Episode 12: Nonfiction

Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry

We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of Fatty Fatty Boom Boom from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy. 

A few things:

Rabia Chaudry has done a bunch of really cool things: she’s part of the Undisclosed podcast that discusses wrongful convictions, she wrote a book about Adnan Syed - a family friend that was (wrongfully) convicted of murder, and she was part of an HBO docuseries about the Adnan Syed case (which is what spurred her weight loss journey at the end of Fatty Fatty Boom Boom.) In this book, they refer to her podcast as the Serial podcast. Here’s a link to that podcast. Don’t ask us why it’s not on her website. Adnan Syed has even been in the news recently when the charges against him were dropped.

The history of American food/cuisine is very interesting. 

Colorism is real and it is rampant around the world, not just in Pakistan. Here’s an article about the history of colorism in South Asia (specifically India) and the history of the use of skin lightening cream.

Super Size Me is a 2004 documentary film about a man who eats McDonalds for three meals a day for a whole month to determine if fast food causes real harm to people’s health.

The American chicken industry has an interesting history as well. Don’t read this unless you’re sure you want to know.

Just in case you read the previous article and now feel compelled to change your eating habits, here’s some introductory information about vegetarianism.

Cheryl was totally wrong about when Coca Cola contained cocaine. It was not the 1980s but the 1880s, when it was first invented and cocaine was legal.

Abusers can put on a different face before they start the abuse. If you or someone you know needs help getting out of a domestic abuse situation, there is help. Click here for the National Domestic Abuse Hotline.

What a book to finish out the season. From the bottom of our hearts, Mirele, Aaron and I (Cheryl) are so grateful that you’ve been on this journey with us, whether this is your first episode, twelfth episode, or any number in between.  Thank you for your incredible support during our first season! Can’t wait to be back in your ear holes with some new books (and possibly some new voices) in Season 2!

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Episode 11: Nonfiction

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of Into Thin Air from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy. 

A few things:

While the internet did exist back in 1996, there isn’t a link to the original article by Jon Krakauer on the Outside Magazine website. This link will take you to the internet archived version of the article.

We each went down a “rabbit hole” while reading this book. Here are the things we researched:

Mirele: I need to know what frostbite looks like! I looked here. (Cheryl’s side note: if you want more gruesome images, Mirele suggests googling “frostbite pictures.” I, personally, could not look.)

Cheryl: I need the GoPro experience of climbing Everest! So I watched Expedition Everest and Lost on Everest.

Aaron: I need to see and learn everything I can! I looked here, here, and here. 

There’s a movie called Everest and a movie based on this book, conveniently called, Into Thin Air. What happened to the Hillary Step? Here’s the article about it.

Join us next time when we discuss Mirele’s Nonfiction selection: Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry

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Episode 10: Realistic Fiction

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of Efrén Divided from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy. 

A few things:

Are you interested in other books that have won the Pura Belpre Award? Check out this link for more information about the award and a link to a list of all the winners.

I.C.E. is the acronym for the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Cheryl got DREAMers wrong in the episode. Efrén and his siblings are U.S. citizens. DREAMers are undocumented children brought to the United States by their undocumented parents but have lived most of their lives in the United States, don’t know or have little connection with their “home” countries, but are vulnerable to deportation. Click here for more information.

Antisemitic tropes are pervasive in popular culture. Hopefully, unintentionally. We didn’t always notice AS tropes, starting with the most popular children’s book of all time, Harry Potter. Here’s an article about the AS tropes (and other problematic elements) in HP and here’s another interesting take on AS tropes in popular culture.

Want to learn more about Ernestos Cisneros? Click here for his website.

The place where people can meet across the border is Friendship Park in San Diego, along the U.S.-Mexican border. Click here for more information about the border monument.

Join us next time when we discuss Cheryl’s Nonfiction selection: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

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Episode 9: Realistic Fiction The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy. 

A few things:

Are you an introvert? Click here for a description of introversion.

Not sure what an anxiety disorder looks like? Click here for some general information about anxiety.

The car in question is a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, which was the car used in the 1980s TV show, Knight Rider. Apparently, the one in the show could talk. Mirele and Cheryl still maintain that cars have wheels and go.

Want to learn more about pub trivia? Click here for some good background info.

Is CBD good for your skin - enough that CBD cosmetics would be a thing? Indeed.

Lili’s book is called, The Garden of Small Beginnings. The book that prominently features Polly is Adult Assembly Required. 

Click here for an informative video. You’re welcome.

Larchmont Village, Los Angeles is a real place! Can’t travel to see it? You can take a virtual walking tour by clicking here.

Purpley and Buddy are Mirele’s new hermit crabs. Make sure to follow us on Instagram (@4evershelfmate) to see an example of their inner dialogue. Max is Cheryl’s puppy (even if he is 11 years old) and he will also make an appearance.

Join us next time when we discuss Mirele’s realistic fiction selection: Efrén Divided by Ernersto Cisneros

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Episode 8: Mystery

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of The Inheritance Games from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy.

A few things:

The Westing Game actually won the Newbery Medal in 1979, so it seems it was a very popular book, at least with librarians.

Even though Cheryl has never heard of “awkward turtle,” it is, in fact, a real thing. You’ve probably seen a Victorian house, but in case you can’t envision it, click here.

Cheryl envisioned Hawthorne House to be more like Frank Lloyd Wright’s house, Taliesin West.

Never heard of the saying, “Suspend your disbelief”? Click here for the formal definition.

Want a list of all of JLB’s books? Click here.

Here’s a link to the podcast episode that Cheryl listened to that included the interview with JLB.

Interested in JLB’s other research? Click here for some info on the science of fiction.

Cheryl did not succeed at getting an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) at the ALA Annual Conference.

Join us next time when we discuss Cheryl’s realistic fiction selection: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

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Episode 7: Mystery - A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy. 

A few things:

Check out our Instagram for a list of murder mysteries that we recommend - many of which were published around the same time as this one.

We love the phrase, “No Body, no crime” because it reminds Cheryl of one of her favorite shows, “Psych.” We didn’t know it was also a Taylor Swift song.

We were sure that the “Find Your Friends” is an app available only for Apple users. However, there are several options for Android users as well. Click here so that you can be prepared when you are chasing a suspected killer to a different town.

Want more about James Bond villains? Click here for all of the details you’re dying to know without having to watch all the Bond films.

Have we convinced you to watch “Veronica Mars” yet? It’s streaming on Hulu. Weevil is one of the best characters. 

The famous quote, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” may have some true sentiment but has been misattributed for a very long time. There is no evidence that anyone actually uttered these poignant words. Quite the fake news phenomena.

There is a way to record a list of all printed documents. Read these directions if you too are worried that your best friends’ dad is attempting to blackmail you. Or not. Please do not try this at home.

Book #2: Good Girl, Bad Blood Book #3: As Good As Dead

Since recording this episode, the votes were tallied and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder actually won the Black-Eyed Susan Award for the 21-22 school year! For the 2022-2023 nominees, click here. 

Join us next time when we discuss Cheryl’s mystery selection: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Episode 4: Fantasy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy. 

A few things: There is a word for when you smoosh two words together to make a new word - like daliens. The word is “portmanteau.”

We love Monty Python here at Forever Shelfmates and we heard them in our heads while reading this book. One of our favorites is “He’s not dead yet” from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and immortalized in song in “He Is Not Dead Yet” from the musical Spamalot.

We’re not going to lie. We watched this video of the opening number from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy movie several times during the reading and recording for this episode. You’re welcome.

We are not at all embarrassed by the fact that we may have owned an old school Nintendo GameBoy. If you’re of a certain age, you might never have seen one. Click here to see what it looks like.

Back in the day, British money used to be very complicated. We’re pretty sure that is what Douglas Adams was talking about when they were leaving a tip. Based on our extensive research (and loads of head scratching) we’re pretty sure that there were 20 shillings in a British pound. That would mean that Ford left a VERY generous tip. Today, British money is based on pence and not shillings. We think. 

Miss Saigon is a broadway musical about a couple who falls in love during the last days of the Vietnam War. It was originally on Broadway in 1991 and was revived in 2017.

Check out this website or this Facebook page to keep up with all Towel Day activities in the future.

Recently, Cheryl has become a bit obsessed with Marvel and the MCU in particular. She sees Marvel references everywhere but the one she makes in the episode is from The Avengers: Infinity Wars. Click here to see the scene. 

Watch this short video for a brief history of the Magna Carta, which is an important historical document and NOT the name of an alien race.

Join us next time when we discuss Mirele’s mystery selection: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson 

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Find us on Instagram at @4evershelfmates Episode 4: Fantasy Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of Throne of Glass from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy. 

A few things:

Check out Sarah J. Maas’ website for a list of all her books. Cheryl has read all of them - including her most recent which is over 800 pages long. That took her about a week to finish.

We searched for an Official Pronunciation Guide on Sarah J. Maas’ website, but couldn’t find one. This is the most comprehensive one that we could find, meaning that it includes the names of places in the world of Throne of Glass (and it cites Sarah Maas’ website as its source). Please note the pronunciation of “Adarlan” before you vote in our Instagram poll. Was Cheryl’s way “Ah-dar-lan” or Mirele’s “Otter-lan” the Official correct pronunciation?

Just because they’re cute, here are some pictures of adorable sea otters! Here is a short video of otters opening clams. Mirele is right; they are vicious.

What exactly does a book editor do? This article lays out all the responsibilities on editors today and how the profession has changed over time.

Throne of Glass was published in August 2012. Shadow and Bone was published in June 2012. Go With the Flow was published in January 2020. Clearly we’re still working to normalize menstruation in pop culture and media.

We here at Forever Shelfmates are looking for some books that feature toilets. Or bathrooms. Or moments in books when the characters pause to use the facilities. Give us a shoutout on instagram if you can think of one. Mirele did note that there is one episode of “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” that has a scene where the heroine locks herself in the bathroom. At least that’s something.

If you want to listen to the interview with Sarah J. Maas about her role bringing sex into Young Adult novels, click here. Here’s a good article about the history and current status of “New Adult” as a thing.

Want to talk more about this book? Come find us on Instagram @4evershelfmates and tell us what you thought of this book.

Join us next time when we discuss Mirele’s fantasy selection: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

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Find us on Instagram at @4evershelfmates

Episode 4: Classics Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of Slaughterhouse Five from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy.  A few things:

Cheryl’s right to say whatever she wants about this book is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Schadenfreude is a real thing. There’s a whole song about it in the musical, Avenue Q - one of Cheryl’s favorites. Keep in mind that the song has explicit language.

What happened in Dresden in 1945 was truly apocalyptic and it’s not surprising that Kurt Vonnegut suffered after witnessing it. Here’s an article from the National WWII Museum for more details.

PTSD is a serious illness that has existed for millenia. However, it was only added as a psychological disorder in the DSM IV in 1980. It has been called a lot of different things throughout the years such as “shell shock” during WWI and “combat fatigue” in WWII. The mass influx of Vietnam veterans suffering from PTSD spurred research on this illness which led to its eventual inclusion as a psychiatric disorder.

Mirele’s travels on the E train took her through Queens in NYC. It’s the blue line.

History tends to take a romanticized view of WWII, calling the generation of people who served, The Greatest Generation. However, the myth of the Greatest Generation may be doing more harm than good because it glosses over the horrors of war. Here’s an interesting interview about this issue.

Kurt Vonnegut passed away in 2007. This obituary in the Baltimore Sun talks about his legacy.

Want to talk more about this book? Come find us on Instagram @4evershelfmates and tell us what you thought of this book.

Join us next time when we discuss Cheryl’s fantasy selection: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

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Find us on Instagram at @4evershelfmates Episode 3: Classics Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

We’re in favor of supporting independent bookstores! If you don’t know your local indie, check out this link if you want to get your own copy of Murder on the Orient Express from a website that supports all indies. Alternatively, here is a link directly to the publisher’s website with other options to purchase your own copy.

A few things:

The Orient Express is a real train, and it still runs trips today - you too can take a trip in 1920s glitz and glamor. Let’s hope no one actually gets murdered today... Atlas Obscura has a great image of the Orient Express’s route map - scroll about halfway down the page. It’s clear that the Orient Express featured in the book was the red line from Istanbul, Turkey (or Stanboul as it’s spelled in the book) to Calais, France.

We don’t always think about Greece being a cold country, what with the islands known for beaches and swimming, but in the north where the Orient Express transects it can get very cold. There have been several reports of snowstorms in Greece in winter 2022, even one so terrible that it hit Athens.

A railfan or rail enthusiast is someone who is recreationally interested in rail transport. There are a wide variety of rail enthusiast websites for those who are interested.

Hercule Poirot is quite a famous character as he appears in forty-four books, all by Agatha Christie. Compared with her other famous character, Miss Marple - who only appears in fifteen novels, it’s clear that Christie enjoyed writing Poirot.

Japonism was all the rage in the late 1800s, influencing everything from Impressionist art to fashion but was waning in the 1930s. Kimonos were still popular, as exhibited by Hollywood stars like Marlene Dietrich.

Murder can be funny. Just watch the 1985 movie, Clue.

Masterpiece Theater is a series of programs on the Public Broadcasting Service. They are almost always dramas, and quite frequently British dramas airing for the first time in the United States. Masterpiece Theater has continuously aired since 1971. Monsterpiece Theater is a sketch parody of Masterpiece Theater for children on Sesame Street.

Agatha Christie, like many people of her era, of her era, had racist, antisemitic, and bigoted attitudes that permeated her writings. This has made reading her and adapting her works difficult for contemporary audiences. How much was Christie a bigot herself versus how much she reflected the bigoted attitudes of her times is up for debate among Christie scholars and readers. Here is a thoughtful piece about how all of these issues were handled during production of the latest film adaptation of the Christie novel, Death on the Nile.

Here’s the list of the characters in the book. We love it when our producer researches things for us in the moment.

This book has been made into a movie many times. The most recent version came out in 2017. Here is a list of all the actors who’ve played Poirot. Even though Mirele thinks Barack Obama has some Poirot-like qualities, he has never played Poirot in any capacity.

Want to talk more about this book? Come find us on Instagram @4evershelfmates and tell us what you thought of this book.

Join us next time when we discuss Mirele’s classics selection: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut.

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