
It’s week 2 of your December Book Lisp. No “On a Quiet Street” spoilers until week 4. Should you Fear Thy Neighbor? Jon’s Nana is always watching you. And when a neighbor offers you their keys, it’s not always for a party.
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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 Lisp. Welcome to the Book Lisp with John Ryan and Sarah Colonna. Hi, John.
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Hey. Now.
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It is week two of your December Book Lisp. We are deep in On a Quiet street by Seraphina Nova Glass. I love this book.
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I love it, too. Yeah, it's good. It's really good.
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We won't give away spoilers. We'll talk about a few things that probably you already know, but still won't spoil anything until week four when we do our full review. So don't worry about that. And if you want to watch the video of this podcast and see our beautiful faces and John's fake beer that he's drinking because he has a blood test tomorrow, then fingers crossed, then you can join us on Patreon. It's $5 a month. And we also do some little bonus stuff over there as well. And join the Facebook group. The Book List Spinners asked to join. I probably won't say no, but you never know. It's a selective group. Not really. I just approve everybody. And John has nothing to do with it? No.
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I'm a member.
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Are you?
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I don't know.
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I don't even think you have a. Like, you don't really technically have a Facebook. I mean, you do, but you don't use it.
B
I don't use it. I. I don't like it. Don't like the Facebook?
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No.
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Or social media.
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You. You use your Instagram sometimes when I tag you.
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I'm going to try to use it more now with the. The show.
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Yeah.
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It's not as bad when you're playing football. It's awful.
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Oh, that's a good point.
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It's terrible.
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Yeah. Tell the people. Why?
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Because people either love you or hate you, and that can change in the course of an hour during a game.
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Yeah.
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When I remember, like, when Twitter was big, like, I hardly ever went on it, but you'd go on it and be like. And it's also, like, people know about football, but they don't know as much as they think. So they honestly just go by whatever the announcer says. So I can go back and watch, like, the telecast and the people probably be like, great punt by John Ryan. Even if it wasn't necessarily a great punt. But whatever. John's the best. I love you. I love you. Next month, I'll come up, like, hey, like, not a great point. It was bad. And they got. If the announcer says, bad punt, you're an idiot. You suck. Quit football. They'll have the exact same punt, but the natural say nothing. Then you just get nothing, which is whatever announcer says, how people react to you, whether you should kill yourself or stay alive until your next punt.
A
Yeah, and it is true.
B
I mean, it was crazy.
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People get. Because I've seen it. I've seen people get really nasty on there to players and say. I mean, they harass people's families. They tell them it's all based on one game or. And also, I mean, just chill and honestly, doesn't mean that much.
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If you're a fan, you're a fan. Just cheer on your team, boo them, whatever. But just know that you know nothing about football compared to any guy in the field. Like, nothing. And I hate to be a jerk, but sometimes, like, people, like, come up to me, they want to tell them something like, you don't know what you're talking about. Like, just be a fan. Like, I. I love soccer. I'm a fan. Whenever I'm around a soccer player, a professional soccer player, all I do is ask questions. I'm not like, you should have done this. You should have that. I'm like, no, I ask questions. I want to learn more.
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Yes, that's it. Learn more.
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Learn more.
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Yeah. Because I will say I've seen a lot of people that they. They think they. You all ask you questions all the time. Because we'll watch football together. And I know a lot, but, you know, not enough to first of all ever make any sort of statement on anything. But I know what I know. I learned from you, a lot of it. And then if I don't understand something, I ask you. But when we are watching something together, you'll just start calling what is happening before it even finishes happening. It's fascinating to me.
B
This was the number one question when I was playing football because I was a punter and most people don't know what I do during practice. Even the guys on the team don't know because we're off doing our own thing and we work the entire practice, but we don't work with the team necessarily. And the top question I always got asked by outsiders, they always ask the same question, but they'd ask it in two different ways. And check out how different these are. People go, what do you do during practice? Or what do you even do while practice? Exact same question, but one, you're a fucking asshole, and two, you're you're curious.
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Okay.
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There's two questions asked the same. Different way, asking the same thing, but different intent behind it. So please be the number one person. Be like, hey, what do you do during practice? What is that like, when I'm around someone where I don't know anything about it, I don't go, oh, a writer. What does a writer even do all day? Just drink vodka and write?
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Yes. I don't.
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What is. What's it like in a day of a life of a writer? I might ask a question like that.
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And then I say I'm right. Well, sometimes the nice red. Yeah, well, no, but you're right. It's a. It's all in the way you pose the question.
B
Let's be honest. Usually women ask the question like number one, and men use last question like number two because they act like they know everything about football a lot of times, and they don't.
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That's why we have a hard time watching football in public.
B
That's why I have problems going in public in general. Look how comfortable this couch is. That's for a reason.
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This week you're like, right before I retire, I'm gonna get a big, giant, comfortable couch because I'm never leaving. I know. As we. We were discussing a couple podcasts ago that and. And we had a very funny clip on it when our age difference came up. But I do like to say to people, he may be seven years younger than me, but he's a crotchety old man inside and out. Just a crotchety old man out.
B
Just say inside.
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Oh, yeah. Not out. I guess you're right. You're right. Yeah. Just on the inside. On the outside, you're still a hot young punter and nobody knows what you do all day.
B
Thank you.
A
Yeah, no problem. Including our neighbors, as we discussed last week. So deep in On a Quiet street for me, and this is one of my favorite books. Now, I'm going to go ahead and state that I love it. I think I made a great pick. And this won't give anything away, but one thing I really like, and I think you and I were talking about this a little bit, is how each character has their own chapter. Every chapter. It's. It starts with.
B
From a perspective of a certain character.
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Yeah. So it's Cora, Georgia, and Paige. And each chapter, it says their name. And it's not like that's a super unique thing. I mean, I've. See, I've read other books that do that. But what I like in this because of the subject matter and because it's a thriller and, or psychological twists and turns, blah, blah, blah. Is that, and I won't really give an example until we do the full review, but when, when something happens in the chapter for one character and you already know how it's going to affect the next chapter for the next character, and you're just like, oh, you're screaming, kind of going like, no, why did you do that? Or why did you say that? Because you already know the effect it's going to have on the other person.
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Yeah.
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And then, and then, But I, one that I like is that she. It kind of goes back to the, to the exact same moment for that person while that's playing out. And then it all ties in together.
B
Pretty late in the book. There's a really good example of that with.
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Oh yeah, it's really exciting with Cora and, and Georgia. Yeah. Yeah. And you're just, and, and you know, the intention is never wrong for any of these characters in, in the situation they're in. But it is. That part to me is really interesting.
B
I mean, in two weeks I have so much to talk about.
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You do?
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I have a lot of questions for you. I have a lot to talk about.
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Like what kind of questions about the book or about what's wrong with you? This is the kind of I like.
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About, about the book. And what are your thoughts on some of the situations in the book?
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Okay, good. I, I, I am excited to talk about this one. I wish we could just do it right now, but we got to give everyone time to read it. So you'll hear that Week four.
B
Got two more weeks to read it.
A
Yeah. I think this will come as a surprise to nobody, but as someone who loves this type of book, and this might is kind of interesting because I'm, I'm not a big horror movie person. No, I don't like horror movies. I don't like. Mostly I don't like, I don't like gory horror movies. I don't like, I don't like shit that can happen.
B
Yeah, no, I agree. That's why I last I went to a scary movie. I was living in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and I moved there out of there in 2008 and I went to a movie called Strangers with Liv Tyler.
A
I don't even remember that.
B
There's like living like out in the middle of nowhere and these people just decide to like break into their house and just like terrify them.
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No. Yeah, that was it.
B
Well, eventually they killed them.
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Yeah, but I know, but I mean, that was it. For you, for those kind of movies.
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Oh, no. Then that was it. That was it. I can't like. It's uncomfortable.
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Yeah. I don't like to anything. So I can kind of handle supernatural thrillers in a way, because it's not real. Doesn't feel. Yeah, I can mostly handle that kind of stuff, but even that kind of stuff creeps me out a little bit. Ouija board shit and stuff. Just in case it's real. I'm like, I don't want to watch it. But any gory say. Well, you know, the scariest movie ever is the Town that Dreaded Sundown.
B
I never saw that.
A
It's so scary because it's about an axe murderer and it was a real story. And if I believe it happened in Texarkana, Arkansas, which I didn't live close to Texarkana, but I lived in Arkansas, so. Close enough for me to be scared, but I don't. So any kind of serial killer type or just those. One time, my friend Jackie. You know Jackie, she took me to see one of the hostel movies.
B
Oh, no, fuck that.
A
It is so gory and it's all gratuitous. It's just terrifying, creepy, just nasty. I just. I can't ever watch anything like that.
B
Our friend, your good friend for a long time, was in the Purge. Oh, yeah, you went. You saw that? Yeah, with him on the premiere.
A
Yeah, yeah. My friend, Brandon Keener, he was in the Purge. He was in, I think, the third one. Either the second or third one. And I did go with him, and I saw it and I. That is also very. It's a. Such a creepy premise because the idea that people are just. I mean, I almost believe it.
B
The problem is, like, one day a year, you get to kill whoever you want, right?
A
Yeah. And then they have, like, rich people who will go and. And. And they want to, like, the rich people will. Will buy someone to murder, so. And then the person sacrifices themselves so that their family's safe. And, like, it's real creepy.
B
Yeah, I don't like that, but I.
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Do like true crime.
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We're big true crime.
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Yeah. I don't really know what the difference is, but I guess at least when you watch, even though there are horrible stories but you don't. You're not watching, like, fake slashing and stuff, they don't.
B
So that's so weird, though, because we love true crime, but we don't. Like. Like. I don't know why. It's like. It's real.
A
I know, but it's because they don't show anything. Yeah, they don't show. I mean, there's, there's a. I guess. And that's a dateline, all this stuff. I mean, people are always kind of joking. That's what we watch. Watch to relax at night. And I can even watch that one button by myself. But if watched a great mo by myself, I'd probably never sleep again.
B
We know Keith Morrison says. Keith Morrison says what? Don't watch alone.
A
Oh, he does?
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Yeah. It's like, that's like their, like, tagline. Don't watch low.
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Don't do that voice. Yeah, that's there. Well, because of that, I like one of my favorite shows that I feel like ties into this just slightly. Fear Thy Neighbor.
B
Yes.
A
Speaking of neighbors, and if you guys haven't watched Fear Thy Neighbor on the ID Network, you are missing out now. I feel like you don't watch it with me.
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I have before and I'm into it. But I think when we first started watching, it freaked me out a little bit because you can see how, like, how easy it is to move into a house and we just moved into a new house and how if you have one bad neighbor, it can, like, completely ruin your life.
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Yes. I mean, these people, they got to be in their bonnet about music playing too long.
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A lot of music, A lot of.
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Dogs, A lot of dogs die. I mean, that's not, I don't like that. But somebody. That's usually their first, the first move and Fear Thy neighbor usually is everyone. Some they move into a place and then the usually start off friends. Yeah, they start off friends. Someone invites someone over for a barbecue. They have a nice time at the barbecue and then goes south. Someone plays music too loud. Someone's dog poops on the wrong lawn. Someone walks on someone's property, whatever. And then someone dies and all over.
B
And someone goes to jail.
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And someone goes to jail. But a lot of times before they kill their neighbor, they go. They poison a dog or do something.
B
The dogs out of it.
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Yeah. This is why I don't, I mean, this is why you have to keep all your animals inside at all times. But I, I, it's funny when you watch that because they do. So these, these are one of the shows that do the, like, the reenactments. And I do love a reenactment show because it's. Oh, they show the person who really. It happened to.
B
Yeah, that's the person talking.
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Yeah. And then you see who they cast as that person.
B
Yeah.
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And they always kind of look like them a little Bit.
B
Yep.
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But like, it's. But not really. And it just makes no sense. But then you always know who died or not because that person in the. In the confessionals, like, you know, before it happened who's going to die. Because I'm like, well, this. They. There's no confessional from. From Jim Bob.
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So he's the one that died. Yeah, right. The guy that's dead or in jail.
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Yeah.
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It's also funny because they hire almost exclusively. I think they film it all in Canada, so they're all Canadian actors. So it's like, oh, I hate you so much. Get out of here.
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Oh, that's right. They do.
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Like, I know that I have a Canadian accent, and it's probably worse today than usual because I just got back from Canada and I know I say oot a little bit, but not as badly as, like, when I was back home. It's improved a lot, but that was the one. That's the one word we can really tell. Canadian.
A
Yeah. Or a boot.
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A boot. It's a boot. Time you get out of here.
A
Sounded slightly Irish. Scottish. I. I did pull up just for. For people that are really interested and. Fear thy neighbor. Just like some episode examples just so you can really enjoy how they set these up. So first, there was one called. This is from. This is from season. Oh, here, let's do the latest season. 2023, 2024. By the way, I'm behind because I didn't know.
B
No, we're doing Christmas Morning.
A
Yeah. So there's one called the Secret Wife. That was the first one in episodes in season one. Again, sounds like a book I would read. The residents of Spring, Texas, are shocked when a neighbor's captive wife escapes custody with her child, aided by another family. Sparks fly as families square off, culminating in Murder. Always murder, Always murder. A neighbor's captive wife escapes custody with her child. Oh, okay. I'm. I'm not gonna say anything, but that's interesting.
B
Yeah, I know. Yeah, I was gonna almost let something.
A
Bullets in the Snow is another episode.
B
Bullets in the snow, that is what we are. That's a song, right?
A
Yeah, it is. It is. It says, after years of a married couple ruling their street in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, a new neighbor who doesn't abide by them moves in. Years of tension fester between the two parties until as one is pushed over the edge, resulting in murder. What I like. Okay, first of all, I love when there's. This is one of my favorite things of Fear thy neighbor is when there's someone who rules the roost on the street and some new couple comes in and, you know, they don't abide. They. They let their grass get a little too high. They don't pull the. The bins in from the curb in enough time for the person that walks up and down, patrols the street. Kind of like you do in your sweatpants here. So that's one of the things. That's why when you move into a neighborhood, you got to be nice to everybody.
B
Shit. Tight.
A
Yeah. You got to look. You got to look around, you can see. Kind of like you said last week about you don't decorate ahead of time.
B
Yep.
A
You look around, you can see what's doing.
B
I think they're definitely decorators because Halloween, this whole street was decorated. It was going to be. They're going to. They're decorators, but they're, you know, being respectful.
A
Right. Well, or they're just not as excited.
B
As we moved on to this new street, within three minutes, a guy came up to us and said, hi, I'm who and who. And I'm the street captain.
A
Yes.
B
And I was like, I like this. They got their buckled up around here. Like, it's tight.
A
Yeah. He said he's a street captain. And then he. And he got our phone numbers and our email address. Well, mine, because he said that you didn't want yours on there because you just like for me to get all the messages. They're. What's. They have a WhatsApp for all the.
B
Yep.
A
You know, WhatsApp. WhatsApp.
B
Oh, I thought you said like, we're like, okay, go ahead.
A
You use it for your. What do you say?
B
WhatsApp.
A
Oh, like WhatsApp.
B
Usually like, what's that?
A
No, I said, what's WhatsApp? I don't understand. Oh, like, you like. Is it supposed to be like WhatsApp? Like, what's up?
B
I don't know. Now I'm second guessing because I just.
A
I guess I say what's what. Whatever it is, I never want to say it again. That much I can tell you. I don't really use it. Apparently it's going to be used if there's an alert. And he said any. And he was very strict. He said, you're not getting any. Nobody's going to be like, come buy Girl Scout cookies from my, you know, kid, or whatever. It's just going to be if there's the things you need to know going on. Same with the email list. But apparently I'll know and you won't.
B
I'm. I'm trusting you'll tell me for that big block party coming up next July.
A
Here's another one. Another Fear thy neighbor.
B
I'm liking these.
A
Vendetta in Vegas, A Baptist pastor moves in next door to a free spirited older woman in suburban Las Vegas, leading to years of back and forth accusations of dog theft, always the dog intimidation and drug use. Once the agitation reaches biblical proportions, retribution results in murder. It. They always happen. That one actually didn't say in murder. It says retribution is rot. But I put in murder. The, the. The titles kind of make me laugh because it makes me think of my other favorite show that's not on anymore. It was called I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant.
B
Oh, yeah, yeah.
A
You remember that show?
B
Yeah, totally.
A
Yeah. And someone would just like have a baby, like in a toilet or whatever. Yeah.
B
But it was always like at the kfc. Yeah, we're at the Cracker Barrel and Shadow will be a kid.
A
But they would. No, they would do like. There was one, but there was one. The old lady had it on a roller coaster. Really?
B
Yeah.
A
She had a baby on a roller coaster. So I don't go on roller coasters. And she.
B
Okay.
A
And the name of the episode was Baby on a Roller Coaster. And it seemed like the easiest job in the world because it would just be. They would just name the episode wherever the baby came out. One time a lady dropped one out on her shoe and they had an episode called Baby out of Shoe. And it was a really good episode. What are you looking at in your notes over there?
B
Just what I'm going to talk about later.
A
Okay, go ahead, please.
B
No, I was talking about, like, neighbors. Like, I've lived in a lot of different homes and apartments over my life and I always thought it was very important to be a good neighbor. But I had my grandmother. Nana.
A
Yes.
B
Who I don't know. She died last year at 89. Rest in peace, Nana. And she was like the spy of the whole neighborhood. She had this big front window in the house, and the house that you and I now own, actually, in Quebec, in Canada. And she would sit there all day, every day, watch her Toronto Blue Jays, watch her Toronto Raptors and stare out the window. And she would know everything that's going on outside.
A
That's right.
B
She did everything. She'd be like, Mr. Petrie brought home four bags of groceries today because you know what happened last Friday? He brought home four bags of groceries. What is him and his wife and one kid gonna do with eight bags of groceries? What? I don't know. What he does for a living. But I don't know how anyone has that much money to buy eight bags of groceries at the Safeway. Nonetheless, she knew everyone's business, so and so came home the other night at 9:30. The wife came home at 11. What do you think happened? Nothing good. It was amazing. So my second story has nothing to do with this, but it ties it together. So my, My nana loved the Toronto Raptors. Watched every Raptor game.
A
Oh, right.
B
She calls me one day, she goes, john, I love that Dwayne Casey. He was the head coach at the time. Dwayne Casey. I love that Dwayne Casey. But why does he always have to yell whenever they put him on tv, they show him and he's just yelling. So my next door neighbor in Seattle, which was Dwayne Casey, right?
A
I forgot.
B
The coach of the Toronto Raptors was my next door neighbor because he used to coach for the Sonics. And we actually not like, weren't just like next door neighbors. We lived in a cul de sac with two driveways. It was his driveway and mine.
A
Okay?
B
So her nana, hold on. She goes, what? I go, just hold on. So I go to the deck, I go, hey, Dwayne. Yeah. My nana's on the phone. She wants to know why you always yell at your players when you're on tv. Sorry. Tell your nana I say, sorry, Nana. He says, sorry. Oh, shut up. You did not. I was like, I've never used my celebrity for more cool thing than telling Dwayne kty. He yells, those players with banana.
A
Oh my God. That is a really good story.
B
Dwayne Casey and his wife and their two kids were my next door neighbor. Keep up. The neighbor thing in Seattle. And they were the best next door neighbors of all time. So I move it. I move in. So the day I move in, his wife Brenda brings over a key to the house. Their house. So here's the key to our house if you ever need anything. On the back of the keychain is the code for the alarm. Just help yourself to anything when we're gone. The first.
A
Oh my God. That's real Canadian right there. I mean, and this was in Seattle, but I mean, that's Canadian. To trust somebody like that.
B
Thousand square foot, beautiful home. You know, this isn't like. Not that it would matter, but. And so they were the. The greatest next door neighbor ever. And it was also great because I was there like nine months a year. I wouldn't be there for like half of June, July, then August. I'd Be in training camp and for those three months are the only three months a year when he was there. So it'd be like I, he. We crossed paths like maybe two weeks a year where we both lived in these homes together. Like we could have just split a home, basically, the two of us. So it was the greatest neighbor I've ever had because of that.
A
Can you imagine if you would have split a home, how your nana would have felt about that? She would have been very excited. So since he. Okay, first of all, when they moved in and they gave you that information?
B
No, they were already living there a couple years. Then I moved in.
A
Oh, when you moved in, but they knew who you were.
B
I think they knew enough to know that I. I played on the Seahawks and that I'd been there for a while, but I don't think they knew who I was really.
A
But enough to trust you to say here's a key and the alarm code.
B
Oh, just help yourself to whatever.
A
Did you ever do that?
B
I still have a Rolex. I have a champion.
A
No, I. Because I can't imagine. No matter how much I know or trust somebody, I know like the nicest people. Like we have one person that has a key and alarm code to our house and that's one of our best friends and.
B
And she barely trust her.
A
Hi, Erica. But no, but I mean, like that you obviously know, like, we trust her. But I can't imagine just doing that with just somebody across the street who just moved in.
B
I couldn't either. But great people sent me a big box of Toronto Raptors gear every year.
A
Did you ever also give them a key to your house? I was gonna.
B
It was a one way.
A
Do you think they went back and talked about it and they were like.
B
Well, yeah, like a change. Like a trade off.
A
Yeah. When's he going to give our key? We want to. When's he going to give his key? I want to go in and see his jerseys or whatever. I don't know.
B
I don't know. Yeah, maybe, but never happened.
A
Wow. It's a pretty good story.
B
Those are my good neighbor stories.
A
Yeah.
B
And my. My super spy Nana. Your super spy Nana Peterson bought eight bags of groceries.
A
I am not a person who really ever interacted with my neighbors before. Yeah, before you and I moved in together at that.
B
We do it like very little.
A
Yeah, I'm more of. I guess that would be the Georgia in this book. Not.
B
Yeah, a little more.
A
But the person who has never really seen interacting who's like, oh, Jesus Christ. Rolls her eyes when somebody brings over a baked good and you're like, do I have to answer the door? Is she going to leave it outside? We had our old neighbor did bake a lot, and she would. What's the, what's the thing that Georgia cooks in on a quiet street? Brown Betty.
B
Yeah, Brown Betty. But she uses white sugar.
A
Oh, right.
B
Secret.
A
And that's her secret. And I've never heard of a Brown Betty before, but that is a song about it.
B
Brown Betty.
A
It's a really good song. And also not how it goes, but close. Yeah, Black Betty. But yeah, I, I, we had a neighbor who baked on our.
B
That was actually like a, Like a perk to living next to her.
A
It was a really big park. She invited. She had a. First of all, she had a Canada Day party every year. That was a big perk because John didn't have anyone else to celebrate Canada Day with. When is that?
B
July 1st.
A
Right. And see, he doesn't have me to celebrate him with, but she would have a Canada Day party day. She and her husband. One time she invited me over to carve pumpkins. I had never carved pumpkins before, and I did. It was for the first time. And mine. It didn't look bad.
B
No, you're just good.
A
Yeah. And then one time she invited me over. This was when you were playing football. So if you know anything about me, it's that my worst nightmare is someone inviting me over to do something, like an activity. Carve a pumpkin, do a gingerbread house. Which she invited me once to do. But because I like her and because I thought. I mean, it's also hard to hide from your fucking neighbor. It's also like, she knows if she goes, oh, were you around to come over for gingerbread house? And. And then I'm like, well, she saw me. She probably saw me just walk back from the wine bar. She probably sees my car, like, whatever. So she got hard to avoid. So I wouldn't. No, I actually enjoyed it. But she had me go over to do a gingerbread house once. Do you remember this?
B
Yeah.
A
And it was a bunch of her friends, people I didn't know, real out of my comfort zone. Had a lot of fun, made. I mean, a pretty cute gingerbread house, I think. And then a couple days later, she came over with cookies, Christmas cookies. You know, she always baked. She was famous. She had this Easter egg that she baked.
B
Yeah.
A
A chocolate or made. I don't know what.
B
We had an Easter cream egg.
A
Yeah.
B
Homemade.
A
Homemade. And she would decorate it. Oh, my God. Last year John, we forgot it. Yeah, we. John. Like she brought it over and then you were somewhere else, so. And then you were meeting me in Palm Desert.
B
Phoenix. I was meeting you?
A
Yeah, in Palm Desert to visit my dad at the time. And my dad, he's still my dad at the time. He was my dad, but he was my alive dad. And we. We went to Fe. To Palm Springs. I brought the egg with me because I knew how excited you would be to get have it. And then we left it there and my stepmom ate it.
B
And then we moved and I never got another one.
A
Yeah, well, I mean, you want one and then. But you complain that I invite them to the Christmas party last week.
B
Real predicament with that one.
A
Yeah, because she has good Christmas candy too. Anyway, after the gingerbread house thing, she brought over cookies the next day and she goes, where's your gingerbread house? And I was like, I threw it away.
B
You know you're supposed to keep it.
A
I didn't know you were supposed to keep it. Apparently you're supposed to set it out. She goes, no, you're supposed to leave it out as a decoration. And I was like, well, the trash came yesterday and it's gone. I don't know. I didn't know that.
B
The first Christmas we were dating, you're like, I don't have any. I don't have a Christmas tree anything. Because I go to my mom's for Christmas. I'm like, you have to have a Christmas tree in December. So I sent you a Christmas tree. All decorations.
A
It was all. It was a pre decorated one.
B
And then November or December 26th, you're like, so do I just throw this in the garbage now? I'm like, no, you don't throw your fake tree in the garbage every year. You can reuse them. Like, oh.
A
And then I don't really know where that one is.
B
I think it was.
A
I think. Is it one of the ones that we have in our house?
B
No, I think, yeah, I think it is one of the six that we have in the house right now.
A
Okay. Yeah, we have six. John used to have a tree that snowed on itself. That was my favorite tree.
B
Yeah, that was a casualty of the move.
A
It didn't make it from Seattle. Yeah. So it would. It like, how did it even work?
B
It almost had like a pump in the bottom. Had like a big basket of these little like beads that were like foam beads and like shoot them up through the top of the tree and then they like, you know, had something like deflecting Instead of like snow down the sides and back into the big bucket and kind of like recycle itself back up.
A
It was pretty good.
B
It was pretty good.
A
And then when you moved from Seattle, it. It lost its life in your U Haul.
B
Yeah, I mean, the, the little, like little, like the little pellets was like foam. Like those are. You'd find them like in the carpet. Like July. Like they just. They were. So there's millions of them in this thing. And it just didn't. It couldn't be. Can be hauled away.
A
Oh, rest in peace to that tree.
B
A new one.
A
Yeah. I didn't, you know, this is actually, I mean, off topic, but a very big bonus of living with you is that I never decorated for Christmas because I did always go to my mom's. I would go back to Arkansas, so I didn't see the point. Right. Sometimes I would hang like one. Like one stocking up that said my name and one that said my cat's name just in case anyone was curious if I was single. And, um. And that would, that would be it. I would have a little stocking for me and stocking for mischief, and then I would go to Arkansas. So I didn't. It didn't bother me not to decorate because I didn't care because I was. The decorations were about when I would get home. And my mom's fake tree that. By the way she talk about someone that this is where I got the throwaway, the gingerbread house. And, and do I put your tree in the garbage? Because she just. I mean, she tears shit down as soon as possible the next day.
B
She's not a big Christmas person. Really good gift giver. She sends like a whole box of gifts for us every year.
A
What. What gave you. What gave you the idea she didn't like Christmas?
B
The first time I went to your house around Christmas, she. The first thing she says is, John, you know, I hate Christmas. Never liked it. Dad didn't like it. Mom didn't like it. Hate Christmas.
A
She.
B
I. I think that was when. I know. Then I thought she might not like Christmas very much.
A
I think. Yeah. When she said I hate Christmas, I. I think that my mom used to like Christmas. And then I think when. For her when I moved and then when I stopped coming home for Christmas and when my sister, you know, it's like just. There's no. It's not the same to her anymore, but I think secretly she enjoys. They go over to my aunt and uncles. They have their thing.
B
This is a big church thing every year he says, beautiful with the candle.
A
Yes. And she loves that.
B
Like that.
A
Yeah, she loves that. She and my stepdad go to church every Christmas Eve, usually. And when I was. Would go home, and when I was there, I would go with them, and they sing Silent Night and light each other's candles, and it is really nice, like, whether you're religious or not. It's like, just a really beautiful experience.
B
Okay, I'll give her that.
A
Okay. Well, anyway, so I think that's what she does. Tear everything down right away. And we have the same fake tree that we've had for a million years and all the mismatched ornaments.
B
So I. I love the mismatched ornaments.
A
Yes. And I've never seen anyone h. Have. I've never understood how you can be so organized the way you're organized with your ornaments. They all match.
B
Yeah. I have a little system involved, but we have one tree in our bedroom, which is all ornaments that our nieces and nephews have given us over the years or the people have given us for gifts. So it's like a completely mismatch whole tree.
A
Right. And how do you feel about that?
B
Well, I buy, like, a bunch of matching ones to tie into.
A
I remember one time with the. With the. The tree that you do. Like the downstairs tree that I was gonna. I thought I was gonna hang, you know, an ornament that obviously didn't go. And the look on your face that the horror did not a little bit. You were a little horrified that I was gonna mess up your. The silver and red or whatever it is. The ornaments. That's the one with the balls. Right. That you do. Big, nice balls. And I was going to put just a random ornament that didn't go with it, and you just looked at me like I had eight heads.
B
No, I didn't. I probably said, oh, babe, this would probably look a lot better on the tree upstairs.
A
Yeah, you said it like that. Which means, stop touching this. Yeah. And that's fine. But that's because that's how we have the system in place. We have you decorate. I reap all the benefits.
B
For me, it's the greatest system ever. Because I love to decorate for Christmas. I love to do it my own way. I mean, I gladly take your input, but you don't seem to care that much.
A
No, I don't.
B
And that's why it's perfect, because I just get to do whatever I want, set up my whole thing. And at the end, you're like this amazing.
A
It is. And it's cozy and also, you take it all down, too. I don't have to do. And I don't. And you. I let you. I don't care. I let you leave it up. And, you know, you don't have to rip it down like my mom does.
B
That's why we're great together.
A
Yeah. Do you have any other things you want to talk about?
B
I was on the neighbor thing. I thought it was fun story.
A
Go, please.
B
Because, you know, this book is a lot about neighbors, but we went to a friend's birthday party out of the beach, and there's probably about 20 people there, and they. I was like, oh. Like, how do you know all these people? Like, oh, we're all neighbors. Like, you know, like, we invite just, like our couple neighbors, just so they don't call the police. And they're like, 100 friends or whatever. Well, 95 of your friends and 5 of mine, because I don't have that many friends. And he's like, oh, this is all our neighbors. It's like, you guys just, like, meet these people, and they become friends and get like, but it's the birthday party. All I'm saying is you're the real swingers vibe to me. Oh. There's just all these people live on the same street. I'm best friends.
A
Where was this?
B
I'm not saying they're swingers, but when they get to the party, they all throw their keys in a dish. I'm just saying they do.
A
Wait, where was this one?
B
It was out towards, like, Newport Beach.
A
Oh, okay.
B
I could be way off, and I know that I. I'm positive that my friend isn't.
A
No, we know that they're. No, they're definitely.
B
I think the neighbors are like, when are they gonna join?
A
Right? And now I know exactly what you're talking about. It was taking me a minute to catch up with that. Yeah, it is. Yeah. They. It's like a little community there, but then. And then you kind of start. I. Well, that's why I was first thinking when the coach gave you a gave key to his house and said, come over anytime, wink, wink. I'm like, maybe they were inviting you for something.
B
I'm really, really confident they weren't inviting me for that.
A
Was it the wife that gave it to you?
B
Yes.
A
I don't know. I think you might.
B
It was not like that.
A
Okay. They were probably hoping you'd be like, oh, I have a key too. Wink, wink.
B
No, I don't think so. No, that's not the vibe I got whatsoever.
A
Do you Know who?
B
I like to judge people more than. Like, I don't like to be judged on that bit.
A
Okay.
B
I just think everyone else is a swinger.
A
Not me, you know, Nick Thune is comedian.
B
Nick Thune.
A
Nick Thune. No, it's very funny. Comedian. He used to be my neighbor before he was a comedian. And that was when I lived in that really sad apartment complex that I point out to you sometimes in Hollywood. And he. He and this other guy were living next door to me. And I remember they. They weren't there very long because our. It was this very tiny apartment complex, and it had maybe four parking spots, but like 10 apartments. And you gotta wait to get a parking space. Like, I didn't have one for two years signed.
B
But you had to be on the list.
A
Yeah, you had to. But you had to wait for someone to die or to move out. And. And sometimes people did. Steve didn't do them in that order, but they. There was. I remember the one time they got their car towed and then they were gone like two days later because they were like, fuck this place. Because someone towed their car. The manager towed their car. Anyway, it's not a very good story, but I just remember that he used to be my neighbor briefly. Yeah. And then I had another neighbor there, and she used to. She was very concerned about my cat all the time.
B
Like the. Like of her. Your cat affecting her or. That your cat was safe?
A
No, that he was safe. Yeah, because she liked him. She was older lady. And he. He didn't go outside, but I would let him on my. On the stoop right outside, because he. Because it wasn't facing the street and he wouldn't go anywhere. He was like, basically trained to just sit there. So she would come down and say hi to him. And then if I went out of town, she had a lot of questions about what was going to happen. And I was like, he's going to use this litter box and eat his food and I have a friend coming by. But you know what I never did was offered her a key to do it. No, not once. No. She was a little too nosy.
B
That cat would have been gone. Yeah, you would have got a parking spot, though.
A
That's true. She. She's also the neighbor that I told you one time because you know that I sweat a lot when I work out.
B
Yeah, me too.
A
Yeah. And one time I came back from the gym and she goes, oh, did you go for a swim?
B
That's so rude.
A
And I said, yeah, I know. She didn't mean It. She didn't mean anything by it. It's just. That's what it looked like. What do you look. What do you got there?
B
I feel like I don't get a good workout unless I'm, like, pouring sweat.
A
I know. That's the way I feel too, but I know it's not true because there are some people, like, you watch the people. Speaking of Peloton, you watch them on the Peloton. You watch the way they sweat. Their. They, like, they barely sweat, but they're working so hard. So then you're like, are they even doing anything? But they really are. I think they just have, like, fans on them and.
B
Yeah. So it used to piss me off at Soul Cycle instructor. Just be, like, bone dry. I'm like. I'm, like, dripping all over the floor, just being gross, and they're just, like, just not sweating.
A
But a lot of times they get off the bike and walk around, so I think it cools them off. Remember the one time that I. I was at Sports Soul Cycle next to Bobby Flay?
B
Yeah.
A
You were so jealous, and I was.
B
Supposed to go to that class.
A
Yeah.
B
I canceled for some. I probably canceled because I want to stay home and watch Beat Bobby flag.
A
John loves Bobby Flay so much. When we watch Beat Bobby Flay, which is one of our favorite shows, you always root for Bobby, but you're supposed to root for the other person.
B
If he doesn't win, it's rigged. You think Jeremiah. Jeremiah from New England has a better pastry than Bobby Flayed? No, he doesn't. That's why it's rigged.
A
Okay?
B
Even 67 of the time and the other 33% is rigged. There's no way you can be Bobby Flake cooking.
A
Do you want to do a Beat Bobby Flay podcast where we just afterwards dissect who won and who should have won?
B
We watched the Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay marathon one time, and every time, whatever shirt he was wearing, I just got my closet get the same shirt. Do you remember that?
A
Yes. Because they. You guys dress exactly alike.
B
I like every shirt he wore.
A
You guys have all. I remember one time you walked down and you. I think you knew what episode was or you saw it and you went upstairs and changed. I go, what is that? You go, it's my Beat Bobby Floyd jersey. You were wearing the exact same shirt. All right, what else do you want.
B
To talk about before we go this podcast? The same way we watch this show?
A
No, I don't think so.
B
I don't know. I have all These. I cut you off. Sorry.
A
No, no, no. Go. Go ahead.
B
All the. All my. I mean, one of the first time I ever bought a home was in Green Bay. I was like 23 years old and I bought a condo. It turns out this condo building was like. It was like you were in like college. Like you're in a dorm. Everyone was friends, everyone's house for dinner that night, whatever. And as it went on, everyone started like, fighting. People get mad. Like, this is like, this is like rentals. Like people bought them. Big fights. People like move out. And it was like it was too close. There wasn't like one big story I have. But I'm just saying, like, this whole place, it felt like I was in like college again.
A
How many, how many condos?
B
28.
A
Okay. Because I feel like that's part of it is that I. All through college, I never lived in a big apartment building for some reason. I always lived in a small one. I never lived in, like, I remember there's this place, super big, high rise. Yeah. This place, like, called College Park. And these places that have tons and tons where you have tons and tons of neighbors. I always had like a couple. I lived in a duplex at one point. I lived. And then when I moved, that one apartment building I'm talking about, it was small. I never lived in one of those overwhelming apartment buildings where you would like, meet all these different neighbors all the time and have. And they sound like my worst nightmare because. Yeah, I don't. I like the idea of it. It sounds nice and safe and maybe there's like a community or something. But it also just sounds awful to have to like run into a bunch of different people every day.
B
I used to. I look out the door to make sure it's clear so I could run to the stairs. I. I swear to God. Cuz I'm like, I don't want to talk to Grandma Betty today.
A
Like, well, that's a. Like that's not enough condos. Really. Good for you.
B
It was too tight.
A
Yeah.
B
And it was like, literally people getting fights and like, sell their condo and stuff.
A
Oh, boy. Well, if, if you. If you. Do you want to share any more neighbor stories before?
B
That's every neighbor story I have.
A
Is it?
B
Oh. When I was growing up, I had a neighbor that was a real dick who used to yell at us for going like, all. All my brother and I did was just like, play sports on the lawn like every day, all day. And the neighbor hated it. Who? He was a neighbor at my mom's house. Oh, I say his name.
A
Oh, that's live. Oh, okay.
B
Listen to this podcast religiously.
A
Oh, yeah, it's his favorite podcast.
B
It is. And he would yell at us like all the time for our ball going his lawn or the ball ever hit his house, Steve and I would just run inside.
A
Oh, God. Do you. I mean, you guys are lucky that you lived in Canada. You would had a fear thy neighbor situation there.
B
Yes.
A
Keep your kids off. Yeah. Out of the lawn. They broke my window and then just pulled a.
B
Actually growing up in Canada, that's what we thought all. The only thing that happened in the US Is you did something. Got shot in the face.
A
Nice.
B
Because we had. We grew up with Detroit News and we just, we honestly thought that whenever someone did something, they just like, they just shoot you in the face. It's true. Can you imagine? I grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, where like we. Mrs. Smith's cat got stuck in the tree again tonight at 6:00 like nothing ever really happened. And then we have our feeds from the US Were all Detroit News where it's like, what the. Like the lions won today and Miss Betty died and 20 people got shot in the face. It's like, what?
A
Oh, and then you moved here anyway.
B
Oh, I was scared. Holy. Good thing I moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin. I got broken in, like very like slowly. Oh, haven't been shot in the face yet.
A
No.
B
18 years.
A
There you go. Good job. Thank you. Well, we'll save some more neighbor stories for next week and we'll talk a little bit more about the book next week. But again, not too much because we save it for you for week four. You very much for listening to the Book list. Again, join us on Patreon if you want to watch the video and listen to some of the bonus stuff that we add. And also the book listeners is the Facebook group and rate, review and subscribe is a great way to help us out. Thank you.
B
Thank you.
A
The Book List.
B
The Book Lisp.
A
The Book List.
B
The book Lisp.
A
The book Lisp.
Release Date: December 9, 2024
Podcast Title: The Book Lisp
Hosts: Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna
Book Discussed: On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass
In the December 9, 2024 episode of The Book Lisp, hosts Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna dive into week two of their monthly book club discussion. They explore On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass, sharing their initial thoughts and teasing deeper insights for their full review scheduled for week four. The conversation seamlessly weaves through personal anecdotes, favorite television shows, and humorous neighbor stories, providing listeners with an engaging blend of book discussion and relatable life experiences.
Sarah enthusiastically introduces their current read:
Sarah (00:21): "It is week two of your December Book Lisp. We are deep in On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass. I love this book."
Jon echoes her sentiments, highlighting the book's appeal without revealing spoilers:
Jon (00:32): "I love it, too. Yeah, it's good. It's really good."
They appreciate the book’s structure, where each character has their own chapter, enhancing the psychological thriller aspect:
Sarah (06:17): "What I like in this because of the subject matter and because it's a thriller and, or psychological twists and turns, blah, blah, blah. Is that, and I won't really give an example until we do the full review, but when something happens in the chapter for one character and you already know how it's going to affect the next chapter for the next character..."
Jon adds his excitement for the upcoming deep dive:
Jon (07:38): "I have a lot of questions for you. I have a lot to talk about."
The hosts transition into a discussion about the challenges athletes face on social media. Jon shares his frustrations with how fans react to his performance as a punter:
Jon (02:27): "People react to you, whether you should kill yourself or stay alive until your next punt."
Sarah reflects on her experiences watching football with Jon, appreciating his deep knowledge:
Sarah (03:45): "But when we are watching something together, you'll just start calling what is happening before it even finishes happening. It's fascinating to me."
Jon emphasizes the misconceptions fans have about the sport:
Jon (04:18): "People know nothing about football compared to any guy in the field. Like, nothing."
This segment underscores the duo's mutual respect and understanding of each other's passions, blending humor with genuine insights into the pressures faced by public athletes.
Sarah introduces Fear Thy Neighbor, a show on the ID Network, praising its reenactments and storytelling:
Sarah (11:33): "They do the reenactments. And I do love a reenactment show because it's... they show the person who really... It happened to."
Jon relates the show's themes to their own experiences, appreciating the depiction of neighborly tensions escalating to dramatic conclusions:
Jon (12:54): "And someone goes to jail."
They discuss specific episodes like "The Secret Wife" and "Bullets in the Snow," highlighting the show's ability to portray neighbor conflicts that spiral into murder and retribution. Their enthusiasm makes a compelling case for listeners to check out the series.
The conversation takes a personal turn as Jon shares heartwarming and humorous stories about his beloved nana and past neighbors:
Jon's Nana:
Jon (20:10): "Who I don't know. She died last year at 89. Rest in peace, Nana."
He recounts his nana's neighborhood vigilance and her support as a dedicated Toronto Raptors fan:
Jon (21:03): "She calls me one day, she goes, John, I love that Dwayne Casey. He was the head coach at the time."
Neighbor Dwayne Casey:
Jon (21:44): "He says, sorry. Oh, shut up."
Jon humorously narrates the trust his neighbors placed in him, exemplifying the strong community bonds he experienced:
Jon (22:24): "And my super spy Nana Peterson bought eight bags of groceries."
Sarah contrasts her own less-interactive approach with neighbors, adding depth to their discussion on community dynamics.
Additional Neighbor Stories:
Jon (35:09): "Listen to this podcast religiously. It is his favorite podcast."
Both hosts share amusing tales about past neighbors, from overly nosy apartment dwellers to friendly cul-de-sac comrades. These stories not only entertain but also highlight the complexities and quirks of neighborly relationships.
The hosts delve into their personal lives, specifically their differing approaches to holiday decorations and celebrations. Sarah shares her minimalist decorating style and reliance on her family's traditions:
Sarah (25:45): "I am not a person who really ever interacted with my neighbors before. Yeah, before you and I moved in together."
Jon, on the other hand, enjoys a more organized and matched approach to decorating, creating a cozy holiday atmosphere:
Jon (33:04): "I have a little system involved, but we have one tree in our bedroom, which is all ornaments that our nieces and nephews have given us over the years."
Their interplay showcases a harmonious balance in their relationship, blending different preferences into a unified and festive household.
A lighthearted segment explores their favorite cooking show, Beat Bobby Flay. Jon and Sarah joke about dissecting episodes and their admiration for Bobby Flay:
Jon (39:40): "If he doesn't win, it's rigged. You think Jeremiah from New England has a better pastry than Bobby Flay? No, he doesn't."
They reminisce about matching outfits inspired by the show, adding a playful layer to their conversation.
Additionally, they discuss their workouts, referencing Peloton and Soul Cycle instructors, injecting humor into observations about fitness culture:
Sarah (38:49): "I was at Sports Soul Cycle next to Bobby Flay."
As the episode wraps up, Jon and Sarah tease future discussions about On a Quiet Street, encouraging listeners to stay tuned for their in-depth review in week four. They reiterate the benefits of joining their Patreon for exclusive content and invite listeners to engage with their Facebook group, the Book List Spinners.
Sarah (43:24): "But a lot of times before they kill their neighbor, they do. They poison a dog or do something."
Jon (44:05): "Thank you. The Book Lisp."
Their friendly banter and seamless transitions between topics make The Book Lisp a delightful listen, balancing book insights with personal stories and shared laughter.
Book Enthusiasm: Jon and Sarah express genuine excitement about On a Quiet Street, appreciating its character-driven chapters and psychological depth.
Athlete Experiences: Jon discusses the pressures of being an athlete on social media, highlighting fan misconceptions and the impact of performance reviews.
Show Recommendations: They highly recommend Fear Thy Neighbor, emphasizing its engaging reenactments and neighborly conflict narratives.
Personal Stories: The hosts share heartfelt and humorous stories about their neighbors, showcasing the importance of community and the quirks of neighborly interactions.
Relationship Dynamics: Their discussion on holiday decorating reveals the balance of differing preferences in maintaining a harmonious household.
Engaging Banter: Jon and Sarah's playful interactions and mutual respect create an inviting atmosphere for listeners, making complex topics accessible and entertaining.
Jon on Social Media Pressures:
"People react to you, whether you should kill yourself or stay alive until your next punt." ([02:27])
Sarah on Learning from Jon:
"If I don't understand something, I ask you." ([03:15])
Jon on Neighbor Trust:
"I have a lot of questions for you. I have a lot to talk about." ([07:38])
Sarah on Reenactment Shows:
"They show the person who really... it happened to." ([11:33])
Jon on Community Bonds:
"They were the greatest next door neighbor ever." ([23:17])
Jon on Decorating Systems:
"I have a little system involved, but we have one tree in our bedroom..." ([33:04])
The Book Lisp episode "Fear Thy Nana" masterfully blends book discussions with personal narratives, creating a rich and engaging listening experience. Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna's chemistry shines through as they navigate topics ranging from psychological thrillers to the intricacies of neighborly relationships. Their ability to intersperse insightful commentary with relatable stories ensures that both avid book lovers and casual listeners find something to enjoy.
For those interested in delving deeper, the hosts encourage joining their Patreon for exclusive video content and engaging with their community on Facebook. With a promise of more detailed reviews and stories in future episodes, The Book Lisp continues to be a must-listen for anyone passionate about books, community, and the stories that bind us.