Words About Books
Words About Books is a podcast where two wannabe writers read and discuss books. Read along with us, or just enjoy the show! New episodes every Sunday.
Episodes
467 episodes
Talking About Tolkien - Prologue (The Fellowship of the Ring)
First, we're going to check back in with the gang from The Hobbit and see where they are now. Then we're going to get a little refresher on Hobbit lore.
Discussing Chapterhouse Dune by Frank Herbert (Dune VI) Part I
Welcome back, Dune fanatics! This week, Ben and Nate tackle the mind-bending first half of Frank Herbert’s Chapterhouse: Dune. With the Bene Gesserit teetering on the edge of annihilation and the Honored Matres breathing down ...
Discussing The Old Man and The Sea
In honor of "Back to School" month, we're talking about The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Will this book be the one that finally changes the boys' minds on fancy-pants literary fiction? The answer may surprise you.
Discussing American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Part 2)
We conclude our revisit of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Since the first time I read this book, I've changed. The way I think about Neil Gaiman has certainly changed. The real question is, will my earlier review of the book change?
Discussing American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Part 1)
Ben revisits American Gods in the wake of the allegations against Neil Gaiman to see if learning something terrible about one of his favorite authors will change his interpretation of a text he enjoyed so much he bought it twice.
Ben Discusses Pendragon: The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale Part II
We're back! Ben is wrapping up our discussion of the first book of the Pendragon series. What does Ben think about it? Is it any good? I could tell you, but it's really better if you experience it for yourself.
Ben Talks About Pendragon: The Merchant of Death by D. J. MacHale Part I
This episode was ready at midnight but we got engrossed in mummy hunting and, well, whoops. Anyway this week we talk about the other Christmas book, the one Nate got for Ben. It's the first book of the Pendragon series! Does anybody else rememb...
Talking About Tolkien - The Last Stage (The Hobbit, Ch19)
The final chapter of The Hobbit, in which we learn never to trust the Sackville-Bagginses. This one made me a little emotional guys. Is it normal for a book to make you feel feelings?
Discussing The Monogram Murders (A Hercule Poirot Mystery) by Sophie Hannah
Last Christmas Ben gifted Nate The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah. Hannah was given the Christie estate's blessing to write new Hercule Poirot mysteries. Will this gift be a thoughtful and heartfelt token of friendship? Or will it be like ev...
Talking About Tolkien - The Return Journey (The Hobbit, Ch18)
Why does it hurt so much? Because it was real.
PATREON ORIGINAL: Discussing Dead Moon by Peter Clines
Ben is dying of pneumonia so this week we had to go with a bonus episode from the old patreon vault. I'm not sure if this is something that inspires you to donate money to the patreon but this is what we do over there. We release episodes of bo...
Talking About Tolkien - The Clouds Burst (The Hobbit, Ch 17)
Thorin tries to murder Bilbo, and a war for control of The Lonely Mountain begins.
Discussing Noir by Christopher Moore (Part 2)
This week we continue our discussion of Noir by Christopher Moore. In this episode we learn the truth about what happened in Roswell in 1947. We also learn what a "cornet" is.
Discussing Noir by Christopher Moore (Part 1)
Content Warning: Sexual ThemesChristopher Moore is back with another book. It's fine. A mediocre man cracks wise while getting increasingly over his head in trouble. He'll probably be bailed out at the end by supernatural forces of whic...
Talking About Tolkien - A Thief in the Night (The Hobbit, Ch16)
War seems all but inevitable. Fortunately, Bilbo has a plan involving a little bit of honest burglary. Will it pan out? Ben and Nate have doubts.
Discussing The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux
This week we talk about a book that, being honest, we did not care for. We wanted to read one more locked room mystery to see if this was our thing or not. The patrons voted for this one when it was put up and, well, here we are. It's not a gre...
Talking About Tolkien - The Gathering of the Clouds (The Hobbit, Ch 15)
"Clouds", in this case, being a metaphor for a war that Thorin cannot possibly win.
Discussing Throne of Glass By Sarah J Maas (Part 2)
Alternate Title: Look to the RightWe finish our discussion of Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas! Who will win the competition to be the king's assassin? Who is going around killing and eating the champions? Which of these two men will our...
Discussing Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas (Part 1)
We're back! Using new recording tech that may break more than I like but we're going to blame Ben for that for not proofing and "having a life". What a jerk. Anyway we should hopefully iron out those technical issues.But now it's time t...
Talking About Tolkien - Fire and Water (The Hobbit, Ch14)
I wonder where Smaug went? Oh. Oh dear...
Discussing Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K Dick
Alternate Title: Rick Deckard's Wife is BasedThe boys discuss the cyberpunk(ish) classic that inspired Blade Runner. Ben even watched Blade Runner for this episode. Let's see what all the fuss is about.
Judging Books by Their Cover VI
As is tradition on words about books, once per year we must ritualistically judge books by their covers. Nate has gathered 5 books on which he has "done no research" for Ben to judge. Will Ben be able to select one for the pair to read? Or, in ...
Talking About Tolkien - No One Home and The Desolation of Smaug Movie Discussion (The Hobbit, ch13)
In this chapter, Smaug leaves the gang alone with his treasure. Bilbo gets a very important mail shirt. Unfortunately, that's about all that happens. So to pad the run time Ben talks about his experience watching Peter Jackson's The Desolation ...
Discussing Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson (sequel to the sequel to Neuromancer)
At long last we finish out the Neuromancer/Sprawl trilogy. I never expected to get this far, yet here we are. What I'm saying is that Nate hasn't read this book for 2-3 years and can't remember most of what happened in it so Ben is gonna have t...
Discussing a NEW RELEASE: The Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline (Ernest Cline Saga VIII)
A new release! By... Ernest Cline... oh gosh. Yes Ernest Cline didn't retire after that brazen failure and complete lack of effort and has come back with... his best book to date? What is even happening here?!?