
It’s week two of the Book Lisp - no spoilers here, don’t worry. We are deep in 28 Summers but we won’t be doing in depth discussion until week 4. Since Elin starts all the chapters with “what are we talking about” each year, we get reflective and have laughs about things she makes us think back on
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A
Hi, I'm Sarah Colonna.
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And I'm John Ryan.
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And you're listening to the Book List. The Book List.
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The Book Lisp.
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Oh, that's right. You're listening to the Book List. Hello and welcome to the Book Lisp with John Ryan and Sarah Colonna. We are in week two.
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Week. We've made it.
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We already. We already made it. And you guys, thank you so much for listening. We are excited to be here for our second second episode of the Book List. And some of you are probably already knee deep in 28 summers, the Ellen Hildebrand novel that John picked. Or it's a novel, right? Yeah, yeah. That he picked for this month. And it will be. We will be reviewing it fully at the end of the month. As we, as we said before, we're going to be doing this if you're new here, we'll be doing podcasts every week, every Monday and then the final week of the month on the final Mondays when we'll actually dive a little bit more and we'll get into the book and do a full review recap discussion on it. And we go all over the place. It's not like we're following chapter by chapter. We're just having a lot of fun with it. The video version of our podcast is available on Patreon. And don't forget to join our Facebook group, the book listeners link to join. All of that is in the bio of our Instagram at the Book Lisp. And then if you are want to prepare for December already, it is On a Quiet street by Seraphina Nova Glass, which was my pick. And we'll see how that goes because I haven't. But it's. I've. I've already started it and I'm really enjoying it already. So. But I am. I'm in. I'm knee deep in 28 summers.
B
And what do you think?
A
I really like it. Yeah, I really like. I mean I've already finished it, to be honest, but I don't. We're not going to get into all of it. But I also started going back and reread this is what you do. So John does this thing. Tell him what you do with your.
B
Audible, especially for the show. Like when we did it for Are you my podcast. The book reviews we did over there is. I would read the book and then I'd go back and listen to it.
A
On audible like real fucking overachiever just.
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So I could take farther, further notes and really dive into it a little bit deeper when you can hear it as opposed to reading it.
A
And I will say I am. I'm not a big Audi book person.
B
No, it's not the same experience, in my opinion. I, I. A lot of people that have long commutes really like it, or people that, I don't know, sit on the treadmill or whatever. But I. I feel like my mind wanders a little bit more when I'm listening as opposed to actually reading a book.
A
That's what happens to me is I find, and I don't know, maybe I have a little ADD or something somewhere in me, but I don't. I do. I drift off if I'm reading it. I mean, if I'm listening to it, whereas I can focus more when I'm reading it. We do have a thing on our treadmill where you can read on your Kindle, on the screen, on your treadmill, which is super convenient. But the, The. The one thing about. What was the book that we read at? Swan Song.
B
Yes.
A
And the audible for that. Remember the audiobook for that. There was. It was the same woman, right. And she was doing a great job, but there was these. She would try to do the like. Yes. And so Swan Song, the other one was it. It was, I think, one of maybe one of your Abby Jimenez books.
B
Okay. But it was. It's weird because when you're doing. There's only one reader for most of them. Right. And this one happened to be a female reader, but when she read the guy part, she was trying to read, like, like a sexy guy part. Hey, what are you doing now, Tiffany? Like, but like, in a way, like a woman's voice. You're like, oh, it's so creepy.
A
And it's like, it's what you have to do. You can't have. You can't cast it like a play and have a bunch of people reading all these different parts.
B
You just have, like, a computer read the whole book to you.
A
Right.
B
I think that's kind of the whole thing is you want someone with a little bit of personality behind it.
A
Yeah.
B
But at the first, it's kind of distracting when you hear, like, a man doing a bunch of women's voices or vice versa.
A
Yeah. Well, what would. She's like, hey, man, come over here with me. Oh, I feel so uncomfortable now. But. So I don't. I don't. For whatever. But people love them, and I think it's great. I'm more of, like, shockingly, I listen to things like Dateline and whatnot when I'm in my car or Sirius radio or Whatever I listen to, but I am really. So I kind of went. I wanted to go back with our re. With our listeners and be reading 28 summers kind of as we go through this month and some a little bit rereading it. And I listen. I. As you discussed last week on our first episode that they're. This book is about a couple that has a sort of same time, not sort of, they have a same time next year agreement. They are not a couple, I guess you would say they only see each other once a year on Labor Day weekend. You find that out really quickly. So we're not spoiling anything. And this goes through 28 summers and it's their journey. He goes off to be married. She has relationships, but mostly remains single. Mostly remains single throughout the book. But you'll see there's. She has a couple of relationships, one very serious one. But they. There was a lot of people, I guess reviews were about, oh, she's promoting cheating. She's. And, and I am a big person who can't stand that.
B
Yes.
A
I don't, I don't like a cheater. I don't like hearing about it. I don't want to promote it. I don't think it's good. Not that you are with any kind of book, but I didn't feel that way with this book for some reason. I got annoyed with both of the characters early on for not just being together.
B
Yeah.
A
I mean, I guess that would have ended the book and it would have been called One Summer and that would have been it. So she couldn't have written that. But there.
B
Yeah. It gets frustrating at times because you're like, just, just admit that you guys love each other and like try to work something out.
A
But they never do because not well, for one thing. So you. John and I met when I, when we met, he was living in Seattle, I was living in Los Angeles. I mean it's a, it's a couple hour flight. It's not a big deal. It didn't get in the way of us dating, being together, developing a relationship. So this whole thing with distance and where they lived, I just was like, well, it's not that hard. Yeah.
B
I think if you, if you meet the right person, distance, I don't think it means anything.
A
Right.
B
In my opinion, unless someone's in prison or something. I'm doing 25 to 30 away from me, girl.
A
That's a show called Love After Lockup that both of us have enjoyed for several years. But one thing that's cool about this book, that I thought would be a little bit fun because, you know, on the weeks in between, you don't want to give too much away because some of you guys are still reading it. But we want to talk about the book. But talk about the. So what she does in this book, which I think is cool, is she starts every year with. What were we talking about that year? So this book starts in 93.
B
Yeah. I think this is an amazing thing that she does because when you say, oh, 1993, and then you start reading, you don't feel anything. But she wrote a page or two of everything that's going on in 1993. And some of it, it's just like one lyric of a song, and it takes you straight back to that year. You like, you remember exactly what you were doing in that year. Just based on 1993. Lorena Bobbitt. When's the last time you thought about Loretta? I hope you haven't thought about it for a while, babe. Well, you came home late the other night, and I was thinking about her a little.
A
No, but Lorena Bobbitt, she's the one that caught. She. She cut off her husband's wiener.
B
And then didn't he just drive with it, like, throw it out the window?
A
I think she did throw it out a window. And if she didn't, that's the story now.
B
No, because then they found it, and he showed it back online. Porn.
A
Oh, right.
B
Exactly. Yeah.
A
Yeah. What a journey.
B
Yeah.
A
For them. She. He was cheating.
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I. Maybe. I. I hope so.
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If.
B
That's very.
A
Talk about.
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If you didn't go get the milk or something.
A
Talk about someone that didn't like cheating. Now that we're talking about the Hildebrand book, I'm gonna have to Google that really quick. John, you have to keep talking while I discuss. While I Google Lorena Bobbit's.
B
Okay, then you might have to throw out your phone when you're done.
A
Full story.
B
That's okay. But no, it's. It's really cool because just some of the things you haven't thought about in years. And then when you're reading them at the start of every chapter, it takes you right back to that moment as Sarah. The next one on Sarah's list is 1993. The Bills lose their third consecutive Super Bowl.
A
Yeah.
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And Sarah came to me that. She goes, they lost three Super Bowls in a row. That's crazy. I go, no, babe, that's next year. They lost their fourth in a row.
A
I know. And she didn't put that in 94.
B
I don't think the pain was too much for those people going so yeah.
A
So I did just Google Lorena Bobbit because we. I do want. So it was. Yep. She international press coverage in 93 when Lorena severed John's penis with a knife while he was asleep in bed. The penis was successfully surgically reattached and then yeah he went on to he start. He was. He was charged with. Oh, she got let off. Yeah. Well because he did some bad things to her which I won't say on here in case anyone.
B
Okay.
A
Yeah. So trigger warning. Yeah. And then he went on to. Anyway good. She should have cut it off. So it is. It is a fun thing though when you read the beginning and you see.
B
Like so every chapter takes you back.
A
And I didn't know as and John, you're a. You're a former NFL player. You had a stint on the Bills.
B
12 days played for the Bills. For the Bills of 12 games, two preseason games and. And then that's a dinner on Delta. After that they let me go. As we say in the NFL world, you get let go. Dinner on Delta.
A
Is that what they say?
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Yeah, you get dinner on Delta tonight.
A
Oh that's the.
B
Yeah. Whenever like up in the field or something like buddy, they don't Delta man get your together.
A
That means they're cutting you or. And but. But let's be honest. Did you get dinner on Delta when the Bills let you go?
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No, they flew me like 39C.
A
Yeah.
B
I was like really, really buffal. I've been in this league for 13 years. 39C.
A
Yeah, so whatever.
B
I just got cut so I wasn't going to pay for an upgrade. It was a little worried about money.
A
At that time but I it was funny because I know, I know the pain of. Of the Bills fans over when they get finally getting. When they're good and you know they've been good the past few years for several years but I kicked the out.
B
Of our Seahawks 10 so a couple weeks ago. So yeah, they're looking pretty good this year.
A
They are but I didn't know that they lost three in a row and then when you added on the fourth so that that was a little fun thing for us to learn.
B
Kind of a weird thing as a fan base. Like our greatest team ever. Like they was a dynasty. Four time AFC champions but four time super bowl losers. Like that was like they had Thurman Thomas, they had Bruce Smith, they had Kelly the quarterb. I mean the team was incredible but just couldn't get over the hump at the end. They had like a last second missed field goal to lose the game against a Giant. They had a lot of, like a lot of pain in there, too.
A
Yeah.
B
Poor guys.
A
Yeah. Remember there was a missed field goal and a game that you played that took. But was. It was the Vikings missed.
B
Remember playoff game in Minnesota 1 degree at kickoff Y. And they blare Welsh my now became my friend. Missed a. Like a 27, 29 yard field goal.
A
It was freezing cold to be fair. It was like kicking bricks. You said right.
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Miss the field goal. And we. We ended up being on the other side of that. And then the. I think was it the very next year, two. Two years later, he ended up playing for us.
A
Yeah, I know. So you know the feeling.
B
Yeah. Yeah. It's brutal.
A
94. When she got to night summer of 94. And she said, this is what we're doing in the summer of 94. So this is like, we just thought it'd be fun to kind of talk about a few things that she touches on. And one of them was O.J.
B
Oh, the juice.
A
Yeah.
B
Do you remember where you were when that press conference. Not in the press conference. When the car chase came on.
A
The car ch. I was sitting. I know I was sitting at a bar with my dad, which had shocked nobody and par for the course. Yeah. And I remember. I don't remember because I was visiting. It was the summer, I think.
B
Yeah. No, it was. Yeah. It was like late June maybe.
A
Yeah. So I happened to be. Because I was living in Arkansas at the time, but I was out in California visiting my dad. So I was in California. And. And I just remember I was like, oh, I was on that 405 the other day. Yeah. And I just. I just remember thinking, oh, if. Because during that whole thing, it was very strange. Not that we're getting into the OJ Trial by any means, but I just remember thinking, like, but if you didn't do it, why were you driving full speed to the airport running from the car?
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He wrote a book that said if I did it right.
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So it was.
B
I remember where I was in a hotel room in Minot, North Dakota. I don't want to brag. Baseball tournament, but, you know, one of the. The most.
A
Isn't Minot where you guys used to vacation from Canada?
B
Vacation spot for people from Regina, Saskatchewan. I pronounced that correctly. Don't correct me. But you know what? The. The biggest misconceived thing that whole chase was the white Bronco didn't. That wasn't OJ's white Bronco.
A
Oh, it was his friend.
B
Yeah. I always talked about. And apparently Al Callins worshiped him. I don't know if they play football together. They were like, best friends. He worshiped him. And apparently OJ bought a white Bronco, and he went out and bought the same one, but they were actually in his white Bronco, not OJ's.
A
He's like twinsies.
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And then he's like, oh, he just did the same.
A
Oh, right. Because O.J. was like, hiding in the Bronco. Right.
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With a gun. And it was a whole. Anyway, that was a weird. That was weird time.
A
Well, you know what else happened that year? The World Series was canceled.
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Thanks a lot, oj.
A
Yeah. That was for him. Yeah. I was actually like, was the. Were these two things related? But you had to remind me why the World Series was canceled.
B
Players were on strike. And it was so bad for Canadians because Montreal Expos were in first place. It was the greatest team we ever had. And if. If they would have won it that year, could have, like, restored that franchise. Instead, they ended up folding a few years later. Tony Gwynn was batting.393 when the strike happened. He could have been the first player since. Was it ted Williams to bet 400? So there's a lot of great storylines going on, and everyone kind of saw the strike coming from a mile away. And it's just. It's so weird. They had the CBA end in the middle of the season as opposed to NFL. We always end ours in the middle of the off season. And it just, like, there was, like, there was no way to fix it. There's like, cancel the rest of the season. No more World Series. All done, ruined, ruined. The Montreal Expos.
A
And then. And that is that when they left.
B
Montreal, not that year, but that. They always kind of said, like, if they had won that year, the fans kind of would have came back. It was like after that year, baseball really struggled for a while. Like, really. Fans didn't come back right away. And I think there was that one summer with.
A
This is like the actor strike.
B
Yeah.
A
And the writer strike.
B
Son Maguire. Whatever summer that was, I say that was the summer that kind of saved baseball and brought the fans back. They were having that home run. It was like they'd cut. Like, if you're watching. I don't think that MLB Network, but you watching espn. And they'd cut back and forth to their at bats because it'd be like, you just hit number 58. Oh, so this is number 58.
A
We'll talk about Mark. She did a Mark McGuire. That was. That was in here. I think that was. I had. I wrote notes for. I thought it was in here.
B
Oh, yeah, that. The Home Run.
A
It was, but I only printed out one page.
B
Oh, well, it was on my second page. We'll discuss that maybe 99. We'll discuss Mark McGuire next week.
A
Okay. Well, no, I just. It is. That's interesting. I didn't know that. Well, they. So this is what Alan Hildebrand does with this book, Right. She gives you little nuggets from the beginning of each summer. And what I like about it is because of that. A, it makes us have something to talk about, and B, it also makes you think about what that couple, like the world they were living in during that. Because at first I thought, oh, that's. So it's kind of a random thing for an author to do.
B
Yeah.
A
And then I thought, oh, I see. She's sort of letting us know, like, this is what was going on in the world during what, during the summer that this couple goes through this. And. And because our couple meets every day, like we. Or every year at Labor Day weekend on Nantucket where Ellen Hildebrand, basically. Did she live there?
B
I don't know, but I was re. I went a little bit deep on Ellen Hildenbrand. I think she.
A
Okay. No kidding.
B
Wow. So apparently she was living, like, half the year in Nantucket, half on the Virgin Islands to get, like, motivation or get, like, information. So she was living on Nantucket, and she wrote one book called the Rumor, and the rumor is that she ratted out every rumor teller on the island in that book.
A
Oh.
B
Is what I was reading today whether or not that's true and probably didn't use real names, but she wrote all those characters into the book being like, this is a gossip queen of the island, blah, blah, blah.
A
But she has a character, Blonde Sharon.
B
Blonde Sharon.
A
She's. She's. And she's not in 28 summers, but she. No, she's on Nantucket. Right.
B
Y.
A
And she's the rumor lady in Swan Song is where I learned about Blond Sharon.
B
So Blonde Sharon's probably a real character if you ever want to visit Nantucket and go poking around.
A
Well, speaking of, I. I do want to go to Nantucket. I do know almost all because of Ellen Hildebrand.
B
Okay. But you know what? I want to always go to the Soggy Dollar, because Ellen Hilderbrand also writes about the Virgin Islands.
A
Joss Van Dyke, right? Yes.
B
And when we were there, we had to go there for a day and we. We went full tourist mode. Like waving the camera, telling my mom to pick up the phone to watch me waving the camera. We bought the shirts and the hat.
A
I got a hat that says Soggy Dollar Bar.
B
We found a cat there too.
A
We did see a cat there.
B
We left a lot of painkillers.
A
Yeah, that. So a friend of ours got married on Tortola island in the British Virgin Islands and I. We may. It was a whole trip. Obviously it was. You went to. What's the first one? Oh, you know what? Alex is googling it. St. Thomas, right? Yeah. Alex is here. You guys probably know him from Are you My podcast. And cover to cover, Olivia's here as well. So this is what j. This isn't what Frisk Frangella does to you. Makes you do research while he's. Yeah. I mean, you also talk during that.
B
And like don't talk during ours. You don't have a lisp. You're not allowed to talk.
A
Only men with speech impediments on our podcast. And women with manly voices. No, but we. Yeah, St. Thomas is the. Is the U.S. anyway, we went, we did a whole trip. We've never. We always vacation in Mexico because it's a two hour flight to Cabo and it's just easy. So we go to the British Virgin island, the U.S. virgin Islands and then British Virgin Islands. John said we got to go to Jos Van Dyke for the day. Go to the Soggy Dollar Bar. And when we got there is when you told me why I didn't know before.
B
Oh really? Yeah, I just like I dragged you along. Like we gotta go here.
A
Oh well, I mean, I wanted to go to as many places as we could. Cuz we're like, if we're going to travel, you know, you got to take.
B
A long way from la.
A
It's a long ways. And then you have to like you. You take a ferry to all these different islands. And we had so much fun. But when we were sitting at the Soggy Dollar Bar is when you told me that was when you first made your confession to me about your Alan Hildebrand obsession. And that she always. He's like, she. He said she always writes about this place. And then when I read, I believe it was swan song. Oh yeah. Because the girl that comes over. This is a different book.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right?
A
Yeah. But the girl that comes over to Nantucket for the summer comes becomes the assistant. She was working at the bar at the Soggy Dollar in that book. So Anyway, that's our little connection with Soggy Dollar Bar and Alan Hildebrand's books. But what? And then at 95. So when she gets on to 1995, she gives a little. What. What are we doing in 19?
B
It's funny, because you and I did this completely.
A
It's only chapter three.
B
The only thing I wrote down for 1995. Let's see. Also on your list is the Macarena.
A
Macarena. But it does. It makes you feel kind of crazy and old and weird, and you're like, oh, I remember everybody doing that effing Macarena.
B
Yeah.
A
So annoying every wedding.
B
You know, the most annoying thing about Macarena is, is we're in a wedding, you see some boomer stand up and do it now, because, you know, there's like, yeah, I know this dance.
A
Are you talking to me? You talk about me last weekend at my stepsister's wedding.
B
Yes.
A
No, I don't. I don't remember how to do the Macarena.
B
A lot of hands, like, forward, then upside down. You touch your button and you wiggle. It's. It's awful.
A
Yeah.
B
There was something that came out the other day. It's like the Macarena. If you had actually, like, the lyrics in, like, English are, like, really dirty. And I looked up and it's like, it didn't look like it was that dirty.
A
You know, My favorite song is It's Dirty that nobody thinks it's dirty.
B
A little poke coming through on you.
A
Yeah.
B
By Next Song about a boner.
A
The song about a boner. It's called Too Close By Next. And the entire song is. He says, baby, when we're grinding, I get so excited. Oh, you know I can't help it, girl. I know you felt it.
B
Yeah.
A
And he's just talking about having a boner on the dance floor, and we all just dance to it, and we.
B
Don'T even play it on the radio. Just like, no, they don't want to listen to it.
A
I know, but when I was, like, in high school, I was. I didn't know I was. I probably had high school dances and the guy dance.
B
Do you know?
A
And I. I had no idea.
B
Partner knew.
A
I did just. You know when you get a light bulb when you're listening to a song and you go, oh, my God. My whole life, this song has been about some. Even says at one point, you're making it hard for me.
B
It's like in 2015.
A
Good song, by the way.
B
I'm not White people figured out what Skeet Skeet, Skeet Skeet Sk Heat means.
A
What does it mean, Jizz? Oh, why did you have to do the handbook?
B
I don't know. We were playing on the radios, and then it's like. I know. I'm like, I. I worked with a bunch of African Americans. They're like, when you guys find out. Oh, two o'clock Radio in Regina.
A
Oh, what song is that again?
B
I don't know.
A
Oh, I love that song. I didn't know about the Skeet Skeets escape part. I feel like. I think. Yeah.
B
White person in America, apparently.
A
Oh, I feel so upset right now.
B
Yeah. I think I just told you Santa Claus is not real.
A
I know. I just. I mean, it makes sense. But if you guys are. Have a video version of this, which is on Patreon, which I should have probably told you before, we have a Patreon version of this where you can actually watch the video. John. It's all worth it for what John just did with his hands when he said Skee.
B
There was a video the other day that Ken Jong put on his Instagram where he was in the Diamond Club at a Dodger game. They hit a home run and turn around to the fans and that motion, like, full, like, throwing at them. It was. He posted. It was hilarious.
A
He was just excited.
B
Well, very excited.
A
He's a nice guy.
B
Yeah, I know. You've worked with him.
A
I have. Are we good with Skeet Skeet?
B
I want to stop. I want to go. I want to talk about something else now.
A
Well, the macaroni.
B
Sweating.
A
Yeah.
B
Blushing.
A
The. The. The other thing she talks about in 95 that I did write down because I wanted to know if you know about it when she said this is what her characters are dealing with. She said eight minute abs.
B
Yes, I remember eight minute abs.
A
I don't remember this.
B
It was a video. It was an infomercial promising you abs in exactly eight minutes.
A
Did. Did it work?
B
No, I don't think so. I mean, I think it was a good ab workout, but mostly you have to usually strip away the fat before you see someone's abs.
A
Oh, my God. Are you about to say abs are made in the kitchen? Yes, girl, I can't with that. But, yes, you're right. I had never heard of 8Mac. I don't think it made it to Farmington, Arkansas. I'll be honest.
B
It was one of. I don't know if it's one of the original infomercials of like. Like a get, get fit, fast type infomercial, but it was very popular. It was like right between the Girls Gone Wild videos on. On the late night.
A
Was it like. What was. Is it Beach Body? That's a big. That's still around.
B
Well, P90X is a big one too.
A
What's that?
B
P90X is like a. A hardcore at home workout.
A
You know how I feel about people that work out at home, even though we do.
B
Well, we have our own gym though.
A
I know. We have. No, we have equipment. And listen, I this. There's no shame in working out at home. Gym memberships are expensive. You're just trying to make yourself better. I get it. But when I see those. The. The workout video when, when someone advertises just like one little piece of equipment.
B
Like that in the unfinished basement.
A
Yeah. And it's. They.
B
The laundry. The laundry machine behind. Oh.
A
Or they do like. Yeah. Do they do an infomercial and they make it look so cheap and then it's just like some guy doing push ups in front of his like his tiny TV that's on like a stand. Yeah, I think that's. I think that's what I'm talking about.
B
Yeah, that's very P90X. That was their whole.
A
I. I think that's exactly what I'm talking about. Now it's coming back to me and you see these guys and I just feel like I, I get it. You're just trying to work out at home. But also it looks like someone's prepping for murder. Like, it just looks like a serial killer situation to me.
B
Yeah. There's a reason it's not around anymore.
A
The other thing that I to follow up on OJ was the 95 that she mentions. So in 94, she mentions what are we talking about? OJ the white Bronco, blah, blah, blah. She says. And also in 95, we were talking about OJ found innocent.
B
That's right.
A
Yeah.
B
I also remember exactly where I was when that happened, which is very funny because I was in eighth grade and that we only had. This was back.
A
I was in college. Wait, that can't be right. I was. How are you in eighth grade? When I was.
B
You graduated college in 96.
A
Yes.
B
And I graduated eighth grade in 96.
A
Hold on, you're making this sound real weird. We're seven years apart.
B
I think it sounds real hot right now.
A
You're making it sound like an Ellen.
B
Hildebrand 14 year old John's like, get it, guy.
A
Stop it. Don't say.
B
Oh, I guess. No, that's kind of weird.
A
I'm 49. And you're 42. It is not weird. No, but when you say it like that. So you were in eighth grade when I was in college.
B
When you're graduating college. I was graduating eighth grade. Yes.
A
I don't.
B
How is it seven years apart?
A
All right, but you.
B
We both have late birthdays, and you started early and I started late. So in school, we were eight years apart.
A
So right when you were in eighth.
B
Grade, I was in kindergarten. Do you want me to keep going? Oh, my God.
A
So not weird until you.
B
Well, it would have been weird if we dated in elementary school.
A
Can we just go back and ski? Ski?
B
Yeah.
A
It's not that many years apart.
B
It's not that many years apart.
A
And so you say it that way.
B
Well, it. It's different. Like if. If I asked you out when you're in eighth grade and I was in kindergarten, it would have been weird, but I asked you out when I was 30.
A
Would have been cute if you asked me out in kindergarten and I was in eighth grade. Because it would be like, oh, that's cute. Little kid with a speech impediment just asked me out.
B
What would you have said? No, it turned me down.
A
Yeah. Yes. It would have turned a kindergartner down. Thank you, and you're welcome. But anyway, sometimes age differences aren't weird. And they're not anymore.
B
Not when you're. When we met with 32 and 39. Not weird at all.
A
Right. Thank you. How did we get here? Oh, because you remember, you remembered where you were when O.J. was found.
B
Oh, okay. So I was in eighth grade, and we. Back in the day, we only had.
A
Like, I was banging somebody in college. That was appropriate age.
B
Give me his name. I'm gonna go kill him. And we only had like three TVs in the whole school. So they sent me to. When the. The verdict's coming down, they sent me to another classroom, sit in the back so I could get the report and report it back to our classroom. My brother brought this up the other day. He's like, that's kind of weird that you. They sent you to a murder trial video and to report back to the rest of the classroom.
A
They sent you alone.
B
Yes, me. To this classroom because another class was watching it, I think like a fifth grade class. And they were going to read the verdict. And I got the verdict and came back to art. This is like before the Internet, you know?
A
Yeah.
B
Came back and reported it to my classroom. The teacher wanted me to report back to our classroom whether he's innocent or Guilty.
A
So you had to stand up in front of the class and say, what happened?
B
Yeah.
A
And how did the class react?
B
I know. I don't really remember now because it's. Yeah, I don't know. I can't remember.
A
It's very strange that someone sent you to be, like, the spokesperson.
B
Right. But I didn't even think of that until almost 30 years later when someone brought it up to me how that's kind of weird.
A
Yeah. I don't think that anyone in my. In our school. Well, my college, University of Arkansas. Go Razorbacks. I don't think I. I don't think anyone sent me to a class to discuss who had made it. I'm so upset about you right now. 96. I actually did write down, I graduated.
B
College and I graduated eighth grade.
A
Okay.
B
So grade eight, as we say in Canada.
A
Yeah. Why do you guys say it backwards? I don't.
B
Why do you guys say it forwards?
A
Good question. We say eighth grade, you say grade eight.
B
Yes. But then we also say, like, the 15th day of November, like when we. When we do our first of all.
A
That just takes longer.
B
No, no, but I'm saying when we. We don't really access that. But when you, like, put, like, in short form, like how you guys would say, like, 11, 15, 20, 24.
A
Right.
B
We would say 15, 11. The 15th day.
A
Right. Because I've been. I've been confused before because I was like, are there more months in Canada.
B
Small to big, you know, like the days, the month, the year, like, small to big.
A
No, it's not always gonna be small to big, depending on what the day or the month is.
B
I think everyone does it well. Yeah, because there's more day. Oh, wait, hold on. Says a day is a smaller, and a month is bigger than a year is bigger.
A
I know, but a day can be smaller than the month.
B
No, no, I'm not talking about the numerical value. I'm talking about days are smaller than a month. A month, or smaller than a year. I have to keep.
A
This is also an educational podcast in case anyone was curious.
B
But that's how they do in Europe, too.
A
Okay.
B
I feel like us is always behind on this stuff. You guys are still like, how many pounds do you weigh? How many feet and inches? I don't know. I have to go back to 1955 and figure that one out to get a translator.
A
I have to panic every time we go back to Canada because I. It says what the temperature is.
B
And.
A
And I'm like, what? And I don't. I have no idea what that any of that means. I go, it's only going to be 30. And then you say, that's. What is 30 there?
B
30 is like 86.
A
Yeah. And I'm like, oh, my God, it's going to be freezing. He's like, no, that's nice out. And then. And then I. And then sometimes you're like, it's below 30. And that's just right. That's.
B
Well, where I'm from. It will get down to last year. Got down to minus 72 Fahrenheit with the windchill.
A
I mean, that's not even like livable. And I know there places it for 21 years. I. I know. And look at my mom's.
B
Did it for 70 years.
A
I. But there are places in the US get that get very cold too. But that's just like exceptionally cold.
B
It's awful.
A
Can I ask you one question about.
B
I guess so the book.
A
No, we'll get. Well, just about. I don't know how far you guys are in right now, but probably you've met Ursula, right? Within the second week.
B
Sully.
A
Yeah, he calls her Sully, what they call UGD when she gets into politics. Ugd. Okay. So that's. Well, we should probably save that part for the review.
B
Okay.
A
No, just the part where there's a lot of comparisons in like modern politics and what she wrote. But we'll get. It's not political that we're going to get into. Don't worry. But there's just a. Like her initials, which there's a couple women in politics that obviously are known by their initials. And then. Anyway, it doesn't matter. We'll get. We'll get into that one.
B
You have viewed her character differently. If the story was written by a.
A
Man, I would have Ursula's character. Oh, that's a good question.
B
When I looked at it, I thought that a woman could write the character like that. Had a man written a character like that? I mean, like a classic. Yeah, the. The politician. Female politician has to be like some battle ax who's miserable and rude to her husband. And, you know, she's. Whereas I think a female author can write her like that.
A
That's probably a good point. Yeah, maybe I might have been like, I don't. It's funny because I didn't really think about how she was written until you just brought it up. So that's a good point. But I thought obviously she's not the most likable character in the book. Obviously you feel like she's just in the way of. Of two people, in some ways, even though it's completely not her fault, which I understand, because she's not given the option to get out of the way because she doesn't know about it. From what. From at least where everyone is right now. But she. She is, I think, the interesting thing. So if you. No matter how far you are in, you probably at least met Ursula and she's with. What's his name, Jake. And Mallory and Jake are the ones that have the same time next year. So she is. She's very. They have an attachment from way back when his sister got sick.
B
Jake had a twin sister who died of cystic fibrosis when they were young.
A
And Jake and his sisters was best friends with Ursula.
B
Ursula. So they've done. They have a history from, like, when they were like, children, basically.
A
Yeah. And what. I think one thing. And. And I'm again, I'm rereading it as we go too. So I am kind of early on, but one thing I'm catching is we never hear Ursula talk about Jake's sister.
B
That's true. Good point.
A
And I think that. And I don't know how I. Listen, I flipped the switch to this topic, but I just thought that was weird how. And kind of interesting. But I don't know, maybe it was on purpose or maybe it was just wasn't enough part of the story. But the reason, you know, that he's so attached to Ursula and that he can't seem to sort of leave. This goes a lot back to his.
B
Connection with his sister.
A
Right. Because that's all he has in his mind sort of left, I think. But you never hear them talk about her. You never heard. And I kind of think that Ursula could have been written at this point anyway as a little bit more of a sympathetic character. If you at least heard her stand up in some way, talk about his sister, you would see a connection, something emotional between.
B
But I think they didn't do that or Ellen Hillman didn't do that. Because then it almost allows us to accept what Jake's doing. Being like, yeah, he's. He's cheating on her once a year, but he has to go home to a woman that he's not really in love with and who's kind of. I mean, can be a little bit awful. It kind of gives us, like, in our minds, like, okay, maybe we can accept what he's doing.
A
Right. It almost just seems like a marriage of convenience. I think the reason I don't. It doesn't. I know it's cheating. But in your brain you just go. It's just like a weird marriage of convenience where you almost think at this point. Because we don't know yet if Ursula's gonna find out or not. Right. If we're early on in the book, that you just almost feel like she. She wouldn't even give a. If she knew.
B
Yeah. That's how you kind of feel.
A
Yeah. You just feel like, what does she care? They don't. They don't.
B
Like, she'd basically almost like, don't let the media find out. Let's on to the next.
A
Yeah, she's basically not the next man.
B
Onto the next political thing.
A
Yeah. I'm with the guy that's known me forever. It's. I'm comfortable here. We're just gonna do this at some point. Because even early on when you. When you first meet her and they're dating, she basically is like, well, at some point you're going to propose. Right. And he goes, yeah, I guess. I mean, of course I am. That's what we do. But at the same time, you can tell neither of them really care that much about. Other than it just being sort of the. The final step in their relationship.
B
Everything was just like the next step.
A
The longevity of their relationship. Yeah.
B
Yeah, I agree with that. I don't think we're giving anything away by saying that.
A
No, I don't think so either. I know. I was just like, do Mike, Are we talking too much about it before the review? But. And then we've also met for sure by now. The brother Cooper. Cooper.
B
Coop. Coop.
A
Cooper Loop, we call him for short. And I like his character. He's sort of the.
B
The fun loving brother who brings a new home girl home every. Every Thanksgiving.
A
Yeah. And is completely oblivious to the fact that his best friend and sister are falling in love or have. That's the thing, though. That's what I like about this book is at the very beginning. And until you get there, and I'm not giving away whether it's a yes or no, you actually don't know if they're in love or if it's just like this hot fling.
B
Right.
A
That they both get so used to having in their lives that they can't give it up.
B
The second chapter is basically the first weekend they're all together and they basically all. They tell you who they all are in that first chapter. Leland, her best friend's name.
A
That's her best friend. Leland, Mallory's best friend, Fray.
B
They're all together and it kind of Sets the tone for the whole book. But they kind of tell you exactly who they are in that first chapter.
A
That's true.
B
Second chapter.
A
Yeah, she does. That's one thing I like about. Maybe as. As a. As a lady who likes spoilers, I like knowing who everyone is right up front. I know that she. I know Mallory has a son up front. Of course I have. No, now, since we're only at the beginning, and if most of. If mo. If most of you are still at the beginning, you don't know this either. So we had no idea who is the father of. Of Mallory's child, right?
B
No.
A
So the fact that she's calling someone at the end. I mean, at the very beginning of the book, that he's calling someone at the beginning saying, my mom's sick, your number was in here. It sets it up to me. I'm like, is he going to end up being the father? And she never told him because he's with this politician, and so she could never tell him. Is it going to be someone else? So later, when it is revealed who the father is, you're like, you're completely. I think the story just. It comes out of nowhere. You almost forgot because it took, you know, it's like so many summers pass. So I like that aspect of it, is all I'm saying.
B
Yeah.
A
I actually liked being surprised for once.
B
Yeah. There's a couple surprises later on in the book.
A
It's quite a few, I think.
B
Guys, thank you for reading it.
A
Okay. And I worked for Ellen Hillebrand in the other thing in 99, in 1996, that she says that she brings up. That is one of the things. What are we talking about? In 96, after we said, I graduated college and you graduated grade eight is the Menendez brothers. Oh, and they're.
B
That's right.
A
Talk about full circle.
B
I mean, they're right back now.
A
They're back.
B
Why do you think it came up? Like. I know, like, O.J. came back up, what, about four years ago? It's like the 25th anniversary, right? Is that right? Yeah, it was a 25th anniversary of all that. So OJ like, made a big comeback in terms of his story. Like, there was the True American Crime series that. Yeah, actually, I think it coincided with him getting out of jail for the other crimes he did. But why. Why is the Menendez brothers coming up? Right.
A
Again, I just think Ryan Murphy thought it would be a good story because it. So he wrote it's called Monsters. And I know that was a controversial title because people thought oh, they. They're calling them monsters. But then some people were, like, weren't the parents monsters? But then when you watch the show, to me, it basically showed that everyone was kind of a monster in some way. And that was. So it's a. It's a. It's a series that. Because the first one he did was Dahmer. Dahmer, Right. Yeah. So it's. It's definitely. It's a series.
B
It's truly a monster.
A
Yes. Actual. For sure. Monster Menendez brothers. Everyone has their own opinion about it by the time this podcast comes out. I don't even know where they'll be.
B
Though, because they were so mad when this new series came out. And now people are talking about the. And now they're talking about possibly releasing them.
A
Yes.
B
That's all motivated from this. I don't think this would be the same talk right now if this show didn't come out.
A
So there's a little bit of discrep. Like people are saying there's a couple different things on that. So. And we might be dated by the time. I don't know what's. I mean, this isn't. Yeah. It was only a couple weeks ago, so it shouldn't matter, but. Because we're recording this a little bit in advance. But they were there. They announced that they're going to be, I think, suggested for resentencing. Right.
B
Yes.
A
And. But they. They're trying to say, or at least I think there's so much attention on the case now. But they're also saying the truth is this has already been in the works because there was new evidence submitted, which they did mention in the documentary. Not the series, I think, but maybe at the end. But there was Menudo. Yeah. One of the Menudo members had come forward and said that he had also been assaulted by the father.
B
So.
A
Yeah. So he gave more evidence towards their claim of alleged sexual abuse. And then also there was a letter that I believe Eric wrote. Might have been. No, Lyle wrote. One of the brothers. Sorry. Wrote to a family member saying that he was suffering from abuse by the father. So it was. There was all this evidence that had been brought forth over the past year. And then. But you're right, I think obviously, the, The. The series put some. Put a new highlight on it and people getting involved. I don't think that we should be deciding any cases based on a fictional series. Because it was a fictional series. It was. I mean, there's a lot of facts in it, but it also, like, you know, it was. It Wasn't a documentary, but we'll see what happens with them. I'm just saying they claim that there's. The evidence is why they're retrying the case. They're not saying it's because the Netflix series.
B
However, as of recording this podcast is going to come out for 14. So they might be working at Starbucks by the time we go to air, you know, so we don't. We don't know.
A
Or they'll be at Starbucks. Was that Eric with a K? Yeah. Okay. Frappuccino it is. So we'll see what happens with them. That was a random tangent, but I do want to say the one of the last chapters, just since it's an early one. 97. She gets to. That's like the fifth chapter, probably.
B
Yeah. Good mouth.
A
She says something that you. You mentioned last week in our podcast and. Or maybe it was just now that the first Harry Potter book came out.
B
I didn't even really know that, to be honest.
A
In 97.
B
Well, I read. I read all the Harry Potter books, but I read them like a little bit later.
A
I know, but that's what makes me feel like I kind of blew my mind that in 1997, the first Harry Potter book in my brain. That's always something that's new.
B
Yeah. It just, it's so. It's always like so topical is the thing. And you know what? It came out in 97. And for a book series, if you're in New York Times bestsellers list, one of the other things is called like a book series. And they're still in the top, I think two or three for almost. Was that now 25, 27 years. They've been in the top two for 27 years.
A
Oh, really?
B
Offer a book series. And Diary of a Wimpy Kid is also up there. But they've been in like the number one, number two, selling whatever it's called series.
A
Has Alan Hildebrand ever been in that?
B
No, I think, I think because hers aren't directly connected, it doesn't count.
A
Oh, right. Because you said they're all standalone, which in case anyone's curious if they're reading Ellen Hildebrand and if you want to move on, you can read them in any order. I will. There's one thing that you did reveal about being on her email list.
B
Yeah.
A
And I'm just curious, what. What does that get you?
B
Gets exclusive invites to all her meetups. So she'll do.
A
Have you ever been to one?
B
No, I haven't, but she has meetups like Autograph signings. And they're always. I forget what they cap at a certain number. But at every different city she goes to, they have a different dress for their fans. So it might be in Cleveland. It might be. Everyone wear blue and white so you can identify all the other fans. Kind of like a Freemason type thing. So everyone shows up and they're all wearing.
A
What's a Freemason type thing?
B
Like a. Like a. Like a moose lodge or. But a little more culty, I think.
A
Oh, okay.
B
People are gonna be mad at me for saying that. Stone cutters from the Simpsons. The stone cutters.
A
Gotcha.
B
And so she'll have a different dress code for each different event. And I got inside access. I've never been.
A
And if you went to one, would you. Okay, this feels like. To me, there's. Remember when we first met and you were. You were taking. Why he was taking wine tasting classes.
B
Yeah.
A
At Whole Foods.
B
Yeah.
A
And you claimed it was because you wanted to learn more about wine.
B
Of course.
A
And I said it was because you wanted to meet some.
B
That's. We always have the same discussion.
A
There's a 0% chance that you were taking wine tasting classes at Whole Foods to learn the notes of a Pinot Noir.
B
It's 100% what I was doing. I tasted a lot of good wines. Zero females. Oh, that sounds weird. I tasted a lot of good wines and dated no females.
A
Okay, well, maybe you just struck out. But anyway, I. I guess I. In my mind now, in my fantasy for when I pass away, first I see you taking wine class. Wine tasting classes at Whole Foods still. And then I see you putting on blue and white and going to an Ellen Hildebrand meetup.
B
That all checks out.
A
Yeah. And would you wear the outfit 100%.
B
How would else would anyone else identify me? As a Hilda brand E?
A
Is that what they're called?
B
No, Hildies. Oh, yeah.
A
I don't know what they're called.
B
Yeah, let's just call them Hildies.
A
But that's.
B
They would not identify me as a Hildy if I wasn't wearing the. The dress of the day.
A
That sounds so annoying. I'm really glad that I started reading her books and started enjoying her as an author. Before you told me that she has meetups and secret dress codes.
B
Last week, she just released exclusive Christmas ornament.
A
What? What is it?
B
It's like a picnic basket. There's like a bottle of boob in it.
A
Like a real. Oh, no.
B
Like a little swan song book in it. Yeah. Like, not real, just little babies.
A
My Christmas shopping just got easier, everybody. So that's good news. Thank you for sharing that with me. And I'll go ahead and order that.
B
You're welcome.
A
Thank you guys so much. I think we've run our course here. Thank you so much for being here for episode two of the Book List. But we will be back next week. And don't forget that your book for December is On a Quiet street by Sarah Finanova Glass, that this month, and that the fourth week of this month will be your full discussion of 28 summers.
B
And if you haven't started reading yet, you still have time. Yeah.
A
You got plenty of time. Yeah. Bye. The book list.
B
The book lisp.
A
The book list.
B
The book lisp.
A
The book lisp.
Podcast Summary: The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna
Episode: Elin Takes Us Through The Years and Jon Reminds Sarah of Their Age Difference
Release Date: November 11, 2024
In the second episode of The Book Lisp, hosts Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna welcome listeners back to their weekly Book Club podcast. They provide an overview of their monthly reading schedule, alternating between Jon’s selection from his romance library and Sarah’s choice from her psychological thrillers shelf. The duo emphasizes their casual, chapter-free discussion style, aiming to keep conversations engaging and fun.
Notable Quote:
Sarah: “We're just having a lot of fun with it.” [00:20]
Jon and Sarah delve into their personal preferences regarding audiobook consumption. Jon admits to being an "Audible overachiever," often listening to books multiple times to take deeper notes, as he did during their previous podcast reviews. In contrast, Sarah expresses her preference for physical books, citing better focus and less mental wandering compared to listening.
Notable Quotes:
Jon: “It's not the same experience.” [02:26]
Sarah: “I don’t like a cheater. I don't like hearing about it.” [05:29]
The heart of the episode centers around their current read, "28 Summers" by Ellen Hildebrand. The book follows a couple who adhere to a "same time next year" agreement, meeting once a year on Labor Day weekend over 28 summers. Jon expresses initial frustration with the protagonists' hesitance to commit, comparing it to his own successful relationship despite geographic distance.
Notable Quotes:
Sarah: “I got annoyed with both of the characters early on for not just being together.” [05:49]
Jon: “If you meet the right person, distance, I don't think it means anything.” [06:33]
Ellen Hildebrand intricately weaves historical events from the early 1990s into the narrative of "28 Summers." The hosts discuss significant occurrences like the Lorena Bobbitt incident ([07:00]) and the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl losses ([08:35]), reflecting on their personal memories and the cultural impact of these events.
Notable Quotes:
Sarah: “They lost three Super Bowls in a row. That's crazy.” [08:35]
Jon: “She’s like twinsies.” [13:23] – Referring to the O.J. Simpson Bronco chase.
Jon and Sarah share nostalgic memories tied to the 1990s, including Jon’s brief stint with the Buffalo Bills and Sarah’s recollections of the O.J. Simpson car chase. These stories not only highlight their personal connections to the era but also enhance their discussion of the book’s setting.
Notable Quotes:
Jon: “I was sent to another classroom to report the verdict.” [28:10]
Sarah: “I was sitting at a bar with my dad.” [12:12]
A humorous segment arises when Jon playfully reminds Sarah of their seven-year age difference. They navigate this topic with light-hearted banter, reflecting on how age gaps are perceived differently over time and within their relationship.
Notable Quotes:
Jon: “I was in eighth grade when you were in kindergarten.” [26:27]
Sarah: “I'm 49. And you're 42. It is not weird.” [26:15]
The conversation shifts to Ellen Hildebrand’s engagement with her fan base. Sarah reveals exclusive perks such as meetups with dress codes, likening them to Freemason-style gatherings. They also discuss Hildebrand’s unique merchandise, including Christmas ornaments inspired by her books.
Notable Quotes:
Sarah: “They have a different dress for their fans.” [44:45]
Jon: “He was just excited.” [22:48] – Referring to a social media post by Ken Jong.
As the episode concludes, Jon and Sarah outline their plans for the remaining weeks of the month. They tease an upcoming full review and discussion of "28 Summers" in the final week and introduce February’s book selection, "On a Quiet Street" by Seraphina Nova Glass. They also encourage listeners to join their Patreon for video content and engage with their Facebook group for The Book Lisp community.
Notable Quotes:
Sarah: “Your book for December is On a Quiet street by Sarah Finanova Glass.” [47:25]
Jon: “The book lisp.” [47:33]
Engagement with History: "28 Summers" effectively integrates real historical events, enriching the narrative and providing listeners with a sense of nostalgia.
Character Dynamics: The protagonists' reluctance to commit serves as a catalyst for exploring themes of love, commitment, and personal growth over time.
Hosts' Chemistry: Jon and Sarah’s playful interactions and personal anecdotes create an entertaining and relatable atmosphere for listeners.
Author-Fan Connection: Ellen Hildebrand’s active engagement with her readers through meetups and exclusive merchandise fosters a strong community around her work.
In this episode of The Book Lisp, Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna offer a thoughtful and amusing exploration of Ellen Hildebrand’s "28 Summers", intertwining personal stories with literary analysis. Their dynamic conversation not only delves into the book’s themes and characters but also provides insights into their own lives and relationship, making it a compelling listen for both dedicated followers and new audiences alike.
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