On the Pod This Week:
The Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas has been mentioned by guests of the show many times. I finally picked up the first one (nicknamed ‘ACOTAR’0 earlier this year, and enjoyed it. I didn’t LOVE it, but I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. The I moved on to Book 2 (ACOMAF), which has a hero that in the romance world we like to call a Panty Dropper. When I got a little bored in the middle of book 3, (ACOWAR), there was less panty-dropping and more war strategy. YAWN.
I went to my ACOTAR girlies, as I call them, and asked if I should keep going, and, if so, why? Their responses were so impassioned that I knew we had to make it into an episode.
In my opinion, there is nothing quite as fun as talking to superfans about their passion. Tori, Fareya, and Nicole are book loving maniacs, and they are smart, hilarious women. I promise, even if you haven’t read this series, you are nonetheless going to enjoy this conversation.
Show Notes:
Guests:
Victoria Snow: Instagram
Fareya: Instagram/TikTok/Goodreads
Nicole Burton:Instagram/Goodreads
Discussed in this episode:
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAR) by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Wings and ruin (ACOWAR) by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOFAS) by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Tattoos and Rosé podcast
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi
House of Earth and Blood: Book one of the Crescent City Series by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
@Kaykaysbookshelf (an awesome bookstagram account – scroll her saved stories for Sarah J. Mass mini-guides [spoiler free], maps, glossaries, etc. Her account is well worth a visit if you are a fan.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Fantasy Romance Novel by Sue Lynn Tan
The Ballad of Songbirds of Snakes (a Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins
Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton
Julie’s Current Read:
Tried again; still couldn’t get in to The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson. Two weeks is my limit. [After recording this week’s episode, I know realize how my blasé attitude towards finishing books offends people. I’m not hung up on this completion thing.]
Julie’s Current Listen:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
SO. Much. Science! I Quit!
Fareya very gently suggested that I should grab a paper copy, so it’s easier to flip through the science pages. Fareya (and, evidently, everyone else) is horrified by how quickly I quit books, so I nodded along to her suggestion, like I always do, while secretly thinking, “I’m not doing that…”
But then I remembered that I read and liked The Martian in paperback specifically because I could easily skim over the science parts. That’s just harder to do in audio format.
So: I have reserved Project Hail Mary at my library. When my copy arrives, I’ll give it one more shot, and see if it works for me in that format.
And if it doesn't work, I am flinging it dramatically into outer space.
Until then, I am listening to The Secret Place by Tana French, an author who never bores me, in any format.
Julie’s Current Obsession:
‘Tis the season for Molly Wizenberg’s Pomodori al Forno.
To be fair, I make this recipe year round. But for some reason, I always think of summer as “Molly’s Roast Tomato Season.” If you are not in a sunny climate, you can make it with canned whole tomatoes, and it’s just as good. (I know. People always say that about tomato recipes and it’s almost never true. Canned tomatoes are garbage compared to fresh. But I promise THIS recipe is fantastic either way.)
This recipe is super easy - you likely have all the ingredients on hand already. They are not hard to make, but they do take lots of hands-off time. Plan accordingly. Pop the tomatoes in the oven, low and slow, and let them hang out for a long, long time. Your house will smell ahhhhh-mazing.
I have friends who think this is the only thing I know how to cook, because this is my contribution to every single BBQ, dinner party, and potluck. I have converted avowed tomato haters by putting them in the middle of every charcuterie platter. The leftovers are the backbone of an easy weeknight clean-out-the-fridge meal (just mash up the leftovers in the oil and tossed them with fresh cooked pasta and any vegetables you have on hand.)
Very important side note: if you are not subscribed to Molly’s I’ve Got a Feeling newsletter, please rectify that immediately. Her writing is sublime.
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