Ep 4: Functional Literacy FTW!!

Bonus Ep 1: Hell's Belles!

Join us for our FIRST bonus episode where we discuss For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn. **THIS EPISODE CONSISTS OF SPOILERS** Get all the deets on Jaysea's website at https://jaysealynn.com/ [https://jaysealynn.com/] and don't forget to check out the Hell's Belles series here [https://www.tiktok.com/@sea.ya.later/playlist/Hells%20Belles-7223542271319427886] on TikTok!! **PRODUCER NOTE** Some of the audio has some distortions in places which we are aware of. We are working on a fix for next time. Thanks for giving us some grace while we work with the tech we have. We appreciate you!

Ep 5: Booksta, Booktok, & Their Impact

Social media might be at the root of many of our problems, but we can't ignore its impact on reading and the bookish community as a whole. Prior to Booksta and Booktok's massive bookish kick off during ThE PaNiNi, Borders/Waldenbooks shut down (2011), Barnes and Noble was on the verge of bankruptcy (prior to 2019), and many independent book stores were on the verge of shutting down, or non-existent. With the surge of readers during and after ThE PaNiNi, we've seen the bookish community explode, genres expand, and indie authors take full advantage of the opportunity. Not only did IG and TT help to revitalize the industry, but it damn near saved big box stores from extinction. Come yap with us!! Don't forget to follow us everywhere @practicallybookishpodcast!! Books to check out: ⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CG9BBB?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin]⁠The Bible⁠ [https://a.co/d/03IuXClD] Eric Malikyte Backlist [https://ericmalikyte.com/bookshelf/] ⁠The Inheritance Cycle: Christopher Paollini⁠ [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/series/the-inheritance-cycle/_/N-2z9t] Lord of The Rings: JRR Tolkein [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/science-fiction-fantasy/j-r-r-tolkien-the-lord-of-the-rings/_/N-29Z8q8Z183p] For Whom the Belle Tolls: Jaysea Lynn [https://jaysealynn.com/] Sources to note throughout the episode: Indie Book Awards [www.indiebookawards.com] Queer Indie Awards [www.instagram.com/qiawards] Goodreads Awards [https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/3030-meet-the-winners-of-the-2025-goodreads-choice-awards] Extras: Mark: Lou Ridley [https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLOEllDZ5k&desc_update=1&si=mb41wAzhlEmW73JI] Tolkien Movie [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3361792/] BlackGirlBookFair [www.instagram.com/blackgirlbookfair] Slow Burn Book Shop [www.instagram.com/slowburnbookshop] Support the communities who need it most! We Need Diverse Books (Black Creatives Fund) [https://www.diversebooks.org/partner/blackcreativesfund] Galleyway [https://galleyway.com/donate] The Hellebore [https://thehellebore.com/hues-foundation/] Resistance Links [tinyurl.com/57hmksnf]

Ep 4: Functional Literacy FTW!!

So you can read. Great! But can you actually understand what you're reading? Can you use context clues to figure out what something means? Can you retain the information? This episode we discuss what functional literacy is, and how it effects individuals and society as a whole. Don't forget to frequent your local libraries and to follow us everywhere @practicallybookishpodcast!! Books to check out: ⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CG9BBB?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin]The Bible [https://a.co/d/03IuXClD] Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text [https://a.co/d/070VbPPa] Fablehaven - Brandon Mull [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CDL9ZD?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi] Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis [https://a.co/d/0acHVH22] The Inheritance Cycle - Christopher Paollini [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/series/the-inheritance-cycle/_/N-2z9t] A Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony Snicket [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/series/a-series-of-unfortunate-events/_/N-2kp2] The Heir of Swansgrove - K.J. Pritchett [https://katiejpritchett.com/books/] The Echoes of Olympus Mons - Eric Malikyte [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/echoes-of-olympus-mons-eric-malikyte/1137278033?ean=9781637891490] Broke-Ass Witchcraft - Raven Morrigan [https://a.co/d/0i6raS7v] A Touch of Darkness - Scarlett St Clair [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-touch-of-darkness-scarlett-st-clair/1132167708?ean=9781728258454] Sources to note throughout the episode: PubMed Central [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12496190/] Barbara Bush Foundation: Literacy Gap Map [https://map.barbarabush.org/]⁠ [https://spark.library.yorku.ca/effective-reading-strategies-passive-vs-active-reading/] APM Research Lab [https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy] Extras: ⁠The Onion [https://theonion.com/] Jolly Good Ginger [https://www.youtube.com/@Jolly_good_ginger] Aaron Parnas [https://aaronparnas.substack.com/] ⁠ [https://www.hplovecraft.com/]

Ep 3: Critical Reading or Nah?

As the popular memes and posts lately have been saying... * You watched or read "The Hunger Games" and sided with the resistance. * You watched "Star Wars" and sided with the resistance. * You watched "The Matrix" and sided with the resistance. * You watched or read "Divergent" and sided with the resistance. * You read "Fourth Wing" and sided with the resistance. * You watched "V for Vendetta" and sided with the resistance. When it's fiction, you understand. Yet you refuse to see it when it's the reality you're living. Wild. It's safe to say, we're at an impasse. Most people these days do not read critically, regardless of what they're reading. While they may be able to retain the information, many do not look for deeper meaning or context within the text they read. While there isn't technically anything wrong with that, reading critically allows us to fully connect with the stories and characters. For those of us who had this drilled into us during school, it happens automatically, almost by osmosis. However, for others, it is a skill that can be learned, and we discuss how and more! Don't forget to follow us everywhere @practicallybookishpodcast!! Books to check out: The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CG9BBB?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin] Heated Rivalry - Rachel Reid [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heated-rivalry-rachel-reid/1129486546?ean=9781335534637] Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-white-royal-blue-casey-mcquiston/1129285387?ean=9781250316776] Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros [https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Fourth-Wing/Rebecca-Yarros/9781649377371] For Whom The Belle Tolls - Jaysea Lynn [https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Whom-Belle-Tolls/Jaysea-Lynn/9781668208755] Grotesque - Allison Paige [https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Grotesque/Allison-Paige/9798986559384] Blood Infernal - James Rollins, Rebecca Cantrell [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-infernal-james-rollins/1120552838?ean=9780062343284] The Book of Magic - Alice Hoffman [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-magic-alice-hoffman/1138725802?ean=9781982151492] Witches of New York - Ami McKay [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-witches-of-new-york-ami-mckay/1115637989?ean=9780062359926] The Echoes of Olympus Mons - Eric Malikyte [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/echoes-of-olympus-mons-eric-malikyte/1137278033?ean=9781637891490] Count My Lies - Sophie Stava [https://a.co/d/gRmFcvg] Sources to note throughout the episode: Excelsior University: Active (Critical) vs Passive Reading [https://owl.excelsior.edu/orc/introduction/active-reading/] York University: Active vs Passive Reading [https://spark.library.yorku.ca/effective-reading-strategies-passive-vs-active-reading/] Cleveland State University: Critical Reading [https://www.csuohio.edu/writing-center/critical-reading-what-critical-reading-and-why-do-i-need-do-it] Stetson University: Critical Reading [https://www.stetson.edu/other/writing-program/media/CRITICAL%20READING.pdf] Reading Critically (Reddit) [https://www.reddit.com/r/writing/comments/10nczdk/how_do_you_read_critically/] University of Regina: Passive vs Active Reading [https://library.uregina.ca/c.php?g=740665&p=5346158] Library of Congress - Rebecca Yarros Interview [https://youtu.be/eMQEXGZ0Y-g?si=3jb6xKSm6m4sarLg] Extras: HP Lovecraft Historical Society [https://www.hplhs.org/faq.php] HP Lovecraft [https://www.hplovecraft.com/] Lovecraft Country (Series) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6905686/] Lovecraft Country (Novel) [https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Lovecraft-Country/Matt-Ruff/9780062292070] 12 Years a Slave (Movie) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/] 12 Years a Slave (Novel) [https://a.co/d/iJT06KA] The Butler (Movie) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327773/] The Butler: A Witness to History [https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Butler/Wil-Haygood/9781501195600] Reading Rainbow [https://www.readingrainbow.org/] Roots [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075572/]

Ep 2: Book Banning For Dummies

Buckle up folks, this one is a doozy! Books are being banned all across the country, and we're here to talk about it, along with a bit of a free history lesson (you're welcome). To quote our Lord and Savior Stephen King: "If they ban a book in your school, haul your ass to the nearest bookstore or library ASAP and find out what they don't want you to read." And don't mind the squirrelling. We all have ADHD around here. We're working on it. Stay tuned soon for a new website and Patreon. Don't forget you can find us @practicallybookishpodcast and thank you for hanging out! Books to check out: New English Canaan - Thomas Morton [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-new-english-canaan-of-thomas-morton-with-introductory-matter-and-notes-thomas-morton/1135016694?ean=9788028361341] If The Legends Fade - Tom Hendrix [https://www.ifthelegendsfade.net/order.html] A Touch of Darkness - Scarlett St Clair [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-touch-of-darkness-scarlett-st-clair/1132167708?ean=9780991132379] Come for Me - CJ Sweet [https://a.co/d/haQ9nLJ] Blood of Hercules - Jasmine Mas [https://a.co/d/2pFed6B] Midnight Ruin - Katee Robert [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-ruin-katee-robert/1143215734?ean=9781464221415] The God of the Woods - Liz Moore [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-god-of-the-woods-liz-moore/1144221048?ean=9780593418925] Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YWF497F?binding=kindle_edition&qid=1768370897&sr=1-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin] This Book is Gay - Juno Dawson [https://a.co/d/9KVXawR] ACOTAR - Sarah J Maas [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F7JQTCR?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=dbs_s_ks_series_rwt_tkin&qid=1768372591&sr=1-1] Her Soul To Take - Harley Laroux [https://a.co/d/frEpP9c] Fifty Shades of Grey - EL James [https://a.co/d/b55eyl7] Grey - EL James [https://a.co/d/7MmSpLv] Twilight - Stephanie Meyer [https://a.co/d/hddYK5m] Midnight Sun - Stephanie Meyer [https://a.co/d/9Jch9Aw] Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo [https://a.co/d/0WwVzLg] Famine - Laura Thalassa [https://a.co/d/5W85AbL] Stuffed - Silvia Morrow [https://a.co/d/5VzH8Sx] Eric Malikyte Backlist [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Eric+Malikyte&i=audible&ref=dp_byline_sr_audible_1] Sources to note throughout the episode: Pen.org [https://pen.org/book-bans/] American Library Association [https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data] Harvard Library [https://guides.library.harvard.edu/c.php?g=1269000&p=9306840] Atlas Obscura [https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/americas-first-banned-book] The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/book-bans-pen-america-censorship] Unite Against Book Bans [https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/] Barnes and Noble [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/banned-books/_/N-rtm] PBS News Hour [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/pentagons-attempt-to-ban-books-from-base-schools-faces-backlash-from-military-families] Reads with Rachel [https://www.readswithrachel.com/] History & Extras: 16 Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford [https://youtu.be/RRh0QiXyZSk?si=jbK9hkTCL0OxzGc0] WWI Treaties & Reparations - US Holocaust Memorial Museum [https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/world-war-i-treaties-and-reparations] Nazi Book Burnings - US Holocaust Memorial Museum [https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/book-burning] Old Gods of Appalachia [https://www.oldgodsofappalachia.com/] Project 2025 Tracker [https://www.project2025.observer/en] Watchmen - Series [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7049682/] The Mummy [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120616/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk] The Fifth Element [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119116/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk] The Contoured Librarian [https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontouredlibrarian?lang=en] Meet Me in the Media Center [https://www.tiktok.com/@meetmeinthemediacenter?lang=en] Tales Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/2OIRaDoDPKx77wz1945ihy?si=98d70c06e2364bfd]