The First Back Room Book Talk of 2026

What will you have achieved?

Recorded on 2/8/26 Join us for a discussion on the point of books in dark times. Two videos referenced in the podcast: "The Strangers' Case" Speech from Sir Thomas More [https://youtu.be/2l2RqzVG4ag?si=qcu6s6DmXKpPZob-&t=1337] Stephen Colbert on Mike Johnson and Pope Leo XIV [https://youtu.be/6Irn2IPmGvk?si=8_-FNvqZbF2IMLA_&t=388] Definitely the only book referenced: Mars House by Natasha Pulley (Please count how many times Alyx brings up Mars House and let Annie know. Annie counted three… but definitely feels like it’s more!) Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/] used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe [https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Let's Talk History!

Recorded on 2/8/26. Here we talk about history books! Also, we promise… one day… we’ll have a consistent schedule… maybe… Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/] used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe [https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Horniest Little Episode

We are marking this one M for mature! We are going to be discussing spicy things and are being very explicit in the episode. 18+ and listen at your own discretion. Books mentioned: * North How Much is Your Love by Maem * Words of Silk by Sandra Brown * Hades Calculus by Maria Ying * I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming * The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward * Sex Wizards Series by Alethea Faust Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/] used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe [https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The First Back Room Book Talk of 2026

Back Room Book Talk. One indie bookstore, two readers, infinite strong opinions. Sit with Alyx and Annie for a little reading catch up. Thanks for joining us! Books mentioned in this podcast: * A Little History of Music [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-little-history-of-music-robert-philip/f5b59917fdc4d3ca?ean=9780300279085&next=t] Robert Philip * South Beside the Sky * There is No Antimemetics Division [https://bookshop.org/p/books/there-is-no-antimemetics-division-a-novel-qntm/62e1b65b6635badb?ean=9780593983751&next=t] by qntm * Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman * Before We Were Trans [https://bookshop.org/p/books/before-we-were-trans-a-new-history-of-gender-dr-kit-heyam/6a9d04b3255b18d8?ean=9781541605404&next=t] by Dr Kit Heyam PH D * Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes [https://bookshop.org/p/books/destiny-disrupted-a-history-of-the-world-through-islamic-eyes-tamim-ansary/68237c6e00f98b2f?ean=9781541706200&next=t] by Tamim Ansary * The Works of Vermin [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-works-of-vermin-hiron-ennes/3d36250fdd70771a?ean=9781250811219&next=t] by Hiron Ennes * Hades Calculus by Maria Ying * The Themis Files Trilogy by Sylvain Neuvel Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/] used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe [https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

And That's on Physical Media... kinda...

Back Room Book Talk. One indie bookstore, two readers, infinite strong opinions. Sit with Alyx and Annie to discuss the internet and why they think it ties into people’s desire for physical media. Thanks for joining us! Books mentioned in the podcast: Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI [https://bookshop.org/p/books/nexus-a-brief-history-of-information-networks-from-the-stone-age-to-ai-yuval-noah-harari/a3ae480345740f08?ean=9780593734223&next=t] by Yuval Noah Harari I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter [https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-am-not-your-perfect-mexican-daughter-erika-l-s-nchez/713e2447bbc54704?ean=9781524700515&next=t]by Erika L. Sánchez Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/] used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe [https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]