Terrible Book Club

Sometimes you go to a pool party. Sometimes, that pool party also has a car with a trunk full of books. This was one of those books. Resources & References: The Vampire Myth and Christianity by Dorothy Ivey Addictive Religion: Midnight Mass, Dracula, and the Prosperity Gospel by Alyssa Johnson Important Show Update: This episode was mostly edited, but did not go through our final editing process because, most unfortunately, Scribando's laptop was lost in Canada yesterday. If any of you live in or near Montreal, we wouldn't mind some help retrieving it (seriously)! The show may need to take on a different character for a few episodes while we get our bearings to deal with this major loss of material. We were about to wrap up recording for the entire year in early June, so we may be faced with re-recording episodes or pivoting entirely for now and re-recording them later. In the meantime, we greatly appreciate your patience and sacrifices to Terriblo to remedy this.

If you've ever wanted TBC to be a sleepy podcast to help you drift off into dreamland, you're in luck this episode and the next! Scribando worked really hard on this one but it is really just him retelling history, both real and imagined. Our Patron Miles submitted this as his Patron's Choice this season saying, "This book was originally published online via the website Alternatehistory.com and then was later given an actual published release. Much like a lot of stories on that site, it's broken up into various segments detailing how things have changed leading up to a certain point. I suppose the best way to summarize this book is "What if Mussolini was Stalin?" Because he's very much still a dictator in this universe but he ends up becoming a US ally here and then rules for quite a while...I'll also say that this book contains a personal pet peeve of mine when it comes to alternate history, namely that the point of divergence, the moment where things truly become different, basically boils down to a moment that never happened in real life featuring people that didn't exist." Now Miles has been a loyal patron and did try to keep to the roughly 350 page limit we have on requests for our sanity, since, well, when you go look at the physical copy on Amazon it sure seems like it's around that length. However, Terriblo had other plans. As a result, we're splitting this into two episodes so you'll hear the second half of this discussion in two weeks on Episode 241. In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion of World War 2 and all associated atrocities. You know that big list of horrible shit that happened? It's in here. Sometimes double or triple! RESOURCES & REFERENCES: alternatehistory.org https://reallifemag.com/considered-alternatives/ https://www.alternatehistory.com/wiki/doku.php?id=timelines:timelines_and_scenarios TBC is an AI-free production. Audio by Oselka Sound.

At last, we give you the final episode in our alcohol-fueled quadrilogy. Our wonderful Patron Beastwiththeleast mailed us this book of their own free will. Thoroughly in debt to them and their glorious book packages, we selected this one for review this year especially for our dear Beast. As we are far from being biblical scholars ourselves, we're desperately trying to summon Dan McClellan for an assist here to provide a fact check for our own sanity. In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion and consumption of alcohol (your hosts are intoxicated after sampling cocktails from the book we reviewed two episodes ago in your timeline, but have yet to record in ours) along with a whole lot of Christianity. TBC is an AI-free production. Audio by Oselka Sound.

You've heard of feminism, right? ... you wanna' drink it? You may recall us saying that we were a bit tipsy in the first episode of this season and would be for a whole four episodes in service to a later terrible book. Today, you meet that book. In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion and consumption of alcohol (your hosts are fairly intoxicated after sampling several cocktails from the book). Be forewarned that there's a big ol' vulnerable bummer section where we discuss the death of our family member from 1:54 - 12:49 before the episode properly beings at 12:50. Bookbarella's Amaretto Surprise For the mocktail version, simply omit the Disaronno For a stronger drink, add 1 part of an orange liqueur (e.g. Grand Marnier) 1 part Disaronno 1 part freshly juiced orange (mandarin, clementine, - whatever you have) 1 part freshly juiced lemon 10 pomegranate arils (or however many your heart desires) 1/2 part pomegranate juice 6 oz. Polar seltzer flavor of choice (Cranberry Lime or any citrus flavor) Ice Optional Garnish: Twist of lemon and/or orange peel Juice your orange and lemon Fill a 12-20 oz. glass with 3-4 ice cubes Pour the Disaronno, orange, lemon, and pomegranate juice over the ice and stir a few times to combine Pour in enough seltzer to nearly fill the glass, leaving 1/2 inch of room Add the pomegranate arils and optional garnish What's your Terriblo recipe? Send us a message on IG, Tumblr, BlueSky, Patreon, Ko-Fi, or via email (terriblebookclub at gmail dot com). TBC is an AI-free production. Audio by Oselka Sound.

Scribando and Bookbarella return! We're a little tipsy for the first four episodes of the season in service to a future TBC episode, so this one is perhaps not our greatest season opener. We try and fail to do a little scientific thinking around particle and quantum physics and sing a fake song for your amusement, though, so there's that. Special Thanks to: Ken from Antiques Freaks for narrating our cold open for this season Lightwitch/Courtney Brooke Hall for our new photos Greylord's Hoard for our new logo and graphic design Links & References: The Multiverse is real. Just not in the way you think it is. | Sean Carroll You can find many episodes about particle physics and other quantum topics we mentioned on Daniel & Kelly's Extraordinary Universe podcast: What is a particle? Time travel fiction Unraveling misleading popular science How to make sense of quantum entanglement Focus playing Hocus Pocus on NBC in 1973 (introduced by Gladys Knight!) In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion of depression, suicide, and very brief mentions of guns and pet death. TBC is an AI-free production. Audio by Oselka Sound.

It's winter up here in the northern hemisphere, so why not explore a fluffy memoir that flirts with self-help specifically for the season? Get a nice blanket and a stuffed creature, a hot beverage, maybe light a candle or incense or perhaps even a fire, and snuggle in. Take care of yourselves out there - make that doctor, dentist, therapist, etc. appt you've been avoiding! In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion or mention of injury, surgery, mental health struggles, and alternative treatments for health and wellness. References & Resources: National Institute of Health - Help for Mental Illnesses 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline: Chat Online for Free

The time has come. It was inevitable; at last, we submitted to the will of Terriblo, listeners, and fate to bring down the evil monarch and find our destined mate - I mean, bring you our review of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, popularly known by its acronym of ACOTAR. To ease us through this experience, I've brought my emotional support Emily who herself is an avid reader who has suffered through not only this first book, but most of the series that follows. In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion or mention of hunting, kidnapping, murder, disfigurement, sex/sexual slavery, shapeshifting, & torture.

For this year's Spooky Season, we headed over to reddit to see what r/horrorlit thought were the worst horror books they read in 2024. It seemed that Eric LaRocca's novella Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke was widely hated by the sub, but since the Antiques Freaks already reviewed that back in October 2023, Paris chose to instead read two short stories packaged together as Other Misfortunes with Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke in the edition she had. Other Misfortunes: The Enchantment You'll Find It's Like That All Over In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion or mention of angels, demons, infidelity, death and the afterlife, marital stress, miscarriage, pet death, suicide, and gambling. References & Resources: Antiques Freaks, Episode 245: Antique Apple Peeler Pricing - Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke Esoterica YouTube Channel

This week, Paris discusses her experience reading the sample issue of a magazine called After Dinner Conversation from the non-profit philosophy and ethics short fiction publisher of the same name. They DM'ed us on Twitter saying they wanted us to try their free sample issue, so we actually took them up on this offer because we've never reviewed a magazine before. It's a year of firsts on TBC! Stories featured in the sample issue: Abrama's End Game by David Shultz The Lives and Times of David Hackman by Patrick Hueller Pappou's Garden by Fotis Banis The Zombie in the Bathroom by Maura Morgan Junk by Taylor Lawritson We are Here by Harley Carnell Pandora's Dreams by Peter Beaumont References & Resources: Subscribe to After Dinner Conversation for $1/3 Months After Dinner Conversation Ethics Survey After Dinner Conversation

We haven't done any self-help lately, so Paris braved Oprah's Book Club list to pull the recently published Secrets of Adulthood straight from its maw. Though it attempted to take her, she fought her way out to bring you this episode about the science of happiness and the pop cultural grift which swirls around it. References & Resources: Dr. Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, MD & Marc Shulz, PhD Dr. Laurie's Happiness Lab Podcast The Science of Well-Being: Dr. Laurie's Yale course, free for adults and a teen version Martin Seligman's Authentic Happiness The Wiser Model University of New Hampshire - Positive Psychology The You You Are by Ricken Hale, PhD Content Warnings: In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion or mention of capitalism and eating the rich.

Paris must conquer her fear and loathing to survive this gonzo, idiocratic adventure from the mind of Sean Penn (yes, the actor). Our Patron George submitted this as his Patron's request this season saying, "I've been listening to you guys for a long time and this is the first time I've ever found anything that you folks might be interested [in]. I present to you: Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff, a book that is only 176 [pgs.] and was somehow still one of the most dreadful slogs I've ever read." Thank you so much for your support, George! We hope you enjoy this episode we made just for you. In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes discussion or mention of action-movie violence, American politics, racism including antisemitism, & sexism. Please choose another of our 222 episodes from our back catalogue or some of our free Patreon content if these topics are not for you today!

Paris is on the case again this week! Our Patron Patrick requested that we read and review Points of Origin saying, "This book was written as a fictional story about a fictional investigator trying to catch a serial arsonist who was terrorizing California in the 1980s. The author was a[n] actual fire investigator at the time and this [was] based off of real events. Literally real events! Because it turns out the author John Orr, the arson investigator, was [convicted of being] the real life arsonist…This book was even used during his trial. In the book he had knowledge about the crimes which weren't available to him and [he] wouldn't have known. At one point in the book the author slipped up and switched from 3rd person to first person when talking about one of [the] victims." Thank you so much for supporting the show, Patrick! We hope you enjoy this very special true crime episode of TBC. We owe some additional thanks to the rest of our patrons whose funding allowed us easier access to extra research material for this episode. All hail the patrons! Remember that if you, too, would like to have us read and review a book of your choice on the show, you can gain that power by joining our Patreon at the appropriate tier. Today's episode includes our usual barnyard language in addition to arson, fires and their fetishization, infidelity, murder, sexual assault, and other sexual themes. Links & References: Firebug podcast by Kary Antholis and his team from truth.media Burned by Frank C. Girardot, Jr. and Lori Kovach Orr

Chris was called away on a years-long shipping voyage by a conniving relative, so he can't be with us today. In his stead, Mary returns! You may remember her from such episodes as this past October's The Phantom of Manhattan, 2021's Die Hamletmachine, and our now beloved E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in His Adventure on Earth episode from 2023. We discuss our experience reading Fanny Hill by John Cleland, originally published in 1748 and since routinely banned as the first known published English-language erotica. Mary found a copy of this in a little free library years ago and since then, it has taken up permanent residence in her mind and she has talked about it off and on. I figured it'd be a fun one for the show since we, somehow, have yet to feature 18th century erotica on TBC. In addition to our usual barnyard language, today's episode includes coerced/trafficked sex work, graphic sex, and sexual assaults as this book is mid-18th century pornography. Links & References: Fanny Hill in Bombay: The Making & Unmaking of John Cleland by Hal Gladfelder Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson Joseph Andrews and Shamela by Henry Fielding Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue by Marquis de Sade Juliette by Marquis de Sade