Episodes

The Haunting of Hill House

Posted on October 31, 2017

Welcome back to a very spoooooky part two of the Novel Ideas Halloween Extravaganza (consisting of two episodes of questionable quality). This episode is about The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson is probably best known for her excellent short story, “The Lottery,” which you can read by clicking on the link. In this episode we talk about that story, as well as distorted reality, queer coding, scary moments, and social isolation. We also get into Professor Dad, people with nothing better to do, the greatness of Mrs. Dudley, and listen to Gabs be impressed by Mr. Jackson. There’s also a higher than usual level of background noise which is caused by a combination of loud neighbors, snack seeking girlfriends, and (maybe) ghosts?

The music bump is “Hauntings” by Dan Welcher.

116 – The Haunting of Hill House – Unsettling Geometry

Our recommendation: A relatively easy read with some genuinely creepy moments. This is more of a psychological thriller than a straight genre horror story.

Ben: 7/10 silly psychic cards. A well written story that stands up well to the passage of time.

Gabs: 7/10 creepy knocks upon the door.

If for you it makes it to 10, remember that Mrs. Dudley clears at 10.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged asexual, background sounds, banter, bored rich kid, comment shout outs, distorted reality, Eleanor's weirdness, fantasy life, Gabs is impressed by Mr. Jackson, ghost detecting dogs, ghost hunting, Halloween Extravaganza, is the haunting real, isolation, movie adaptation, multitask fail, paranormal geekery, people with nothing better to do, professor dad, queer coding, Return of the Screw, revving the engine, scary moments, secret lesbians, Shirley Jackson, shy retiring types, source of the haunting, the greatness of Mrs. Dudley, The Haunting of Hill House, The Lottery, Theo's meanness, unnecessary comic relief, unsettling geometry, writing style.

The Turn of the Screw

Posted on October 23, 2017

Time for a spoooooky Halloween double feature from Novel Ideas! This week we discussed The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, a classic ghost novel from the turn of the (20th) century. In this episode, we talk about 19th century framing devices, horror tropes, class, and classic versus modern audience expectations. We also cover literary conspiracy theories, strange employment conditions, modern misinterpretations of Victorian prose, and why Miles is kind of a dick.

The music bump is “Conspiracy Theory” by Mike Tomaro, as performed by the Capitol Bones.

Join us next time for The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

115 – The Turn of the Screw – Do You Have Anything to Say About Flora

Our recommendation:

We didn’t find this book to be scary. Or arguably all that entertaining. It will probably work best for you if you are into the history of the horror/ghost/haunting genre or a huge Henry James fan.

Ben: 4/10. I didn’t find it to be so bad that it was upsetting, I just didn’t really enjoy any part of reading it.

Gabs: 5/10. But only if you read into it more malevolently.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged (not) haunted homes, 19th century framing devices, 3rd hand retellings, annoying literary boy children, atmosphere, class, classic v. modern horror, conspiracy, creepy children trope, dick in attitude, Dracula, expelled from school, extreme reactions, Frankenstein, ghosts in broad daylight, HALLOWEEN SPECIAL, haunted (blank) stories, Henry James, horror tropes, Jane Eyre, madness, meaningful deaths, modern misunderstandings of Victorian prose, murderous governess, nameless protagonist, not scary enough, other classic horror, pedophile theory, Peter Quint is (not?) a monster, possession, potty mouths, scary not scary, strange employment conditions, strange leaps of logic, superior interpretations, The Mezzotint, The Secret Garden, The Turn of the Screw, unreliable narrator, WE GET POLITICAL.

The Things They Carried

Posted on October 3, 2017

Hello, fans, listeners, and non-listening readers of this post. This episode of Novel Ideas is about Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, a sort-of-memoir/sort-of-fictional anthology set in and around the Vietnam War. In this episode we discuss classroom books, ambiguity, character archetypes, and unreliable narrators. We also talk about what we carry, lengthy gaps between recording (though maybe not posting? Okay, okay, not ONLY posting) podcasts, all-American girl/sweetheart assassins, and the purpose of second grade girlfriends in a war story.

The music bump is “Memory” by Yoko Kanno because maybe it was like, all dream, MAN.

114 – The Things They Carried – Ambiguous Reality

Our recommendation:

Not a straightforward war story, so you don’t have to like those to read this book. Another one of those obvious in hindsight why it is studied in school books.

Ben: 7/10. It feels like an example of a certain flavor of war story, usually involving Vietnam, that was probably more original/unique once upon a time. That being said, something about this book affected me a bit, something about the idea of being a young person and having to go to war when you have no interest in doing so.

Gabs: First half 5/10, second half 7/10. Why was there a little girl with cancer in this book?

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged ambiguity, anthology, character archetypes, classroom book, death, feminism, Gatsby, lengthy gaps, listener suggestion, live recording, memory, multiple viewpoints/retellings, pseudo-memoir, PTSD, reality v. feeling, second grade girlfriend, sweetheart assassins, The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien, truth, unreliable narrator, Vietnam War, war stories, what war does to you, WHAT WE CARRY.

2017 Hugo Noms

Posted on September 13, 2017

We interrupt this irregularly scheduled podcast with a special, albeit belated, episode. We decided to sit down and discuss the 2017 Hugo Award Nominees for Best Novel. Extra heavy spoiler alert on this episode, as every book we talk about was published in 2016 at the earliest. In addition to touching on every nominated book, we also discuss diversity, writing styles, identity, and the proliferation of series in the SF/Fantasy world. We also talk about scenes that make you feel, writers who have never met a woman before, the future corporate age of exploration, and the cool factor of space wizards wielding laser swords.

The music bump is “Robots” by Flight of the Conchords because, as discussed in this episode of the podcast, all science fiction is about robots.

113 – 2017 Hugo Noms – Diversity of Ideas

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged A Closed and Common Orbit, Ada Palmer, All the Birds in the Sky, Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie, awards, Becky Chambers, bullying, character drive story, Charlie Jane Anders, Cixin Liu, Claire S., colonialism, corporate age of exploration, cultural differences, Death's End, diversity, diversity of ideas, emotions, Enlightenment Era, friendless loners, genres, Hella spoilers, identity, manners and civility, math magic, meta, N.K. Jemisin, Ninefox Gambit, posting schedule, pretentious, series, social commentary, space wizards, spoilers, strangeness, style shifts, The Obelisk Gate, This American Life, Too Like the Lightning, trans allegory, writers who have never met a woman, Yoon Ha Lee.

Homegoing

Posted on August 9, 2017

After a long hiatus, Novel Ideas has returned with an episode about Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Ignore anything we say about timing in this episode as we recorded it back in March. I’d apologize, but by now you’ve been burned so many times by our erratic schedule that you would probably assume that I don’t mean it. In this episode we talk about strong characterization, elements of storytelling, the impact of the past, and history. We also discuss our lack of qualification to discuss this book, rehash the badness of slavery (we’ll stop when you guys finally get it), grudgingly reference Light in August (about which no more needs to be said), and get really uncomfortable trying to discuss racial issues despite being a pair of white idiots.

The music bump is “The Long Way Home” by Joshua Redman.

Homegoing – A Book Without Happy Endings

Our recommendations: It’s probably been too long since we read this to assign a realistic numerical rating, but it’s the kind of book that you read and think that everyone should read it regardless of their level of enjoyment. So I guess 10/10 for relevance and 0/10 if you hate it on principle because we’re telling you that you have to read it.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged a book without happy endings, Ben's ignorance, context, cotagonist, genetic memory, genre?, going home, hidden history, history, Homegoing, impact of the past, injustice, intersectionality, Light in August, missionaries, narrative expectations, no joke prepared, notagonist, prison system, race, racism, required reading, slavery is bad, slavery is gross, spoilers, storytelling, strong characters, uncomfortable, unique structure, unofficial contest, we are white idiots, what is an anthology, why don't we learn this shit in school, Yaa Gyasi.

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend

Posted on March 21, 2017 Updated on March 21, 2017

This week on Novel Ideas, we are discussing a listener suggested book, A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner. In this episode, we have a bit of a role reversal at the top of the episode due to an attempted technical workaround that didn’t end up working. Or perhaps it’s better if we don’t explain these things and you just chalk up it up to Ben’s idiocy. In fact, from now on assume that all issues you have with the show are related to Ben’s idiocy. Issues like repeatedly referencing The Hunger Games even though it has nothing to do with this book, or not knowing the proper terminology for ~~bike riders~~ cyclists. In this episode we will also delve into the YA teen death genre, shy survivor types, unusual treatments of sexuality, and shallow characterization. We also discuss why teen writing sucks, the dead girl is annoyingly perfect, the badassery of Quakers, and causes of YA death. We’ll also cover, though not specifically (nor in detail) what the acronym in the episode title stands for (it’s also in the tags.)

Administrative note: We said a bunch of stuff about the next episode that is not correct. For example, Cursed Child has already been posted. Next episode will be Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.

The music bump is “Ninjas of the Night” from an Youtube video of ancient vintage, but is nonetheless perfectly in line with the depiction of ninjas in this book.

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend (AFBAADT)

Our Recommendation: Meh. It’s kind of two books trying to be one book.

Ben: 5/10. At various points I was pretty sure I disliked this book. And then when it was over, I still didn’t like it. But I didn’t dislike it enough to argue for or against. So it has that going for it.

Gabs: 8/10 for could have been with the bike trip story. 5/10 for what actually happened with mediocre ninjas.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend, age gaps, all white cast?, ambiguous character descriptions, Another Fucking Book About A Dead Teenager, BICYCLE ENTHUSIASTS ALL RIGHT, bike riders, cause of YA death, chronology issues, compressed storylines, cyclists, disregard technical difficulties, elaborate play sets, Emily Horner, friendship, grief, hike/ride PSA, informed ability, lesbian stereotypes, listener suggestion, not shipping, Quakers, references, role reversal, self-discovery, shallow characterization, shy survivor, split story, teen writing sucks, teen-adult flip, too perfect caricatures, undefined sexuality, unrelated to The Hunger Games, unusual coming out, YA teen death, YA themes.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Posted on February 21, 2017 Updated on February 21, 2017

Novel Ideas, in a completionist turn, brings you Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (but really by Jack Thorne and John Tiffany). In this episode we discuss insane bestselling sales, the nature of long delayed sequels, time travel plots, and how plays differ from novels. We also talk about the influence of cocaine (probably none), that Voldemort is likely a virgin, alternate Ron, and the inadequacy of riddle based security measures. And much, much more.

The music bump is “Sybilla Delphica” by Orlando di Lassus in honor of <spoiler of gobsmackingly stupid plot twist redacted>, Delphi.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – A Thing That Doesn’t Need To Exist

Our recommendation: This sequel was a smashing (financial) success. Otherwise, it doesn’t really feel that much like Harry Potter.

Ben: 4/10. I’ve never been a fan of unnecessary sequels. This falls into that category for me.

Gabs: 4/10 faulty Time Turners. Because it failed to turn back the clock and recapture the magic.

Also, if you have suggestions for future episodes, please share them with us! We’re trying to be a bit more responsive to our six or so listeners this year.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged Albus Severus/Scorpio/ASS, alternate Ron, bestseller?, cash grab, cocaine likely not involved, conflict, cross media adaptations, daddy issues, dark magic fuck cult, defending Ron, distant sequels, family, fan fiction, feminism, foreshadowing, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hermione doesn't need a man, Hillary Clinton's open invite, J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany, mischaracterization, Mrs. Weasley is awesome, no magic HP, no soulmates, nostalgia remakes, play writing, prophecy, reading plays, riddle based security, Ron is not a doofus, secret pregnancy, Snape riff, suggestions, theater, time travel plots, Voldemort is a virgin.

Little Women

Posted on January 10, 2017

Happy New Year! We’re back with a classic in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, a book that many would call a quintessential American girl’s tale. Do we agree with this assessment? You’ll find out if you listen to this episode. You’ll also discover what we think about feminism in historical context, question certain self-improvements, agree with the narrator’s opinion on spinsters, and discuss the lack of passion in this story. We also talk about ladies who don’t like ladies, the creation of shipping, obnoxious children, and (perhaps oddly) lobsters.

The music bump is Chopin’s Mazurka in A minor, op. 17 due to period appropriateness. Feel free to imagine Beth playing it in heaven if that makes you feel better about it.

109 – Little Women – Marmee is the Worst

Our recommendation: Short version is that it doesn’t really hold up that well.

Ben: 5/10. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. I liked that there were a lot of things to discuss, as there usually are with classics.

Gabs: 5/10. 6/10 for part 1, 4/10 for part 2.

Quick administrative note: We’re hoping to post more often this year, though of course we guarantee nothing. As part of this “do more stuff” plan, we would like to be a little more responsive to our listeners. Please leave some requests/recommendations/suggestions for books for future episodes either in the comments for this episode or on our suggestions page.

This entry was posted in Admin, Episodes and tagged adventure stories=moral decay, Amy's potential, anti-climactic death, automatic male competence, be nice to spinsters, class issues, communication, context, cotagonist, creation of shipping, Daria, dogs fighting, family, feminism, feminism again, fixing your faults, good Christian morals, independent women, intersectionality, Jotagonist, lack of passion, ladies who don't like ladies, Little Women, lobster shame, Louisa May Alcott, meta-narration, modern retelling, morality tale, needs an editor, obnoxious children, patriarchy, picaresque, Professor Bear, protagonist, racism, rational rejection, rich in spirit, semi-autobiographical, Serial, ship wars, sibling interactions, slavery?, suggestions, trolling, white people, Yankee pride.

The Obelisk Gate

Posted on November 2, 2016

Novel Ideas apologizes for the delay, but we return with a new episode on N.K. Jemisin’s The Obelisk Gate. This novel is the sequel to The Fifth Season, the Hugo award winner and a Novel Ideas favorite. We should warn you going in, since this is a recent publication, this episode is chock full of spoilers. In addition to spoilers, we also cover Chosen One plots, dark elements, shades of gray, and family. We also talk about how this story is not Harry Potter, adorable monsters, the importance of the moon, and how none of these characters are actually Gandalf.

The music bump is “The Unanswered Question” by Charles Ives in honor of all of the questions from the first book that were answered with more questions in the second book.

108 – The Obelisk Gate – Sympathetic Murderers

Our rating: A worthy follow up to the original with excellent depth of world building and characterization.

Ben: 10/10. I love the world building and the characters and anything else I forgot to mention.

Gabs: 9/10 moons. Darkness is slightly less shocking the second time around, but the complexity is great.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged adorable monster, answering questions with questions, Chosen One plot, complexity, darkness, Evil Earth, excellent characters, family, helping others v. helping yourself, listener Alex, listener feedback, N.K. Jemisin, not Gandalf, not Harry Potter, Novel Ideas meta-podcast, omg spoilers, oppressing the oppressors?, prejudice, protagonist traits, second person narration, shades of gray, spoilers, survival ethics, sympathetic murderers, The Obelisk Gate, throwing the moon away, trials of podcasting, trust, world building, wtf guardians, wtf Stone Eaters, zomfg spoilers.

Me Before You

Posted on September 28, 2016

Novel Ideas makes its return after too long away. This episode is about Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, a story about a quirky quirkster and a sad sack in a wheelchair. In this one we discuss ableism, depression, class, and assisted suicide, subjects which may cause you to feel icky. We also talk about our obscure theories (this book is secretly an eff you to rich people, this book is an anti-athlete author tract), what constitutes “a thing” (the internet, disabled people, therapy), why career counselors probably shouldn’t push you towards stripping, and that brief moment where Ben gets super judge-y.

The music bump is “The Queen Bee” by Sammy Nestico as performed by the Count Basie band.

107 – Me Before You – Feels Kinda Icky

Our recommendation: Reads easily enough, but you’ll feel icky if you think too hard about it.

Ben: 5/10 on the initial read, 3/10 by the time Gabs and I were done talking about it.

Gabs: 3/10 after we talked about it.

Holy crap, one of us did some research for this episode! Here are a couple of links that Gabs referenced:

Video:

http://youtu.be/Z9bkWJtm-mU

Articles:

http://cdrnys.org/blog/advocacy/hollywood-lies-i-prefer-my-disabled-girlfriend-alive/

http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.ca/2016/05/boycott-me-before-you-disability-death.html?m=1

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged ableism, annoying tropes, anti-athlete author tract, assisted suicide, Ben gets judge-y, bestseller?, buying a girl, class, depression, disabled people exist, discrimination litmus test, entitlement, failed self-promotion, free spirit, hate reading?, holy crap research, icky-ness, immaturity, Jojo Moyes, Me Before You, naivete, obligatory marriage, person first language, questionable narration change, rape backstory, rich guy motivations, rom-com bad relationship checklist, romance, single mom, spoiler alert, stripping and tourism based economy, the internet is a thing, therapy is a thing, underrepresentation, WHAT IS HAPPENING.