Unassigned Reading

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 PaperThe Language of ThornsThe Boxcar ChildrenThe Seven Silly EatersThe Doll People The Midwife's Apprentice My Sister's KeeperWickedMeddling Kids NosferatuSawkill Girls The Serpent King...

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...

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 LagoonWe Set the Dark on Fire King of ScarsBlack Leopard, Red WolfAn Extraordinary Union And the Ocean Was Our SkyEducatedHeretics AnonymousThe Wedding DateHurricane ChildOn the Come UpThe Only Harmless Great Thing Becoming Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by...

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 author Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch with us: Unassignedreadingpod.com@UnassignedPodUnassignedReading

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 The City in the Middle of the NightAurora Rising Watch the Good Omens trailer Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch with us: Website: Unassignedreadingpod.com Twitter: @UnassignedPod Insta: UnassignedReading Email:...

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-30512620 Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch with...

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 you Books mentioned in this episode: The Bride TestWelcome to NightvaleIt Devours The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch with us: Unassignedreadingpod.com@UnassignedPodUnassignedReading

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: Unassignedreadingpod.com@UnassignedPodUnassignedReading

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 The Final EmpireMen We Reaped A great interview with Uzma Jalaluddin on Ayesha at Last More on the origin of the term ‘OTP’ and its current usage: Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch with...

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...

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 MonthThe Girl KingSpinning SilverRadium Girls Book Riot’s 2019 Read Harder Challenge Buy 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...

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: Unassignedreadingpod.com...

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 CrimeClean Room, v. 1A Very Large Expanse of SeaA Love Letter to Newt Scamander Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch with...

We’re talking DEATHLY HALLOWS this month! Is secrecy Dumbledore’s fatal flaw? Is Snape a good guy or a bad guy? Is Slytherin House really EVIL (spoiler: no)? All that and more in our discussion of the final HARRY POTTER book! 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

Let’s talk about our current reads and all our thoughts on the eight Harry Potter movies. Wait, is this a book podcast or a movie podcast? Books mentioned in this episode: The Fifth Season by N. K. JemisonThe Bird King by G. Willow WilsonPride by Ibi ZoboiSawkill Girls by Claire LegrandOur 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:...

We’re talking HALF-BLOOD PRINCE this month! Dive in to find a smorgasbord or various topics, including: Harry’s Draco obsession, a surprising connection to Slavic fairy tales, and Half-Blood Prince: The Rom-Com Edition. 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

Were our fan theories correct? Do Lazlo and Sarai get their happy ending? And seriously what is the deal with all those missing Mesarthim babies? Y’all, MUSE OF NIGHTMARES is out and it’s all we can talk about! Okay, maybe we mention a few other books too. Books mentioned in this episode: Muse of NightmaresGirl SquadsTempests & Slaughter Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel Language of Thorns Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch...

We’re talking STRANGE THE DREAMER this month! Expect a deep dive into themes of morality and the legacy of trauma and so, so, so many theories. Some great interviews with Laini Taylor about Strange the Dreamer to check out: Get in touch with us:

How did we first get into fandom and which of us wrote Harry Potter fanfic back in the day? Listen to find out! Books mentioned in this episode: Sources: Our theme music is Never Long (Time Goes By) from the album Escapism by Sahara Sky. Get in touch with us:

We’re talking Order of the Phoenix this month! What does Child Development say about Harry’s ability to deal with trauma? How much do we hate Umbridge? Was Harry always destined to be the Chosen One? Find out in this month’s episode of Book...