Isola Book Club

Summary

Bad On Paper Podcast: Episode Summary – "Isola Book Club"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Bad On Paper
• Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
• Episode Title: Isola Book Club
• Release Date: February 26, 2025
• Description: Join Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter every Wednesday for a dose of books and banter, along with interviews with women who inspire us.

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1. Personal Updates

Olivia's Weekend High ([00:47])

Olivia shares her enjoyable experience visiting family in New Orleans during Mardi Gras for the first time. She describes the parades as family-oriented events with an array of items thrown, ranging from beads to light-up objects.

“We went to the parades, which was. I had no idea the scale of these things... It was a very nice, fun weekend.” ([01:27])

Becca's Weekend High ([02:11])

Becca recounts a fulfilling weekend spent with friends visiting from Boston, including attending a comedy show, dining out, and shopping. She also shares positive news about her writing progress and a productive call with her editor, enhancing her optimism for her current draft.

“I had a call with her to run some of my ideas by her and she really liked them. And I just, I feel really excited and locked in on this draft.” ([03:40])

Olivia's Weekend Low ([05:03])

The busyness of Olivia's weekend leaves her feeling unprepared for the upcoming week. Despite taking steps to reset, such as organizing chores, she acknowledges the need to adjust after a nonstop trip.

“My low is just that it was such a go, go, go weekend that I'm not feeling prepared for the week.” ([05:03])

Becca's Weekend Low ([06:05])

Becca expresses frustration with the current state of American politics, feeling overwhelmed by misinformation and lack of coherent responses from political figures and coalitions.

“I feel like the state of American politics is just, is kind of catching up to me.” ([06:05])

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2. Book Discussion: "Isola" by Allegra Goodman

Pronunciation and Plot Overview ([12:03])

The hosts clarify the pronunciation of "Isola" and provide a synopsis of the book, highlighting its historical fiction elements centered around Marguerite, an orphaned heir who is controlled by her older cousin, Roberval. The story takes a dramatic turn when Marguerite falls in love with Auguste, leading to their marooning on an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

“This book centers around a main character named Marguerite who is the orphaned heir to a fortune... they face immense challenges to survive.” ([12:17])

High-Level Thoughts: Olivia vs. Becca ([14:08] & [14:43])

• Olivia's Perspective: Olivia appreciates the detailed world-building and immersive narrative. Despite a slow start, she found the survival aspects compelling and enjoyed the true-story basis of the novel.

  “I found it extremely immersive in that way... But I can see why that would be important to some people for sure.” ([17:59])

• Becca's Perspective: Contrarily, Becca did not connect with the book, finding the historical specifics lacking and the pacing slow. Her preconceptions and selective reading habits influenced her negative reception.

  “This book was not for me. Not for me... I will also admit that I went into this book with a piss poor attitude.” ([14:43])

Divergent Reactions ([20:48] – [31:57])

The hosts delve into specific aspects of the book, highlighting their differing views:

• Historical Authenticity: Becca felt the historical elements were not well-anchored in the 1500s, lacking specific cultural and temporal details.

  “It did not feel super specific in any way... It felt like it wasn't even specific to France.” ([18:46])

• Survival Elements: Olivia enjoyed the survival aspects, finding them charming and engaging, while Becca felt the challenges were not sufficiently difficult for the characters given their privileged backgrounds.

  Olivia: “I find it very interesting and very compelling.” ([34:57])
  Becca: “It didn't seem hard enough at first... It was just, like, immediately got into the swing of things.” ([33:36])

• Character Relationships: Both hosts discuss the romantic dynamics, with Olivia appreciating the subtlety and potential for adaptation, whereas Becca found the connections unconvincing and abrupt.

  Olivia: “I thought it was so, like, a good example of... simply, a very immersive story.” ([28:22])
  Becca: “I didn't feel like I understood their connection in any way.” ([28:28])

Historical Basis and True Story Elements ([46:28] – [49:01])

Olivia elaborates on the real historical events that inspired the novel, providing context on Marguerite's actual ordeal. This blend of fact and fiction adds depth to the narrative, though Becca remains indifferent to this aspect.

“This is the real Marguerite did really travel across the ocean in 1542 and she was really marooned on an island...” ([47:12])

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3. Book Club Dynamics and Recommendations

Polar Reactions and Book Club Selection ([51:53] – [52:10])

Becca and Olivia acknowledge their differing reactions to "Isola," noting that such varied opinions are typical in a book club setting. They express curiosity about broader listener opinions, anticipating that others may lean towards Olivia's perspective.

“I think books are subjective. Let us get into some Men matter.” ([52:10])

Reading Recommendations:

• Becca's Picks:

  • "Saint X" by Alexis Skykin: A dual-timeline story exploring race and family dynamics.
  • "Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson: Explores themes similar to her favorite "Black Cake."

  “It's a lot about race... I thought it was great. The writing is really, really, really good.” ([56:38])

• Olivia's Picks:

  • "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen: A classic survival story she loved as a child.
  • "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir: An action-packed survival narrative.

Upcoming Book Club Selection ([59:46])

For March, the hosts announce their next book club pick:

• "Deep Cuts" by Holly Brickley: A literary romance set in the early 2000s indie music scene, exploring the intricate relationship between two college friends bonded by their love for music.

  “This is a literary romance... similar to 'Normal People.'” ([59:46])

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4. Personal Obsessions

Becca's New Sneakers ([52:42] – [54:37])

Becca enthusiastically discusses her recent acquisition of leopard-print Adidas sneakers from the Wales Bonner collection. She shares the story of spotting them on a flight, their high resale value, and her delight in finally securing a pair.

“I marked my calendar. I was so excited to get these. I did end up getting them secondhand for not that much more money.” ([53:26])

Olivia's Current Obsessions ([54:30] – [56:54])

Olivia currently has no specific obsessions to share, focusing instead on her reading list.

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5. Closing Remarks and Next Steps

The hosts encourage listeners to engage with the book discussion through their Facebook and Geneva groups and preview their excitement for the upcoming book, "Deep Cuts." They also provide their social media handles for further interaction.

“If you would like to discuss Isola with us, please come talk to us in the Facebook group or in the Geneva group.” ([59:57])

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Olivia on Mardi Gras Parades:
  “Have you ever been to one a Mardi Gras parade?... It was a really nice, fun weekend.” ([01:27])

• Becca on Political Frustration:
  “I feel like the state of American politics is just, is kind of catching up to me.” ([06:05])

• Olivia on Book Immersion:
  “I found it extremely immersive in that way... But I can see why that would be important to some people for sure.” ([17:59])

• Becca on Book Dislike:
  “This book was not for me. Not for me... I was feeling unfulfilled in my reading life.” ([14:43])

• Olivia on Historical Authenticity:
  “I found it very interesting and very compelling.” ([34:57])

• Becca on Book Club Subjectivity:
  “I think books are subjective. Let us get into some Men matter.” ([52:10])

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Conclusion

In this episode of Bad On Paper, Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter delve into their February book club pick, Isola by Allegra Goodman. Through personal anecdotes and a candid discussion, they explore the strengths and shortcomings of the novel, reflecting their diverse perspectives. While Olivia praises the immersive storytelling and historical underpinnings, Becca finds herself disengaged due to pacing and lack of specific historical details. Their interaction highlights the subjective nature of literary appreciation, setting the stage for engaging future discussions. Listeners are encouraged to join their community discussions and look forward to their March selection, Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley.

Transcript

[Olivia Mentor]

Hi, everyone, and welcome to Baton Paper Podcast. I'm Olivia Mentor.

[Becca Freeman]

And I'm Becca Freeman.

[Olivia Mentor]

And today is our February book club episode. This month has gone by so fast, so I cannot believe it is already here, but we are going to be talking about Isola by Allegra Goodman. And I know nothing about Becca's thoughts about it, but I. I have some guesses.

[Becca Freeman]

So didn't love it. But you did.

[Olivia Mentor]

I did. Well, let's get into some highs and lows.

[Becca Freeman]

First, tell me your high.

[Olivia Mentor]

My high is that I had a very quick, whirlwind, jam packed weekend in New Orleans. I went to visit my brother. My parents were also there, so it was just a nice little family weekend.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, I didn't realize your parents were there.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, yeah, we were all there. So it was, it was really fun. And it's Mardi Gras right now, so it was my first time being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I've actually, I visited New Orleans a few times, but it's always been in August, which is a bold choice, but probably also the cheapest, which is, I'm assuming why I did that. But it was nice for it to be actually cold. And we went to the parades, which was. I had no idea, Like, I had no idea the scale of these things. Have you ever been to one a Mardi Gras parade?

[Becca Freeman]

No.

[Olivia Mentor]

My assumption was, like, I only knew the flashing for the beads, which I now think is maybe a myth, or at least the ones I went to. It was a very, like family oriented thing. And they don't just throw beads, they throw like light up things, wings, footballs, cups. They throw all kinds of stuff. And the kids all sit like on the top of ladders and they have little seats that they like build onto the top of the ladders to sit there and watch. It's really cute. And so it was just, it was a really nice, fun weekend. We ate so much good food, had so many good drinks. It was just a lot of fun.

[Becca Freeman]

That's awesome.

[Olivia Mentor]

What's your high?

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, I have multiple highs. I feel pretty good on the whole. I had friends visiting this weekend, which was really fun. Two of my best friends from college came from Boston, so we went to a comedy show. We went to a bunch of good dinners. We went shopping one day. So it was very fun. And I also haven't traveled anywhere this year, which is somewhat unlike me. And so it was nice to have a big weekend that I was looking forward to even in my own city. So that was fun. And then I also had a great call with my editor last week. I had gotten notes on the latest round of my draft a few weeks ago and I've kind of just been mulling on them. I was also sick in there and I feel like usually my instinct is to just get in there immediately and just kind of bash my head against the wall. And this time I really kind of sat with it and tried to figure out what I wanted to do beforehand. And so I had a call with her to run some of my ideas by her and she really liked them. And I just, I feel really excited and locked in on this draft. So I'm actually going to dive in today. So this is all said with the optimism of someone who hasn't actually gotten to the page yet. But yeah, I'm excited about that. And then also just looking at the weather forecast, I'm seeing a lot of numbers in the 50s this week and gosh, do I need that.

[Olivia Mentor]

Me too. We were just talking about this. Come on, spring. We, we gotta keep it going. Like we need 50s and 60s. Maybe just gimme that one spring day, you know, when it's like false spring.

[Becca Freeman]

I know what you mean. I feel like I can deal with 50s. Just get me to daylight savings.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay, that's part of it too.

[Becca Freeman]

Just get me being light out until 6:30 or 7.

[Olivia Mentor]

I have noticed that while I'm cooking dinner, there's still a little bit of light in the sky now. So we're getting there, we're getting there. But I'm so happy to hear about your book stuff too. That's like such a nice, nice feeling. Talk about a change from last year, right? It must feel so good to be like consistently feeling good.

[Becca Freeman]

I had ended up going back. I was trying to find something that happened last year in my five year journal. And so I was kind of reading posts from last fall trying to figure out when something happened and wow, was I in it in a bad place. And reading those posts I was like, oh, it really helped to highlight how much better and differently I feel than I did in the fall.

[Olivia Mentor]

Good. And I'm sure with your next book I feel like you learn from the emotional stuff as much as the actual work itself. You know, like you remember, like it was really bad and then it got better and that makes everything else more survivable. I feel like.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, what about the low side?

[Olivia Mentor]

My low is just that it was such a go, go, go weekend that I'm not feeling prepared for the week. I usually like to take Sunday to just like get all my stuff done. And we did get back yesterday afternoon, but it was like, it was just one of those trips where from morning till evening, you are not in your hotel room. You are just going places, doing things, walking, talking. So I, I think I need to reset a little bit. But I did just order groceries. I'm gonna go pick them up after this. I planned my meals. I immediately. This is honestly just a round of applause for me. I immediately brought my suitcase up to the laundry room.

[Becca Freeman]

Look at you.

[Olivia Mentor]

Instead of, instead of leaving it in our hallway for two to three weeks. So I'm getting there. But I, I need a bit to readjust. I slept 12 hours last night, by the way. So our flight was at 6, I should mention yesterday.

[Becca Freeman]

But in the morning or at night?

[Olivia Mentor]

In the morning.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

So we woke up at like 3:30. We were out really late the night before. Wow. And yeah, it was a lot, but worth it.

[Becca Freeman]

That's great.

[Olivia Mentor]

What's your low?

[Becca Freeman]

I feel like the state of American politics is just, is. Is kind of catching up to me.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yep, that'll. Yeah, that'll do it.

[Becca Freeman]

That'll do it. I feel like, you know, in the first few weeks after the inauguration, I was really, first of all, I had personal good news in terms of my book feedback happening. So I was maybe a little inwardly self focused, but also I was moderating my news consumption. I was like, the Orange man is doing something crazy. Don't give him the reaction that he wants. And I felt like. I was really. I was like, we have four years of this. You gotta protect your piece. And I feel like one month in, it's. It's getting to me. It's not good, you know, And I think part of it is like, obviously policies that I fundamentally disagree with, but then also just the layer of lying and like blatant untruth that is happening in terms of like, DEI crashed this airplane, Ukraine started this war. Like just blatant falsehoods that are seemingly not being made as big a deal of as maybe they should. Just, I don't know, like, a sense of justice in me is like boiling where I'm like, this isn't fair.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, it feels really hard too. The Zelensky stuff really got to me as well. I found it so deeply. Cause it's blatantly untrue. And also like, goes against. It just goes against like the order of the democratic world that we have, have agreed to. And it's hard to know whether by reacting to it, you're like, giving him more airtime in A way and legitimizing what he's doing. But then also, like, we should sound the alarm, but do we sound the alarm every time? Like, I. It doesn't matter.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, that's also what's really frustrating is that I don't feel like a coherent response has coalesced where, you know, for the first few weeks, it was like, okay, it's like a fire hose. Gotta give them time to figure out how to react. And I don't feel like any individual voice or any coalition of people on the Democrat side or, you know, rational human beings that are like, DEI did not crash this airplane. You know, whether that's in the media or, I don't know. Like, I'm frustrated by the lack of counter moves. I don't know what the quite the right word is that I'm looking for.

[Olivia Mentor]

I agree. I mean, there's AOC and I. I mean, obviously there's lots of people speaking out against what's happening, but it feels like we really need something very solid and singular to rally around.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, it doesn't feel effective, you know, like, I think obviously the legal response in the courts is trying to counter it in some cases, although there have been things that I've been shocked by that they've upheld. But, yeah, it just. It doesn't feel like there's like a coherent. Like, here's what we're gonn.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I agree. It's very scary when you go start going down the rabbit hole. It's terrifying.

[Becca Freeman]

I know I did that yesterday, which I was like, oh, there was a reason I was trying to moderate my. My news consumption.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, it's a hard balance to strike, but I'm with you. It's terrifying. Everything.

[Becca Freeman]

I don't know how to pivot out of this. So the world is scary. Let's talk about a book. Or let's take an ad break before we talk about a book.

[Olivia Mentor]

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[Becca Freeman]

Once you try Cozy Earth's best selling PJ set, you won't want to wear anything else. They're made with viscose from bamboo, and they're cooling, breathable, and they will have you wishing everything in Your closet felt this soft. I love that they are so comfy. But they are also kind of put together looking. I think of these as my house guest pajamas. Like, if I'm traveling and I'm probably going to be socializing in my pajamas, these are the ones that I pack. And also having a matching pajama set makes me feel like a character in a Nancy Myers movie. Like, it just makes me feel like I have my shit together.

[Olivia Mentor]

I agree with that. And it does feel pretty impossible for me to believe this right now. But before we know it, it is going to be spring and we all are going to be out and about with our schedules full of dinner parties and picnics and weddings. So I think it's important for all of us to take the time now to really just hunker down, be cozy, relax, recharge. And I think we could probably all use that rest and relaxation more than we realize. And if the perfect loungewear or the Nancy Meyers movie set, pajamas or bedding from Cozy Earth is going to help you lean into the slowness of the season, then I think that's just great.

[Becca Freeman]

Stay cozy all winter long with cozy earth. Get 40% off your [e-mail] BOP or use code BOP when you check out. If you see the post purchase survey, let them know you heard about them through this podcast. Don't wait. Comfort like this is calling your name again. Cozyearth.com BOP and use code BOP to get 40% off your purchase. All right, Olivia, hit us with that sweet, sweet summary in case anyone is joining who did not read along.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes, and I will in a moment. But I do want to preface this by saying, how do you pronounce the title of this book?

[Becca Freeman]

So I would have said Isola, but I did listen to the audiobook of this and the narrator was using a kind of aristocratic British accent and she pronounced it Isola.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay. Yes. See, I watched a video with Alegre Goodman where she pronounced it that way and it really broke my brain because it seemed so much like it was Isola. But I'm gonna try my best to navigate that. I don't think it really will come up many times. It doesn't, but just a note for the listeners. So this book centers around a main character named Marguerite who is the orphaned heir to a fortune. And she is very privileged. She has a chateau and like a personal lady in waiting, a private tutor. But she and her money are controlled by her much older cousin, Roberval. Roberval. Roberval.

[Becca Freeman]

Roberval.

[Olivia Mentor]

Rob Roberval. Okay, thank You, Becca. See, this is where the audiobook helps. He rents out her family's property, only gives her money kind of when he feels like it, and just basically wields his power over her in ways that are like controlling it best and then abusive at certain times. Even. So, when Roberval plans to go on a voyage to New France, which is Canada, he. He insists that Marguerite and her maid Damien come with him. And she has no choice about this and Damien doesn't either. And so along the way, Marguerite ends up falling in love with Auguste. I'm assuming that's. Yep, it's a lot of French is not my strong suit, as you can tell. Who is the secretary of her older cousin. And when. Rob or Rob. When Rob, we're gonna call him Rob. When Rob finds out. When Rob finds out of their romance, he has the totally normal and rational reaction of marooning them all on an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which is off the coast of Canada, where the three of them face immense challenges to survive. There's a lot going on. It's a big book.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay, well, you kind of previewed this, but give us your high level thoughts on the book.

[Becca Freeman]

Wow, Olivia, this book was not for me. Not for me. Which I think we knew was a strong possibility. First of all, I'm very curious to hear what you loved about this book. I also saw that many of the listeners loved this book. There was some chat in the Geneva group and I recall somebody saying that they stayed up way past their bedtime two nights in a row, which I can't fathom about this book. Love that feeling for them though. Was so bored out of my gourd. I will also admit that I went into this book with a piss poor attitude, like a real bad attitude about it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Why?

[Becca Freeman]

So it's one of those months where I haven't been reading a lot in general. And I feel like my reading life has been dictated by external constraints. So I haven't been reading a lot because I've been watching Lost, which is interesting given the contents of this book. Honestly. Also about being marooned on an island. Totally different tone. Also has polar bears and. And then I've been screening books for book club for next month. And sometimes that is like an embarrassment of riches, of like, oh, I'm getting to read all these books I'm so excited about. And for whatever reason this month I read 30% of a bunch of books where I was like, nah, this isn't it. And then went on to the next one. I was feeling unfulfilled in my reading life. And then I was like, ugh, now I have to read this book that I don't want to read. So I came into it with a bad attitude, which might have colored some of how I reacted to the book. You know, I just wanted to read Deep End by Ali Hazelwood that everyone's talking about.

[Olivia Mentor]

That's understandable. I knew that was definitely a possibility going into it. I mean, I'm calling it historical fiction, but I agree with it's a true story. Do you read? I feel like neither of us actually read a lot of historical fiction. When is the last time you read historical fiction or you've been drawn to it?

[Becca Freeman]

Well, so this is not a fair assessment because I just read the Safekeep by Yao Van der Wouden the other week, which is historical fiction. But I think that makes it seem like I read much more historical fiction than I do. You know, before that I was trying to think before this episode. I think before that most recent book that I read that would be. I mean, it's a hybrid because it also is a present timeline. Was probably Woman on Fire, which had to do with a piece of art that was looted by the Nazis during World War II. So I read that sometime last year, I think. But if I had to think of when was the last time I read a book that was set pre 1900s, that would actually be very hard for me to come up with.

[Olivia Mentor]

Me too, actually. And if you go later, like if you go back to 1800, 1700, even recall. So it was different for me too.

[Becca Freeman]

Tell me about your experience with this book because I actually think this is pretty interesting that we had pretty polar opposite reactions on this book because that's pretty realistic of what a real in person book club would be that, you know, somebody picks a book, some people love it, some people hate it. So I'm curious to understand what it was that you loved about this book that I couldn't find.

[Olivia Mentor]

It reminded me very much of like a fantasy reading experience because. Or what I assume that's like for people who are very into fantasy. Because it felt like this very specific portrait of one world that is very different from mine was forming on each page. And it's like very. It's very detailed in its own kind of way. You know, like especially once you get to the island and the nature and her background and everything. Like it's every single detail. It's a lot of minutia, which I think I can understand would read as boring to a lot of people. But I found it extremely immersive in that way. The main reason I thought you might not like this is because it starts out fairly slow.

[Becca Freeman]

Yep.

[Olivia Mentor]

And I know that you are someone who reads like, you know, however many pages, and then if you're not into it, you're not into it and you put it down, which is completely valid. And I remember reading the first, like, 50 to 100 pages of this, and I was like, well, I'm really enjoying this, but I can totally see why people would put it down by now. But then once I got to the part where they're marooned, and I think this idea that, like, I knew it was heading towards that point did keep me reading a lot. It was so, like, compelling to me that I just literally could not put it down. And then the whole true story aspect of it I found absolutely fascinating. But then on another level, I just found the writing really beautiful. I loved it all. I thought it was fascinating. I was just completely immersed in it.

[Becca Freeman]

So I want to discuss. I think I disagree with you strongly on one point of it being very detailed and anchored in the minutiae, because I think in the writing. Yes. In terms of, like, here are the trees, or, you know, here's what the island looks like. Sure. But I think one problem I had with this book was that as far as the historical aspect of. Did not feel super specific in any way. So the book is supposed to be set in 1500s France. And there was not that much, to me that felt like it was specifically in the 1500s versus being in the 16 or 17 or even 1800s. And it felt like it wasn't even specific to France. Like it could have. There was nothing that meant it couldn't have been in, like, England or, you know, anything that was part of the former Holy Roman Empire. Like, the food they were eating, the topics of conversation, like, none of it felt particularly anchored in time for me, except for, you know, perhaps when there were a few instances where she was at a dinner with Roberval and his compatriots. I don't. His. His people. And they were talking about exploration of the New World. And only because they were talking about it in terms of Canada, I think, did that anchor it. But otherwise, you know, it could have been colonialism in any other part of the world in a different era. And. And I think that was something that I was like. I don't know. I. I was thinking about this book series that I love called A Discovery of Witches Light. Spoiler. It won't ruin anything for you. There's a plotline where they go back in time to Shakespearean England. And that felt so specific to me and anchored in time in terms of, you know, what were the intellectual topics du jour and what were the idiosyncrasies of how the city worked and things like that. And this just. It didn't feel that specific to me in terms of the historical aspect.

[Olivia Mentor]

I mean, I see your point, for sure. I wouldn't disagree with that necessarily. I guess that's not really what I, like, look for. Like, it wouldn't have mattered to me if it was. Like, I could read it and, like, without knowing the year, I could pinpoint the year.

[Becca Freeman]

Not the year, but the century, you know? And I. I was wondering if maybe the instruments were supposed to be strong hints to that, but I just don't know enough about music to recognize that. And so I was like, is this what's supposed to anchor it in time?

[Olivia Mentor]

Hmm. I guess I didn't feel like that was an important part of the story. Like, the exact year or century. Yeah, I guess. And maybe, like, the assumption is that this whole concept of, like, taking a ship to the new world is very much that time period. You know, it wouldn't have been 100 years later. But to me, like, it just doesn't matter. In the same way that, like, when I watch Ever after, which this book kind of reminded me of, in a way. It's set in France, which is clear, but they all have British accents. And, like, it could really be anywhere, anytime. Like, I couldn't tell you a year, but it still feels very immersive to me. But I can see why that would be important to some people for sure.

[Becca Freeman]

If I'm going to read historical fiction, immerse me in the historical time period, I guess.

[Olivia Mentor]

Totally. Yeah, I guess. You know, different strokes for different folks.

[Becca Freeman]

Totally. Wait, I want to know. Were you surprised that this was also Reese's Book Club's pick for February? Were you surprised by that?

[Olivia Mentor]

I was and I wasn't. Because I was. Because I knew that this wasn't going to be something that was appealing to every single person. But I also loved it so much that I found it very validating. Cause I was like, oh, okay, I'm not crazy. Like, I know that this is not going to be for every person, but also, there is something about it that is great if it's for you. And it did kind of surprise me and kind of not like, can I see this being a movie? Yes, absolutely. 100%. I would be the first one to buy tickets. So in that sense, like it does have this sort of Hollywood feel to doesn't necessarily seem like a Reese Book.

[Becca Freeman]

Club pick to me.

[Olivia Mentor]

So in that sense it surprises me a bit. I don't know what about you? Do you think that changed your expectations of the book?

[Becca Freeman]

Maybe I was shocked that it's a Reese's Book Club pick because I think of Reese's taste as. Or the book club's taste. I don't know how closely that mirrors her personal taste at this point as very commercial, very propulsive. She chooses a lot of thrillers. She's chosen a lot of very commercial romance books before. And so I think of her picks as much more Pacey versus I think of read with Jenna's picks as kind of this upmarket crossover fiction between literary and commercial sitting in that space. And I don't think I really have a strong sense of what GMA's point of view is, but I definitely think of Rhys as skewing, more commercial and fast paced. And so it was really surprising to me that she picked this. And also knowing that she usually picks things for their IP potential to be developed into a show or series, that also is really surprising because I know you said that you would be interested in seeing an adaptation, but I feel like I struggle to see this being a broadly successful. Like this isn't an HBO Sunday night type show.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, I disagree. I mean, look, I guess think of like HBO's other historical adaptations like they had or Showtime, like what is that one? Showtime. It's American History. There's like a show on Benjamin Franklin, there's a show on whatever they like to do these period pieces sometimes is my point. And I think, you know, you have the romance, you have the sex. You could play that way more up than it is in the book, which is very hbo. And then everyone loves surviving on a desert island. Like that's a story form since the beginning of time. So I think that it could be very cinematic, obviously especially, I should say, if they condense it and they kind of stick to the most propulsive parts of it and cut out some of the parts that feel slower, but maybe not. What I didn't expect about it is that it's set very much in like five different areas. Whereas my expectation going into it was like, we're going to be on the boat, scene one, you know, same. And instead it takes quite a bit to get there. And looking back, I can understand why because I think it gives you a much better idea of her character arc. You have her Time at the chateau, which she's like, dealing with Robb and all of his sort of controlling ways. Then you have her time at his townhouse, which I didn't expect, which you kind of get a better picture of how terrible he is. And then also you meet his secretary in a more concrete way. Then you have the ship, then you have the island, and then you have the aftermath, which there was more of than I expected as well. Yes, I know that, like none of this was for you, but was there one of those sections that you were most drawn to or that you found the most propulsive or that you liked?

[Becca Freeman]

I honestly found the aftermath to be the most interesting. I don't know that I was expecting her to be rescued and. Or to then go back and use it as a way to reclaim her status in society. So I think I found the last part the most interesting. The beginning was very hard for me. And I think part of it was exactly what you said. The expectations of. I thought that they would be on the island much sooner. And I thought that that would be a much bigger piece of the book. And then I kept predicting what was going to happen. It was always the most boring thing that happened. So at one point, when she meets Claire, her friend, who's the daughter of her tutor, I thought because you had used the word lover when you described the book, it wasn't a gendered term. So I thought that maybe it was a Sapphic love story between her and Claire, who had fallen in love outside of the constraints of polite 16th century society on this island. And they had a Sapphic relationship. And so I was like, oh, that's cool. And then she leaves Claire. And I was like, oh, I guess not. And then with Roberval, there was one point where he touches her shoulder for the first time. And I was like, oh, is this going to be like a sexual awakening type story where her and Roberval get marooned on the island and he's evil, but she grows to love him or something. And I was like, oh, nope, it's not that either. So I just feel like there was so much lead up that I understand what it was trying to do in terms of constructing her as this very refined, privileged lady. But it was too much setup for me.

[Olivia Mentor]

I understand that. Yeah, there's a lot of buildup. I also think with Rob, with the cousin, my interpretation of like the touching and stuff was that there was this undertone of like, sexual control that had they reached the new world, was going to be bad. Like he was going to take her as his wife or something.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, I. I completely agree. I think you're right. But I thought that maybe it was going to go in a different direction.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, yeah, Yeah. I mean, once the secretary came into the. The picture, I kind of knew it was him. I will say that, like, I was shocked how little sex there is.

[Becca Freeman]

He doesn't have a name for so much of it. You don't learn his name until so late in the game.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I really thought this was going to be much more romance heavy. And there is a sex. I mean, there's a few sex scenes, I think, but they're so brief. They're so, so brief. And that's probably to underscore the fact that it's, like, ultimately not about the men at all. And I appreciate that. I mean, do you think you would have liked it more if there was more sex or more romance or more of a kind of character study on August?

[Becca Freeman]

Maybe this whole episode is just me shitting on this book. I just didn't feel like I understood their connection in any way. It was almost as if he was one of the first two men that she had ever met, the other being the son of the family who ended up buying her estate. But it didn't seem like she knew anything. Men. And she meets him and he says, I love you. And I was shocked, first of all, which I guess is probably about the courting traditions of the time, that that would make sense in the time period. And she kind of reacts. She's like, what? And then she's like, okay, sure. Like, it wasn't like, oh, my gosh. I had been quietly pining for him, too, or he'd been nice to her, but I wasn't like, oh, my gosh, you have this deep connection that's undeniable. I was like, yeah, you're among the only people of the opposite sex that either has met and, oh, you're in love. Okay, I guess so.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. I concur in a lot of ways. Ultimately, I think, because it isn't a love story, I kind of gave it a pass. But I also think this is a good example of, like, if they were to adapt this, you could deepen it. You could deepen it and also, like, you could keep it largely the same. And just the chemistry of the actors.

[Becca Freeman]

The eye contact.

[Olivia Mentor]

The eye contact, the longing. Yeah, yeah. And while I expected more romance and kind of wanted more romance, I did find certain scenes. Like, there's this one scene where she is walking to the deck, like, in the early morning hours to secretly meet Him. And she describes it as, like, being completely covered in mist. And I was like, oh, this is so romantic. Like, it was just really beautiful. And so I could see a world where you play up those sort of visual things, you find the perfect actors, and it could be something really cool to watch on screen. But I feel you on the. It felt very sudden and not necessarily like they had fully connected.

[Becca Freeman]

I fully agree with you on the missed scene. And I. Yeah, I agree. I think that this could be really played up in a way. But on the page, I was Olivia. I was shocked when she was pregnant.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, it.

[Becca Freeman]

I was like, when did you have sex? Like, I knew that they kissed, but I was like, do I have sex?

[Olivia Mentor]

There's nothing much to do on the island. All I have to say is poor Damian, who is third wheeling so hard for basically the entire book. But okay. Moving on to what I thought was the most propulsive, fun, action packed, and also harrowing part of the book, which was the survival part of the story where they're on the island and, like, having to play house.

[Becca Freeman]

Tell me about this. Tell me about what drew you to this, what parts you loved. Tell me about this.

[Olivia Mentor]

So you. You really didn't find it, like, compelling at all to, like, find out how exactly they would survive or, like, how they make their little home there or anything? You were just over it by that point?

[Becca Freeman]

No, I felt like it was potentially too easy for them. I felt like it was potentially too easy for them. And potentially that was because life in the 1500s was more difficult in general. And so, you know, it was less of a shock because they weren't coming from a world with electricity or, I think, indoor plumbing. So, you know, survival in general was harder. Although they were living on an estate as opposed to living in the countryside or somewhere where they. They might have had to hunt and gather for themselves. Like, it seems like they were accustomed to living in a house that had cooks and servants. So it just. It didn't seem hard enough at first. Like, they just kind of, like, immediately got into the swing of things and were not necessarily super challenged by the situation they were put in. Also, I was surprised how much stuff they got to take, because Rubber Val says you can take what you can carry. And then they have, like, they have instruments. They have so much stuff. And I was like, oh, you were really liberal with that definition of what you can carry. Like, it's like what could fit in a boat. It was like, you have sheets. So I didn't quite feel like, especially in that first Period before the weather turns, that it was challenging enough for them. And especially compared to Lost, which I am watching. And, you know, maybe this is also about medical attention that we are in pre modern medicine, where I think, like, she talks about leeches at one point, not having leeches. So, you know, maybe that's less of a change too. But I just think of in Lost, how much of it had to do with, you know, Jack being a doctor and people needing medical attention all the time.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I had a similar reaction when they were like, take the guns. I was like, okay. I mean, what's the point of marooning them if you're giving them items? But part of it also, I think is, like, interesting how when they got there, it's summer and obviously a very hospitable environment, like, they could survive there. And then the slow transition to winter, it really built this sense of dread in me because I knew it was going to get so bad, which it did. But I think they had, like, built up some confidence by then. And I think also I wonder if what the author was trying to do here was, like, this did actually happen, by all accounts, so how would that be possible? They'd have to have something, you know, like, they'd have to have guns and stuff. And maybe this is the only way that it would make sense. But yeah, I agree that, like, it did seem very easy at first, but I actually found that part very charming, I think partially because I just love the idea of playing house and, like, making use of what you have. And I've talked before about my love of the Borrowers and how they. They use, like, buttons as tables and stuff. Like, I just like reusing random items as, like, household goods in this survival scenario. I found it very. I found it very interesting and very compelling. I really liked it. But I see what you're saying. I see what you're saying that, like, it was probably too easy.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, it got much harder. So in terms of it continuing to be too easy, I mean, I didn't get my wish. I wasn't wishing for that. But it did certainly build.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. And we will talk more about that and also have a little fun with some of the things they survived in the next part of this episode. But first, let's take an ad break.

[Becca Freeman]

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[Olivia Mentor]

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[Olivia Mentor]

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[Becca Freeman]

Okay. I wasn't expecting a game.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay, so I'm going to throw out some of the scenarios that Marguerite, Auguste, Damien and at one point, her infant child, Marguerite's child, I should say, some of the scenarios, they survived. And I want you to rate how you would fare on a scale of 1 to 10.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

All right. So the first one I have is being rowed to the island and having to pick which one you're marooned on. This, to me, it feels like intense psychological torture. But how would you.

[Becca Freeman]

What number are you giving?

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, for me, I would say I think I'm going to give myself a four. Like, I would like the aspect of control, but I would panic and choose the first one that, like, looked even remotely habitable. It's literally like you're choosing your fa. It feels so loaded. It's just. It's torture to me. But what about you? One is like, give up immediately, by the way. And 10 is like, you would succeed completely.

[Becca Freeman]

I think a nine because I don't Think you have any choice? Like, it's something where, what am I going to do? Throw myself overboard?

[Olivia Mentor]

I think what would be hardest is, like, if you saw an island that was almost right, but you're like, what about, what if the next one is better? Or what if they just like, give up and don't let me choose anymore? Like, it would be hard to know when is when you know when is the right one.

[Becca Freeman]

I hear you. I totally hear you. But I think it's an aspect of like, you do what needs to be done because you don't have a choice.

[Olivia Mentor]

You're right. You're right. Okay. The next one, it's a lighter one as well. The living on the beach. So different parts of this book. They live on the island, near the beach, and then in a cave. Now we'll talk about the beach. And I do want to mention that I looked up real life pictures of this area. It's basically this area of water between Prince Edward island and Newfoundland. I linked some pictures in the outline. It is stunning. Like, it is the most gorgeous place I can imagine. Lots of cliffs, hence the COVID of the book. But how do you think you would do summertime living on the beach 1 to 10?

[Becca Freeman]

Conversely, I think I would not do well at this. I would give myself a four here because I think it would be scary to be living on the beach, exposed to the animals on the island.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh. But even in summer when it's only, I guess the birds are.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, you don't know. I don't know what else is on the island. How would you feel?

[Olivia Mentor]

That's a good point. It felt like it would be kind of a vibe. I, I just. In the summer, it's like warm. During the day, it's cool. At night, you have a breeze, you, the salty air. I would do like an eight.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

I think I do pretty well outside.

[Becca Freeman]

Of survival spectrum, which I. I don't know if that means we should go survive together or.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, I'm. I'm also comparing it to how I would fare in the cave, which is. Spoiler, not well.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay.

[Olivia Mentor]

But moving on, what about the hunting and gathering? Because in this book there's a lot of hunting, a lot of gathering. Do you think this would be your chosen island survival activity? Like, this would be your chore or maybe not.

[Becca Freeman]

It wouldn't be my chore, but I think I would give myself a seven here. I think I would probably do well. I think where I would really fall apart was the skinning, butchering, preparation of the animals. So I think that would be like a two. But I think that the hunting. If Damian was willing to take that role, I think I could. I could be the hunter gatherer.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. It. She seemed kind of like she was willing to do just about everything. Yeah.

[Becca Freeman]

How would you do here?

[Olivia Mentor]

I feel like probably a three. I think I would get frustrated very easily, and it would take a lot of practice, and I don't know if I would have the wherewithal to practice while hungry. Like, I just don't function well hungry. And it's a lot of. A lot of that.

[Becca Freeman]

Yep.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay. What about the cave? I hated this. I. The descriptions of them getting in the cave is the among the most uncomfortable things I have ever read. It was a nightmare. I would do, like, a one.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, I would do a ten. I would do a ten. Well, okay. So I think it's a ghost who goes into the cave. Initially, I would not want to be the cave tester.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yep.

[Becca Freeman]

But when, like, Damian comes into the cave, it's already set up. There's sheets on the bed. Like, it is set. And I would be like, oh, great. I don't have to worry about animals or the elements. Like, yeah, sign me up.

[Olivia Mentor]

I was wondering, like, what the heck was gonna happen when winter came. So I was glad they found something. And also, like, maybe I'd be so cold that I just get over it.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

I do like the opportunity to decorate too.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, sure.

[Olivia Mentor]

Like, they put up a little. They put up the portrait of the Virgin Mary.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

I think, like, it's. It seems. It seems doable.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

Moving on to something less doable. Fighting against polar bears.

[Becca Freeman]

One. One would be.

[Olivia Mentor]

They do so well at.

[Becca Freeman]

This would be peeing my pants instantly.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. They're so huge. Like, the idea of this and the fact that this happened. Oh, it makes my stomach turn. I would give myself personally a two.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh, wow.

[Olivia Mentor]

Okay. Because my next one is how you would do with opening the door of going out of your cave and seeing a polar bear eating the corpse of your former lover like that. I would do less. Well, at. I think that would break me. That would break me immediately.

[Becca Freeman]

I'd give myself a six there, because that's what polar bears do. Well, I don't know if that's what polar bears do, but that seems in line with polar bear behavior.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. I can't blame the polar bear. But it would just. If there's anything that would be like, all right, I'm walking into the sea. I'm done with this. It would be that I'd Just be like, okay, really? I went through all this effort to bury him and this is what we get. Okay, what about giving birth in the cave?

[Becca Freeman]

One giving birth in the 1500s period.

[Olivia Mentor]

One, I would say also one not good. Uncomfortable. Okay, an easy one. What about the cold? The description of like how they were keeping warm and like what they were wearing. I just physically felt cold the entire time reading it.

[Becca Freeman]

I mean, pre polar bear pelts. A two.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. I'd give myself like a one and a half. Maybe I'd make an effort. But yeah, not for long. Finally. What about lack of human contact? We'll get to this in a minute. But at the end it's just Marguerite and everyone is dead. So that would be hard. But how would you fare?

[Becca Freeman]

Very poorly. Very poorly. Get two Again, like, better than against fighting a polar bear. But, like, not much.

[Olivia Mentor]

I would either thrive or do horribly. I don't know.

[Becca Freeman]

Especially given the circumstances that you had lost your human contact by.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. Well, we'll get to that now, actually. So one thing that kind of surprised me about this is that basically everyone dies.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

And it is death after death after death. And this was one thing that gave me a little bit of pause about making a book club pick because I thought. I mean, it's obviously very hard to read, but I also thought it was like. It was just like really, like she has to die too. Like I. I really wanted Dami. And that's probably the correct way to say it as you were saying it, to survive. Because I feel like she had really just been through it.

[Becca Freeman]

See. Interesting. I felt like she was kind of the one that, you know, is not going to survive, given her age in general attitude. So I was not. Well, I didn't expect her to be the last one to make it, but she felt to me like the sacrifice of like. Yes, I understand that this person will probably die on this journey versus I was really surprised that Auguste died. And I. I guess I was surprised that she carried the baby to term, to be honest with you, and that she successfully delivered it on the island. But yeah, I was. I was surprised that Auguste died. First.

[Olivia Mentor]

I was surprised by that. And then I was surprised that the baby died because I was like, if she's gonna give birth to it, I thought it would survive as just like a point of hope.

[Becca Freeman]

Well, there's also something about it that. That is kind of interesting where it's like kind of like Max, where the wild things are of like this child that was brought up completely outside of society.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. Maybe if they made This a show they would like change that because that would be fascinating.

[Becca Freeman]

Right.

[Olivia Mentor]

And I wonder how it would. Like, I wonder if when those sailors came and she was eventually rescued, if she had a baby, like what would that be like? Would they just say, no, we can't bring a kid on the boat because they. She really had to beg. I think part of the reason that it was so painful when Damian just going to pronounce it that way and be annoyingly American died was that I felt like she had a really interesting confidence arc where like she was so frightened of everything and then by the end she had built all this confidence. The only thing I will say I didn't like is there was this narrative where she was like at the end she was like, look at how confident I am now. I'm really thin now. Cuz before they talk about how she's like kind of plump and big and I'm like, well, yes, you're on an island struggling to eat. Like you are malnourished. That's why.

[Becca Freeman]

But oh, I didn't clock that.

[Olivia Mentor]

It was this really small thing that I was just kind of like, must we include that? But I just found it very interesting that she gained all this confidence and then her death just felt so. Like she got a cut. Right. And that's how she died. Like it got infected and she just died.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

And it just felt really all that just to die this way just felt like a lot.

[Becca Freeman]

I know. Okay, wait. So here's the part I'm most excited for because this is based on a historical story that the author talks about in the endnotes and how she discovered it. Can you take us through that? Because I know that's one reason that really drew you to it. But also you have some interesting details here.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. So this is also in the historical notes at the end of the book, but to give you an overview. So the reason that we know this story is because the real Marguerite did really travel across the ocean in 1542 and she was really marooned on an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. She really did survive there for two years. But the details are kind of a little bit blurry because there are two versions of the story. So as it touches on at the end of the book, there is one version where the queen records her story in a collection. And in this story, Marguerite was the wife of an artisan who betrays Rob on the ship. And when Rob wants to punish the man, the wife begs to share his fate. They are marooned, the man dies and the Wife lives alone and fights off lions, which, as we know, are traditionally not an animal found in Canada. Sure. Also in this version, Rob comes back after two years and rescues her, which.

[Becca Freeman]

That'S something he would so do. He would be like, look, I'm a hero now.

[Olivia Mentor]

Exactly. And then Marguerite goes back to France and teaches girls to read and write. So in a second version of it, there's a priest who talks about how Marguerite was on the ship, she had an affair, Rob leaves them on an island with a servant, and then the couple plus the servant, and then the couple's infant child dies. Except for Marguerite, obviously. She carries on and fights bears until she's rescued by Basque fishermen. So I find it really fascinating and impressive how the author, like, managed to weave both of these stories into the book in interesting ways. I don't know. Does the fact that it's really true in one way or another add to the experience? Like, did you find that enjoyable even though you didn't love the book?

[Becca Freeman]

I find the historical story fascinating that this actually happened, but I find it interesting in this very condensed anecdote that you just told me. I don't necessarily need more.

[Olivia Mentor]

Right. Do you think you would have liked it more if you read a physical copy instead of listened?

[Becca Freeman]

No, I actually think that there is a chance I would have shown up here and been like, I could not finish this.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, really?

[Becca Freeman]

By the end, I had to jack up the speed to 2.5x and I was like, you're getting through this. Like, I was like, you're white knuckling your way through. It was strongly. Not for me. The pace especially was really hard for me.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, do you have a different version of like a survival book that you would recommend? Maybe someone didn't like this, but they still like tales of survival. Or. Or maybe just historical fictions or something. You would say, try this instead.

[Becca Freeman]

That's interesting because I. I guess maybe I don't read a lot of survival stories in general. Like, maybe that is not a narrative that appeals to me. Now that I'm saying this out loud, it's a very different story of survival. But I thought that Project Hail Mary is so interesting is it is a much more action packed story of surviving extreme circumstances alone.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yes. Yeah. And having to work with what you have and being in a closed environment. Yeah, I love all of that. I was gonna say I remember loving Hatchet as a child, which is a survival story. And I've mentioned that before, but thematically I just love the idea of, like, having to work with what you have and find a way.

[Becca Freeman]

I was wondering if there was like an element of predisposition. And I'm curious to hear in the Facebook group and in the Geneva group if anyone resonates with this theory of like you potentially are drawn to the story based on things you were drawn to as a child. So you were saying Hatchet Obviously Ever after is one of your favorite movies.

[Olivia Mentor]

Swiss Family Robinson. Were you into Swiss Family Robinson?

[Becca Freeman]

No. Also associate you with like Wuthering Heights, the Bronte Sisters. What is the Kate Chopin book that you love?

[Olivia Mentor]

The Awakening.

[Becca Freeman]

The Awakening like you were drawn to kind of 1500s is very far back. But you're drawn to these historical type narratives as a child where I was like, I want to read about Sweet Valley High and kissing boys and I want to read about the babysitters club like making money. And I was never particularly drawn to historical narratives outside of the American Girl Doll books.

[Olivia Mentor]

Those are valid. I also love the Dear America series which is historical and very fictionalized. But I do think that there is something about this that read to me like a classic and. But like in a. In a faster paced way. Which I know is weird to say cause it is very slow at times, but I can definitely see that connection. But better luck next time.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, maybe. Yeah. No, I mean I. I don't begrudge the pick. I think it's really interesting to see it played out that, you know, two people who like many of the same things could read the same book and have such polar opposite reactions. Like books are subjective.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah. I mean that's reading. That's reading 100%.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah. I will be very curious to see what the chatter in the Facebook group and in the Geneva group are because I feel like many more people agree with you. I saw a lot of people who are really enjoying this book.

[Olivia Mentor]

I think most people who wouldn't like this book wouldn't get past 50 pages fair, which is a hard thing. But anyway, to each their own. That's the beauty of books. Let us get into some Men matter. What are you obsessed with?

[Becca Freeman]

My God. Finally something that I'm just 100% positive on. So I got these new sneakers that are these leopard print sneakers from the Adidas and Wales Bonner collection. And I have been wanting these. I mean, not that long. But sometime last year I was on a flight and a girl seated across the aisle from me had on. There was like a V1 like a first drop of these sneakers and she had them on and I was like, oh my God, those are the coolest sneakers. And, you know, I could tell they were Adidas because of the stripes on the side. And so I was like, googling. I was like, leopard, because they're also, like, pony hair, kind of. They're the actual hair on them. And so I googled them to find out what they were, and I don't know. They'd come out at some point last year, and they were, like, very expensive selling on, like, secondhand, like, sneaker head marketplaces. But they had a release of a second version of them that are a slightly different color coming out the end of January. And so I, like, marked my calendar. I was so excited to get these. Of course, I did not get them because I feel like this is the type of thing people line up for. And I'm like, not in the sneakerhead culture, but I did end up getting them secondhand for not that much more money. And they were new, but, like, I got them on resale. And I am so excited about these. I know that everyone says that because they're sambas, and I know that everyone's like, oh, sambas are over. But, like, they just make me feel so cool.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, cute. I love. I just looked them up. I love the blue. That's really cute.

[Becca Freeman]

So mine aren't the blue. Mine are, like, the red, orange ones.

[Olivia Mentor]

Sorry.

[Becca Freeman]

The blue were the original drop that I saw the girl on the plane have.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, I see the red now. Okay.

[Becca Freeman]

The blue ones are, like, reselling for, like, 700. So I was like, okay, I don't want them that badly.

[Olivia Mentor]

Oh, wow. Yeah. No, these are very cute. Good choice. I love both colors.

[Becca Freeman]

What about you?

[Olivia Mentor]

I don't really have anything this week.

[Becca Freeman]

Oh.

[Olivia Mentor]

I'm obsessionless.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay. What about reading? It looks like you've done some good reading.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I finished two books. The first was Saint X by Alexis Skykin. A lot of hard names on this episode. Skykin, Alexis. I heard her talk in a book event recently. I had heard of Saint X and it was made into a show on Hulu. Actually, this is about a family. Very well to do family that goes for vacation and I think the early 2000s, late 90s on this fictionalized Caribbean island. And while they are there, the oldest daughter goes missing and is eventually found dead. And it's a dual timeline story about the younger sisters kind of struggle to understand the loss of her sister and what it meant and also the ways that it affected the island and the people accused of wrongdoing. And it's a lot about race. I can't think of, like, A more divisive book than this book, because I got to the end and I was like, oh, yes, this would definitely be something that you either loved or hated completely. I thought it was great. The writing is really, really, really, really good. If you like literary thrillers, I can't guarantee you would like it, but I think it's worth checking out. And she's just a really excellent writer. I also read Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson, who was the author of Black Cake, which is one of my favorite books. I adored it. I have seen so much. Okay. I started this book to consider it for a book club pick. I got about 60% of the way through, and I was like, I don't think I'm gonna be crazy about this. Then I saw how many people loved it. I saw chatter about it on the Facebook group and. Or the Geneva group, and I was like, I gotta go back and finish it. And, you know, it just. For whatever reason, I just really struggled to connect with it. I don't know what it was. I just had the hardest time. She's an excellent writer, and so many people I saw just loved, loved, loved this book. So maybe not for me, but worth checking out if you liked Black Cake, to see where you land, I think.

[Becca Freeman]

Interesting. Yeah. I loved Black Cake, and I've seen less online about this, good or bad, so probably check this out out of my own curiosity.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, you might like it. It's. It's certainly not bad or anything.

[Becca Freeman]

I just.

[Olivia Mentor]

I just. I just struggled to, like, connect with it.

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah.

[Olivia Mentor]

What about you?

[Becca Freeman]

I read this book called this Love by Lottie Jeffs. And I had heard about it because my friend John was moderating an event for her book launch in January, and I wasn't able to go, but that put it on my radar. And then I looked it up, and I saw somewhere that it was pitched as a queer. One day, a queer update on one day, which was very interesting to me. And so I read this book, and it was not a perfect book, but I adored it. I adored it. So it's about two platonic best friends who come into each other's lives in college. And so Mae, who is the woman, is a lesbian, and then Ari is a man. It's a platonic relationship between them. They bond, and they both want to have a family someday. And so they make this pact that in 10 years, they'll have a kid together. And so the timeline, it's kind of told maybe in four different timelines. So it's in college, it's when they're in their early 20s and then kind of in their like late 20s. And then after that there's like a flash forward timeline too. I loved this and I thought it was such an interesting. I mean, I'm sure there are other books about queer families, but I thought it was a very interesting subject matter that I'd never really seen portrayed in the fiction that I had read before. And also it was like the platonic soulmates of it, of this relationship between two people who were so important to each other in a platonic way was so lovely.

[Olivia Mentor]

Also like, it's out now, did you say?

[Becca Freeman]

Yeah, it came out in January and I was really surprised because I loved it and I was looking on Goodreads and it seems as though very few people have read it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Ah, well, hopefully this will get the word out.

[Becca Freeman]

I hope so. I really enjoyed it.

[Olivia Mentor]

Well, tell us about what we were reading in March.

[Becca Freeman]

Okay, so this may not be a surprise to anyone because I've talked about how much I loved this book for months now, but for our March book club, we are going to read Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley. This is a literary romance. It's about two people who meet in college and are bonded by their love of music. And it takes place in the early 2000s. So it's in like the early aughts indie music scene. And then the book takes place over the next eight years, kind of these two people trying to figure out what they are to each other. I saw it pitched as indie sleaze Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, which is an oversimplification, but not incorrect. Erica Cerulo, friend of the podcast, host of A Thing or Two, had said that and I was like, oh yeah, that's a good description. There's something very normal people about it. Too different. But yeah, there was something that reminded me of normal people.

[Olivia Mentor]

I've been dying to read this, so I'm really excited.

[Becca Freeman]

I'm so excited. And I know you're also. Music has been so meaningful in your own life. I think it'll be really interesting to discuss.

[Olivia Mentor]

Yeah, I can't wait.

[Becca Freeman]

So we will talk about that at the end of March and if you would like to discuss Isola with us, please come talk to us about it in the Facebook group or in the Geneva group. You can follow us on Instagram atonpaperpodcast. I am on Instagram ecamfreeman and my substack is beccafreeman.substack.com I'm on Instagram oliviamenter.

[Olivia Mentor]

And on substack under Olivia mentor as well. And I'll see you online. I don't know why I added that.

[Becca Freeman]

But we'll see you next week.

[Olivia Mentor]

Bye.