Shared Pages

#35 Bethany Baptiste's: The Poisons We Drink

Originally, Bethany Baptiste's: The Poisons We Drink was supposed to be read earlier this year, but due to publishing delays, we had to move things around. Then, Ronnie's original pick for this month got delayed so we brought back The Poisons We Drink. Baptiste's debut novel explores an urban fantasy world where magical humans named Witchers live among us. One of these Witchers, a woman named Venus, brews love potions- an especially dangerous trade among Witchers. At the same time, the novel explores discrimination related to Witchers, political plots and intrigue, morally gray characters, and revenge. There's a lot going on in this story so take a listen a let us know what you think. For clarity, The Poisons We Drink wasn't our favorite novel but that doesn't mean we can't have a good discussion about it. 

 

Next month's book is Ian's pick, The Door by Magda Szabó.

#34 Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years!

Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years is a memoir of Mary Poppins herself: Dame Julie Andrews. The memoir covers a broad range of years from Mary Poppins up until Victor/Victoria and details not only her rise to fame with movies like The Sound of Music but also focuses on her marriages to Tony Walton and Blake Edwards. In the memoir she also focuses on her relationships with her children, friends, and family, while adjusting to Hollywood and the demands of success. Ian is a big musical theater fan so he really enjoys chatting about the Queen of Genovia herself.

 

Next month's pick is Ronnie's and she choose, "The Poisons We Drink" by Bethany Baptiste. If you enjoyed the podcast be sure to leave us a rating or send us a message on Twitter! We like to hear from you!!  

#33 Zoulfa Katouh's: As Long As the Lemon Tree Grow

Trigger warning: War, Violence, Assualt, and Starvation

 

Well, originally we planned to read The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptise, but due to printing delays, we had to change our book. So Ronnie chose Zoulfa Katouh's: As Long As the Lemon Tree Grows. The story is set during the Syrian Civil War and follows Salama whose family has been killed. She is reckoning with her survivor's guilt, as well as her desire to stay and fight for her country. During all of this, she meets Kenan who is trying to protect his two siblings as well as make sense of the state of his country. Together, the two of them help each other survive. 

 

Next month's book is Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews. Be sure to read along and let us know what you think over at Twitter.Com/SharedPagesPod

#32 Kiese Laymon's: Heavy

Trigger warning: This podcast episode discusses racism, rape, eating disorders, and abuse.

 

For March, Ian chose Kiese Laymon's: Heavy as his reading choice. Heavy is a memoir that is, well, heavy, taking the form of a letter written to the author's mother. In the letter, Laymon opens up and discusses his life and upbringing to this point both from the viewpoint of a family dynamic, but also as a black man born in the 70s. Heavy explores not only the physical heaviness a person carries with them, but also the spiritual, and any other kinds that come with living a life. 

 

For the month of April, Ronnie chose a debut novel by Bethany Baptiste: The Poisons We Drink! Make sure to read along and tweet any thoughts to us over at Twitter.Com/@sharedpagespod

 

#31 Meg Shaffer's: The Wishing Game!

This month's pick was Ronnie's and she chose, "The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer. After reading Irving's, The Cider House Rules we needed something a bit lighter so this feels like a perfect February read. When a reclusive writer who hasn't published a novel in years holds a contest on their private island, Lucy Hart needs to win. She wants to adopt a child but doesn't have the space or funds and winning this contest will giver her everything she needs. In this novel, the characters compete not only in the competition but with their traumas and fears in a wholesome romp. Listen to the whole episode to find out what we thought! We'd love to hear what you thought as well over at SharedPagesPod on Twitter.

 

Next month's episode is Heavy by Kiese Laymon!

#30 John Irving's: The Cider House Rules

Trigger Warning: This book and conversation contain discussions of rape, incest, and abortion.

 

Happy 2024 everybody! We're excited to start our reading for the new year with Ian's pick, John Irving's: The Cider House Rules. Ian chose this novel partially because he's wanted to read the story for a while and because it's Buffalo's Literary Center's Babel pick for March—the novel centers around a young Homer Wells who is an orphan at Saint Clouds. It deals with many topics such as abortion and morality and is very Dickensian in its voice. At the very least, it's an important piece of literature but spoiler alert, it's more than that. 

 

Check out the podcast, let us know what you think, and read along with us next month when we start Ronnie's pick, The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. You can send us comments over at Twitter.com/SharedPagesPod. Also, please consider leaving a rating and review wherever you're listening if you enjoyed this episode. 

#29 Gabrielle Zevin’s: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow!

Trigger warning: This novel discusses gun violence.

 

Our final read of 2023 is Gabrielle Zevin's: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Spoiler alert, we both LOVED this novel. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow follows Sam Masur, Sadie Green, and Marx Watanabe from their time in college, through their collaborative work of creating video games and running a company. This novel is very human and delves into how people perceive each other, the world, and how we make meaning through art. 

 

Our first read for 2024 is The Cider House Rules by John Irving. Grab a copy and read along with us and follow us on Twitter at SharedPagesPod!

#28 John Ajvide Lindqvist’s: Let the Right One In

Trigger Warning, this book contains graphic violence, animal abuse, and sexual assault /harassment. 

 

John Ajvide Lindqvist's: Let the Right One In is a vampire story set in a suburb of Stockholm in 1981. It revolves around a 13-year-old boy named Oskar and a young girl named Eli who lives next door. It turns out she is a vampire and as Oskar and Eli develop a romance, he is mercilessly bullied. Along with this, a thrall/serial killer named Håkan terrorizes the town, people fall in love, and family dynamics change. Let the Right One In is a complex novel where the town itself is a character. Read the book, listen to our discussion, and let us know if you agree or disagree with anything we've said. 

 

Next month's book is Ronnie's choice and she picked: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

# 27 A.M. Strickland’s: Beyond the Black Door

It's Halloween and Ronnie chooses A.M. Strickland's: Beyond the Black Door. A novel with plenty of LGBTQ+ representation as well as some mild horror for Ian. The story follows a young woman named Kamai who has the ability to walk in other people's souls. However, one day, when her mother is murdered she is thrust into a situation full of secret societies, hidden plots, gods, and a struggle for the throne. There's a lot to talk about in this one including not only the plot, but also representation, and world-building. 

 

Next month's book is Ian's choice: Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Linqvist.

#26 Morgan Dante’s: Providence Girls

This story has many trigger warnings which can be found listed on Morgan Dante's website: https://www.morgandante.com/providence-girls.html

For the month of September, Ian chose Morgan Dante's: Providence Girls. He found this book while scrolling on Twitter and it had everything he liked in the description. Lovecraft, sapphic romance, and horror. The book centers around an albino woman named Lavinia Whateley and Asenath Waite who is slowly turning into a deep one. These two fall in love and open up about old wounds as Lavina and Asenath change. Listen to the whole episode to hear what we think!

 

Next month's book choice is Ronnie's and she picked Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland.