The Worst Bestsellers

Are you melting in the summer heat wave? Well, why don’t you join us for a Flashback Summer trip back to the winter of 1864? Bundle up in your best furs, because we read Changes for Kirsten by Janet Beeler Shaw. We were joined by Mary Mahoney (@MimiMahoney), co-author of Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl, former co-host of the Dolls of our Lives podcast, and current host of the Landline podcast. Whatever you do, do not let a baby raccoon into your house while listening to this episode.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode #76 – American Girl

Childhood Nostalgia: A Collection of Pleasant Company and American Girl Catalogues

Minnesota Historical Society MNopedia

Coming up next: Kristy’s Great Idea (Baby-Sitters Club #1) by Ann M. Martin.

Flashback Summer is getting mildly spooky! We read The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe with Sara Farizan, author of several books of varying spookiness levels including the upcoming The Last Resort: Ghost Light. While listening to your episode, please keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t get into any chocolate!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode #126 – Bunnicula

Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine on Chocolate Toxicity

James Howe on Wikipedia

Mark Davis and James Howe wedding announcement

Coming up next: Changes for Kirsten by Janet Beeler Shaw.

Flashback Summer continues as we journey 400 Turns into the past with Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. Paul from the That Aged Well podcast joined us to discuss the oft-requested Dragonriders of Pern series. Listen to this episode while you weave a beautiful tapestry of flamethrowers.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Mahna Mahna

Coming up next: The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe.

Flashback Summer is kicking off with a Code Green: LEPrecon alert! We read Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer with our returning guest Mackenzi Lee, author of of many books including Teela: Daughter of Eternos. If this book is Die Hard with fairies, then this episode is technically a Christmas special.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Artemis Fowl on Wikipedia

Coming up next: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey.

The whole internet has been talking about Adult Braces by Lindy West, so we decided to join the conversation. And who better to join us than Friend of the Show Margaret H. Willison (@MrsFridayNext)? You can find Margaret at Culture Study and you can find us in Key West, petting Ernest Hemingway’s polydactyl cats. Listen now to find out our legally binding ruling on whether or not Lindy West needs a divorce!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Love Letters: Meredith & Margaret on Lindy West’s Adult Braces

“Lindy West’s How-Not-To Guide to Polyamory” by Scaachi Koul

AMA: Nonmonogamy Edition from Lindy West’s Substack

The Lindy West Deep Dive from Ashley Ray’s Substack

“Big Love” from Jennifer Weiner’s Substack

Ijeoma Oluo on Threads

Coming up next: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.