy Awards. That's 245 00:10:51,064 --> 00:10:54,064 Speaker 1: important to note. It then became a Broadway musical in 246 00:10:54,104 --> 00:10:57,344 Speaker 1: two thousand and five, and then just last year it 247 00:10:57,384 --> 00:11:01,424 Speaker 1: was adapted into So is the adaptation of the Broadway 248 00:11:01,504 --> 00:11:04,424 Speaker 1: musical into a movie, which if anyone hasn't seen that, 249 00:11:04,824 --> 00:11:08,344 Speaker 1: it is just incredible. I loved it so much. So 250 00:11:08,544 --> 00:11:11,464 Speaker 1: it's a story of Seely, who's a poor African American 251 00:11:11,504 --> 00:11:14,504 Speaker 1: girl living in rural Georgia in the early nineteen hundreds. 252 00:11:14,864 --> 00:11:17,584 Speaker 1: She is very close to her sister Netti. They're being abused, 253 00:11:17,624 --> 00:11:21,264 Speaker 1: they get separated, and then attracts Sealy's life over thirty years. 254 00:11:21,584 --> 00:11:23,224 Speaker 3: It's such a sad story. 255 00:11:23,264 --> 00:11:25,824 Speaker 1: It is so sad. I remember just like being in 256 00:11:25,824 --> 00:11:27,704 Speaker 1: my room on the summer holidays, my siblings are out 257 00:11:27,704 --> 00:11:29,024 Speaker 1: in the pool, my Mom's coming to my room and 258 00:11:29,064 --> 00:11:30,224 Speaker 1: she's like, why are you crying here? 259 00:11:30,224 --> 00:11:33,064 Speaker 3: And other Yeah, right, especially the book because the book 260 00:11:33,184 --> 00:11:35,704 Speaker 3: is like way more traumatizing than the Marrie. 261 00:11:35,744 --> 00:11:37,864 Speaker 1: I should say. The book has a bit of controversy 262 00:11:37,904 --> 00:11:40,024 Speaker 1: over the years in terms of like some of the 263 00:11:40,024 --> 00:11:43,504 Speaker 1: way it depicts domestic abuse and rape and sexual assault, 264 00:11:43,584 --> 00:11:46,224 Speaker 1: and some people think it it's not handled in the 265 00:11:46,304 --> 00:11:48,184 Speaker 1: right way, and some people think we're reveling in pain. 266 00:11:48,304 --> 00:11:50,184 Speaker 1: There's a huge long history there that I won't get 267 00:11:50,184 --> 00:11:52,784 Speaker 1: into it. It's quite graphic. It's very graphic. Yeah, just 268 00:11:52,824 --> 00:11:54,704 Speaker 1: a warning of reading it. This is not in any 269 00:11:54,704 --> 00:11:56,344 Speaker 1: way a light read. But I just think it's such 270 00:11:56,344 --> 00:11:59,504 Speaker 1: an incredible story. You just feel like you're in it 271 00:11:59,544 --> 00:12:01,864 Speaker 1: when you're reading it, and it's so important, and I 272 00:12:01,904 --> 00:12:03,704 Speaker 1: just think sometimes we have to read things that are 273 00:12:03,704 --> 00:12:05,024 Speaker 1: difficult and sit in those stories. 274 00:12:05,224 --> 00:12:08,424 Speaker 3: It's important because it's depicting what actually would have happened. 275 00:12:08,664 --> 00:12:11,264 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, exactly one hundred and it really kind of 276 00:12:11,344 --> 00:12:14,584 Speaker 1: is a moment in time where women but especially African 277 00:12:14,584 --> 00:12:18,304 Speaker 1: American women in Georgia in that time, just have absolutely 278 00:12:18,384 --> 00:12:21,224 Speaker 1: no rights, and you see the pain and torture, and 279 00:12:21,264 --> 00:12:24,504 Speaker 1: sometimes those characters like the side characters in those kind 280 00:12:24,504 --> 00:12:26,704 Speaker 1: of novels where you just seen there's like you know, 281 00:12:26,744 --> 00:12:28,984 Speaker 1: they're the servants or they're like, you know, the supportive 282 00:12:29,144 --> 00:12:31,744 Speaker 1: like woman of color in the background kind of thing. 283 00:12:31,784 --> 00:12:33,784 Speaker 1: And so this is like taking that story and putting 284 00:12:33,784 --> 00:12:35,704 Speaker 1: it front and center. So it's a difficult read, but 285 00:12:35,744 --> 00:12:38,744 Speaker 1: it's so beautifully written, and it's my first memory of 286 00:12:38,824 --> 00:12:40,904 Speaker 1: kind of like making myself read a book outside of 287 00:12:40,904 --> 00:12:43,304 Speaker 1: school and being like, I'm so glad I read that, 288 00:12:43,384 --> 00:12:44,984 Speaker 1: like I needed to know that story. 289 00:12:45,384 --> 00:12:48,784 Speaker 3: Okay, moving onto vodka. I remember I got this really 290 00:12:48,784 --> 00:12:50,984 Speaker 3: mixed up because I thought it was about the speed 291 00:12:51,064 --> 00:12:53,504 Speaker 3: of how you read, and because I read really fast, 292 00:12:53,784 --> 00:12:57,144 Speaker 3: I would get my vodkas and chocolates mixed up quite often. 293 00:12:57,304 --> 00:13:00,184 Speaker 1: But like I said, it's sometimes a chocolate book for me, 294 00:13:00,224 --> 00:13:02,064 Speaker 1: bite me, a vodka book for someone else, or a 295 00:13:02,104 --> 00:13:04,424 Speaker 1: vuable book, like it's a very personal decision. 296 00:13:04,744 --> 00:13:05,824 Speaker 3: I'm all vodka here. 297 00:13:05,904 --> 00:13:06,384 Speaker 1: Yeah. 298 00:13:06,424 --> 00:13:08,984 Speaker 3: So my vodka book I want to talk about is 299 00:13:09,224 --> 00:13:13,704 Speaker 3: Yellow Face of Kwan. I've read this book so many times. 300 00:13:13,744 --> 00:13:17,344 Speaker 3: It is so good. It's like a very fast paced 301 00:13:17,424 --> 00:13:21,544 Speaker 3: kind of like psychological drama, but it's also very funny 302 00:13:22,024 --> 00:13:24,824 Speaker 3: and very hectic and I think the pace of the 303 00:13:24,864 --> 00:13:27,344 Speaker 3: novel dictates the pace of how you read it, because 304 00:13:27,544 --> 00:13:30,784 Speaker 3: you're constantly wanting to turn to the next page. So 305 00:13:31,264 --> 00:13:34,584 Speaker 3: it's about this writer, a white writer, and it's important 306 00:13:34,584 --> 00:13:38,344 Speaker 3: that she's white. Yeah, named June Hayward, who's in publishing. 307 00:13:38,464 --> 00:13:40,824 Speaker 3: She's writing books, but she's not really making it like 308 00:13:40,864 --> 00:13:43,944 Speaker 3: she's struggling a little bit. She has a friend who's 309 00:13:44,104 --> 00:13:46,504 Speaker 3: very good at writing books, and her name is Athena, 310 00:13:47,184 --> 00:13:50,144 Speaker 3: and Athena is an Asian American author, and they both 311 00:13:50,224 --> 00:13:52,184 Speaker 3: kind of started out at the same time. They're both 312 00:13:52,224 --> 00:13:55,624 Speaker 3: the same age, except Athena just went skyrocketing, like writing 313 00:13:55,664 --> 00:13:58,664 Speaker 3: amazing stuff, and June is kind of hanging out in 314 00:13:58,704 --> 00:14:04,064 Speaker 3: the background. Athena suddenly dies. It's like the craziest dead 315 00:14:04,104 --> 00:14:05,184 Speaker 3: scene I've ever read. 316 00:14:05,264 --> 00:14:07,144 Speaker 1: Every time I'm eating it home, I think about choking 317 00:14:07,184 --> 00:14:10,104 Speaker 1: to death from that. It is that part of the base. 318 00:14:10,424 --> 00:14:12,744 Speaker 3: This isn't a spoiler because it happens quite early. Yeah, 319 00:14:13,104 --> 00:14:17,024 Speaker 3: the entire the first few pages. So Athena suddenly dies 320 00:14:17,064 --> 00:14:20,424 Speaker 3: and June was with her, and then after she dies, 321 00:14:20,704 --> 00:14:24,024 Speaker 3: June finds a manuscript of a novel that Athena was 322 00:14:24,104 --> 00:14:29,264 Speaker 3: currently working on and June decides to develop a pseudonym 323 00:14:29,344 --> 00:14:32,824 Speaker 3: named Junipersong, which yes, does sound like an Asian name, 324 00:14:33,504 --> 00:14:38,384 Speaker 3: and publish Athena's novel under her alias. And then what 325 00:14:38,624 --> 00:14:42,744 Speaker 3: ensures is just like so many critics and people in 326 00:14:42,864 --> 00:14:45,784 Speaker 3: like think of Reddit threads and people who are book 327 00:14:45,824 --> 00:14:49,704 Speaker 3: fans trying to figure out who Juniper Song is and 328 00:14:49,744 --> 00:14:53,144 Speaker 3: then trying to make connections like how come this girl 329 00:14:53,344 --> 00:14:55,744 Speaker 3: June is suddenly like taking off with like all of 330 00:14:55,784 --> 00:14:58,264 Speaker 3: these shows and stuff like that, Like people are starting 331 00:14:58,304 --> 00:15:02,024 Speaker 3: to figure out who really wrote the manuscript, and it 332 00:15:02,104 --> 00:15:04,744 Speaker 3: just dives into this whole world of I want to 333 00:15:04,784 --> 00:15:09,984 Speaker 3: call it modern racism and modern microaggressions of what happens 334 00:15:10,024 --> 00:15:13,464 Speaker 3: when you have a white person who is a complete 335 00:15:13,504 --> 00:15:17,464 Speaker 3: ally suddenly gets support from people who aren't allies, and 336 00:15:17,504 --> 00:15:20,504 Speaker 3: like how that dictates how they see people of color. 337 00:15:20,824 --> 00:15:24,024 Speaker 3: It is just so incredibly done. It is really funny. 338 00:15:24,104 --> 00:15:26,344 Speaker 3: The lengths that some of the fans go to try 339 00:15:26,384 --> 00:15:29,704 Speaker 3: to expose her is insane, but it also just shows 340 00:15:29,744 --> 00:15:32,904 Speaker 3: how far you're willing to go just to be famous. 341 00:15:33,184 --> 00:15:34,704 Speaker 1: I love this book so much. It's one of my 342 00:15:34,824 --> 00:15:37,224 Speaker 1: vodka books as well, because I read it all in 343 00:15:37,304 --> 00:15:39,144 Speaker 1: one night. I couldn't stop them, like I have to 344 00:15:39,224 --> 00:15:41,304 Speaker 1: know because the build up of like is she going 345 00:15:41,344 --> 00:15:43,424 Speaker 1: to get caught out? And who's going to catch her out? 346 00:15:43,424 --> 00:15:45,744 Speaker 1: And who are those anonymous messages coming from? And then 347 00:15:45,784 --> 00:15:48,024 Speaker 1: you start thinking, wait, is Athena even dead? Am I 348 00:15:48,064 --> 00:15:49,264 Speaker 1: going crazy? What's happening? 349 00:15:49,344 --> 00:15:51,984 Speaker 3: It's so good. I went to actually watch iv Quan 350 00:15:52,104 --> 00:15:53,944 Speaker 3: speak and she came to Sydney to speak, and I 351 00:15:53,984 --> 00:15:56,104 Speaker 3: went to get my book signing. It's a whole drama. 352 00:15:56,224 --> 00:15:57,944 Speaker 3: I was last in line, and then they cut it 353 00:15:57,984 --> 00:16:00,704 Speaker 3: off right at me. It was so I had my 354 00:16:00,744 --> 00:16:02,304 Speaker 3: book and I was holding in front of the security 355 00:16:02,344 --> 00:16:04,824 Speaker 3: guard and I was like, please, sir, just me, It's 356 00:16:04,904 --> 00:16:07,704 Speaker 3: just me one morning. He's like, sorry, that's the hundred limit. 357 00:16:07,984 --> 00:16:11,184 Speaker 3: And my Mom's like, please got my book signed. It 358 00:16:11,224 --> 00:16:14,544 Speaker 3: was really sad. She speaks so well. She's actually a 359 00:16:14,544 --> 00:16:16,944 Speaker 3: fantasy writer and this was like her first like no 360 00:16:17,104 --> 00:16:19,704 Speaker 3: like chick lit novel, and the fact that it was 361 00:16:19,704 --> 00:16:22,544 Speaker 3: her first was just amazing because I'm not really into fantasy, 362 00:16:22,624 --> 00:16:25,384 Speaker 3: but she's a massive fantasy writer and so what she 363 00:16:25,424 --> 00:16:27,224 Speaker 3: said was really interesting because every time I recommend this 364 00:16:27,224 --> 00:16:28,904 Speaker 3: book to someone, they either hate it or love it. 365 00:16:29,424 --> 00:16:32,504 Speaker 3: And She said that she loves that people hate her 366 00:16:32,584 --> 00:16:34,504 Speaker 3: characters because that's exactly what she was going for. 367 00:16:34,544 --> 00:16:36,424 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you're everyone. 368 00:16:36,024 --> 00:16:39,104 Speaker 3: In this book is so unlikable, like every single person, 369 00:16:39,184 --> 00:16:42,264 Speaker 3: but they feel like real people. It's so brilliant. Okay, 370 00:16:42,304 --> 00:16:43,384 Speaker 3: what is your vodka? 371 00:16:43,504 --> 00:16:45,904 Speaker 1: Okay, my vodka book? She just had vodka with us. 372 00:16:45,984 --> 00:16:47,744 Speaker 1: I know it's I actually do have some on my desk. 373 00:16:47,824 --> 00:16:50,624 Speaker 1: Someone sent it to me. So this is the first 374 00:16:50,704 --> 00:16:52,904 Speaker 1: book I stayed up all my reading. I'm really painting 375 00:16:52,904 --> 00:16:54,184 Speaker 1: myself as a cool teenager. 376 00:16:55,864 --> 00:16:58,304 Speaker 3: We love especially you say your siblings are outside playing 377 00:16:58,344 --> 00:17:01,584 Speaker 3: in the sun and you're just crying over the color. 378 00:17:02,784 --> 00:17:05,504 Speaker 1: That is mean a nutshell. So when I was fourteen 379 00:17:05,624 --> 00:17:08,424 Speaker 1: years old, I went into the school library very early 380 00:17:08,504 --> 00:17:11,144 Speaker 1: before my first class, and by past the nuns who 381 00:17:11,144 --> 00:17:15,304 Speaker 1: were restacking the books, and I got this very battered 382 00:17:15,344 --> 00:17:17,824 Speaker 1: old copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula. 383 00:17:17,864 --> 00:17:19,424 Speaker 3: Oh, they were definitely trying to hide that one. 384 00:17:19,584 --> 00:17:22,024 Speaker 1: Yeah, I can't believe it wasn't even in I went 385 00:17:22,024 --> 00:17:23,544 Speaker 1: to a convent school. I can't believe there was even 386 00:17:23,544 --> 00:17:24,304 Speaker 1: a copy around. 387 00:17:24,544 --> 00:17:26,944 Speaker 3: Some none was like, I'm going to change history and 388 00:17:27,104 --> 00:17:28,704 Speaker 3: these girls are going to read Jaculas my. 389 00:17:28,704 --> 00:17:30,824 Speaker 1: Sister a Gena'll shout out to you. I'm sure a 390 00:17:30,864 --> 00:17:33,384 Speaker 1: lot of people know the like Dracula obviously the character, 391 00:17:33,464 --> 00:17:37,344 Speaker 1: and this is the first definitive book his origin story, 392 00:17:37,784 --> 00:17:40,184 Speaker 1: you will. So it was written by Bram Stoker, who's 393 00:17:40,224 --> 00:17:44,104 Speaker 1: an Irish author, and published in eighteen ninety seven. I mean, 394 00:17:44,184 --> 00:17:48,064 Speaker 1: it's a Gothic horror novel and it is just so 395 00:17:48,864 --> 00:17:51,504 Speaker 1: it's almost for some people might be a vegetable book 396 00:17:51,584 --> 00:17:53,864 Speaker 1: because in some cases it could be hard to follow 397 00:17:53,904 --> 00:17:55,544 Speaker 1: because it's as. 398 00:17:55,424 --> 00:17:57,224 Speaker 3: A very like archaic language. 399 00:17:57,504 --> 00:17:59,664 Speaker 1: Yeah, to an extent, not as much as you would think, 400 00:17:59,784 --> 00:18:01,744 Speaker 1: like I guess, like you know, there's a vampire here, 401 00:18:01,864 --> 00:18:06,584 Speaker 1: just transcends time employees. But it's a lot of it's 402 00:18:06,584 --> 00:18:11,024 Speaker 1: told through letters and diary entries, newspaper articles, maps, all 403 00:18:11,024 --> 00:18:12,744 Speaker 1: that sort of thing. So you know, you've got to 404 00:18:12,784 --> 00:18:15,184 Speaker 1: sort of put it together. But it sounds like a 405 00:18:15,184 --> 00:18:17,384 Speaker 1: lot of work. But most of it is just a narrative, 406 00:18:17,384 --> 00:18:19,904 Speaker 1: but it's told from different people's perspectives. But it is 407 00:18:19,984 --> 00:18:23,864 Speaker 1: just such an incredibly gripping story. So it starts off 408 00:18:23,864 --> 00:18:28,224 Speaker 1: with Johnathan Harko who's a solicitor and he travels to Transylvania, 409 00:18:28,264 --> 00:18:31,544 Speaker 1: to visit this nobleman called Count Dracula because you know 410 00:18:31,544 --> 00:18:33,304 Speaker 1: they're gonna sell them some property and. 411 00:18:33,304 --> 00:18:34,424 Speaker 3: It's just anos Ferati. 412 00:18:34,704 --> 00:18:36,464 Speaker 1: Well, no, no, because nos Feratu is a rip off 413 00:18:36,464 --> 00:18:39,744 Speaker 1: of Dracula, as you know from our previous podcast about 414 00:18:39,744 --> 00:18:43,864 Speaker 1: that topic. And so Dracula is obviously a vampire and 415 00:18:43,904 --> 00:18:46,744 Speaker 1: then locks Jonathan in his castle. I'm obviously going over 416 00:18:46,784 --> 00:18:49,824 Speaker 1: a lot here, and he moves to this tiny seaside 417 00:18:49,824 --> 00:18:54,424 Speaker 1: town of Whitby where Jonathan's fiance Mina, who's staying to 418 00:18:54,504 --> 00:18:57,904 Speaker 1: see say that, and he starts killing people. And then 419 00:18:57,984 --> 00:19:00,704 Speaker 1: you've got Van helsing who is this? You know, who 420 00:19:00,704 --> 00:19:04,784 Speaker 1: knows who is trying to hunt him down? And it 421 00:19:04,904 --> 00:19:10,784 Speaker 1: is just this incredible, like visceral, intense story, full of violence, 422 00:19:10,824 --> 00:19:13,304 Speaker 1: full of death, full of sex. As a fourteen year old, 423 00:19:13,624 --> 00:19:17,304 Speaker 1: I had not known. My only instruction to vampires was 424 00:19:17,304 --> 00:19:19,224 Speaker 1: Buffy the Vampires Like, and I was. 425 00:19:19,144 --> 00:19:21,024 Speaker 3: Like, tell me, this was your sex education. 426 00:19:21,504 --> 00:19:23,344 Speaker 1: It maybe it kind of was, I don't know, and 427 00:19:23,424 --> 00:19:24,784 Speaker 1: I just remember. So I got it out from the 428 00:19:24,784 --> 00:19:26,904 Speaker 1: library in the morning and then all day through all 429 00:19:26,944 --> 00:19:28,984 Speaker 1: of my classes, I read it under the desk because 430 00:19:29,024 --> 00:19:30,544 Speaker 1: I was just like, holy sh I said it all 431 00:19:30,584 --> 00:19:31,944 Speaker 1: trying to read books under the desk. 432 00:19:31,904 --> 00:19:34,064 Speaker 3: And I was like, that's who straight porn for. 433 00:19:34,944 --> 00:19:36,624 Speaker 1: I was just like, my heart was beating in my 434 00:19:36,744 --> 00:19:41,424 Speaker 1: chest so fast, because no, it's so violent and graphic. 435 00:19:41,464 --> 00:19:42,904 Speaker 1: I read it at home on the bus. I read 436 00:19:42,984 --> 00:19:44,944 Speaker 1: all afternoon. I read it into the night. I think 437 00:19:44,984 --> 00:19:47,624 Speaker 1: I finished it with a torch under my blanket that night. 438 00:19:47,704 --> 00:19:50,864 Speaker 1: This is a massive book. It is absolutely huge. Most 439 00:19:50,904 --> 00:19:52,704 Speaker 1: people say this takes them a month to read. I 440 00:19:52,744 --> 00:19:55,144 Speaker 1: finished it about two in the morning, and then I 441 00:19:55,264 --> 00:19:59,544 Speaker 1: was so both terrified and just enamored and freaked out 442 00:19:59,584 --> 00:20:01,144 Speaker 1: that I stayed up. That's the first time I stayed 443 00:20:01,184 --> 00:20:04,064 Speaker 1: up all night as a teenager because my eye was 444 00:20:04,104 --> 00:20:07,584 Speaker 1: just overcome by this book. And that is the idea 445 00:20:07,624 --> 00:20:09,824 Speaker 1: of what a vodka book is. There's even lines I 446 00:20:09,824 --> 00:20:12,104 Speaker 1: remember reading for the first time of like when one 447 00:20:12,104 --> 00:20:14,144 Speaker 1: of the characters, because Jacula is feeding on I don't 448 00:20:14,144 --> 00:20:15,464 Speaker 1: want to ruin exuse obviously, Wan, you want to go 449 00:20:15,544 --> 00:20:18,984 Speaker 1: read it when Dracula is like secretly feeding on this 450 00:20:19,064 --> 00:20:22,064 Speaker 1: one young woman all night and she's slowly turning into 451 00:20:22,104 --> 00:20:24,024 Speaker 1: a vampire, and like the moment she starts to turn, 452 00:20:24,024 --> 00:20:26,984 Speaker 1: where she starts describing like the blood pulsing through her veins, 453 00:20:27,024 --> 00:20:28,944 Speaker 1: and she's like, oh, I can hear the mice down 454 00:20:28,944 --> 00:20:32,584 Speaker 1: in the cellars below scurrying about because everything's getting better. 455 00:20:32,624 --> 00:20:35,024 Speaker 1: And then like the moment where like Jacula comes through 456 00:20:35,024 --> 00:20:37,144 Speaker 1: when she's just about to die and she screams and 457 00:20:37,224 --> 00:20:40,504 Speaker 1: ecstasies her vampire lover, and I was like, what is happening. 458 00:20:41,184 --> 00:20:42,864 Speaker 1: It's just so, it's such a good book. 459 00:20:43,104 --> 00:20:43,744 Speaker 3: You've hooked me. 460 00:20:44,504 --> 00:20:46,984 Speaker 1: I think you should read it. There's also an incredible 461 00:20:47,184 --> 00:20:51,664 Speaker 1: film adaptation. No it's called Bramstoke Is Dracula, because I 462 00:20:51,744 --> 00:20:55,064 Speaker 1: wanted people to know it's a direct movie based on 463 00:20:55,104 --> 00:20:56,984 Speaker 1: the book. So it's got when I'm in a writer 464 00:20:57,224 --> 00:21:01,304 Speaker 1: and Countu Reeves and Gary Oldman, and it's completely pulled 465 00:21:01,304 --> 00:21:03,104 Speaker 1: from the book. And the cast actually sat down and 466 00:21:03,144 --> 00:21:05,864 Speaker 1: read the entire novel in like a few days, not 467 00:21:05,904 --> 00:21:07,944 Speaker 1: one day like I did, but a few days so 468 00:21:07,944 --> 00:21:10,344 Speaker 1: they would have the exact flow and pattern of the store. 469 00:21:10,344 --> 00:21:12,464 Speaker 1: Sorry to film the movie, so read the book first 470 00:21:12,464 --> 00:21:13,264 Speaker 1: and then watch the movie. 471 00:21:13,344 --> 00:21:18,664 Speaker 3: Okay, okay. For my Chocolate book, I didn't write any 472 00:21:18,984 --> 00:21:22,064 Speaker 3: single note because I thought we could just both of 473 00:21:22,144 --> 00:21:26,024 Speaker 3: us go to town on this. Yeah, it is so basic. 474 00:21:26,184 --> 00:21:29,744 Speaker 3: So if you're gonna call me a basic bitch, I know, Okay, 475 00:21:29,864 --> 00:21:32,184 Speaker 3: I know this book is basic. But there's a reason 476 00:21:32,264 --> 00:21:34,904 Speaker 3: it's basic, and that's because so many women love it. Okay, 477 00:21:34,984 --> 00:21:37,264 Speaker 3: So that's not even a good insult, even though I'm 478 00:21:37,264 --> 00:21:40,024 Speaker 3: talking to myself about Okay, stop stop stalling. 479 00:21:40,064 --> 00:21:40,424 Speaker 1: Okay. 480 00:21:41,064 --> 00:21:43,904 Speaker 3: It is everything I know about love by Dolly Albert. 481 00:21:44,104 --> 00:21:46,384 Speaker 1: That is not a basic book. That is a beautiful book. 482 00:21:46,424 --> 00:21:48,224 Speaker 1: And you know you're beautiful for recommending it. 483 00:21:48,544 --> 00:21:51,024 Speaker 3: The reason I'm recommending it is because I'm reading it 484 00:21:51,104 --> 00:21:53,664 Speaker 3: right now, because I read it after every time I 485 00:21:53,704 --> 00:21:55,064 Speaker 3: go through a heartache. 486 00:21:55,224 --> 00:21:56,424 Speaker 1: No, no, Boddy, So you. 487 00:21:56,384 --> 00:21:59,344 Speaker 3: Can guess why I'm reading it right now. I read 488 00:21:59,384 --> 00:22:02,744 Speaker 3: it so many times because it's been so many It 489 00:22:02,824 --> 00:22:04,624 Speaker 3: is a memoir. She started writing it when she was 490 00:22:04,624 --> 00:22:06,504 Speaker 3: twenty eight, which is my age now, and I think 491 00:22:06,584 --> 00:22:09,624 Speaker 3: it was published and really got everyone going when she 492 00:22:09,744 --> 00:22:12,744 Speaker 3: was around there, and then she completely took off as 493 00:22:12,744 --> 00:22:17,264 Speaker 3: an author after that. It's about love, it's about breakups, 494 00:22:17,304 --> 00:22:20,824 Speaker 3: it's about friendships, it's about living in share houses. It's 495 00:22:20,824 --> 00:22:25,504 Speaker 3: about annoying problematic men, regardless of their age. It's about 496 00:22:25,744 --> 00:22:29,224 Speaker 3: just kind of accepting yourself. It even goes into death 497 00:22:29,264 --> 00:22:32,344 Speaker 3: and things like that and your parents getting older, and 498 00:22:32,864 --> 00:22:35,784 Speaker 3: it's one of those books that makes you feel like 499 00:22:36,304 --> 00:22:39,304 Speaker 3: you're not isolated with every thought you've had. There's been 500 00:22:39,384 --> 00:22:42,064 Speaker 3: so many like moments, I think, especially as a young 501 00:22:42,064 --> 00:22:44,624 Speaker 3: woman in your twenties, where you have a thought or 502 00:22:44,624 --> 00:22:47,664 Speaker 3: you have an experience and you think this sucks, and like, 503 00:22:47,704 --> 00:22:49,704 Speaker 3: who do I talk to because surely no one's ever 504 00:22:49,744 --> 00:22:52,024 Speaker 3: gone through this before, And then you read Dolly Alton's 505 00:22:52,024 --> 00:22:55,024 Speaker 3: book and you're like, oh shit, I was completely wrong. 506 00:22:55,064 --> 00:22:58,224 Speaker 3: I've never had an original thought in my life. And 507 00:22:58,264 --> 00:23:00,704 Speaker 3: it's just so good because I think this book has 508 00:23:00,824 --> 00:23:04,144 Speaker 3: just formed so many friendships in a way that we've 509 00:23:04,144 --> 00:23:07,264 Speaker 3: all just started talking about these kind of issues that 510 00:23:07,264 --> 00:23:09,544 Speaker 3: we've all gone through as growing up in your twenties, 511 00:23:09,584 --> 00:23:11,944 Speaker 3: whether you're in a relationationship or single, or you had 512 00:23:11,944 --> 00:23:13,504 Speaker 3: friends or you don't have friends and you're making new 513 00:23:13,544 --> 00:23:16,344 Speaker 3: friends and your career, we're all just like becoming more 514 00:23:16,424 --> 00:23:19,744 Speaker 3: vulnerable and open with each other in a time where 515 00:23:19,904 --> 00:23:21,544 Speaker 3: we were kind of brought up to believe that we 516 00:23:21,544 --> 00:23:23,824 Speaker 3: always had to compete with each other. And I think 517 00:23:23,864 --> 00:23:26,544 Speaker 3: this book has done so much in just like making 518 00:23:26,584 --> 00:23:29,584 Speaker 3: women feel really good about having each other in our lives. 519 00:23:30,264 --> 00:23:32,304 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, obviously, I love this book so much. 520 00:23:32,384 --> 00:23:34,744 Speaker 1: It's one of my ultimate chocolate books. I love so 521 00:23:34,824 --> 00:23:36,544 Speaker 1: much that I've got a copy at home that I 522 00:23:36,624 --> 00:23:38,864 Speaker 1: reread all the time, and a copy at my desk 523 00:23:38,904 --> 00:23:41,144 Speaker 1: care at Mama Mia that I lend out to people. 524 00:23:41,304 --> 00:23:44,264 Speaker 3: Such a good book. I'm getting so emotional talking about it. 525 00:23:44,464 --> 00:23:47,904 Speaker 3: I think everyone men should read this book. Yeah, everyone 526 00:23:47,944 --> 00:23:48,984 Speaker 3: read this damn book. 527 00:23:48,984 --> 00:23:51,144 Speaker 1: It's so good. Okay, I love that my chocolate book 528 00:23:51,184 --> 00:23:55,104 Speaker 1: is also about friendship. We're so cute. 529 00:23:55,344 --> 00:23:57,384 Speaker 3: The greatest loves you'll know are your female friends. 530 00:23:57,184 --> 00:24:00,064 Speaker 1: One hundred percent. So my book is actually called Circle 531 00:24:00,104 --> 00:24:02,184 Speaker 1: of Friends. I found it really hard to pick a 532 00:24:02,264 --> 00:24:04,144 Speaker 1: chocolate book, and then I found it really hard to 533 00:24:04,224 --> 00:24:06,784 Speaker 1: pick a book from this author because it's written by 534 00:24:06,864 --> 00:24:09,504 Speaker 1: May've Binchi, who I think is my favorite author of 535 00:24:09,504 --> 00:24:09,944 Speaker 1: all time. 536 00:24:10,624 --> 00:24:12,384 Speaker 3: But I'm excited for this because I haven't read this. 537 00:24:12,504 --> 00:24:14,224 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I'm so excited for you to read it. 538 00:24:14,264 --> 00:24:17,264 Speaker 1: Because May've Binchi has so many books out there, and 539 00:24:17,464 --> 00:24:19,704 Speaker 1: each one of them is just a masterpiece. It's one 540 00:24:19,744 --> 00:24:21,344 Speaker 1: of those authors where you can just like any book 541 00:24:21,344 --> 00:24:23,104 Speaker 1: that she has written. You can pick up and just 542 00:24:23,224 --> 00:24:25,224 Speaker 1: know that you'll have an incredible time reading it. And 543 00:24:25,264 --> 00:24:26,504 Speaker 1: it was hard to pick, but I went with a 544 00:24:26,544 --> 00:24:29,064 Speaker 1: circle of friends. Again. I read this as a teenager. 545 00:24:29,104 --> 00:24:30,664 Speaker 1: My mum gave it to me because she loves May 546 00:24:30,744 --> 00:24:33,624 Speaker 1: Binchi as well. It's set in Dublin as well as 547 00:24:33,624 --> 00:24:36,784 Speaker 1: this like tiny town outside of Dublin Island called Knocklin 548 00:24:37,184 --> 00:24:41,064 Speaker 1: in Ireland in the nineteen fifties. And it starts off 549 00:24:41,104 --> 00:24:43,424 Speaker 1: with so the two main characters are Even Benny and 550 00:24:43,424 --> 00:24:46,104 Speaker 1: they live in a small town of Knocklann. Eve is 551 00:24:46,144 --> 00:24:48,784 Speaker 1: an orphan but her like rich family live in the 552 00:24:48,824 --> 00:24:50,424 Speaker 1: town and they just gave her up when her mother 553 00:24:50,424 --> 00:24:52,904 Speaker 1: passed away. She lives in a convent with nuns. Benny 554 00:24:54,784 --> 00:24:57,824 Speaker 1: Benny lives in a big house with her parents. Eva's 555 00:24:57,864 --> 00:25:01,104 Speaker 1: tiny and gets bullied for being an orphan. Benny gets 556 00:25:01,144 --> 00:25:03,744 Speaker 1: bullied for being very very tall, which I obviously related 557 00:25:03,744 --> 00:25:05,544 Speaker 1: to as a teenager, that everyone calls her big and 558 00:25:05,624 --> 00:25:08,144 Speaker 1: awful and all this sort of stuff. And they become 559 00:25:08,184 --> 00:25:11,144 Speaker 1: these two best friends as kids when they're ten years old, 560 00:25:11,744 --> 00:25:15,144 Speaker 1: and then the story jumps forward to when they've finished 561 00:25:15,184 --> 00:25:17,744 Speaker 1: school and they're going to university in Dublin. There's this 562 00:25:17,744 --> 00:25:19,944 Speaker 1: whole big story about how they get there, and then 563 00:25:20,104 --> 00:25:22,544 Speaker 1: the story is about them in Dublin as like growing 564 00:25:22,584 --> 00:25:25,624 Speaker 1: women and everything it happens, the new friends they make, 565 00:25:25,704 --> 00:25:28,144 Speaker 1: the big love stories that they have, these group of 566 00:25:28,184 --> 00:25:30,424 Speaker 1: people they make. There's this huge kind of scandal that 567 00:25:30,464 --> 00:25:32,544 Speaker 1: happens towards the end of the book, which I'm just like, 568 00:25:32,784 --> 00:25:36,144 Speaker 1: if any friendship group has had a scandal, it's this. Honestly, 569 00:25:36,504 --> 00:25:38,344 Speaker 1: I only threw the book across the room when it happened. 570 00:25:38,344 --> 00:25:40,344 Speaker 1: I was like, made Binchi, you did not go there. 571 00:25:40,384 --> 00:25:41,144 Speaker 3: Oh my god. 572 00:25:41,464 --> 00:25:43,944 Speaker 1: And it's just such a lovely, comforting book. And also 573 00:25:43,984 --> 00:25:47,144 Speaker 1: just the detail of May Binchi's writing is why it's 574 00:25:47,224 --> 00:25:50,544 Speaker 1: chocolate because she describes you know, those authors can just 575 00:25:50,624 --> 00:25:53,424 Speaker 1: like keep you enamored by describing the room and what 576 00:25:53,464 --> 00:25:56,584 Speaker 1: everyone's wearing, and like the dresses that they have made 577 00:25:56,584 --> 00:25:59,064 Speaker 1: for this first big college ball they go to and 578 00:25:59,184 --> 00:26:00,944 Speaker 1: the first time that one of them dances with the 579 00:26:00,944 --> 00:26:04,104 Speaker 1: hottest guy and starts dating him, and like the food, 580 00:26:04,184 --> 00:26:05,944 Speaker 1: the hot chips they get at the pub before they 581 00:26:05,984 --> 00:26:07,744 Speaker 1: jump on the train to go out to Brain you know, 582 00:26:07,784 --> 00:26:11,184 Speaker 1: all that sort of stuff. So yeah, the oldimate chocolate books. 583 00:26:11,184 --> 00:26:13,184 Speaker 1: So if you haven't read any of Mee Binchi's books, 584 00:26:13,184 --> 00:26:15,704 Speaker 1: Holy Hell, because also, like I said, they're scandalous, some 585 00:26:15,744 --> 00:26:17,624 Speaker 1: of them found like scandal light. But if you love 586 00:26:17,624 --> 00:26:20,704 Speaker 1: a book that's just about like normal people who go 587 00:26:20,784 --> 00:26:23,304 Speaker 1: through an intense situation, that's what a lot of her 588 00:26:23,344 --> 00:26:25,744 Speaker 1: books are about. So read Circle of Friends. That's your 589 00:26:25,784 --> 00:26:28,824 Speaker 1: holiday reading. Read Circle of Friends by've made Binchi. Then 590 00:26:28,904 --> 00:26:31,944 Speaker 1: read The Glass Lake, Holy Hell, that's a page turner, 591 00:26:32,184 --> 00:26:34,344 Speaker 1: and then read Evening Class. They're my top three for. 592 00:26:34,304 --> 00:26:36,864 Speaker 3: He Okay, we've got a little list, so much time 593 00:26:37,104 --> 00:26:39,744 Speaker 3: to do, so thank you so much for listening to 594 00:26:39,784 --> 00:26:41,864 Speaker 3: the Spill today. We hope you really loved the This 595 00:26:42,384 --> 00:26:46,464 Speaker 3: Book special episode because we love reading so much and 596 00:26:46,504 --> 00:26:49,744 Speaker 3: we definitely want to recommend more books next year. And 597 00:26:49,824 --> 00:26:53,264 Speaker 3: if you want a more deep analysis of the vodka 598 00:26:53,384 --> 00:26:58,664 Speaker 3: chocolate vegetable theory, LB has done an extremely viral article 599 00:26:58,744 --> 00:27:00,944 Speaker 3: on it that explained everything for you, so you can 600 00:27:00,984 --> 00:27:03,384 Speaker 3: have it as like your little prep doc while you 601 00:27:03,424 --> 00:27:05,464 Speaker 3: go before you choose your books. We will link that 602 00:27:05,584 --> 00:27:08,864 Speaker 3: article in our show notes. We're also gonna keep being 603 00:27:08,984 --> 00:27:11,784 Speaker 3: in your ears till we get back on break which 604 00:27:11,904 --> 00:27:13,704 Speaker 3: I guess is not even a break if we're saying 605 00:27:13,744 --> 00:27:17,344 Speaker 3: that we have so much content coming out, don't we Yes. 606 00:27:17,264 --> 00:27:19,024 Speaker 1: So this it might be our last day in the office, 607 00:27:19,064 --> 00:27:21,464 Speaker 1: but we have so much new content for you guys 608 00:27:21,504 --> 00:27:23,984 Speaker 1: coming out over the summer break, some of our best episodes. 609 00:27:24,184 --> 00:27:26,504 Speaker 3: We've had so much fun with these episodes. 610 00:27:26,584 --> 00:27:30,704 Speaker 1: We're going through celebrity scandals with celebrity breakups, but also 611 00:27:30,864 --> 00:27:35,224 Speaker 1: we're going through the best new TV shows of the summer. 612 00:27:35,264 --> 00:27:37,424 Speaker 1: So we'll have so many recommendations coming for you guys. 613 00:27:37,504 --> 00:27:40,304 Speaker 1: We're doing best new movies, we're doing books. Just so 614 00:27:40,424 --> 00:27:43,584 Speaker 1: much good stuff coming out. I know, I've got so 615 00:27:43,584 --> 00:27:46,184 Speaker 1: many little like funny things that I took during some 616 00:27:46,264 --> 00:27:47,824 Speaker 1: of our recordings, and I'm going to post when the 617 00:27:47,864 --> 00:27:49,504 Speaker 1: EP's come out, and I'm really excited about. 618 00:27:49,304 --> 00:27:52,624 Speaker 3: Oh, I'm excited. So we will be back here in 619 00:27:52,704 --> 00:28:01,064 Speaker 3: your podcast feed on Monday. See you they bye.