Reclaiming the Book Club: Forget The Wine

Madeline and Laura discuss Blake Bulter's deeply personal biography Molly. They discuss Butler's captivating and intimate writing, and break down the controversy over the ethics of publishing Molly's story.  Content warnings: This episode contains discussion of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and emotional abuse.

Madeline and Laura discuss Miranda July's 2024 National Book Award Finalist, All Fours. This discussion contains spoilers. 

Madeline and Laura dive into Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, dissecting its ambitious exploration of friendship, trauma, and the gaming industry. From the fragmented plot and complex characters to the unexpected thematic twists, they grapple with the novel’s portrayal of Sam and Sadie—two deeply flawed protagonists navigating their way through creative highs and personal lows. They discuss everything from the relentless nostalgia of The Oregon Trail to the mishandled depiction of trauma and identity and unpack what made this book a fascinating, frustrating ride.

Madeline and Laura dive into Julia Fox's provocative memoir, Down the Drain. They explore Fox's candid reflections on her childhood, art, sexuality, and fame. Join them as they discuss the balance of vulnerability and strength in her storytelling and whether this book transcends the celebrity memoir genre.

Madeline and Laura discuss Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll in this thought-provoking episode of our book discussion podcast. Dive into a lively conversation about the ethics of consuming true crime content, the complex layers of gender politics presented in the novel, and why, despite high expectations, neither of us found ourselves captivated by Knoll's latest work. Join us as we unravel the book's provocative themes, critique its execution, and explore how it fits within the broader landscape of true crime narratives. Whether you’ve read the book or are just curious about the conversation, this episode offers an engaging analysis and a candid reflection on our reading experience.

Madeline and Laura depart the world of literary fiction and read Julia Bartz's 2023 thriller The Writing Retreat.

Madeline and Laura discuss Megan Giddings' modern-dystopian novel, The Women Could Fly.  They unpack the blending of genres, analysis of identity and how the novel landed in the aftermath of the Roe v. Wade repeal.

Madeline and Laura discuss Jessica Knoll's 2015 debut novel, Luckiest Girl Alive. We talk about the strength of Knoll's writing and characterization of Ani FaNelli throughout multiple timelines and debate whether the recent film adaptation, starring Mila Kunis lived up to the novel. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and violence in schools.

Madeline and Laura review Curtis Sittenfeld's latest novel set behind the scenes at SNL, Romantic Comedy. They discuss Sittenfeld's handling of COVID, celebrity and whether it's a successful entry into the rom-com canon. 

Madeline and Laura dive into beauty editor Cat Marnell's memoir, How to Murder Your Life. They discuss Cat's unique voice, the collapse of the magazine publishing industry, and of course, addiction. 

Madeline and Laura take on Ottessa Moshfegh's latest polarizing novel Lapvona. They discuss whether the extremely, er, vivid descriptions added or distracted from the exploration of spirituality and what the goings on of the medieval village portrayed in Lapvona have to say about the pandemic and the rise of Trumpism. Content Warning - we discuss the themes and events of Lapvona which are intense. CW for sexual assault, cannibalism, violence, miscarriage, abuse and more.  

Madeline and Laura read Julia May Jonas' novel about an English Professor who, while navigating the aftermath of her husbands' affairs, becomes entangled with a much younger colleague, Vladimir. We discuss the novel's Nabokovian influences, its handling of depicting college students and our narrator's incisive voice.

This week, Laura and Madeline cover Coco Mellors' 2022 novel Cleopatra and Frankenstein. They discuss whether the formal using multiple perspectives helped or hurt the narrative, whether they believed Cleo and Frank were good for each other, and how they felt about a very memorable scene involving a sugar glider. 

Madeline and Laura cover Rachel Yoder's debut novel Nightbitch. We discuss whether the book's marketing set readers up for disappointment, our hopes for the film adaptation starring Amy Adams, and whether female rage is explored with enough nuance in modern art. NOTE: Technical issues impact the quality of Laura's audio in this episode - this will be resolved for all future eps. 

Madeline and Laura cover actor Ethan Hawke's newest work of fiction. They discuss how Hawke reckons with masculinity, infidelity, and artistic worth through his protagonist William and try to determine if Hawke is a good writer for a famous actor, or just a good writer. 

Madeline and Laura discuss the skyrocketing popularity of Colleen Hoover. Episode includes mini-discussions of three popular Colleen Hoover novels including It Ends With Us, Ugly Love, and Verity. 

Laura and Madeline discuss Lisa Taddeo's 2021 novel centering feminine rage, Animal. They debate the effectivity of the work's unrelenting disturbing content and examine the narrator, Joan, to determine if she's a new breed of anti-heroine or a one-dimensional monster.  STRONG CONTENT WARNING for this discussion.

Madeline and Laura discuss Sally Rooney's third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You. They unpack the archetype of the "Rooney Girl",  debate the book's take on religion and rank the work within Rooney's canon. 

Laura and Madeline discuss Lara Williams' 2022 novel The Odyssey. They debate whether the work functions as a takedown of capitalism and the gig economy, if Williams nailed the reality of working in remote conditions and the absurdity of having a 42 year old bald son named Brian. 

Madeline and Laura cover Mona Awad's darkly funny 2019 novel Bunny. They debate whether it lives up to its reputation as a modern day take on Heathers and discuss how Awad juxtaposes heightened femininity with extreme violence.