Ep 157: Books To Get Excited About In The Next 6 Months

[Daniel]

I think you guys highlighted all the problems with this episode. First up blurbs are never any bloody good and they only made worse when they're read poorly. I listen to your podcast for the banter, not for someone to read out loud some text I can find anywhere on the net.

The second problem for me is the inauthenticity of your picks. You both said at the start of the episode how few of your last bunch of picks you actually got around to reading. It felt kind of odd then listening to you talk about how excited you were to read all the books you mentioned, when clearly you're not going to.

I love it when you talk about things you've read whether you liked them or not. Talking about books you like the sound of theoretically, but not enough to actually bother reading makes for a dull episode, I'm afraid. I get that the preview episode is a standard part of your repertoire, but this listener could do without it. I'll skip similar episodes in future.

On the upside, at least Simon and Gavin don't sound like they want to punch each other in the face off air.

[Melissa]

I am one of the listeners who always looks forward to these episodes! I miss Gavin, and I am always delighted to hear him (of course, I love Thomas, too). Gavin tends to like more mysteries and science fiction, and I love those, too.

I usually go back and listen again in six months to see how many of the books mentioned on the podcast I have read. I also find it interesting to hear how excited Simon is over a book, and then read his review after he has read it. Will the book be as good as he expected, or will it be a let-down? If he still hasn't gotten around to reading it a year later, I feel better about my own stack of unread books.

[Phyllis]

I enjoyed this episode very much (also loved the Book Bingo episode) and appreciate Gavin's return to the podcast. I thought you all "bantered" quite satisfactorily!

[Claudine]

Everyone has his own opinion, obviously, but I'd like to put forth that "dull" is never a word I'd use to describe any of the episodes--that's just crazy talk. I like listening to you guys just talk about books in any possible setting: past, present, or future. Or anything else, quite frankly. Your lovely personalities and humor make anything you talk about fun to listen to. Keep up the great work, and thank you for hours and hours of virtual company and entertainment.

[Holly]

These are some of my favorite episodes! I always enjoy Gavin's return -- he exposes me to books I would not ordinarily gravitate to. Besides, who doesn't plan to read books they don't get around to for a while? Or a decade. Or a lifetime. . . .

[Karen]

I never seem to learn. I listen to these episodes while I'm on the treadmill in the gym (you should market yourself as a recipe for relieving the boredom of exercise!). Which of course means I don't have a pen/paper to hand so can't take note of all the books mentioned at the time. You mention so many I can't keep them all in my head