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4 days ago
4: In Conversation with Nancy Johnson
In this extra episode, Jill and Michael sit down for an interview with Nancy Johnson, author of the B**K It! Book Club selection The Kindest Lie! (https://bookshop.org/lists/b-k-it-book-club)
This episode is sponsored by the Blue Manatee Literacy Project (https://www.bluemanatee.org/) .
Feb 17, 2021
3: Book Club - The Kindest Lie
In our first official book club selection, we discuss Nancy Johnson's debut book The Kindest Lie (https://bookshop.org/lists/b-k-it-book-club) !
This episode is sponsored by the Blue Manatee Literacy Project (https://www.bluemanatee.org/) .
Feb 3, 2021
2: Gimmicks In Fiction
When is something a gimmick and when is it the only way the story could've been told? In episode two, Jill and Michael explore some of their favorite gimmicky books, some of their least favorite, and some that are somewhere in between!
Featuring:
Ducks, Newburyport (https://bookshop.org/books/ducks-newburyport/9781771963077) by Lucy Ellmann
Texts From Jane Eyre (https://bookshop.org/books/texts-from-jane-eyre-and-other-conversations-with-your-favorite-literary-characters/9781627791830) Daniel M. Lavery
Pride (https://bookshop.org/books/pride-a-pride-prejudice-remix/9780062564054) by Ibi Zoboi
Such a Pretty Fat (https://bookshop.org/books/such-a-pretty-fat-one-narcissist-s-quest-to-discover-if-her-life-makes-her-ass-look-big-or-why-pi-e-is-not-the-answer/9780451223890) by Jen Lancaster
This episode is sponsored by Blue Manatee Literacy Project (https://www.bluemanatee.org/) .
Jan 20, 2021
1: The Year Ahead: Our Most Anticipated 2021 Reads
We're back! In the season premiere of season two, Jill and Michael talk about their end-of-2020 reading habits, what they hope to read in 2021, and what they are definitely going to leave behind!
Featuring:
Caul Baby (https://bookshop.org/books/caul-baby/9780062873088) by Morgan Jerkins, 4/6/21
Infinite Country (https://bookshop.org/books/infinite-country-9781432885878/9781982159467) by Patricia Engel, 3/2/21
Concrete Rose (https://bookshop.org/books/concrete-rose-9781432884741/9780062846716) by Angie Thomas, out now
A Million Reasons Why (https://bookshop.org/books/a-million-reasons-why-9781250789822/9781250241627) by Jessica Strawser, 3/23/21
Revival Season (https://bookshop.org/books/revival-season/9781982133306) by Monica West, 6/15/21
The Personal Librarian (https://bookshop.org/books/the-personal-librarian/9780593101537) by Marie Benedict, 6/2021
The Kindest Lie (https://bookshop.org/books/the-kindest-lie-9780063073159/9780063005631?aid=15876) by Nancy Johnson, 2/2/21
Shop our Bookshop page for any and all of these titles! Follow us on instagram and Twitter for more B**K It! content!
This episode is sponsored by the Blue Manatee Literacy Project (https://www.bluemanatee.org/) .
Jan 15, 2021
SURPRISE Mini-Episode!
SURPRISE! We're back...sort of! Jill and Michael do a quick hello and introduction before the season two premiere next week!
Follow B**K It! on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bookitpod/) and twitter (https://twitter.com/bookitpod) , and check out their website (https://www.bookitpod.com/) today!
Dec 16, 2020
22: Our Year in Review
The season one finale of B**K It! is here with a long ass list of books! We discuss all the reading we did this year, our favorite books of 2020, and reflect on what a dumpster fire of a year this has been and how reading has been difficult, but ultimately as helpful as ever.
Featuring:
Friends and Strangers (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525520597)
Summer (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781101870792)
Caste (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780593230251)
Before the Ever After (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399545436)
The Daughters of Erietown (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525479352)
Conjure Women (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525511489)
Dancing with the Octopus (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781635576122)
A Long Petal of the Sea (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781984820150)
Kent State (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781338356281)
Also: Old Lovegood Girls (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781632868220) , The Nickel Boys (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780385537070) , Stand Up, Yumi Chung! (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525554974) , The Blackbird Girls (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781984837356) , The Jetsetters (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399181894) , The Queen Bee and Me (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781681197517) , Ways to Make Sunshine (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781547600564) , Dress Coded (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781984816436) , We Are Water Protectors (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781250203557) , Everybody Says Meow (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780062689887) , Baby Monster (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781936669912) , Seven Clues to Home (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780593119617) , We Dream of Space (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780062747303)
Dec 2, 2020
21: The End of Guilty Pleasures
"Oh, it's just a guilty pleasure." How often have you said that to justify reading something you REALLY wanted to read? In this episode of B**K It!, Michael and Jill break down the myth of the guilty pleasure, why they shouldn't exist, and why you should read whatever you want to read free of judgement!
Featuring:
Jo & Laurie (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781984812018)
Someday, Someday, Maybe (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780345532749)
How to Find Love in a Bookshop (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780735223509)
My Ex-Life (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781250122438)
Nov 18, 2020
20: Writing History and Making Herstory: The Past and The Future with Blair Imani
Nonfiction can be intimidating, no matter how much of a bookworm you are! Not only can it feel dense, but oftentimes, historical and nonfiction text misrepresents marginalized communities. In this interview with historian, author, activist and public speaker Blair Imani, we talk about how historical text has evolved, the work she hopes to do, and her personal history that got her to where she is today.
Featuring:
Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781984856920)
Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399582233)
Nov 4, 2020
19: Baby Monster: Exploring New Parenthood with Andrea Pfeiffer and Erin Barker
Being a new parent is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, often in the span of a single day! Debut author Andrea Pfeiffer, along with illustrator Erin Barker, explores the trials and tribulations, the heartwarming moments and the horrible ones, and how sometimes a good laugh is the ultimate medicine.
Featuring:
Baby Monster (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781936669912)
Mr. Pumpkin's Tea Party (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781936669776)
Oct 21, 2020
18: Literary Fiction and The Heartland: A Conversation with Connie Schultz
In this episode of B**K It!, we sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Connie Schultz and discuss her debut novel THE DAUGHTERS OF ERIETOWN. We talk all about the midwest as depicted in the arts, the upcoming election, our clingy but lovable pets, and more!
Featuring:
The Daughters of Erietown (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525479352)
Oct 7, 2020
17: Dancing with Debora Harding
Sometimes a book is so many things that it's hard to describe. That's Debora Harding's debut book "Dancing with the Octopus." In her memoir, Debora tells of an experience in adolescence that altered her life, the abuse she was experiencing at home, and her journey toward hope. Michael and Jill chat with Debora, and talk all things family, politics, writing, and more!
Featuring: Dancing with the Octopus (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781635576122)
CW: abduction; emotional, physical, and sexual assault
Sep 23, 2020
16: Memoirs
Spill all the tea. Tell all the truths. What makes a good memoir, and what do we expect from people who choose to share their life stories with us? Jill and Michael chat all about their favorite tell-alls, which ones could've been better, and which ones they read over and over again!
Featuring:
Becoming (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781524763138) by Michelle Obama
Open Book (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780062899965) by Jessica Simpson
Year of Yes (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781476777122) by Shonda Rhimes
Talking as Fast as I Can (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780425285190) by Lauren Graham
Beautiful on the Outside (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781538732403) by Adam Rippon
Sep 9, 2020
15: The Debut Dilemma
Being a debut novelist is tough! Writers today can't just write a good book anymore. They have to have certain marketing skills, an amazing social media presence, the ability to travel as far they can to bookstores and schools...and on and on! Jill and Michael chat about debut books they love, debuts they hated, and why it's important to celebrate new voices!
FEATURING:
The Dearly Beloved (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781982104528)
The Golden State (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781250238115)
Conjure Women (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525511489)
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781524743444)
The Water Dancer (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399590597)
The Joy Luck Club (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780143038092)
The Time Traveler's Wife (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781476764832)
Looking for Alaska (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780142402511)
Aug 26, 2020
14: Back to School With B**K It!
School sucks, we know. (Blink-182 anyone?) ESPECIALLY this year, back-to-school has been an incredibly difficult thing for teachers, parents, and students alike. Michael and Jill reflect on their experiences with required reading growing up, books they read in school that stayed with them, and books we can say goodbye to. PLUS: Skip the saccharine! Jill has back-to-school picture book recommendations that won't make you and your family cringe!
Aug 12, 2020
13: What We're Reading Now
Spoiler alert: This quarantine has been a bummer. As booksellers and book people, one of the major bummers for us isn't getting to talk with customers and the community about upcoming books we can't wait for everyone to read. In this episode, Michael and Jill chat about books that were published this summer or are coming out this fall to help everyone build their TBR piles with brand-new titles!
Featuring:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781338635171)
Seven Clues to Home (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780593119617)
Clap When You Land (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780062882769)
Summer at Meadow Wood (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780062795458)
The Nerviest Girl in the World (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780375870385)
Before the Ever After (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399545436)
Dress Coded (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781984816436)
Jul 29, 2020
12: Pet Peeves
What we love, what we hate, what we love to hate and hate to love...Michael and Jill chat all things pet peeves in books and publishing! PLUS: Michael updates us on his Twilight reread, including Edward being creepy and Bella thinking it's romantic.
Order any of the books you hear about at our website: https://shop.bluemanatee.org/
Jul 15, 2020
11: Expectations vs. Reality
When a book is coming out that's been hyped by the publisher, is it our fault or theirs when it doesn't meet our expectations? Michael and Jill talk about their reading habits, book hype, and the boring saga that is Twilight!
Jul 1, 2020
10: In Conversation With Jacqueline Woodson
Multi-award-winning novelist Jacqueline Woodson has made a career out of writing books for all ages. Whether it's a picture book or a book for adults, her writing offers readers truth and hope. Michael and Jill chat with Woodson about how she navigates writing for every age group, what it's felt like to have her books banned, and gave us the inside scoop about Trevor Noah, Seth Meyers, and Gayle King!
Featuring:
Each Kindness (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399246524)
The Day You Begin (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399246531)
Harbor Me (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399252525)
Before the Ever After (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399545436)
If You Come Softly (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525515487)
Brown Girl Dreaming (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780399252518)
Another Brooklyn (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780062359995)
Red at the Bone (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780525535270)
Jun 17, 2020
9: Generational Moments with Deborah Wiles
Jill and Michael chat with author Deborah Wiles about her newest novel-in-verse "Kent State" and the importance of remembering, honoring, but never repeating.
Featuring:
Kent State (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781338356281)
Love, Ruby Lavender (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780152054786)
Each Little Bird That Sings (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780152056575)
Jun 3, 2020
8: Friendship Feelings with Gillian McDunn
We chat toxic friendship with author Gillian McDunn (https://www.gillianmcdunn.com/) !
Featuring:
The Queen Bee and Me (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781681197517)
Caterpillar Summer (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9781681197432)
A Separate Peace (https://shop.bluemanatee.org/book/9780743253970)
May 20, 2020
7: Episode 7: Vacation Reads
We chat our favorite Vacation reads!
May 6, 2020
6: Episode 6: Making Sunshine with Renée Watson
New York Times best selling author Renée Watson wants to help children find the sunshine in their lives, and to help them create sunshine for themselves when they need it most. We spoke with Renée about her new chapter book Ways to Make Sunshine, her love for Ramona Quimby, and what it felt like win the Coretta Scott King Award and to receive the Newbery Honor!
Apr 29, 2020
5: Episode 5: Where in the World Are All the School Libraries? Part II
In Part II of our school libraries episode, Jill and Michael chat with high school English teacher Margie. Margie's school does not have a library, and many of her students are English language learners, which makes finding appropriate reading material even more complicated.
Apr 22, 2020
4: Episode 4: Where in the World Are All the School Libraries? Part I
The school library system is in trouble, and not enough people are talking about it! But educators are to the rescue! Michael and Jill interview a first-grade teacher about her experience with the school library system and how she encourages her children to read. Part I in a two-part series.
Apr 6, 2020
3: Episode 3: Comfort in the Quarantine
From disbelief to panic and everything in between, Michael and Jill share their pandemic fears, and offer some book recommendations that have brought them some comfort!
Mar 17, 2020
2: Episode 2: Book or Movie?
The good, the bad, the so bad they're good...episode 2 finds Jill and Michael talking all things book adaptations! From Harry Potter to Bridget Jones, A Wrinkle in Time to Fifty Shades of Grey, we chat our faves, our least faves, and everything in between!
Mar 11, 2020
1: Episode 1: Welcome to B**k It!
In the first episode of B**k It!, Jill and Michael talk books that make them, books that break them, and Timothee Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name.