S3 Ep 4: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Get ready for some armchair time travel to 1920s Mexico! This book takes off when Casiopea Tun accidentally frees Hun-Kamé, the Mayan god of death. She BOLTS from her unhappy life as a drudge in her rich and prejudiced grandfather's house and adventures ensue. We discuss what we love about this book, ponder how a …

S3 Ep 3: Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner

This fortnight we are talking about the extremely neglected book Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner. It's a gem! Lolly Willowes was pubished in 1926 and is a wonderful portrayal of a woman forging her own path. This book is a treasure trove of feminist ideas, and it features gloriously sensory, sensual, tactile language. As …

Castle Minisode 2: Studio Ghibli

For this episode, we are diverting a wee bit from books and authors to give a shout out to Studio Ghibli. This Japanese film production company is a maker of beautiful, whimsical movies that are pure delight.As we mentioned in our Howl's Moving Castle episode, that book was adapted by Studio Ghibli into a film …

S1 Ep 2: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Episode 2 carries on with some fairy tale motifs, as we explore another favourite: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. Some people may know this title because of the Studio Ghibli animated film of the same name, but trust us—watching the film is no substitute for reading this fantastic book.​As always, spoiler warning! Read …