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
273 episodes since 2020
Talking About Tolkien - Three is Company (Fellowship, Ch3)
Frodo meets an elf and we somehow wind up revisiting the entire 10,000 year history of the Noldor.
September 18, 2024
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1:03:36
Discussing William Gibson's Unused Screenplay for Alien 3
Ben and Nate share their thoughts on William Gibsons's unused screenplay for Alien 3, a film that is hated by the fanbase. Could Gibson have done it better? Yeah, probably, but it's still kind of mid. You wanna hear about how my landlord took o...
September 15, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 38
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1:02:00
Talking About Tolkien - The Shadow of the Past (Fellowship Ch2)
Gandalf's back and he has some explaining to do.
September 11, 2024
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1:19:53
A Night With Ben & Nate: Dune Post-Mortem
Words About Dune is over. Well, mostly. This is the finale where we wrap up talking about the book series that Ben started this podcast for. This whole thing has been an excuse to force someone to read Dune so he could talk to someone about it....
September 08, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 37
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1:11:53
Talking About Tolkien - A Long Expected Party (Fellowship Ch1)
Bilbo throws the largest party that the Shire has ever seen. Nate wonders if it is irresponsible to use the weapon of The Enemy to annoy your terrible relatives.
September 04, 2024
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48:54
Continuing to Discuss Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert
This week we wrap up our discussion of Chapterhouse: Dune. We leave the series on a bit of a downer note with our heroes (or whatever we would call them) taking off in a No Ship while the Bene Gesserit and Honored Matre leadership becomes one. ...
September 01, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 36
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1:40:00
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.
August 28, 2024
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1:02:24
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 ...
August 25, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 35
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1:34:52
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.
August 18, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 34
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52:05
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?
August 11, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 33
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1:40:11
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.
August 04, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 32
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1:29:44
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.
July 28, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 31
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1:03:01
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...
July 21, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 30
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1:12:59
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?
July 17, 2024
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19:11
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...
July 14, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 29
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1:16:32
Talking About Tolkien - The Return Journey (The Hobbit, Ch18)
Why does it hurt so much? Because it was real.
July 10, 2024
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22:21
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...
July 07, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 28
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1:28:39
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.
July 06, 2024
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27:39
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.
June 30, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 26
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38:23
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...
June 23, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 25
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1:20:01
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.
June 19, 2024
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22:09
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...
June 16, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 25
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1:29:10
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.
June 10, 2024
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33:31
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...
June 09, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 24
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1:10:26
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...
June 02, 2024
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Season 5
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Episode 23
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1:22:40