Shared Pages

Happy Thanksgiving to our North American listeners, and to everyone else, we hope things are going well for you! This month was Ian's pick, and he chose: The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. This novel is part of a series (which Ian didn't know at the time), and follows Cleric Chih who is visiting an abandoned palace known as Thriving Fortune. While there, they meet Rabbit, a former servant to the recently deceased Empress In-yo. Rabbit tells Chih many stories about the Empresses' reign and her life as the wife of the Emperor of Pine and Steel. The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tight, short novella that wont a Hugo. It deals with power, and vengeance, and ambition, and we had a great time reading and discussing it! 

 

Next month's pick is Ronnie's (and the last of 2025). She chose: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez!

It's officially Halloween and time for some spooky stories. This month, Ronnie choose C.G. Drew's: Don't Let the Forest In. An atmospheric story about a high school senior named Andrew, his best friend/crush Thomas, and twin sister Dove. Upon returning to school for the year, Andrew finds his sister keeping him at arm's length, Thomas being questioned for the disappearance of his parents, and worst of all, strange monsters who seem to come from Thomas' drawings. Together, the boys must fight the monsters and ensure that nobody dies. 

 

Join us as we discuss this young adult, queer, horror story, and see what we thought! Next month's book is Ian's choice and he chose: The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo!

It's October already, and this episode is going up a little late (the evening instead of the morning) but this month was Ian's pick and he chose James Michener's: The Bridge at Andau which details the events of the Hungarian student revolution of 1956. Ian chose this book because of a familial interest, but both Ian and Ronnie found something to chew on in this text. The Bridge at Andau discusses the siege at Radio Budapest, the Battle at Killian barracks, and of course, the titular Bridge at Andau. In the this episode, we summarize the book, discuss the composite characters, and discuss how little of Eastern Europe is taught in US schools.

 

Next month's book is Ronnie's and she chose: Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews. A perfect read for spooky month! 

The God Endings is a meditative take on the immortal vampire story. August's pick was a Ronnie choice, and this novel follows Collette LeSange, a vampire who has been alive for two hundred years, rungs a fine art school, and is suddenly experiencing strong cravings for blood. Told alternatively in present tense and flashbacks, The God of Endings asks readers to consider what it means to be alive, to be isolated, and to what it means for something to end. After all, every ending begins something else. Listen to this month's episode and let us know what you thought of The God of Endings if you've read it. 

September's pick is Ian's choice and he chose The Bridge at Andau by James A. Michener. A non-fiction text that chronicles the Hungarian revolution of 1956

We're a bit late, but July was quite hectic for us! Between a bachelor's party, wedding, and some other family events, it took a little while for us to be able to sit down and record, but here we are.

 

July's pick was Ian's, and he chose: Bury Me Standing by Isabelle Fonseca which details her journey through eastern Europe while she lived among the Roma people. This text explores not only the culture and traditions of the Roma, but also how they fit into, and have been received by various parts of the world. Among the interactions, Fonseca stays with people in Albania, Romania, Germany, and more, and learns how they see and exist in the world. Although this book came out in 1992, there are a huge amount of interesting interactions to learn from, and may have motivated Ian and Ronnie to find a more contemporary text to see how things have changed over the last twenty years. 

 

August's pick is Ronnie's, and she chose: The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland!

A Dark and Drowning Tide is a novel that Ronnie has previously tried to get on the podcast, but unfortunately was delayed due to publishing issues. Now, the book is finally out, and it's Pride! Allison Saft's novel is a sapphic enemies to lover story which follows Lorelei and Sylvia as they embark on an expedition to find the Ursprung: the fabled source of all magic. This expedition has been ordered by the king who has recently "united" all of the kingdoms around him and seeks the Ursprung to cement his power. Along the way, the group deals with murder, infighting, romance, and magical beings, but this isn't just an expedition for fame and glory, Lorelei needs to succeed in this mission, not just for herself, but also for her people. Take a listen to the episode to find out what we thought about the book.

 

Next month's pick is Ian's and he chose: Bury Me Standing by Isabel Fonseca, a non-fiction piece that explores the lives of the Romani people.

Somehow it's June already and we're back with another episode of Shared Pages. May's book was an Ian pick, and he chose Yoko Ogawa's: The Memory Police.

 

The Memory Police takes place on an unknown island where people periodically forget things such as ribbons, perfume, and so on. However, some people seem to remember things that should have been forgotten and so a mysterious and sinister organization comes and takes those who remember. When the unnamed narrator-a novelist-discovers that her editor, "R" is one of these people who remember things, she decides to hide him. Along with a family friend known only as The "Old Man", they attempt to hold on to what has been forgotten all while navigating what it means to lose memories and even pieces of themselves.

 

We really enjoyed The Memory Police and we hope you enjoy our discussion of the novel! Next month is Ronnie's pick. For Pride, she's chosen, A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft!

Apologies for this month's episode being late. Unfortunately we have a sick kitty that we've been taking care of, but that didn't stop us from finishing Ronnie's April pick, which was The Seep, by Chana Porter. This novel follows the story of a trans woman named Trina who is going through a bit of a crisis after an alien species known as The Seep takes over Earth. The Seep in many ways makes things better. People are more empathetic, people no longer deal with illness, and people can do pretty much anything they can imagine. However, after Trina's wife leaves her to become a baby again, Trina is forced to reckon with a world she doesn't understand, and still, somehow find beauty in it. 

 

Next month's book was chosen by Ian and is The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa. A dream-like Orwellian, science fiction novel influenced highly by Kafka!

Fatelessness is a novel by Imre Kertész which won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2002. Ian chose this novel out of familial interest as his father is from Budapest, but he also naturally is inclined to be interested in World War 2 literature. The novel is semi-autobiographical and tells the story of György, a young boy who is swept up and taken to Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and survives. It explores how people can become faceless, even during major historical events, and how one cannot separate themselves from the past, even when it is something horrendous.

 

Next month's pick is Ronnie's and she chose: The Seep, by Chana Porter which is set in a utopian world after an alien race invades the Earth!

For Black History month, Ronnie chose O. O. Sangyomi's: Masquerade. This novel is the author's debut and is an alternate universe were Yorubaland is a dominant tribe instead of the Oyo. This story follows Òdòdó’s, a young blacksmith in a world that treats them as witches, whose home of Timbuktu is conquered by the warrior king of Yorùbáland. Following this, she is abducted, engaged to the Alaafin- the king. Òdòdó's story follows her as she reconciles her past, her future, and the intrigues of court, all while searching for her mother who has gone missing. Listen to the episode and let us know if you agree with our takes! And make sure to join us on the Fable app for to discuss next month's read!

 

Next month is Ian's choice and were reading: Fatelessness (Sorstalanság), a Holocaust novel by Imre Kertész that won the Nobel Literature prize in 2002.

 

The music used in the intro and outro is Otterfunk from Streambeats.