Four Friends and a Book

E25: Two Teresas, Elyse, and 99 Dumb Ways to Die

Four Friends hits the 25th episode milestone! And what would the 'cast be without technical problems? Teresa loses her hearing for a spell, but the group recovers strongly to talk about Teresa's chosen genre, non-political non-fiction! Chaos ensues when Teresa's audio fails but she powers through to share how she never realized a book about Tuberculosis was missing from her life. Diane shares her love of Elyse Meyers' bestseller, prompting Joe to dig up the classic Elyse taco date video. Teresa then bounces back with yet another banger, 99 Ways to Die, prompting Joe to dig up the Tangerine Kitty classic, "Dumb Ways to Die." Joe brings things home with Simon Winchester's 1998 classic, The Professor and the Madman, about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and the unlikely friendship that developed between the two men -- Professor James Murray and Dr. W.C. Minor -- who did much of the heavy lifting. A super fun episode with fun little side trips, following Joe's ADD down amusing rabbit holes! This week's books: * Teresa: Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green * Diane: That’s a Great Question I’d Love to Tell You by Elyse Meyers * Teresa: 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them by Ashely Alker MD * Joe: The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester (aka The Surgeon of Crowthorne) * David: Trapped in end-of-semester grading hell, but next up on his list is Everything is Tuberculosis

E24: Four Friends and a Graphic Novel

David leads Diane, Teresa, and Joe into a genre none of the three had ever explored: Graphic Novels. The Friends explore how well traditional books translate to the graphic novel form, whether the graphic novel medium scratches the same reading itch that traditional books do, and the value and power of any format that encourages children to read. David: Watchmen [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781401238964] by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons (Illustrator/Letterer), John Higgins (Colorist)Joe: The Parable of the Sower [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781419754050] by Octavia E. Butler, Damian Duffy and John JenningsDiane: The Handmaid's Tale [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780385539241] by Margaret Atwood (Author), Renee Nault (Illustrator)Teresa: Donut the Destroyer [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781338541922] by Sarah Graley, Stef PureninsOther: A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel Series [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780440423218] by Daniel Abraham

E23: Strong Women Characters

This episode's topic: Strong women characters Diane's pick kicked of a dynamite discussion of books featuring strong, memorable women characters. Conversation included discussion of the Bechdel test as applied to books, what makes a memorable woman character, unforgettable villainous women characters, and whether or not men can write strong, independent, and memorable women characters well. We visit with such memorable and lovable characters as Loretta Thurwar and Hurricane Staxxx, Frankie McGrath, Lauren Olamina, Lisey Landon, Avalon Dale and Primrose Meath, Elphaba and Glinda, Elizabeth Zott, and the inimitable, unforgettable Annie Wilkes. Check out some of the titles discussed in this episode: * Chain Gang All-Stars [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780593469316] by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah * The Women [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781250178633] by Kristin Hannah * The Great Alone [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781250229533] by Kristin Hannah * Parable of the Sower [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781538732182] by Octavia E. Butler * Lisey's Story [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781982147792] by Stephen King * Educated [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780399590528] by Tara Westover * Harmless Women [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781250392367] by Rebecca Sharpe * Wicked [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780060987107] by Jennifer L. Armentrout * Finding Chika by Mitch Albom (not available from Patchouli Joe's) * The Dead Detective [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781729262306] by J.R. Rain and Rod Kierkegaard Jr. * After Oz [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9798892423694] by Gordon McAlpine * Girl With the Dragon Tattoo [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780307454546] by Stieg Larsson * Lessons in Chemistry [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780385547345] by Bonnie Garmus * The Red Tent [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780312427290] by Anita Diamant * Misery [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781501143106] by Stephen King

E22: Social Criticism, Pigs, and and Merging Capital Blah

The four friends -- still without a proper podcast name -- take on Political Satire. For the first time in recorded human history, Teresa agrees with Joe, both declaring that non-fiction cannot be satire. Then Joe started waffling and chaos returned. As the discussion unfolded, the breadth of Political Satire was surprising, bringing in discussions of everything from The Bonfire of the Vanities, Yellowface, Our Missing Hearts, America (The Book), and a book David mentioned, Something-something Merchant blah something-something. Bonus points for working the late, great Hunter S. Thompson into the discussion. Can near-future dystopian be political satire? Can non-fiction be satire? Can the group ever land on a podcast name that hasn't already been chosen? Next week: Diane discusses books with strong women characters * Bonfire of the Vanities [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781250352651] by Tom Wolfe * Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781451691573] by Hunter S. Thompson * American Hero (aka Wag the Dog [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781560256632]) by Larry Beinhart (Wag the Dog) * Yellowface [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780063250857] by R.F. Kuang * Our Missing Hearts [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780593492543] by Celeste Ng * Slaughterhouse-Five [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780385333849] by Kurt Vonnegut * America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart (not available from Patchouli Joe's) * I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert (not available from Patchouli Joe's) * The Stand [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780307947307] by Stephen King * Animal Farm [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780451526342] by George Orwell * 1984 [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780452262935] by George Orwell

E21: Magical Realism

Teresa shares her favorite selections from her favorite genre: Magical Realism. The Four Bookish Friends discuss the distinction between fantasy and magical realism, different ways authors slip magical realism elements into other genres, and their overall love for the genre. Teresa:Shark Heart: A Love Story [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781668006498] by Emily Habeck Diane: The Murmur of Bees [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781542040501] by Sofia Segovia The World That We Knew [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9781501137587] by Alice Hoffman Joe: The Lovely Bones [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780316666343] by Alice Sebold The Husbands: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel [https://www.patchoulijoesbooks.com/book/9780593687512] by Holly Gramazio David:Curse of the Phoenix (The Arcane Irregulars Book 1) by Dan Willis (not available at Patchouli Joe's)