1 00:00:10,622 --> 00:00:13,302 Speaker 1: You're listening to Amma Mia podcast. 2 00:00:13,822 --> 00:00:17,182 Speaker 2: Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and warders 3 00:00:17,222 --> 00:00:19,102 Speaker 2: that this podcast is recorded. 4 00:00:18,662 --> 00:00:24,381 Speaker 3: On Hello and welcome to a very special episode of 5 00:00:24,422 --> 00:00:27,662 Speaker 3: Mamma Mia Out Louder. I'm Polly Waynwright, I'm Jesse Stephen 6 00:00:27,742 --> 00:00:30,782 Speaker 3: and I'm in Vernham. So in this episode, which is 7 00:00:30,862 --> 00:00:34,942 Speaker 3: made with our mates at Audible, we're talking about romance, 8 00:00:35,382 --> 00:00:40,422 Speaker 3: specifically romance audio books of all kinds. We know that 9 00:00:40,502 --> 00:00:43,862 Speaker 3: love stories are having an enormous moment. Look at the 10 00:00:43,982 --> 00:00:46,782 Speaker 3: rise of Romanticy. A friend M's going to be talking 11 00:00:46,782 --> 00:00:49,862 Speaker 3: to us about that, for example, which sells millions of 12 00:00:49,942 --> 00:00:54,022 Speaker 3: copies around the world within days of release. And sometimes 13 00:00:54,062 --> 00:00:56,102 Speaker 3: we all need a dose of a little happy ending 14 00:00:56,222 --> 00:00:59,942 Speaker 3: that'll we me do. So out Louders know that I 15 00:01:00,102 --> 00:01:02,742 Speaker 3: love audio books in particular. I'm always driving and I'm 16 00:01:02,742 --> 00:01:05,342 Speaker 3: always listening to them. And today We're going to try 17 00:01:05,382 --> 00:01:09,182 Speaker 3: and convince each other and you out Louders to press 18 00:01:09,222 --> 00:01:11,462 Speaker 3: play on our favorite love story. 19 00:01:11,742 --> 00:01:14,702 Speaker 4: It's like a bonus jam packed episode of recommendations. 20 00:01:14,822 --> 00:01:20,182 Speaker 3: Yes, wall to wall recommendations for audio books about rock 21 00:01:20,502 --> 00:01:20,902 Speaker 3: that are going. 22 00:01:20,862 --> 00:01:22,222 Speaker 4: To make you feel good about the world. 23 00:01:22,382 --> 00:01:26,862 Speaker 3: Yes, m Vernon. You can go first because you are 24 00:01:26,902 --> 00:01:29,462 Speaker 3: the most on trend with your recommendation. Are you going 25 00:01:29,502 --> 00:01:33,262 Speaker 3: to convince Jesse and I that we need to listen to? 26 00:01:33,502 --> 00:01:37,582 Speaker 2: Okay, we have talked about romanticy on the podcast before, 27 00:01:37,702 --> 00:01:40,902 Speaker 2: but I want to talk about this certain series. You 28 00:01:40,982 --> 00:01:44,022 Speaker 2: might have heard the word akata, yes on TikTok or 29 00:01:44,022 --> 00:01:45,862 Speaker 2: the internet if you've been around the last few years. 30 00:01:45,862 --> 00:01:47,142 Speaker 3: Remind us all what it means. 31 00:01:47,262 --> 00:01:50,182 Speaker 2: So it's an acronym for the series of books by 32 00:01:50,262 --> 00:01:53,542 Speaker 2: Sarah J. Mass and she's a big romanticy writer. The 33 00:01:53,582 --> 00:01:56,702 Speaker 2: first book is called a Court of Thorns and Roses, 34 00:01:56,982 --> 00:01:59,942 Speaker 2: and there's that's where the akata. That's where the akata 35 00:01:59,982 --> 00:02:02,822 Speaker 2: comes in. There's five out right now, and she recently 36 00:02:03,102 --> 00:02:05,822 Speaker 2: said that there's another three coming up, so we're going 37 00:02:05,862 --> 00:02:08,062 Speaker 2: to be having eight in total. So this is if 38 00:02:08,061 --> 00:02:10,621 Speaker 2: you want to get into romanticy, now the time, because 39 00:02:10,621 --> 00:02:11,822 Speaker 2: it's big right now. 40 00:02:11,942 --> 00:02:13,822 Speaker 4: Can I ask what the main character is named in 41 00:02:13,862 --> 00:02:14,742 Speaker 4: this favra? 42 00:02:15,341 --> 00:02:15,621 Speaker 5: Okay? 43 00:02:15,621 --> 00:02:16,941 Speaker 4: Because I was going to say that there's going to 44 00:02:17,022 --> 00:02:22,262 Speaker 4: be a baby boom of favras is slightly not right 45 00:02:22,302 --> 00:02:25,022 Speaker 4: for it. I just wonder if in you know, twenty 46 00:02:25,102 --> 00:02:28,462 Speaker 4: years or the new Karen's. 47 00:02:27,582 --> 00:02:33,382 Speaker 3: Face because they say the biggest audience for romancey, but 48 00:02:33,422 --> 00:02:37,222 Speaker 3: not only demographically, is eighteen to thirty. So this is 49 00:02:37,222 --> 00:02:40,381 Speaker 3: a young woman's obsession at the moment, but spreading well 50 00:02:40,422 --> 00:02:40,822 Speaker 3: beyond that. 51 00:02:41,142 --> 00:02:44,782 Speaker 2: This series has me in such a chokehold. And I 52 00:02:44,782 --> 00:02:47,142 Speaker 2: thought it was for very very young girls, kind of 53 00:02:47,181 --> 00:02:49,822 Speaker 2: like when we were first thrown into the Harry Potter universe. 54 00:02:50,462 --> 00:02:53,582 Speaker 2: But literally, I haven't felt anything like this from a 55 00:02:53,702 --> 00:02:55,862 Speaker 2: series of books since I read Harry Potter when. 56 00:02:55,782 --> 00:02:57,782 Speaker 4: I was Okay, can we listen to a little bit? Yeah, 57 00:02:57,822 --> 00:02:59,662 Speaker 4: I take So. 58 00:02:59,902 --> 00:03:02,822 Speaker 2: I've got a snippet from the last audio book that's 59 00:03:02,862 --> 00:03:06,821 Speaker 2: come out, A Court of Silver Flames. It's very sexy. 60 00:03:06,862 --> 00:03:09,022 Speaker 2: This is the only PG snippet I could. 61 00:03:10,181 --> 00:03:14,382 Speaker 5: She opened her mouth, and his tongue swept in the kiss, 62 00:03:14,422 --> 00:03:19,342 Speaker 5: punishing and savage, and the taste of him like snow 63 00:03:19,462 --> 00:03:25,422 Speaker 5: kissed wind and crackling embers. She moaned, unable to help herself. 64 00:03:26,062 --> 00:03:29,462 Speaker 5: It seemed that sound was his undoing for the fingers 65 00:03:29,502 --> 00:03:33,062 Speaker 5: in her hair. Dug into her scalp, angling her head 66 00:03:33,382 --> 00:03:37,062 Speaker 5: so he could better taste her, claim her. Her hands 67 00:03:37,222 --> 00:03:42,462 Speaker 5: roved over his muscled chest, desperate for any skin, anything 68 00:03:42,502 --> 00:03:46,142 Speaker 5: to touch as their tongues met and parted. 69 00:03:46,142 --> 00:03:49,262 Speaker 3: So that was just a kiss. My question for you is, 70 00:03:50,062 --> 00:03:52,462 Speaker 3: how are you listening to this and not like going 71 00:03:52,502 --> 00:03:53,422 Speaker 3: bright reddick giggling. 72 00:03:53,542 --> 00:03:55,102 Speaker 4: It feels like that shouldn't have been a shed. 73 00:03:54,942 --> 00:03:56,422 Speaker 3: Experience with you. Okay. 74 00:03:56,542 --> 00:03:59,702 Speaker 2: I cannot tell you how good these as audiobooks have 75 00:03:59,822 --> 00:04:02,902 Speaker 2: been because I listen on my way to work when 76 00:04:02,902 --> 00:04:04,302 Speaker 2: we were in that old office. It was about like 77 00:04:04,342 --> 00:04:06,662 Speaker 2: a thirty five to forty minute walk for me, and 78 00:04:06,702 --> 00:04:11,342 Speaker 2: I'd come into the office gleaming below it. And I 79 00:04:11,382 --> 00:04:15,302 Speaker 2: think so many young women listen to these stories specifically 80 00:04:15,382 --> 00:04:18,462 Speaker 2: because when you're dating, and dating is really hard and 81 00:04:18,502 --> 00:04:21,782 Speaker 2: annoying and a bit shit. Going into a completely different 82 00:04:21,822 --> 00:04:25,502 Speaker 2: world where the men are just amazing and are they 83 00:04:25,662 --> 00:04:27,101 Speaker 2: yearning for their women? 84 00:04:27,262 --> 00:04:28,142 Speaker 3: Are they humans? 85 00:04:29,662 --> 00:04:32,262 Speaker 2: Which makes it even better, right, because you can't draw 86 00:04:32,342 --> 00:04:34,661 Speaker 2: like these parallel lines to your life that I feel 87 00:04:34,662 --> 00:04:37,541 Speaker 2: like other romance stories can make you do, Like subconsciously, 88 00:04:37,902 --> 00:04:40,261 Speaker 2: I'm literally like, I'll never find a man like that 89 00:04:40,342 --> 00:04:43,662 Speaker 2: because he's a high lord of the night Court with 90 00:04:43,782 --> 00:04:45,461 Speaker 2: wings so he can fly like a bat, and he 91 00:04:45,462 --> 00:04:48,781 Speaker 2: has trillions of dollars, so it's just so far fetch 92 00:04:48,902 --> 00:04:50,821 Speaker 2: that you have no like, you can't do anything else 93 00:04:50,861 --> 00:04:52,942 Speaker 2: but just immerse yourself and just stay there. 94 00:04:53,061 --> 00:04:55,342 Speaker 4: Okay. This is my question that I suppose is that 95 00:04:55,702 --> 00:05:01,182 Speaker 4: my barrier to listening to these has been Okay, does 96 00:05:01,222 --> 00:05:04,621 Speaker 4: it require too much imagination because it doesn't take place 97 00:05:04,662 --> 00:05:08,581 Speaker 4: in the real world? Like is it relatable? Are the 98 00:05:08,702 --> 00:05:10,701 Speaker 4: characters deal real? 99 00:05:11,741 --> 00:05:13,501 Speaker 3: You're thinking too much into this. 100 00:05:14,181 --> 00:05:17,541 Speaker 2: It's really good world building, so it's really easy to 101 00:05:17,582 --> 00:05:18,702 Speaker 2: put yourself in there. 102 00:05:18,861 --> 00:05:21,141 Speaker 3: Can you give me a brief overview of the plot? 103 00:05:21,222 --> 00:05:21,421 Speaker 6: Okay? 104 00:05:21,421 --> 00:05:22,861 Speaker 3: So I know we're not really here for the plot. 105 00:05:22,861 --> 00:05:26,061 Speaker 3: We're here for the sexy fairies, yes, but just broadly, 106 00:05:26,262 --> 00:05:28,701 Speaker 3: what is the Akatar series about? 107 00:05:29,142 --> 00:05:32,861 Speaker 2: Okay? So the protagonist is this young girl named Farah. 108 00:05:32,981 --> 00:05:36,181 Speaker 2: She lives in this little village, in this tiny cottage 109 00:05:36,222 --> 00:05:38,421 Speaker 2: with her two sisters and her dad, and she's like 110 00:05:38,462 --> 00:05:41,822 Speaker 2: the provider of the family, meaning like they're literally living 111 00:05:41,902 --> 00:05:43,541 Speaker 2: on the edge of the world. She has to go 112 00:05:43,582 --> 00:05:45,541 Speaker 2: out and literally hunt for food. So it's kind of 113 00:05:45,541 --> 00:05:46,181 Speaker 2: like hunger game. 114 00:05:46,301 --> 00:05:46,541 Speaker 1: Is she? 115 00:05:46,621 --> 00:05:46,941 Speaker 3: Okay? 116 00:05:47,462 --> 00:05:50,022 Speaker 4: Is it modern days? It like sci fi? Or like 117 00:05:50,101 --> 00:05:51,021 Speaker 4: this time doesn't really matter. 118 00:05:52,181 --> 00:05:54,261 Speaker 3: That's another world the world. 119 00:05:54,462 --> 00:05:56,302 Speaker 2: So what happens is it's like Farah is on the 120 00:05:56,381 --> 00:05:58,741 Speaker 2: hunt for food and she sees a wolf and she's like, 121 00:05:58,821 --> 00:06:00,702 Speaker 2: that will be a really tasty meal and that will 122 00:06:00,702 --> 00:06:03,061 Speaker 2: like supply food for everyone, so she kills the wolf. 123 00:06:03,342 --> 00:06:07,061 Speaker 2: The wolf was actually a fairy in disguise, and the 124 00:06:07,142 --> 00:06:09,941 Speaker 2: humans are not only scared of the fairies because they're 125 00:06:09,941 --> 00:06:12,821 Speaker 2: so powerful and mythical, but they also really really hate 126 00:06:12,861 --> 00:06:15,061 Speaker 2: them because they're just stealing, like all the good stuff 127 00:06:15,061 --> 00:06:18,662 Speaker 2: from the human world. This fairies friend finds her and 128 00:06:18,662 --> 00:06:21,621 Speaker 2: then kidnaps her to the fairy world. And now she's 129 00:06:21,621 --> 00:06:23,701 Speaker 2: in the fairy world and there's all these different courts 130 00:06:23,741 --> 00:06:27,061 Speaker 2: like Summer Court, Winter Court, Autumn Court, Night Court, Day Court, 131 00:06:27,101 --> 00:06:30,261 Speaker 2: Dawn Court, and she just goes exploring all these worlds 132 00:06:30,621 --> 00:06:32,421 Speaker 2: and she just gets with all of these high lords 133 00:06:32,501 --> 00:06:34,141 Speaker 2: or the high lords of all of these courts. 134 00:06:34,381 --> 00:06:35,342 Speaker 3: That's the adventures. 135 00:06:35,981 --> 00:06:38,902 Speaker 2: It is so good because it's so far removed from 136 00:06:38,902 --> 00:06:40,861 Speaker 2: our every day jes see, you don't have to relate 137 00:06:40,902 --> 00:06:41,142 Speaker 2: to it. 138 00:06:41,222 --> 00:06:44,061 Speaker 4: My favorite art is the art where you go if 139 00:06:44,101 --> 00:06:48,221 Speaker 4: you pitched me this, I would go, I think you're mad. 140 00:06:48,541 --> 00:06:51,222 Speaker 4: I absolutely would not commission this, and yet it is 141 00:06:51,501 --> 00:06:53,222 Speaker 4: the biggest in the world, in the. 142 00:06:53,142 --> 00:06:55,662 Speaker 2: World Sarah J. Mars like she started writing when she 143 00:06:55,782 --> 00:06:59,541 Speaker 2: was sixteen, and they're like massively published books, and I'm like, 144 00:06:59,582 --> 00:07:01,061 Speaker 2: it's for the fanfit girls. 145 00:07:01,381 --> 00:07:03,301 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know what it is for the fanfit girls. 146 00:07:03,741 --> 00:07:06,301 Speaker 3: I love it. I love it. I haven't listened to them. 147 00:07:06,421 --> 00:07:07,902 Speaker 3: But you are edging me cluss it is that's an 148 00:07:07,941 --> 00:07:10,222 Speaker 3: inappropriate as ye, yes, yeah, but. 149 00:07:10,142 --> 00:07:10,901 Speaker 2: I'm glad you said it. 150 00:07:10,982 --> 00:07:12,342 Speaker 4: Edging a lot of women clothes. 151 00:07:12,102 --> 00:07:14,822 Speaker 3: Up, but lots and lots and lots of women love 152 00:07:14,862 --> 00:07:17,742 Speaker 3: these stories. I'll often bump into people and like talk. 153 00:07:17,821 --> 00:07:19,302 Speaker 3: You know, you'll be talking to someone in a shop 154 00:07:19,342 --> 00:07:20,902 Speaker 3: or in a cafe or whatever, and that's what they 155 00:07:20,902 --> 00:07:23,022 Speaker 3: want to talk to you about, and you're like, yeah, 156 00:07:23,022 --> 00:07:24,982 Speaker 3: there obviously mean a lot to a lot of people, so. 157 00:07:25,102 --> 00:07:27,182 Speaker 2: So now's the time to get amongst it. Sometimes my 158 00:07:27,222 --> 00:07:28,982 Speaker 2: friend will see my phone and she'll see like the 159 00:07:29,022 --> 00:07:31,661 Speaker 2: audiobook logo with the book logo, and she'd be like, Hannah, 160 00:07:31,702 --> 00:07:32,342 Speaker 2: what you've been doing? 161 00:07:33,821 --> 00:07:37,502 Speaker 4: It's private, Holly, what is your audiobook recommendation for us? 162 00:07:37,542 --> 00:07:37,862 Speaker 6: Please? 163 00:07:37,982 --> 00:07:40,502 Speaker 3: I am going to try and sell you, and I 164 00:07:40,542 --> 00:07:42,461 Speaker 3: know this is a little bit hard work with you. 165 00:07:42,742 --> 00:07:47,022 Speaker 3: Jesse Stevens, in particular on a classic on an absolute 166 00:07:47,182 --> 00:07:50,342 Speaker 3: pinnacle of classics. Right, I'm going to try and sell 167 00:07:50,381 --> 00:07:53,142 Speaker 3: you on why you should listen to Janeair by Charlotte Bronte. 168 00:07:53,502 --> 00:07:56,862 Speaker 4: I'm sure you ever definitely at school, but I haven't 169 00:07:56,902 --> 00:07:59,502 Speaker 4: revisited Okay as an adult, and I feel like I should. 170 00:08:00,182 --> 00:08:02,742 Speaker 3: Any vibes on how you felt about Janeair at school. 171 00:08:02,902 --> 00:08:05,941 Speaker 4: I remember it being a little scary. Is it scary? 172 00:08:05,982 --> 00:08:07,182 Speaker 4: I like scary? Yes. 173 00:08:07,782 --> 00:08:09,702 Speaker 3: So I'm going to sell you on this because one 174 00:08:09,702 --> 00:08:12,502 Speaker 3: of the things that audiobooks do really well. My favorite 175 00:08:12,622 --> 00:08:15,462 Speaker 3: kind of audiobook are the ones that have got really 176 00:08:15,462 --> 00:08:18,222 Speaker 3: interesting narrators. So I love listening to memoirs that are 177 00:08:18,262 --> 00:08:22,701 Speaker 3: narrated by the author, and I love listening to literature 178 00:08:22,821 --> 00:08:25,462 Speaker 3: to fiction. I guess that is narrated by a really 179 00:08:25,502 --> 00:08:27,941 Speaker 3: good actor. And there is a version, an audible original 180 00:08:28,022 --> 00:08:31,142 Speaker 3: version of Jana that is narrated by Tandy Way Newton, 181 00:08:31,502 --> 00:08:36,582 Speaker 3: who you would know from like Westworld, The Pursuit of Happiness, 182 00:08:36,782 --> 00:08:39,542 Speaker 3: Mission Impossible to She's an English actress. 183 00:08:39,622 --> 00:08:41,022 Speaker 4: I know her from Line of Judy. 184 00:08:41,182 --> 00:08:44,342 Speaker 3: Yes you do. Oh, I love her Tandaway Newton. She 185 00:08:44,742 --> 00:08:47,622 Speaker 3: is fantastic and she narrates Jana. 186 00:08:48,022 --> 00:08:49,382 Speaker 4: So she British accent. 187 00:08:49,582 --> 00:08:50,822 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, it's a British story. 188 00:08:50,862 --> 00:08:52,662 Speaker 4: Sorry, I just had to confirm because this needs a 189 00:08:52,662 --> 00:08:53,342 Speaker 4: British accent. 190 00:08:54,222 --> 00:08:57,662 Speaker 3: So here are my reasons why you should revisit The 191 00:08:57,702 --> 00:08:59,702 Speaker 3: Wonderful Jenna. It is one of the best books ever 192 00:08:59,742 --> 00:09:02,542 Speaker 3: written anyway. But first of all, let's hear it for 193 00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:05,542 Speaker 3: the Bronte sisters, because so all three Bronti. 194 00:09:05,302 --> 00:09:06,982 Speaker 4: Sisters wrote right. 195 00:09:07,222 --> 00:09:12,742 Speaker 3: And Emily's most famous story is Jane Ey. Charlotte's most 196 00:09:12,742 --> 00:09:15,422 Speaker 3: famous story is Wuthering Heights, and those two are obviously 197 00:09:15,502 --> 00:09:18,662 Speaker 3: like masterpieces of the Victorian novel and the whole genre. 198 00:09:19,062 --> 00:09:22,342 Speaker 3: And the third sister, she never had a smash hit 199 00:09:22,462 --> 00:09:25,942 Speaker 3: masterpiece like that, but she wrote a very well respected 200 00:09:25,942 --> 00:09:29,782 Speaker 3: book called The Tenant of Wildfield Hall. All three sisters 201 00:09:29,822 --> 00:09:32,942 Speaker 3: had to write under male pseudonyms because in those days 202 00:09:33,342 --> 00:09:36,062 Speaker 3: it wasn't really acceptable for women to write things, particularly 203 00:09:36,062 --> 00:09:39,462 Speaker 3: things that were seen as like unchristian and dark, so 204 00:09:39,542 --> 00:09:41,902 Speaker 3: they had to pretend to be dudes to get published. 205 00:09:42,542 --> 00:09:44,942 Speaker 3: And they live in the countryside in the north of England. 206 00:09:44,982 --> 00:09:47,822 Speaker 3: They're not in London, they're not in high society. They 207 00:09:48,182 --> 00:09:50,742 Speaker 3: literally live in the middle of nowhere, and they're so 208 00:09:50,982 --> 00:09:53,982 Speaker 3: extraordinarily talented. These young women. We know, we were talking 209 00:09:53,982 --> 00:09:56,702 Speaker 3: about genius in the week on the show. They're so 210 00:09:56,742 --> 00:10:01,022 Speaker 3: extraordinarily talented that they create these absolute masterpieces with their 211 00:10:01,062 --> 00:10:04,782 Speaker 3: pen and ink whatever in a little bloody garage on 212 00:10:04,862 --> 00:10:08,182 Speaker 3: the moors in Yorkshire. Some of the best literature ever created. 213 00:10:08,422 --> 00:10:10,302 Speaker 2: And they were like each other's are competitors. 214 00:10:10,422 --> 00:10:12,822 Speaker 3: They were, but you know, I think they were very 215 00:10:12,942 --> 00:10:14,982 Speaker 3: very tight, right, And they had a brother as well, 216 00:10:15,182 --> 00:10:17,822 Speaker 3: but we don't talk about him. And their mother died young, 217 00:10:17,862 --> 00:10:20,062 Speaker 3: and their two older sisters died like this is the era, 218 00:10:20,142 --> 00:10:22,381 Speaker 3: and all of those three women all died before they're forty, 219 00:10:22,502 --> 00:10:24,942 Speaker 3: Like this is a time when it was tough. Life 220 00:10:24,982 --> 00:10:25,342 Speaker 3: was tough. 221 00:10:25,422 --> 00:10:26,902 Speaker 4: So why Jane Eyre though. 222 00:10:26,822 --> 00:10:29,222 Speaker 3: So the Bronte sisters full stop her a wonderful story. 223 00:10:29,222 --> 00:10:32,542 Speaker 3: But Jane Eyre has darkness. But it is sold as 224 00:10:32,542 --> 00:10:35,142 Speaker 3: a great love story. We'll put a pin in that 225 00:10:35,182 --> 00:10:38,702 Speaker 3: because there are some problematic aspects of that. But quick 226 00:10:38,862 --> 00:10:41,622 Speaker 3: little plot outline. It's very gritty. So we do like 227 00:10:41,662 --> 00:10:44,782 Speaker 3: to think of historical fiction as being very sweeping and romantic. 228 00:10:44,782 --> 00:10:47,302 Speaker 3: It's not really like that, Jane Eyre. It's the story 229 00:10:47,342 --> 00:10:50,702 Speaker 3: of a young girl who's orphaned and brought up by 230 00:10:50,702 --> 00:10:53,901 Speaker 3: a mean auntie. That very often happens in old stories. 231 00:10:54,222 --> 00:10:56,542 Speaker 3: Children never had any power and they'd be shoffed, especially 232 00:10:56,542 --> 00:10:58,262 Speaker 3: if they had no money, and they were shuffled around 233 00:10:58,302 --> 00:11:01,782 Speaker 3: between relatives. And Auntie's really mean to her and sends 234 00:11:01,822 --> 00:11:03,742 Speaker 3: her off to this school which is horrible and she's 235 00:11:03,742 --> 00:11:06,222 Speaker 3: mistreated and everything's not good for Jane, but she's a 236 00:11:06,302 --> 00:11:09,502 Speaker 3: very smart kid and she goes. When she finally escapes 237 00:11:09,582 --> 00:11:12,542 Speaker 3: from that school and has embarking on some kind of adulthood, 238 00:11:12,582 --> 00:11:16,222 Speaker 3: she goes and she's the governess to this man, this 239 00:11:16,262 --> 00:11:19,982 Speaker 3: big fancy man called mister Rochester, who lives in a big, 240 00:11:20,062 --> 00:11:22,862 Speaker 3: mysterious house and is the ward for this young girl. 241 00:11:22,902 --> 00:11:24,942 Speaker 3: It's not clear what their relationship is, but Jane comes 242 00:11:24,982 --> 00:11:28,902 Speaker 3: in to be the governess right anyway, She and mister Rochester. 243 00:11:29,062 --> 00:11:33,302 Speaker 3: He's nearly forty, she's only nineteen. That's problematic point number one. 244 00:11:33,542 --> 00:11:36,902 Speaker 3: And he's crotchety and miserable and a grumpy guy who's 245 00:11:36,902 --> 00:11:39,222 Speaker 3: not always around. But when he is, they have a connection. 246 00:11:39,502 --> 00:11:42,382 Speaker 3: And their connection is kind of inexplicable, but it's a 247 00:11:42,542 --> 00:11:44,062 Speaker 3: mind connection, is. 248 00:11:43,982 --> 00:11:45,102 Speaker 2: There like a sexy connection? 249 00:11:45,182 --> 00:11:47,782 Speaker 3: Well, it gets to be sexy, but actually it never 250 00:11:47,782 --> 00:11:52,782 Speaker 3: gets explicitly sexy. But it's like this real connection. But 251 00:11:52,822 --> 00:11:57,662 Speaker 3: the problem is mysterious bumps in the night, a strange 252 00:11:57,662 --> 00:12:00,182 Speaker 3: ghostly figure at the end of the bed. What's going 253 00:12:00,182 --> 00:12:03,462 Speaker 3: on in the attic up there in this spooky big 254 00:12:03,542 --> 00:12:05,982 Speaker 3: house in the middle of the night, like weird things happen. 255 00:12:06,142 --> 00:12:07,462 Speaker 3: Oh my god, what's happening? 256 00:12:08,502 --> 00:12:09,182 Speaker 4: Who could it be? 257 00:12:09,662 --> 00:12:11,822 Speaker 3: Could it be? Who could be up there? And what 258 00:12:11,902 --> 00:12:14,742 Speaker 3: does it mean for our star cross lovers. That's basically 259 00:12:14,782 --> 00:12:17,462 Speaker 3: the premise for Jane Eyre and I won't spoil it. 260 00:12:17,782 --> 00:12:20,222 Speaker 3: But the thing that's so wonderful about it is it 261 00:12:20,262 --> 00:12:23,102 Speaker 3: goes in all these different directions. It tells you so 262 00:12:23,222 --> 00:12:25,622 Speaker 3: much about what it was, and maybe in some ways 263 00:12:25,782 --> 00:12:27,622 Speaker 3: is like to be a young person who's not in 264 00:12:27,702 --> 00:12:30,582 Speaker 3: any control of your destiny, but she's got this very 265 00:12:30,622 --> 00:12:35,022 Speaker 3: strong will and then all this bad stuff happens. Mister 266 00:12:35,102 --> 00:12:38,422 Speaker 3: Rochester is not the world's best romantic hero. He's kind 267 00:12:38,422 --> 00:12:41,502 Speaker 3: of like your prototype for your brooding anti hero, you 268 00:12:41,502 --> 00:12:44,702 Speaker 3: know what I mean. He's mysterious and sexy, but a 269 00:12:44,702 --> 00:12:47,062 Speaker 3: bit cruel at times, but he is obsessed with her, 270 00:12:47,182 --> 00:12:47,902 Speaker 3: like he loves us. 271 00:12:47,942 --> 00:12:52,102 Speaker 4: So I'm thinking of Bridget Jones's diary, like Colin Fath, 272 00:12:52,542 --> 00:12:54,622 Speaker 4: like that kind of thing. That's what I'm imagining. I'm 273 00:12:54,662 --> 00:12:55,182 Speaker 4: thinking the. 274 00:12:55,062 --> 00:12:59,102 Speaker 2: Beast and Beauty and the Beast. Yeah, both of those 275 00:12:59,182 --> 00:12:59,582 Speaker 2: are fair. 276 00:13:00,142 --> 00:13:03,902 Speaker 3: Like I reckon that so many archetypes come from these 277 00:13:04,102 --> 00:13:07,582 Speaker 3: big stories, and mister Rochester is certainly of a type. 278 00:13:07,582 --> 00:13:09,902 Speaker 3: And these days there's lots of modern critique of this 279 00:13:09,982 --> 00:13:12,742 Speaker 3: story being like, oh, well, you know, clearly the age 280 00:13:12,782 --> 00:13:15,222 Speaker 3: gap is problematic. I won't go into any more spoilers, 281 00:13:15,222 --> 00:13:17,262 Speaker 3: but there are, but you know, who cares. It's a 282 00:13:17,262 --> 00:13:20,702 Speaker 3: great story, Like, it's a shazing story, and it has 283 00:13:20,742 --> 00:13:25,662 Speaker 3: a very mysterious and happy ish ending. So one of 284 00:13:25,702 --> 00:13:28,102 Speaker 3: the other things about Jane is that she's not supposed 285 00:13:28,102 --> 00:13:29,582 Speaker 3: to be very good looking, which is one of the 286 00:13:29,582 --> 00:13:32,662 Speaker 3: things I always really enjoy, and that romantic Carolin whenever 287 00:13:32,662 --> 00:13:34,942 Speaker 3: they cast her in a movie. Obviously she's really good looking, 288 00:13:34,942 --> 00:13:38,142 Speaker 3: but like she's supposed to be this plain, poor little girl. 289 00:13:38,182 --> 00:13:40,462 Speaker 3: But the connection that she and Miss Rochesters have is amazing. 290 00:13:40,702 --> 00:13:44,582 Speaker 3: And the bit you're about to hear is a lot 291 00:13:44,582 --> 00:13:46,582 Speaker 3: of shit has gone down. Let's just put it that way. 292 00:13:46,622 --> 00:13:49,102 Speaker 3: A lot of shit has gone down, and he's always 293 00:13:49,102 --> 00:13:51,982 Speaker 3: telling her what to do because he's big, fancy mister Rochester. 294 00:13:52,062 --> 00:13:55,182 Speaker 3: But she is little, but she is mighty, and she 295 00:13:55,342 --> 00:13:58,381 Speaker 3: is going to stand up to Oh, then I must go. 296 00:13:58,942 --> 00:14:05,022 Speaker 6: You have said it yourself. No, you must stay. I 297 00:14:05,102 --> 00:14:09,302 Speaker 6: swear it, and the oath shall be kept. I tell 298 00:14:09,342 --> 00:14:13,462 Speaker 6: you I must go, I retorted, roused to something like passion. 299 00:14:14,302 --> 00:14:16,942 Speaker 6: Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? 300 00:14:18,222 --> 00:14:20,462 Speaker 6: Do you think I am an automaton. 301 00:14:20,182 --> 00:14:23,102 Speaker 1: A machine without feelings, and can bear to have my 302 00:14:23,302 --> 00:14:26,302 Speaker 1: morsel of bread snatched from my lips and my drop 303 00:14:26,342 --> 00:14:29,222 Speaker 1: of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think 304 00:14:29,262 --> 00:14:32,542 Speaker 1: because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am 305 00:14:32,622 --> 00:14:37,182 Speaker 1: soulless and heartless you think wrong. I have as much 306 00:14:37,222 --> 00:14:41,582 Speaker 1: soul as you, and full as much heart. And if 307 00:14:41,582 --> 00:14:44,302 Speaker 1: God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, 308 00:14:44,422 --> 00:14:46,022 Speaker 1: I should have made it as hard for you to 309 00:14:46,142 --> 00:14:48,462 Speaker 1: leave me as it is now for me to leave you. 310 00:14:49,622 --> 00:14:51,622 Speaker 1: I am not talking to you now through the medium 311 00:14:51,622 --> 00:14:56,542 Speaker 1: of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh. It is 312 00:14:56,622 --> 00:15:01,462 Speaker 1: my spirit that addresses your spirit, just as if both 313 00:15:01,462 --> 00:15:04,902 Speaker 1: had passed through the grave and we stood at God's 314 00:15:04,902 --> 00:15:11,782 Speaker 1: feet equal as we are as we are, repeated mister Rochester, 315 00:15:12,702 --> 00:15:17,102 Speaker 1: So he added, enclosing me in his arms, gathering me 316 00:15:17,142 --> 00:15:20,142 Speaker 1: to his breast, pressing his lips on my lips. 317 00:15:20,542 --> 00:15:24,982 Speaker 2: Our snippets are very different, different types of romance. 318 00:15:25,422 --> 00:15:28,462 Speaker 4: We're taking a quick little break. See you for more 319 00:15:28,542 --> 00:15:30,542 Speaker 4: romance audiobook rerecords in a moment. 320 00:15:32,102 --> 00:15:34,502 Speaker 3: All right, it's actually what's your type of romance? 321 00:15:34,822 --> 00:15:38,862 Speaker 4: My audiobook pick is a modern romance. It is by 322 00:15:38,902 --> 00:15:43,982 Speaker 4: one of my favorite authors of all time, friend of Holly's, Marion. 323 00:15:43,782 --> 00:15:46,462 Speaker 3: Kay Best We're besties now now. 324 00:15:46,542 --> 00:15:50,062 Speaker 4: It is a sequel to a book that was released 325 00:15:50,422 --> 00:15:52,782 Speaker 4: like twenty five years prior. Right, But you can actually 326 00:15:52,822 --> 00:15:56,542 Speaker 4: listen to this without the first This is again Rachel 327 00:15:56,622 --> 00:15:59,102 Speaker 4: by Mary Kay's came out a few years ago. 328 00:15:59,262 --> 00:16:02,142 Speaker 2: Is it the story after Rachel's Holiday? 329 00:16:02,222 --> 00:16:02,382 Speaker 5: Yes? 330 00:16:02,422 --> 00:16:04,702 Speaker 4: So Rachel's Holiday came out and that was one of 331 00:16:04,742 --> 00:16:07,942 Speaker 4: my favorites. And then when I knew that Again Rachel 332 00:16:08,102 --> 00:16:10,462 Speaker 4: was coming out, I went, okay, I'm going to listen 333 00:16:10,462 --> 00:16:12,742 Speaker 4: to that. And you know what made me listen to it. 334 00:16:12,942 --> 00:16:16,102 Speaker 4: You may not know this, did you know that Marion 335 00:16:16,182 --> 00:16:21,462 Speaker 4: keys herself with her stunning Irish accent, her warmth, she 336 00:16:21,502 --> 00:16:24,262 Speaker 4: has one of the most delightful voices in the world. 337 00:16:24,422 --> 00:16:28,422 Speaker 3: Narrates she does, so she's started doing that with her 338 00:16:28,462 --> 00:16:30,102 Speaker 3: last few books, and I talked to her about that 339 00:16:30,142 --> 00:16:33,222 Speaker 3: when I got to meet her, and she's perfect for it. 340 00:16:33,302 --> 00:16:35,902 Speaker 4: I know people who are auditioned to narrate their own 341 00:16:35,902 --> 00:16:39,342 Speaker 4: books and they don't wi the standard for what they 342 00:16:39,382 --> 00:16:41,342 Speaker 4: need for an audiobook is so high that they're like, 343 00:16:41,382 --> 00:16:42,902 Speaker 4: we're not just going to get you to do it 344 00:16:42,942 --> 00:16:45,702 Speaker 4: just because you wrote it, Like you need real skill, 345 00:16:45,862 --> 00:16:50,062 Speaker 4: especially with fiction, to characterize people and to sort of 346 00:16:50,142 --> 00:16:53,342 Speaker 4: not overact but be engaging enough, like for maryan Keys 347 00:16:53,382 --> 00:16:53,822 Speaker 4: to have. 348 00:16:53,742 --> 00:16:56,782 Speaker 3: That and to be narrated by maryon Keys, Like just 349 00:16:56,862 --> 00:16:59,742 Speaker 3: how far she's just a tiny behind the scenes is 350 00:16:59,742 --> 00:17:02,862 Speaker 3: that she told me. She says, it's very embarrassing to 351 00:17:02,902 --> 00:17:04,862 Speaker 3: be just you and the audio engineer in a tiny 352 00:17:04,902 --> 00:17:07,141 Speaker 3: little room where you are reading this slightly sexybit. 353 00:17:07,341 --> 00:17:10,462 Speaker 4: Well, I have had that experience because I Heart Sea, 354 00:17:10,502 --> 00:17:14,101 Speaker 4: which was nonfiction, and I would be reading very explicit 355 00:17:14,141 --> 00:17:17,142 Speaker 4: sex scenes with an audio engineer who might have been 356 00:17:17,262 --> 00:17:20,942 Speaker 4: twenty two lovely guy, just blushing just and it's so 357 00:17:21,061 --> 00:17:23,221 Speaker 4: it's really hard because you're also reading your own words. 358 00:17:23,262 --> 00:17:27,101 Speaker 4: Which just feels very intimate and scary, but fiction. No, 359 00:17:27,422 --> 00:17:30,262 Speaker 4: they had to get better than Jesse Stevens, and so 360 00:17:30,861 --> 00:17:34,381 Speaker 4: she narrates this audiobook. This is the general plot. So 361 00:17:35,061 --> 00:17:37,661 Speaker 4: I'll start with Rachel's Holiday because the premise of that. 362 00:17:37,861 --> 00:17:40,941 Speaker 4: Keys wrote that back in nineteen ninety seven. Rachel is 363 00:17:40,942 --> 00:17:43,101 Speaker 4: one of the Walshes, and if you've ever read Any 364 00:17:43,182 --> 00:17:45,461 Speaker 4: Marian listened to Any Marion, you will know that she 365 00:17:45,462 --> 00:17:47,821 Speaker 4: has this Walsh family and that a lot of it 366 00:17:47,901 --> 00:17:50,341 Speaker 4: is connected. It's a bunch of sisters and you follow them. 367 00:17:50,742 --> 00:17:54,262 Speaker 4: But Rachel's Holiday was so big because it was about 368 00:17:54,462 --> 00:17:59,502 Speaker 4: Rachel landing in rehab and she's had something terrible happened. 369 00:17:59,542 --> 00:18:02,742 Speaker 4: She's had this breakup with a former partner named Luke. 370 00:18:03,381 --> 00:18:09,262 Speaker 4: The rehab scenes are particularly realistic and insightful because Marion 371 00:18:09,341 --> 00:18:11,141 Speaker 4: Key has had that experience, so she's put a lot 372 00:18:11,182 --> 00:18:13,502 Speaker 4: of her lived experience into that. And what I love 373 00:18:13,581 --> 00:18:15,181 Speaker 4: I think I love this most in a lot of 374 00:18:15,381 --> 00:18:19,622 Speaker 4: romances is when the protagonist, the perspective you're following, has 375 00:18:19,661 --> 00:18:23,381 Speaker 4: made mistakes. It's a lot more interesting plot wise because 376 00:18:23,422 --> 00:18:26,181 Speaker 4: she's getting in her own way rather than her just 377 00:18:26,222 --> 00:18:29,182 Speaker 4: being with the terrible person he he's great. You're like, mate, 378 00:18:29,262 --> 00:18:31,821 Speaker 4: get out of your own way and you've got someone 379 00:18:31,861 --> 00:18:35,382 Speaker 4: lovely waiting for you anyway. Again, Rachel is set twenty 380 00:18:35,462 --> 00:18:37,742 Speaker 4: years down the track. I think she's nearing fifty, right, 381 00:18:37,942 --> 00:18:40,861 Speaker 4: And we learn that her and Luke did get married, 382 00:18:41,061 --> 00:18:44,901 Speaker 4: but they have now divorced, very very strange circumstances, and 383 00:18:44,942 --> 00:18:48,302 Speaker 4: she's with a new guy named Quinn, who she's kind 384 00:18:48,302 --> 00:18:50,981 Speaker 4: of looking at, going You're not Luke, so just have 385 00:18:51,022 --> 00:18:53,701 Speaker 4: a little listen to this. This is her the experience 386 00:18:53,742 --> 00:18:56,141 Speaker 4: of being in a new relationship, trying not to compare. 387 00:18:56,222 --> 00:18:57,542 Speaker 4: But here's what she says. 388 00:18:57,821 --> 00:19:01,101 Speaker 7: When hinted heavily that he loved me with being Quinn, 389 00:19:01,101 --> 00:19:03,502 Speaker 7: he was too competitive to run the risk of seeing 390 00:19:03,542 --> 00:19:07,861 Speaker 7: it then being left hanging by my silence. Sometimes they 391 00:19:07,901 --> 00:19:10,621 Speaker 7: wondered how long we could go without I love you, 392 00:19:11,581 --> 00:19:15,621 Speaker 7: if we could last an entire relationship, an entire lifetime. 393 00:19:16,821 --> 00:19:20,101 Speaker 7: But having seen Luke, I was asking myself if I'd 394 00:19:20,141 --> 00:19:23,221 Speaker 7: been wrong to have held out on Quinn. It was 395 00:19:23,262 --> 00:19:26,341 Speaker 7: as if a spotlight was suddenly illuminating different types of 396 00:19:26,422 --> 00:19:29,821 Speaker 7: romantic love. The version of me who had fallen for 397 00:19:29,942 --> 00:19:33,182 Speaker 7: Luke was much more innocent than the woman who had 398 00:19:33,222 --> 00:19:37,022 Speaker 7: met Quinn. I was so much wiser, now shaped and 399 00:19:37,141 --> 00:19:39,982 Speaker 7: changed by all that life had given me, good and bad. 400 00:19:40,942 --> 00:19:44,502 Speaker 7: And Quinn was a very different man to Luke. So 401 00:19:44,621 --> 00:19:47,542 Speaker 7: of course the love I felt for Quinn, and I 402 00:19:47,581 --> 00:19:50,381 Speaker 7: was starting to accept that it was love, would be 403 00:19:50,381 --> 00:19:52,141 Speaker 7: different to how it felt about Luke. 404 00:19:52,621 --> 00:19:55,341 Speaker 3: I love. What I also love about Kays at this 405 00:19:55,502 --> 00:19:59,142 Speaker 3: point is like all her characters have grown up alongside her. 406 00:19:59,341 --> 00:20:03,461 Speaker 3: So now you're listening about these interesting love lives of 407 00:20:03,621 --> 00:20:07,462 Speaker 3: like forty fifty ish women which you never used to read. 408 00:20:07,262 --> 00:20:09,901 Speaker 4: About that no, and it reminds you that love and 409 00:20:09,942 --> 00:20:12,302 Speaker 4: heartbreak doesn't just happen to young people. It's not a 410 00:20:12,341 --> 00:20:15,622 Speaker 4: young person's game. It's it's almost more interesting when they've 411 00:20:15,742 --> 00:20:18,542 Speaker 4: lived and there's maybe a little bit more cynicism. But 412 00:20:18,782 --> 00:20:20,821 Speaker 4: she's with this queen. Everything seems fine, she's got her 413 00:20:20,821 --> 00:20:24,341 Speaker 4: life together. But Luke's mother dies in Ireland and so 414 00:20:24,621 --> 00:20:27,142 Speaker 4: he's coming back to Ireland and it's this thing of 415 00:20:28,141 --> 00:20:30,902 Speaker 4: confronting the past if she kind of wants to get 416 00:20:30,942 --> 00:20:33,182 Speaker 4: back with him. The situation with the Queen, it's about 417 00:20:33,222 --> 00:20:39,102 Speaker 4: like forgiveness and redemption, but ultimately it's just this incredible 418 00:20:39,702 --> 00:20:41,702 Speaker 4: love story. And you know what you want out of it, 419 00:20:41,782 --> 00:20:43,382 Speaker 4: and you know what you're rooting for, and. 420 00:20:43,341 --> 00:20:46,422 Speaker 2: It's more relatable than like Roman to see, Yeah, that's 421 00:20:46,422 --> 00:20:49,141 Speaker 2: where you get from. Like you can draw parallels to 422 00:20:49,222 --> 00:20:51,181 Speaker 2: your life to it, and it just makes me easier 423 00:20:51,182 --> 00:20:51,821 Speaker 2: to understand. 424 00:20:52,022 --> 00:20:53,502 Speaker 4: And I love anything set in an island. 425 00:20:53,542 --> 00:20:55,901 Speaker 3: Can I ask you a question about the Wall Shoes, 426 00:20:55,982 --> 00:20:58,902 Speaker 3: Jess Stevens, because so marying Keys, as you say, she's 427 00:20:58,901 --> 00:21:01,581 Speaker 3: written this big fictional family, and each of the sisters 428 00:21:01,621 --> 00:21:04,542 Speaker 3: has novels, and then the mom's really big character, the 429 00:21:04,621 --> 00:21:06,662 Speaker 3: dad's a big character. There's like a you know, there's 430 00:21:06,702 --> 00:21:10,741 Speaker 3: a whole world building. Do you love and relate to it? 431 00:21:10,742 --> 00:21:14,022 Speaker 3: Because you've also got a big, messy, hi Catholic family. 432 00:21:14,182 --> 00:21:17,621 Speaker 4: I think writing about the dynamics of a family is 433 00:21:17,661 --> 00:21:21,022 Speaker 4: one of the most fascinating things to uncover. And I 434 00:21:21,061 --> 00:21:24,061 Speaker 4: think so the way that they laugh at the mother. 435 00:21:24,141 --> 00:21:27,022 Speaker 4: So the whole backstory in this is that her mother 436 00:21:27,182 --> 00:21:31,061 Speaker 4: is organizing her own surprise eightieth and like just the 437 00:21:31,101 --> 00:21:33,542 Speaker 4: funniness of it that you go, I know this happened, 438 00:21:33,821 --> 00:21:35,581 Speaker 4: Like I know that she's not made this up. It's 439 00:21:35,621 --> 00:21:37,662 Speaker 4: just so real. But the relationship between the sisters they're 440 00:21:37,661 --> 00:21:38,702 Speaker 4: also different. 441 00:21:38,821 --> 00:21:40,742 Speaker 3: And it also means that there are almost like these 442 00:21:40,742 --> 00:21:44,022 Speaker 3: recurring side characters because the mom's always in it and 443 00:21:44,022 --> 00:21:46,982 Speaker 3: she's so funny. Yes, and like it's like you can 444 00:21:47,061 --> 00:21:50,662 Speaker 3: write these new stories but with these like cameos from 445 00:21:50,702 --> 00:21:52,181 Speaker 3: the comic relief. 446 00:21:51,982 --> 00:21:54,781 Speaker 4: That maryon Keyes knows so well. She's not inventing them. 447 00:21:54,821 --> 00:21:56,542 Speaker 4: She's been with them for a really really long time. 448 00:21:56,621 --> 00:22:00,302 Speaker 4: So I loved this so much. It's such good escapism. 449 00:22:00,341 --> 00:22:02,661 Speaker 4: I suppose it's like it's just warm and fuzzy, and 450 00:22:02,702 --> 00:22:05,702 Speaker 4: she writes from sadness to comedy in a single sentence, 451 00:22:05,702 --> 00:22:09,342 Speaker 4: in a way no one else can. So love again, Rachel. 452 00:22:09,101 --> 00:22:12,741 Speaker 3: What a great recommendation out louders. There will be plenty 453 00:22:12,782 --> 00:22:16,582 Speaker 3: more romance after the break don't move all right? Those 454 00:22:16,621 --> 00:22:18,821 Speaker 3: are our big three records, but we've got a few 455 00:22:18,901 --> 00:22:22,302 Speaker 3: side ones too for really good listens in this genre. 456 00:22:22,821 --> 00:22:24,182 Speaker 3: And what else are you going to put in there? 457 00:22:24,262 --> 00:22:28,061 Speaker 2: Okay, So I didn't have too many recos because I'm 458 00:22:28,101 --> 00:22:31,622 Speaker 2: fairly new to the romanticy world and I know there 459 00:22:31,621 --> 00:22:34,061 Speaker 2: are some die hard Romanticy fans and I didn't want 460 00:22:34,061 --> 00:22:36,341 Speaker 2: to do them in justice. So I will say, if 461 00:22:36,381 --> 00:22:39,901 Speaker 2: you want to get into Romanticee. The series i'd actually 462 00:22:39,942 --> 00:22:43,382 Speaker 2: recommend you start with is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yaros. 463 00:22:43,422 --> 00:22:46,782 Speaker 2: There's three audiobooks all together, and the last book came 464 00:22:46,821 --> 00:22:49,661 Speaker 2: out in January this year on ex Storm, And the 465 00:22:49,702 --> 00:22:51,861 Speaker 2: reason I'm saying to start with that is because that's 466 00:22:51,901 --> 00:22:54,462 Speaker 2: the one that everyone's talking about right now, Like Akatar 467 00:22:54,542 --> 00:22:56,382 Speaker 2: is something that everyone was talking about like last year 468 00:22:56,462 --> 00:22:58,502 Speaker 2: or the year before. But if you want to get 469 00:22:58,542 --> 00:23:01,302 Speaker 2: into Romanticye and then immediately want to talk to people 470 00:23:01,341 --> 00:23:02,621 Speaker 2: about it, if it's Fourth Wing that. 471 00:23:02,621 --> 00:23:04,741 Speaker 3: They're all talking about, they're really different. Like it's the 472 00:23:04,821 --> 00:23:07,862 Speaker 3: Fourth Wing series really different from the Akatar series. I mean, 473 00:23:07,901 --> 00:23:10,341 Speaker 3: I know it's the similar genre, but plot lines and 474 00:23:10,341 --> 00:23:14,221 Speaker 3: everything completely it's one of them, like darker or lighter, 475 00:23:14,302 --> 00:23:15,621 Speaker 3: or sexier or less sexy. 476 00:23:15,702 --> 00:23:19,621 Speaker 2: I would say Fourth Wing is more adventure. There's dragons 477 00:23:19,661 --> 00:23:23,101 Speaker 2: in it. It's very games of throny, like greames are thrownes. 478 00:23:23,101 --> 00:23:25,581 Speaker 2: There's so many characters that the reason it's so good 479 00:23:25,581 --> 00:23:28,462 Speaker 2: to listen to is that you know the pronunciations of 480 00:23:28,502 --> 00:23:32,222 Speaker 2: everyone's names and you can hear when the narrators changes, 481 00:23:32,702 --> 00:23:35,021 Speaker 2: so you're able to like follow the story much easier. 482 00:23:35,061 --> 00:23:37,821 Speaker 2: And similar to Akata. I listen to it on my 483 00:23:38,101 --> 00:23:40,221 Speaker 2: walk to work and I walk home and like when 484 00:23:40,222 --> 00:23:42,101 Speaker 2: I'm just doing the laundry and when I'm just like 485 00:23:42,141 --> 00:23:46,381 Speaker 2: tiding up my apartment. It's just really easy storytelling and 486 00:23:46,422 --> 00:23:48,861 Speaker 2: there's dragons and everyone has superpowers. 487 00:23:48,901 --> 00:23:49,422 Speaker 3: It's just fun. 488 00:23:49,422 --> 00:23:51,742 Speaker 2: It's just lots of fun. So start with Fourth Wing 489 00:23:51,861 --> 00:23:53,821 Speaker 2: because then you'll be able to talk to everyone who's 490 00:23:53,861 --> 00:23:56,621 Speaker 2: just finished on Extorm and then straight away go to 491 00:23:56,661 --> 00:23:59,141 Speaker 2: Akatar so you're there before the next three books get released. 492 00:23:59,141 --> 00:24:01,022 Speaker 4: Okay, I love that. I love the idea that it's 493 00:24:01,022 --> 00:24:01,502 Speaker 4: still coming. 494 00:24:01,621 --> 00:24:04,222 Speaker 3: I was going to recommend another classic, but mostly for 495 00:24:04,742 --> 00:24:06,501 Speaker 3: the audiobook experience. 496 00:24:06,581 --> 00:24:06,742 Speaker 6: Right. 497 00:24:06,742 --> 00:24:09,502 Speaker 3: One of the good things about audiobooks at the moment 498 00:24:09,702 --> 00:24:12,462 Speaker 3: is they're doing lots of different you can get different experiences. 499 00:24:12,462 --> 00:24:14,981 Speaker 3: You can get like full cast reads, for example. So 500 00:24:15,702 --> 00:24:18,422 Speaker 3: in the vein of classics, I want to recommend Little 501 00:24:18,422 --> 00:24:21,542 Speaker 3: Women by Louis at my alcot there is a brilliant 502 00:24:21,581 --> 00:24:25,821 Speaker 3: movie by Grena Gerwig. And in that movie, Laura Dern 503 00:24:25,901 --> 00:24:28,782 Speaker 3: plays Mammy, who'd like the mom and she's so great 504 00:24:29,141 --> 00:24:33,302 Speaker 3: and she narrates Little Women in with like a cast, 505 00:24:33,502 --> 00:24:36,381 Speaker 3: so that's almost like a fully acted out almost like 506 00:24:36,422 --> 00:24:37,262 Speaker 3: an audio. 507 00:24:36,942 --> 00:24:38,821 Speaker 2: Play, so every character has a different narrange. 508 00:24:38,901 --> 00:24:41,702 Speaker 3: Yea, So it's the whole like, you know, the whole 509 00:24:41,742 --> 00:24:44,341 Speaker 3: story of the March Sisters and all the stuff that 510 00:24:44,341 --> 00:24:46,861 Speaker 3: we're familiar with, but with a full cast. It's also 511 00:24:46,861 --> 00:24:48,821 Speaker 3: a really good reco for like a car lest in 512 00:24:48,901 --> 00:24:51,941 Speaker 3: that right, because another really good place to listen to 513 00:24:51,982 --> 00:24:54,582 Speaker 3: audio books is with other people, Like you know, if 514 00:24:54,621 --> 00:24:56,542 Speaker 3: I was with my daughter, we might listen to this. 515 00:24:57,022 --> 00:24:58,782 Speaker 3: So that is one of my other w recos. 516 00:24:58,942 --> 00:25:03,542 Speaker 4: I actually have two. My first is Romantic Comedy by Curtis. 517 00:25:03,581 --> 00:25:06,022 Speaker 2: One of my favorite books ever. 518 00:25:06,222 --> 00:25:10,861 Speaker 4: Okay, so the audiobook is fantastic because you know how 519 00:25:10,982 --> 00:25:13,782 Speaker 4: I mean, it's it's quite meta in that it is 520 00:25:13,821 --> 00:25:16,701 Speaker 4: about someone who wants to write a romantic comedy and 521 00:25:16,742 --> 00:25:22,261 Speaker 4: it's also called that, and she is so witty and 522 00:25:22,302 --> 00:25:25,821 Speaker 4: the dialogue is the cornerstone of this, like the dialogue 523 00:25:25,821 --> 00:25:29,061 Speaker 4: between her and Noah. So just if you haven't listened 524 00:25:29,101 --> 00:25:31,502 Speaker 4: to it, it is romantic comedy and it is set 525 00:25:31,542 --> 00:25:36,141 Speaker 4: in like an SNL type workplace. She's a comedy writer, 526 00:25:36,742 --> 00:25:38,621 Speaker 4: and there's this thing there where they're like, it's funny 527 00:25:38,621 --> 00:25:42,982 Speaker 4: how these talented but ordinary looking men keep getting supermodels, 528 00:25:43,182 --> 00:25:43,982 Speaker 4: never happens. 529 00:25:43,782 --> 00:25:46,862 Speaker 2: Of that and Hollywood actresses. That's kind of like very true. 530 00:25:46,901 --> 00:25:50,662 Speaker 3: Colin Jost married to Skyle I think, is Emma Stone 531 00:25:50,702 --> 00:25:53,381 Speaker 3: married to one of the SNL writery types. They like 532 00:25:53,502 --> 00:25:55,221 Speaker 3: the guest hosts coming and they fall in love with 533 00:25:55,222 --> 00:25:56,981 Speaker 3: the writers, and she's kind of like, why does it 534 00:25:57,061 --> 00:25:57,901 Speaker 3: never happen. 535 00:25:57,702 --> 00:26:04,542 Speaker 4: To And so this pop star comes in and meets 536 00:26:04,821 --> 00:26:08,102 Speaker 4: her and they just hit it off and the chemistry 537 00:26:08,502 --> 00:26:11,982 Speaker 4: is insane. And what I like about the audiobook too 538 00:26:12,022 --> 00:26:14,181 Speaker 4: is that there's like lots of texting and sometimes I 539 00:26:14,182 --> 00:26:16,381 Speaker 4: can find that a little bit abrasive in writing, but 540 00:26:16,742 --> 00:26:19,381 Speaker 4: read out, it's really really good true and it's also 541 00:26:19,462 --> 00:26:23,101 Speaker 4: one of the few audiobooks that nails. 542 00:26:22,661 --> 00:26:27,341 Speaker 2: Lockdown COVID Yeah yeah, email exchange between them and stuff exactly. 543 00:26:27,462 --> 00:26:30,101 Speaker 4: It does that really really well. And the other one, 544 00:26:30,141 --> 00:26:34,542 Speaker 4: my last one, is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugoes. 545 00:26:34,742 --> 00:26:38,701 Speaker 4: Again great for audio because there are three narrators for 546 00:26:38,742 --> 00:26:41,621 Speaker 4: different characters. Oh really, because the way that this is 547 00:26:41,982 --> 00:26:44,581 Speaker 4: structured is that it's like a long form interview that 548 00:26:44,661 --> 00:26:47,502 Speaker 4: this young journalist comes. She doesn't know why this Evelyn Hugo, 549 00:26:47,542 --> 00:26:50,861 Speaker 4: who is almost like a Elizabeth Taylor, I don't know, 550 00:26:50,942 --> 00:26:54,142 Speaker 4: like a very much famous older woman who has had 551 00:26:54,141 --> 00:26:55,982 Speaker 4: this Hollywood life. 552 00:26:55,702 --> 00:26:56,742 Speaker 2: Who doesn't do interviews. 553 00:26:56,742 --> 00:26:59,462 Speaker 4: She doesn't do interviews, wants to sit and tell her 554 00:26:59,502 --> 00:27:02,821 Speaker 4: her story. And it's a love story in that it's 555 00:27:02,861 --> 00:27:05,101 Speaker 4: like the Seven Husbands and she goes through them. She 556 00:27:05,141 --> 00:27:07,942 Speaker 4: loved them to varying degrees. But there's a twist as 557 00:27:07,942 --> 00:27:12,221 Speaker 4: to why it's a love story and throughout history, how 558 00:27:12,502 --> 00:27:16,542 Speaker 4: who we're allowed to love has changed. It's just absolutely. 559 00:27:16,061 --> 00:27:18,701 Speaker 3: Brilliant lot that book. It would be a great listener, Yes, yeah, right, 560 00:27:18,702 --> 00:27:20,502 Speaker 3: because it is, as you say, the format of an interview. 561 00:27:21,022 --> 00:27:25,581 Speaker 4: What I've found is the greatest, like a moment of 562 00:27:25,621 --> 00:27:27,701 Speaker 4: my life that I never thought I would appreciate so 563 00:27:27,821 --> 00:27:32,302 Speaker 4: much is being in my car alone. So because whenever 564 00:27:32,341 --> 00:27:35,141 Speaker 4: I am in my car with Darling, Luna can't listen 565 00:27:35,141 --> 00:27:35,941 Speaker 4: to my audio books. 566 00:27:36,262 --> 00:27:36,621 Speaker 7: I can't. 567 00:27:36,742 --> 00:27:37,141 Speaker 3: I can't. 568 00:27:37,182 --> 00:27:39,302 Speaker 4: It is just we have very strict demands about what 569 00:27:39,302 --> 00:27:40,942 Speaker 4: we're listening to. You can't be listening to a gitar. 570 00:27:42,141 --> 00:27:44,262 Speaker 4: Although she might like the dragons, she loves a fairy. 571 00:27:44,502 --> 00:27:47,381 Speaker 4: She loves a fair I am. But now, like the 572 00:27:47,381 --> 00:27:49,181 Speaker 4: greatest joy is I get in the car sometimes and 573 00:27:49,182 --> 00:27:52,742 Speaker 4: I go, oh, my goodness, I can listen to whatever 574 00:27:52,821 --> 00:27:54,542 Speaker 4: I want. And the thing that I don't want to 575 00:27:54,542 --> 00:27:58,902 Speaker 4: do is spend ten minutes deciding I need to have 576 00:27:58,942 --> 00:28:01,101 Speaker 4: something on the go that I'm looking forward to. That 577 00:28:01,182 --> 00:28:04,542 Speaker 4: in those moments where I get Jesse time, it's something 578 00:28:04,621 --> 00:28:07,661 Speaker 4: that just Jesse wants to listen to. Like, even when 579 00:28:07,702 --> 00:28:10,101 Speaker 4: I sit down to watch something at night, it's like 580 00:28:10,182 --> 00:28:11,821 Speaker 4: Lucra and I have to agree on it. Yeah, but 581 00:28:11,901 --> 00:28:13,782 Speaker 4: I love the idea that I kind of get in, 582 00:28:13,901 --> 00:28:15,581 Speaker 4: or even like I'll put Luna down for a nap 583 00:28:15,581 --> 00:28:17,901 Speaker 4: and I'm cooking or I'm doing the washing. It just 584 00:28:17,942 --> 00:28:20,821 Speaker 4: makes all of those moments so much more joyful when 585 00:28:20,861 --> 00:28:23,302 Speaker 4: I've got something I'm looking forward to. 586 00:28:23,821 --> 00:28:26,622 Speaker 2: Yeah, especially when you're like in the midst of an 587 00:28:26,661 --> 00:28:29,742 Speaker 2: audio book, because there's just so many hours in one 588 00:28:29,782 --> 00:28:31,341 Speaker 2: book that I find Like if I'm listening to a 589 00:28:31,341 --> 00:28:33,462 Speaker 2: podcast or something and driving somewhere, I'm aways timing it 590 00:28:33,502 --> 00:28:35,581 Speaker 2: and I'm like, oh, my driver is thirty minutes, but 591 00:28:35,621 --> 00:28:37,981 Speaker 2: this podcast is forty minutes. I'm going to miss ten. 592 00:28:38,022 --> 00:28:40,342 Speaker 2: But when you're listening to an audiobook, you're like guaranteed 593 00:28:40,382 --> 00:28:42,142 Speaker 2: you're going to get a good chunk out of it. 594 00:28:42,222 --> 00:28:44,142 Speaker 4: And a lot of people say they don't have time 595 00:28:44,342 --> 00:28:47,262 Speaker 4: to read, which I think is is you know, very true, 596 00:28:47,302 --> 00:28:49,461 Speaker 4: you're very tired at the end of the day. But 597 00:28:49,862 --> 00:28:51,741 Speaker 4: pretty much everyone who gets through a lot of books 598 00:28:52,062 --> 00:28:54,342 Speaker 4: does a lot a lot of audio. And it's good 599 00:28:54,342 --> 00:28:55,862 Speaker 4: for people who drive a lot, because you drive a lot. 600 00:28:55,902 --> 00:28:57,382 Speaker 3: I drive a lot, so I love listening to them 601 00:28:57,382 --> 00:28:59,742 Speaker 3: in the drive. But I also I'm just now obsessed 602 00:28:59,782 --> 00:29:02,582 Speaker 3: with the notion of em doing her morning walk to work, 603 00:29:03,622 --> 00:29:06,382 Speaker 3: or sitting on public transport with her dragons in her 604 00:29:06,382 --> 00:29:08,701 Speaker 3: ears and just this little smile on her face, like 605 00:29:08,742 --> 00:29:11,422 Speaker 3: if you guys, you don't when I. 606 00:29:11,422 --> 00:29:14,742 Speaker 2: Come to the next by the way, you can tell 607 00:29:14,742 --> 00:29:16,302 Speaker 2: exactly you never. 608 00:29:16,142 --> 00:29:19,782 Speaker 4: Want your headphones to diected to bluetooth. 609 00:29:21,262 --> 00:29:23,181 Speaker 3: I have one more I'm throwing in, which is also 610 00:29:23,342 --> 00:29:26,822 Speaker 3: I would call a modern classic Paper Palace by Miranda 611 00:29:26,902 --> 00:29:30,421 Speaker 3: cal And I think you probably recommend to me. And 612 00:29:30,742 --> 00:29:32,461 Speaker 3: it's one of those books that I read and it 613 00:29:32,542 --> 00:29:35,182 Speaker 3: changed like I haven't read it to write or you'd 614 00:29:35,222 --> 00:29:37,741 Speaker 3: love it. So it's great as an audiobook because and 615 00:29:37,862 --> 00:29:40,622 Speaker 3: I didn't really know this, but there are some actors 616 00:29:40,622 --> 00:29:44,582 Speaker 3: who well voice actors who specialize in reading audiobooks. They're 617 00:29:44,661 --> 00:29:47,382 Speaker 3: the most in demand of their field because they're just 618 00:29:47,622 --> 00:29:49,782 Speaker 3: there's a special skill to being able to do it 619 00:29:50,382 --> 00:29:53,262 Speaker 3: that doesn't sound like overly theatrical when you put on 620 00:29:53,422 --> 00:29:55,342 Speaker 3: voices for people and stuff. They just got that. 621 00:29:55,302 --> 00:29:57,661 Speaker 4: Nailed, because you never want the voice to get in 622 00:29:57,742 --> 00:29:59,981 Speaker 4: the way. No, that was my brief is. I was like, 623 00:29:59,982 --> 00:30:01,862 Speaker 4: I don't want it to be like this voice is 624 00:30:01,902 --> 00:30:06,261 Speaker 4: either slightly annoying me or whatever. It's like the perfect voice. 625 00:30:06,582 --> 00:30:08,462 Speaker 4: Just yeah, you can listen to all day. 626 00:30:08,582 --> 00:30:10,702 Speaker 3: Yeah. So this this is voiced by a woman called 627 00:30:10,742 --> 00:30:13,302 Speaker 3: Laurel Lefko, and she's one of the top voice performers 628 00:30:13,302 --> 00:30:15,582 Speaker 3: in the whole business. And she reads the story, which 629 00:30:15,622 --> 00:30:17,701 Speaker 3: is all told from the perspective of El, who is 630 00:30:18,262 --> 00:30:20,782 Speaker 3: a woman who is It begins and she is on 631 00:30:20,902 --> 00:30:23,462 Speaker 3: holiday in the place that she always spends her summers 632 00:30:23,502 --> 00:30:27,342 Speaker 3: on Cape Cod in this like falling down ramshekl holiday 633 00:30:27,342 --> 00:30:29,422 Speaker 3: house that she's literally going to since she was a kid, 634 00:30:29,462 --> 00:30:32,302 Speaker 3: the Paper Palace, And the sense of place in this 635 00:30:32,382 --> 00:30:35,382 Speaker 3: story is so striking, like I feel like I've I've 636 00:30:35,382 --> 00:30:39,062 Speaker 3: been there. Yeah, swumming the kettle ponds, fought off the 637 00:30:39,062 --> 00:30:42,582 Speaker 3: Great Whites in the ocean like, it's so stunning. Anyway, 638 00:30:42,822 --> 00:30:45,782 Speaker 3: it retells the story of her life, but the love 639 00:30:45,862 --> 00:30:48,981 Speaker 3: story crux of this is that ultimately she is choosing 640 00:30:49,022 --> 00:30:53,542 Speaker 3: between her husband and her childhood true love. And it's 641 00:30:53,822 --> 00:30:58,022 Speaker 3: very The ending is very controversial. People have a lot 642 00:30:58,062 --> 00:31:00,382 Speaker 3: of feelings about what happens at the end of this book. 643 00:31:00,382 --> 00:31:01,462 Speaker 3: I'm just putting it out there. 644 00:31:01,942 --> 00:31:02,822 Speaker 4: I loved it. 645 00:31:03,342 --> 00:31:06,102 Speaker 3: I loved it, and then when it was over, I 646 00:31:06,182 --> 00:31:07,822 Speaker 3: wanted to go and talk to people about it. And 647 00:31:07,862 --> 00:31:09,142 Speaker 3: there are a lot of people who want to talk 648 00:31:09,142 --> 00:31:13,142 Speaker 3: about So it's a brilliant audio. Listen to if you 649 00:31:13,222 --> 00:31:15,902 Speaker 3: feel like you're on holiday in Cape cod in this 650 00:31:16,022 --> 00:31:18,822 Speaker 3: amazing place and yeah, it's the Paper Palace and it's 651 00:31:18,822 --> 00:31:22,422 Speaker 3: by Miranda Cary Heller. Out Louders, thank you so much 652 00:31:22,502 --> 00:31:25,542 Speaker 3: for listening to this bonus episode of Mama Mia out loud. 653 00:31:25,942 --> 00:31:28,982 Speaker 3: We want to know what your go to romance audiobook is. 654 00:31:29,022 --> 00:31:32,822 Speaker 3: Are you team Slowburn Classics, Team Spicy Contemporaries. Are you 655 00:31:32,942 --> 00:31:36,342 Speaker 3: fully down the romance see rabbit Hole with m Jump 656 00:31:36,382 --> 00:31:40,462 Speaker 3: into the Outlauders Facebook group and share your favorite romance stories. 657 00:31:40,502 --> 00:31:42,142 Speaker 3: We'll be back in your ears tomorrow. 658 00:31:42,302 --> 00:31:43,222 Speaker 4: Bye by