In this episode, the hosts discuss the second part of Hanya Yanagihara's highly anticipated 2022 release, To Paradise. This episode is full of spoilers for the first part and second part of the book (Book One, "Washington Square" and Book Two, "Lipo-Wao-Nahele,"). They share some updates on their plan moving forward handling this book. (*Huge apologies for any disruptive background noise! We did our best to navigate recording around some major construction happening and didn't want to skip...

In this episode, August and Kendra share a number of their favorite television adaptations of books, as well as some that they would like to watch and/or read. TV shows listed in this episode: Sharp objects Good Omens Game of Thrones Sherlock Station Eleven Alias Grace I’ll Be Gone in the Dark Handmaid’s Tale Honorable mentions: American Gods Hannibal North and South Haunting of Hill House Queen’s Gambit Mindhunter Shadow & Bone Little House on the Prairie To...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the first part of Hanya Yanagihara's highly anticipated 2022 release, To Paradise. This episode is full of spoilers for just the first part ("Washington Square"). Stay tuned for further discussion in the coming weeks!

In this episode, the hosts discuss film adaptations of books--the good, the bad, and everything in-between. Films discussed in the episode: Pride & Prejudice (2005) Macbeth (2015) Sense & Sensibility (1995) Mystic River (2003) Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) Anna Karenina (2012) Romeo + Juliet (1996) Gone Girl (2014) Practical Magic (1998) Howl’s Moving Castle (2005) Ella Enchanted (2004) The Girl on the Train (2016) The Devil All the Time (2020) New Moon (2009) North & South (2004) A...

In this episode, the hosts share the winners of their reading bracket. They do this by choosing a favorite book from each month of 2021 and pit each month against each other. The books knock each other out one by one, until there is a clear winner. August and Kendra have both fiction and nonfiction brackets. And, believe it or not, some of their picks are different from the top 5 of 2021 due to the nature of the bracket knockouts. This episode is completely spoiler-free.

Happy New Year, all! In this episode, the hosts share the books they loved the most this year. In total, they discuss 10 books in total and the episode is completely spoiler-free. Books mentioned in the episode: Comfort Me with Apples by Cathrynne M. Valente (2021) In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (2019) A Carnival of Snackery by David Sedaris (2021) Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (1995) The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi (2021) Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder...

In this episode, the hosts review the TBRs they created for 2021 and reflect on how well they did sticking to their goals. This episode is completely spoiler-free. Tune in to see which books they read, which ones they're looking forward to getting to in 2022, and which books have been dropped from their TBRs completely.

In this spoiler-free episode, the hosts talk about the 5 books that disappointed (or enraged) them the most this year. Remember, everyone likes different things! These are just the books that they didn't like this year :) Books mentioned in the episode: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (2021) Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2018) The Roanoke Girls Amy Engel (2018) Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (2017) The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn (2018) Mexican Gothic by Silvia...

In this episode, the hosts share some gift recommendations for the upcoming holiday season. They'll give brief synopses (spoiler-free) and context for why they chose each book for that category. Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season! Books mentioned in the episode: Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945) Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (2021) The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (2020) American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (2001) Little...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the classic children's horror story, "The Girl with the Green Ribbon" alongside Machado's retelling of it, "The Husband Stitch". This episode contains spoilers for both stories. Stories mentioned in the episode: "The Girl with the Green Ribbon" by Alvin Schwartz from In a Dark, Dark Room (1984) "The Husband Stitch" by Carmen Maria Machado from Her Body & Other Parties (2014) "My Body, Herself" by Carmen Maria Machado (2020)

The time is finally here!! Kendra has read one of August's favorite book and is ready to discuss it. In this episode, the hosts will share their thoughts on Donald Ray Pollock's The Devil All the Time. They will first share some spoiler-free impressions before moving into a spoiler-filled discussion. AND today is August's birthday. What better way to celebrate her than to spend some time thinking/talking about a book she finds perfect! TW: discussions include brief mentions of sexual...

Here is our September-October wrap up! This is completely spoiler-free and we'll offer short reviews for each. Check out our Goodreads profiles to keep track of our reading in real-time. August: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/122578796-august-braddock Kendra: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/93348303-kendra-l

In this episode, the hosts discuss Tartt's very popular 1992 book, The Secret History. This book often shows up everywhere when the weather turns colder and the leaves change. It is a giant in the dark academia genre, and we can see why. It subscribes to all of the major tropes. That being said, August and Kendra had very different experiences reading it. They will begin with having a spoiler-free discussion where they give brief impressions and a basic summary. Then, they will move into an...

We are so excited to share this spooky-themed episode! Halloween is our favorite holiday, so here are some texts that help use get into the holiday spirit.

In this episode, August and Kendra share their favorite short stories. It was difficult for them to choose, and as the episode progresses, they remember great ones they've left out. What are some of your favorite short stories? Books mentioned in the episode: “The Company of Wolves” by Angela Carter (197) "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1965) "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1892) "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant (1888) "To Build a...

Happy Fall! We love this season and we are so excited to share our favorite autumnal reads with you all. Remember to check us out on Instagram @bookdumbpodcast to ask us any questions + send us your recommendations.

In this episode, the hosts share their favorite texts that can be read in a single sitting. This episode is completely spoiler-free! Books mentioned in the episode: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (1966) The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943) The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers (1951) Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West (1933) A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood (1964) Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee (1962) Me Talk Pretty One Day by David...

In this episode, Kendra and August share their favorite dark academia reads ('tis the season!). This episode is completely spoiler-free. Books mentioned in the episode: Bunny by Mona Awad (2019) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (1842). Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (2015) Maurice by EM Forester (1913/1971) Portrait of an Artist by James Joyce (1916) Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (1895) Dracula by Bram Stoker (1892) Howard's End by EM...

Here is a very special episode where the gals answer your questions--about books, about life, about anything!

In this very special episode, August and Kendra discuss Dennis Lehane's 2001 thriller Mystic River. They both have A LOT to say about this amazing book, so definitely listen even if you haven't read the book! The first 20 minutes or so will be spoiler-free. Warnings will always be given before the episode moves into spoiler territory. TW: discussions of violence, including murder, abduction of a child, and pedophilia.

Here is a short bonus episode to update you all the books we've read from July-August! This is completely spoiler-free, we'll only offer short reviews for each. Check out our Goodreads profiles to keep track of the books! August: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/122578796-august-braddock Kendra: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/93348303-kendra-l

In this very special episode, the hosts are joined by some dear friends to discuss Jennifer Saint's 2021 novel Ariadne. So much gratitude to Noelle Gallagher and Jess Dekker for coming onto the podcast to share their brilliance. There will be a very short spoiler-free segment in the beginning with just August and Kendra. Then, the episode will transition into a spoiler-filled discussion between the four where they give impressions, answer discussion questions, and grapple with the...

In this week's spoiler free episode, August and Kendra share their top 5 favorite works that were originally published not in English, as well as a handful of honorable mentions and books they'd like to get to soon. Books mentioned by August: 1. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (translated by Mirra Ginsburg). 2. The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector (translated by Benjamin Moser) 3. The God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton). 4. Things We Lost...

In this Episode, August and Kendra share the books that include road trips (or just traveling in general!). This episode is completely spoiler-free, so do enjoy whether you've read any of these books or not. Books mentioned in the episode: The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (1944) Intimations by Zadie Smith (2020) The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955) Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016) The Odyssey by Homer The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho...