WhatchYA Readin?: Recent Episodes
Mallory Shoemaker (malarayofsunshine)
Join me every other week for a bookish chat. Topics will range, but will include: my monthly wrap-ups and TBRs, book reviews, and author interviews. Most of the books I read are young adult fiction, but I tend to lose myself in historical fiction and autobiographies too. As a queer person I care deeply about representation in media for minorities of all kinds, but you can expect a specific emphasis on books with queer themes written by queer authors. (#OwnVoices.) I am also super passionate about why authors (and teachers / schools / parents / the government) STILL think young people can't handle "mature" themes in their literature. There's a lot to dig into so I'll probably talk about other stuff too. (;
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This book is my favorite read of 2021. Bold statement to make a mere halfway through the year, I know, but it moved me and embedded itself in me in ways that I have a difficult time explaining. In this episode I review "The Anthropocene Reviewed" by John Green, but mostly I just talk about hope, love, joy, the human experience, and how much the things that John and Hank Green have done have impacted my life these past fifteen years. If you're reading this, John: thank you for writing this book.
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OwnVoices, #QueerReads, + #YA
Read my poetry, @malaray.poetry
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It may be half way through the year, but better late than never, right?! In this episode of WhatchYA Readin? I'm sharing my 22 most anticipated queer reads for 2021. Of course I recorded them KIND of out of order and also forgot SO many books in the process, ah well. :) I hope you enjoy and please comment below what queer reads YOU are most looking forward to this year. Bonus points if they're #OwnVoices!
The blog post: https://bit.ly/MostAnticipated21Blog
The GoodReads shelf: https://bit.ly/35PDEto
WhatchYa Readin? Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/WhatchYAReadin
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OwnVoices, #QueerReads, + #YA
Read my poetry, @malaray.poetry
Get 15% off your purchase of $20 or more at jordandené.com and thecolorfulgeek.com with code “malaray”
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This episode was recorded on the 3rd of April. Literally two months ago. Good grief.
In April I sat down with Emily (@ourshieldmaiden) and Claire (@shakespeareandme) to chat about their Quarantine Book Club among SO many other things ranging from astrology, to our cats, to #OwnVoices. Honestly, this is a long one, but I really hope those of you who make it through the whole thing enjoy it!
FOLLOW EMILEE–
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourshieldmaiden
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/ourshieldmaiden
FOLLOW CLAIRE–
Instagram: www.instagram.com/shakespeareandme
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/shakespeareandme
Tune into the Quarantine Book Club every Sunday at 5 p.m. PST.
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T W I T T E R : http://bit.ly/malaraytwitter
G O O D R E A D S : http://bit.ly/malarayreads
F A C E B O O K : http://bit.ly/malarayFB
OwnVoices, #QueerReads, + #YA
Read my poetry, @malaray.poetry
Get 15% off your purchase of $20 or more at jordandené.com and thecolorfulgeek.com with code “malaray”
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Last week I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with Ana Lal Din, author of “The Descent of the Drowned”.
Ana is a Danish-Pakistani Muslim with Indian heritage, so we chat about how her upbringing has shaped her life and her writing. She shares the path she took from listening to the Danish fairytales her sisters told her, to writing Goosbump-esque short horror stories, to full-fledged world building within the fantasy genre– and why fantasy as a genre is so important to her.
I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed recording with Ana and please, if you haven’t already checked it out, pre-order or order “The Descent of the Drowned” out this Monday, March 15th.
PRE-ORDER “The Descent of the Drowned”–
B&N: http://bit.ly/3cvJdAl
Amazon: http://amzn.to/3bJfGUg
Book Depository: http://bit.ly/3lbytec
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/3cvJkff
FOLLOW ANA–
Instagram: www.instagram.com/laldinana
Twitter: www.twitter.com/laldinana
Website: www.laldinana.net
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This video is so far from where I want it to be. My audio settings were messed up, I lost my tripod mount piece, and my camera died half-way through. I wanted to film and upload this next episode as a video episode, to set a new precedent, so I did and I’m still uploading it because perfection isn’t real! Ha ha.
Today I’m reviewing “Grown Ups” by Emma Jane Unsworth– a book I picked up because I thought it might be vaguely relatable to my life and, turns out, it was. This book made me laugh, hold my breath, and have a small emotional spiral. #Casual
“Grown Ups” is about Jenny McLiane; a 30-year-old woman working as a columnist at an online magazine The Floof. Her whole identity is wrapped up in her social media life, so when her ex leaves her, her body fails her, her friends start to leave her, and her mother moves back in with her… it’s a lot. I went on a journey with this book and I wasn’t at all expecting to. Honestly, if you’re in social media at all I recommend you listen to this book!
Spoilers begin at 11:46 and end at 15:35. This is a short episode, but hopefully next time I’ll have my tech stuff sorted out and we’ll get a longer one. 😉
This book was gifted to me via Libro.fm’s influencer program, but I am not being paid to review it! If you use my link to sign up I’ll earn free audiobooks, so thank you. :)
L I B R O . F M : http://bit.ly/malaraylibrofm
I’m curious to hear if you’ve read “Grown Ups” and if you liked it or not. Leave a comment down below or over on Instagram – I respond to as many as I can!
Trigger warning: I want to put a trigger warning in here for those of you who may have trauma around mis-carriages or have emotions tied to wanting to be pregnant, being unable to conceive, or really any sort of emotions tied to the completely complicated thoughts some of us women have in relation to motherhood. This book deals with a lot of those things and I wanted to be sure to call that out so you could be not taken by surprise, as I was. ♡
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In which I talk about what I'm currently reading and the books I intend to finish by the end of August!
CURRENTLY READING–
AUGUST TBR–
Get your first book from Libro.fm for free by clicking here!
This episode was sponsored by The Sartorial Geek! Follow them on Instagram here and support them (if you can) on Patreon here!
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Music purchased from Epidemic Sound. Songs are "Sun Sun Sun (Sting Version)" and "Enjoy Your Heartbreak (Sting Version)".
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Trigger Warning I discuss "Docile" by K.M. Sparza and there is mention of rape.
In which I update us both on the progress I've made (am making?!) on my 2020 goals so far. (Spoiler alert: it's not fantastic!)
BOOKS I DISCUSSED:
Comics / Webcomics–
Follow me on all my other social medias for life in between episode uploads!:
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Music purchased from Epidemic Sound. Songs are "Sun Sun Sun (Sting Version)" and "Enjoy Your Heartbreak (Sting Version)".
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Jerry and I recorded this podcast back in APRIL and I have finally finished editing it to post it. Honestly, it’s wild to listen back to because Jerry and I hadn’t spoken regularly when we recorded it and now we talk all the time. Wild!
We discuss how he got into books, the first books he remembers reading, and (mostly) how he makes time to read with a little one running around and sans-commute thanks to quarantine. All the books and comics we chatted about are down below. Check them out!
Note: We discuss Harry Potter and JK Rowling’s midnight releases in this episode; Jerry is a huge Potterhead. Since the recording of this episode JK Rowling has publicly taken another stand against the Trans and LGBTQIA+ community on her Twitter. Neither of us support or condone her words or actions and are supremely disappointed that she is using her platform to cause such harm and perpetrate hate.
BOOKS WE DISCUSSED: Young / Children’s Books–
YA / Adult–
Comics / Webcomics–
Follow Jerry: @jerrycooke (Twitter / Instagram) www.youtube.com/jerry
I had the opportunity to sit down with C.B. Lee recently (twice, if you'd believe my luck!) We chat about her book series, The Sidekick Squad, how it came to be a series, and how she plotted out the universe they take place in.
Carrie shares how she began writing, why joy in queer media is so important, and which characters in her stories she's named after friends.
She also has two new books coming out super soon! "Out Now: Queer We Go Again" and a Treasure Island retelling with Feiwel and Friends' upcoming collection, Reclaimed Classics.
Follow Carrie: Website – https://www.cb-lee.com Instagram – @cblee_cblee Twitter – @author_cblee
➡️Pre-order / order "Out Now: Queer We Go Again!"⬅️ (Releases 26th, May 2020!)
Other books mentioned:
📺 Watch live interview C.B. Lee and I did with Interlude Press for #TinyBookFest
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Join me and my long time Internet pal, Roberto Hoyos, as we talk about his companies; Throwboy and Shotgun CEO, our mutual love of Apple, Disney, and Pixar, and go off on a slight "Gilmore Girls" related tangent about Franz Kafka.
Books we discussed:
Follow Roberto : Roberto – @mrrobertohoyos Throwboy Pillows – @throwboy www.ShotgunCEO.com
Life is wild right now, friends. I didn't want to let another week go by with no upload, and since Jordan is here for what would have been ECCC, we sat down to have a quick fangirling sesh about V.E. Schwab.
The timing on this fangirl session is perfect because Victoria has a new book, "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" coming out with Tor this October.
Jordan and I have both read a smattering of Victoria's work and are both big fans of her work (and her as a person!) and chat about "Vicious," The Darker Shades of Magic trilogy, and the "Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" event that Jordan attended last week.
Follow Jordan: Jordan – @jordandene Her nerdy clothing brand – @jordandenenyc Her magazine / podcast – @thesartorialgeek Her social media support – @jordandene.social
Jordandené's Darker Shade of Clothing
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Join me as I make my good friend and fellow homeschooler, Jordan Ellis, introduce herself and me (#badhost?!) We chat about books, webcomics, Webtoon, audiobooks, her bookish clothing, and more!
Follow Jordan: Jordan – @jordandene Her nerdy clothing brand – @jordandenenyc Her magazine / podcast – @thesartorialgeek
Bookish things mentioned:
Books mentioned:
Graphic novels mentioned:
Webcomics mentioned:
It's 2020 so... time for new bookish goals! It seems I've settled into this "goals that match the year number" thing, so twenty goals it is. I hope you are all off on a super-awesome reading adventure of a year already. I'm working on it. :)
Blog post and image coming soon!
Mentioned in the episode...
Follow me on all my other social medias for life in between episode uploads!:
P A T R E O N : http://bit.ly/malaraypatreonI N S T A G R A M : http://bit.ly/malarayinstagramW E B S I T E : http://www.malarayofsunshine.comT W I T T E R : http://bit.ly/malaraytwitterG O O D R E A D S : http://bit.ly/malarayreadsF A C E B O O K : http://bit.ly/malarayFB
Music purchased from Epidemic Sound. Songs are "Sun Sun Sun (Sting Version)" and "Enjoy Your Heartbreak (Sting Version)".
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In this episode we chat about the twenty-three books queer-centric books I am SUPER eagerly looking forward to reading in 2020.
Check out the list in written form on my blog here and / or in the show notes below:
1// “Dark and Deepest Red” by Anna-Marie McLemore#OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Feiwel & Friends ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 14th, January 2020GENRE: YA / Magical Realism
2// “Upright Women Wanted” by Sarah Gailey#OwnVoices (queer author) PUBLISHED BY: Tor.com / Tor/Forge (Macmillan imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 4th, February 2020 GENRE: YA / Adult? / Fantasy
3// “Middle School’s a Drag, You Better Werk” by Greg Howard#OwnVoices (I think)PUBLISHED BY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (Penguin Imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 11th, February 2020GENRE: Middle Grade / Contemporary
4// “A Home for Goddesses and Dogs” by Leslie ConnorPUBLISHED BY: Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 25th February, 2020 GENRE: Middle Grade / Contemporary
5// “Docile” by K.M. Szpara #OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Tor.com / Tor/Forge (Macmillan imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 3rd, March 2020 GENRE: Adult / SciFi
6// “The Animals at Lockwood Manor” by Jane HealeyPUBLISHED BY: Mantle (Pan Macmillan imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 5th, March 2020 GENRE: Adult / Historical Fiction / Fantasy / Mystery
7// “Super Adjacent” by Crystal CestariPUBLISHED BY: Disney-Hyperion ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 17th, March 2020 GENRE: YA / Superhero
8// “Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit” by Lilliam RiveraPUBLISHED BY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette Book Group imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 17th, March 2020 GENRE: Middle Grade
9// “Wow, No Thank You.” by Samantha Irby #OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Vintage (Penguin Random House imprint)ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 31st, March 2020 GENRE: Non-fiction, essays
10// “Look” by Zan Romanoff #OwnVoices (I think)PUBLISHED BY: Dial Books ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 31st, March 2020 GENRE: YA / Contemporary
11// “Girl, Serpent, Thorn” by Melissa BashardoustPUBLISHED BY: Flatiron Books (Macmillan imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 12th, May 2020 GENRE: YA / Fantasy / Retellings (Persian/Zoroastrian mythology)
12// “Felix Ever After” by Kacen Callender #OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins in print) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 12th, May 2020 GENRE: YA
13// “The Henna Wars” by Adiba Jaigirdar #OwnVoices (POC MC by POC)PUBLISHED BY: Page Street ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 12th, May 2020 GENRE: YA / Contemporary
14// “Date Me, Bryson Keller!” by Kevin van WhyePUBLISHED BY: Random House for Young Readers ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 19th, May 2020 GENRE: YA / Contemporary
15// “I Kissed Alice” by Anna Birch #OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Macmillan/Imprint ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 26th, May 2020 GENRE: YA / Contemporary
Interesting Twitter post by the author: https://twitter.com/Almost_Anna/status/1194963670813556737
16// “Something to Talk About” by Meryl Wilsner #OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Berkley ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 26th, May 2020 GENRE: Adult / Contemporary
17// “You Should See Me in a Crown” by Leah Johnson #OwnVoices (POC MC by POC)PUBLISHED BY: Scholastic Press ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 2nd, June 2020 GENRE: YA / Contemporary
18// “The New Queer Conscience” by Adam Eli, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky #OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Penguin Workshop ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 2nd, June 2020 GENRE: Non-fiction
19// “The Falling in Love Montage” by Ciara SmythPUBLISHED BY: HarperTeen ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 9th, June 2020 GENRE: YA / Contemporary
20// “I’ll Be the One” by Lyla Lee #OwnVoices (POC MC by POC)PUBLISHED BY: Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins imprint)ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 16th, June 2020 GENRE: YA / Contemporary
21// “Cinderella Is Dead” by Kalynn Bayron #OwnVoices (POC + queer author, queer themes + POC MC)PUBLISHED BY: Bloomsbury YA ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 7th, July 2020 GENRE: YA / Fantasy / Cinderella retelling
22// “Cattywampus” by Ash Van Otterloo #OwnVoices (queer author)PUBLISHED BY: Scholastic ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 4th August, 2020 GENRE: Middle Grade / Fantasy
23// “The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks” (Montague Siblings #3) by Mackenzi Lee PUBLISHED BY: Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins imprint) ANTICIPATED RELEASE: 18th, August 2020 GENRE: YA / Fantasy
Follow me on all my other social medias for life in between episode uploads!:
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Music purchased from Epidemic Sound. Songs are "Sun Sun Sun (Sting Version)" and "Enjoy Your Heartbreak (Sting Version)".
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Here we are, second episode finally out!
In this episode I review "Red, White & Royal Blue" by Casey McQuiston. Well, mostly I just blather on about how much I forking love this book. HA!
If you don't want spoilers, stop listening at: 8:40 and begin again at: 16:08.
Follow me on all my other social medias for life in between episode uploads!:
P A T R E O N : http://bit.ly/malaraypatreonI N S T A G R A M : http://bit.ly/malarayinstagramW E B S I T E : http://www.malarayofsunshine.comT W I T T E R : http://bit.ly/malaraytwitterG O O D R E A D S : http://bit.ly/malarayreadsF A C E B O O K : http://bit.ly/malarayFB
Music purchased from Epidemic Sound. Songs are "Sun Sun Sun (Sting Version)" and "Enjoy Your Heartbreak (Sting Version)".
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
First episode, guys!
In this inaugural episode we'll be diving into my 20 most anticipated LGBTQAI+ reads for 2019. There are sooooo many great ones coming out OMG.
Here is the link to my accompanying blog post so you can follow along and here is the link to the Good Reads bookshelf for y'all to add away!
See you in the next episode!
Music purchased from Epidemic Sound. Songs are "Sun Sun Sun (Sting Version)" and "Enjoy Your Heartbreak (Sting Version)".
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.