Unabridged Podcast

28/12/2024

Happy Weekend! Today, I (Jen) am reading S. F. Williamson's A Language of Dragons, thanks to and . (This book will be available for purchase on January 7—I'll share the synopsis below.)

What are you reading this weekend?
Synopsis: "In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel.

"Dragons soar through the skies and protests erupt on the streets, but Vivien Featherswallow isn’t worried. She’s going to follow the rules, get a summer internship studying dragon languages, be smart, be sweet, and make sure her little sister never, ever has to risk growing up Third Class. She just has to free one dragon.

"By midnight, Viv has started a civil war.

"With her parents and cousin arrested and her sister missing, Viv is brought to Bletchley Park as a codebreaker—if she succeeds, she and her family can all go home again. If she doesn’t, they’ll all die.

"As Viv begins to discover the secrets of a hidden dragon language, she realizes that the fragile peace treaty that holds human and dragon societies together is corrupt, and the dangerous work Viv is doing could be the thread that unravels it."

21/12/2024

🌟BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT🌟

Unabridged Podcast has chosen its next Book Club book! In January, we hope you’ll join us in reading Percival Everett's James. We'll have a rolling chat on January 27, and watch for the episode on the 29th.

Please share with others who might be interested, and let us know if you’d like to join by responding here or DMing us.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis:

"When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

"While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.

"Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a 'literary icon' (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature."

21/12/2024

Happy Weekend! Today, I (Jen) am reading Sherry Thomas's A Ruse of Shadows. This is book 8 in Thomas's Lady Sherlock series, which is one of my favorite retellings and a fabulous mystery series all on its own.

What are you reading this weekend?

20/12/2024

Looking for your next heartwarming read? We've rounded up five incredible books that celebrate the power of found family. From magical heists to cozy mysteries to emotional journeys of self-discovery, these stories showcase how the bonds we choose can transform our lives.

In our latest post, we share highlights from our reviews of The Gilded Wolves, The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Maid, The Inheritance Games, and We Are Okay.

Discover your next favorite read and explore the full reviews on our blog. Your support through our Bookshop.org and Libro.fm affiliate links means the world to us.

Read the post now: https://buff.ly/4gDcmbY.

An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.

18/12/2024

Ready to dive into the best reads of the year? I (Jen) have narrowed down my favorites from the 358 books I’ve read in 2024! From Arthurian adventures to moving memoirs, and from stunning graphic novels to unforgettable fiction, these are the stories that stayed with me.

Curious about my top picks? Discover them here: https://buff.ly/49CxxbQ.

What books made your list this year? Let me know!

18/12/2024

Today, Unabridged is revisiting our discussion of Sonya Lalli's A Holly Jolly Diwali, a fun romance perfect for the holiday season. This Book Club episode features, as always, our Bookish Check-in—our current reads; a deep dive into our Book Club pick; some perfect pairings; and our Give Me One segment.

➡️ What's your favorite holiday?

18/12/2024

As we approach winter break, we wanted to share a re-release of a book club episode about a seasonal novel we loved discussing. Looking for a fun, illuminating holiday-centered read? Check out Sonya Lalli's A Holly Jolly Diwali (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), our December Unabridged book club pick.

In this episode, Jen and Ashley discuss thoughts about A Holly Jolly Diwali and share our book pairings including Jean Meltzer’s The Matzah Ball (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Thrity Umrigar’s Honor (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm).

Join us on Patreon to have access to our back catalog of recordings and resources. Also, just a reminder that this season, we now have a shop on Patreon where you can purchase book discussion guides and other resources. We appreciate your support so much.

Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.


Want to support Unabridged?


Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. | Join our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. | Visit our curated list of books at Bookshop.org. | Become a patron on Patreon. | Check out our Merch Store. | Visit the resources available in our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

16/12/2024

Gearing up for your 2025 reading? We'd love for you to join us! Once again, we're hosting an Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. Ashley and Jen are so excited about a new year of reading together!

You can find out more and get all of the materials you need at https://buff.ly/3ZUWgFm.

14/12/2024

🌟BUDDY READ ANNOUNCEMENT🌟

Unabridged Podcast has chosen its next buddy read! In January, we hope you’ll join us in reading Zoulfa Katouh's As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow. We'll chat on January 20! Please share with others who might be interested, and let us know if you’d like to join by replying here or DM us!

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis:

"Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.

"Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.

"But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.

"Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom."

14/12/2024

Happy Weekend! Today, I (Jen) am reading Eyal Press's Dirty Work, a pick from . It's a devastating and compelling work of nonfiction (and it's great on audio).

What are you reading this weekend?

11/12/2024

Join us for our December book club episode of Unabridged. This month, Ashley and Jen discuss Cynthia Hand's The Afterlife of Holly Chase, a modern YA retelling of A Christmas Carol. This story is perfect for the season!

In addition to the book discussion, Ashley and Jen share their book pairings to complement your reading experience. This festive conversation is not to be missed.

Want more? Join us on Patreon for exclusive resources, access to our back catalog, and our new shop featuring book discussion guides and more. Your support means so much to us.

Links to all books are available in the show notes, over at https://buff.ly/49zbdzV.

Happy reading . . . and listening!

11/12/2024

For our December book club episode of Unabridged, join Ashley and Jen as we discuss Cynthia Hand's The Afterlife of Holly Chase. This modern young adult retelling of A Christmas Carol is packed with holiday spirit, humor, and poignant themes. Alongside our book discussion, Ashley and Jen also share our book pairings to complement your reading experience. Don’t miss this festive conversation!

Join us on Patreon to have access to our back catalog of recordings and resources. Also, just a reminder that this season, we now have a shop on Patreon where you can purchase book discussion guides and other resources. We appreciate your support so much.

Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.


Want to support Unabridged?


Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. | Join our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. | Visit our curated list of books at Bookshop.org. | Become a patron on Patreon. | Check out our Merch Store. | Visit the resources available in our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

07/12/2024

Happy Weekend! Today, I (Jen) am reading Nadia Hashimi's Sparks Like Stars—it's this month's buddy read pick, and I've been captivated so far. (I'll put the synopsis below.)

What are you reading this weekend?
"Kabul, 1978: The daughter of a prominent family, Sitara Zamani lives a privileged life in Afghanistan’s thriving cosmopolitan capital. The 1970s are a time of remarkable promise under the leadership of people like Sardar Daoud, Afghanistan’s progressive president, and Sitara’s beloved father, his right-hand man. But the ten-year-old Sitara’s world is shattered when communists stage a coup, assassinating the president and Sitara’s entire family. Only she survives.

"Smuggled out of the palace by a guard named Shair, Sitara finds her way to the home of a female American diplomat, who adopts her and raises her in America. In her new country, Sitara takes on a new name—Aryana Shepherd—and throws herself into her studies, eventually becoming a renowned surgeon. A survivor, Aryana has refused to look back, choosing instead to bury the trauma and devastating loss she endured.

"New York, 2008: Forty years after that fatal night in Kabul, Aryana’s world is rocked again when an elderly patient appears in her examination room—a man she never expected to see again. It is Shair, the soldier who saved her, yet may have murdered her entire family. Seeing him awakens Aryana’s fury and desire for answers—and, perhaps, revenge. Realizing that she cannot go on without finding the truth, Aryana embarks on a quest that takes her back to Kabul—a battleground between the corrupt government and the fundamentalist Taliban—and through shadowy memories of the world she loved and lost."

06/12/2024

During this holiday season, we're sharing some holiday books that we've loved and reviewed on the blog. I (Ashley) am pretty selective when it comes to holiday reads, but I've found over the last couple of years that I do enjoy reading some holiday-specific books as we approach different seasons.

Maybe I'll try a couple of the ones below that I haven't read yet! Check out the post to find one that would work for you: https://buff.ly/3D157fx

04/12/2024

As I (Ashley) was looking over my reading the second half of this year to choose some favorites, I realized my reading life has been suffering recently! I've gone back to school to get a master's degree at Furman, and I'm loving the program I'm doing (in Innovation and Leadership - fascinating!), but it is keeping my schedule very full for the time being.

I did have a few favorites that I've loved over the past few months. I've written about those favorites on the blog today: https://buff.ly/3Zl0PXJ

Do you see any that we share? What is a book you've absolutely loved this year? Let us know!

30/11/2024

Happy Weekend! Today, I (Jen) am reading Ann-Helén Laestadius's Stolen, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles. This one is worth checking out and contains a fascinating mystery (I'll put the synopsis below).

What are you reading this weekend?
"On a winter day north of the Arctic Circle, nine-year-old Elsa—daughter of Sámi reindeer herders—sees a man brutally kill her beloved reindeer calf and threaten her into silence. When her father takes her to report the crime, local police tell them that there is nothing they can do about these “stolen” animals. Killings like these are classified as theft in the reports that continue to pile up, uninvestigated. But reindeer are not just the Sámi’s livelihood, they also hold spiritual significance; attacking a reindeer is an attack on the culture itself.

"Ten years later, hatred and threats against the Sámi keep escalating, and more reindeer are tortured and killed in Elsa’s community. Finally, she’s had enough and decides to push back on the apathetic police force. The hunter comes after her this time, leading to a catastrophic final confrontation.

"Based on real events, Ann-Helén Laestadius’s award-winning novel Stolen is part coming-of-age story, part love song to a disappearing natural world, and part electrifying countdown to a dramatic resolution—a searing depiction of a forgotten part of Sweden."

27/11/2024

**November Book Club: Moon of the Crusted Snow**

In this month’s Book Club episode, Jen and Ashley delve into Waubgeshig Rice’s Moon of the Crusted Snow. This haunting post-apocalyptic novel, set in a remote Anishinaabe community, examines survival, identity, and resilience as the modern world collapses and traditional ways of life are rediscovered. The tension rises with the arrival of unsettling outsiders—don’t miss our discussion and pairing recommendations.

Join us on Patreon for access to our full back catalog, discussion guides, and more. Your support means the world to us!

Find the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts! https://buff.ly/495yA3M

27/11/2024

In our November Book Club episode, Jen and Ashley are discussing Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). Join Ashley and Jen as we explore this haunting post-apocalyptic novel set in a remote Anishinaabe community and as we share our thoughts and pairing recommendations.


As the outside world descends into chaos and communication cuts off, the community must grapple with the collapse of modern systems, rediscover traditional ways of life, and confront the arrival of unsettling outsiders. Filled with tension and resilience, Rice’s novel offers a compelling exploration of survival, identity, and the strength of community.


Join us on Patreon to have access to our back catalog of recordings and resources. Also, just a reminder that this season, we now have a shop on Patreon where you can purchase book discussion guides and other resources. We appreciate your support so much.

Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.


Want to support Unabridged?


Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. | Join our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. | Visit our curated list of books at Bookshop.org. | Become a patron on Patreon. | Check out our Merch Store. | Visit the resources available in our Teachers Pay Teachers store.