It’s Pride Month, so in honor of that we’re discussing what might be the happiest, most fun book we've read all year: RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston. Links:BookPage's Interview with Casey McQuistonStumbling Into Identity: Casey McQuiston on Writing About BisexualityBe sure to check out SFF Yeah!Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

Unassigned Reading

Book Club: Red, White, and Royal Blue

We're back this week with our best beach read recommendations for your summer vacations.Books mentioned in this episode:The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky ChambersKill The Farm Boy by Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin HearnFix Her Up by Tessa BaileyFaker by Sarah SmithMagic for Liars by Sarah GaileyAloha Rodeo by David Wolman and Julian SmithBe sure to check out SFF Yeah!Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

Book Talk: Beach Reads

You asked, we answered! What inspired us to start this podcast, where do we find out about our favorite books, what deceased authors would we like to interview, and what are our favorite reading drinks? Find out all this and more in this episode of Book Talk!Books mentioned in this episode: Prince on Paper by Alyssa ColeThe Language of Thorns by Leigh BardugoThe Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler WarnerThe Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann HobermanThe Doll People by Ann M. MartinThe Midwife's Apprentice by Karen CushmanMy Sister's Keeper by Jodi PicoultWicked by Gregory MaguireMeddling Kids by Edgar CanteroNosferatu by Joe HillSawkill Girls by Claire LegrandThe Serpent King by Jeff ZetnerTurtles All the Way Down by John GreenSing, Unburied Sing by Jesmyn WardThe Fifth Season by N.K. JemisinWise Man's Fear by Patrick RothfussGregor the Overlander by Suzanne CollinsThe Regional Office is Under Attack by Manuel GonzalesOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

Book Talk: Anniversary Q&A

It’s our one year anniversary! To celebrate we asked you all to vote and pick one of the best books of 2018 for our book discussion this month. And you picked one of our favorites from the past year, THE KISS QUOTIENT by Helen Hoang! Let’s discuss romance vs. erotica, comparisons to 50 Shades of Gray, and representation in fiction!Links:https://ew.com/author-interviews/2019/04/30/helen-hoang-the-bride-test-interview/https://literaryreview.co.uk/bad-sex-in-fiction-awardOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

Book Club: The Kiss Quotient

We’ve been reading too many great books to talk about anything else this month. Get ready for an episode of all books and no substance. Books mentioned in this episode: The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'MearaWe Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay MejiaKing of Scars by Leigh BardugoBlack Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon JamesAn Extraordinary Union by Alyssa ColeAnd the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick NessEducated by Tara WestoverHeretics Anonymous by Katie HenryThe Wedding Date by Jasmine GuilloryHurricane Child by Kheryn CallenderOn the Come Up by Angie ThomasThe Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke BolanderBecoming by Michelle ObamaOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

All Books

This month we’re discussing the stunning alternate history novella, THE BLACK GOD’S DRUMS, by P. Djèlí Clark. What’s up with steampunk and how does this Haitian-inspired tale reimagine Civil War era New Orleans? Listen in to find out!Interview with the authorOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

The Black God’s Drums

The apocalypse is almost upon us! ...okay not really, but the TV show adaptation of GOOD OMENS almost is, and we want to talk about it. Books mentioned in this episode: Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonThe City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane AndersAurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay KristoffWatch the Good Omens trailerOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

Let's Talk About Good Omens

Dive on in for a discussion of GOOD OMENS, the cult classic novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Let’s talk the most specific prophecies ever, religious references, and how this awesome book came to be.Some useful links:www.tor.com/2013/05/29/a-comprehensive-theological-reference-guide-to-good-omens/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30512620Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod@gmail.com

Good Omens

Everybody gets them; nobody wants them. How do we conquer the dreaded reading slump? Romance, re-reads, shaking things up? We have some thoughts, and we’d love to share them with youBooks mentioned in this episode: The Bride Test by Helen HoangWelcome to Nightvale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor It Devours by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey CranorThe Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina KhanOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReading

Book Talk 11: Reading Slumps and How to Beat Them

We’re tackling a romance this month with one of Sarah’s favorites, THE SCRIBE by Elizabeth Hunter. This supernatural romance has us discussing soul mates, romance tropes, and just what constitutes a happily ever after.Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReading

Book Club 11: The Scribe

Valentine’s Day is almost here-- let’s talk about our favorite bookish couples. Who are our BrOTPs, NOTPs, and OTPs of the literary world? Listen to this episode to find out!Books mentioned in this episode:Ayesha at Last by Uzma JalaluddinThe Final Empire by Brandon SandersonMen We Reaped by Jesmyn WardA great interview with Uzma Jalaluddin on Ayesha at LastMore on the origin of the term ‘OTP’ and its current usage:knowyourmeme.com/memes/otpfanlore.org/wiki/One_True_Pairingbustle.com/articles/79776-what-does-otp-mean-a-primer-for-this-very-important-acronymOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReading

Book Talk 10: Our Literary OTPs

We’re starting off the new year discussing the breakout fantasy hit of 2018, CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE. Let’s talk afrofuturism, influences of Avatar the Last Airbender, fantasy as allegory for modern politics, and our theories for where this awesome series is going. Kilgore, De Witt Douglas, and Ranu Samantrai. “A Memorial to Octavia E. Butler.” Science Fiction Studies, vol. 37, no. 3, 2010, pp. 353–361. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25746438.Some awesome interviews with Tomi Adeyemi to check out:https://bookriot.com/2018/08/02/tomi-adeyemi-interview/https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/6/5/17417604/tomi-adeyemi-interview-children-of-blood-and-boneOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod @ gmail.com

Book Club 10: Children of Blood and Bone

Let’s talk bookish resolutions! From Book Riot’s Read Harder challenge to personal goals, let’s figure out how to start off 2019 right.Books mentioned in this episode: How Long Til Black Future Month by N. K. JemisinThe Girl King by Mimi YuSpinning Silver by Naomi NovakRadium Girls by Kate MooreBook Riot’s 2019 Read Harder ChallengeBuy My Name Was Never Frankenstein (Rachel’s anthology)Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod @ gmail.com

Book Talk 9: Our 2019 Bookish Resolutions

We’re talking PRINCESS OF ALDERAAN  in this very special Starwarsmas episode! Let’s discuss Leia’s backstory, connections to the larger Star Wars universe, and what it means to do good in the universe. We have a good feeling about this one. Happy holidays and may the Force be with you! Links We Mentioned:Interview With Claudia GrayOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod @ gmail.com

Book Club 9: Leia, Princess of Alderaan

CURSED CHILD and FANTASTIC BEASTS -- love ‘em or hate ‘em, we all have strong opinions about the HP Extended Universe. Where do Sarah and Rachel come down on that issue? Well, you’ll just have to listen to this episode to find out. Books mentioned in this episode: Born a Crime by Trevor NoahClean Room, v. 1 by Gail Simone and Jon Davis-HuntA Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh MafiA Love Letter to Newt ScamanderOur theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky.Get in touch with us: Website: unassignedreadingpod.comTwitter: @UnassignedPodInsta: UnassignedReadingEmail: unassignedreadingpod @ gmail.com

Book Talk 8: Harry Potter & The Questionable Extended Universe

We talk about the books you're never going to talk about in English class.