Hot Girls Read Podcast

Ayesha

A few reading updates to share for you this week! I stayed up Tuesday night to finish Lonesome Dove and it was very much worth it! I won’t go so far as to say that it’s one of my favorites but it was certainly a sweet read about friendship and adventure. It does take some time and it was very much worth it!

Another book I read recently was a proof I received from a publisher. I’m not going to disclose details like the title and author because I didn’t really like the story. It’s upsetting for different reasons. For one, I went in and was really enjoying the unique world and magic (hint: it was a fantasy read). The downside: the female character was extremely annoying. Now, I know if you’ve been listening to our episodes, we are no fans of the quintessential annoying female character and it’s because it does a massive disservice. I think it’s one thing if they are younger and you can put it down to their lack of experience. However, if I must read about an older FMC, she cannot be childish, bratty, and simply lacking in logic. Other reasons I didn’t like the book include the story in an odd direction. Maybe it’s because I’m working on a client’s manuscript that I’m very much in editor mode, but this plot missed some good opportunities.

My final reading update is that I just started The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs. I’m only 2 chapters in but I am keen for a fun fantasy (can’t you tell?).

Julia

I’ve been thinking about the Brambly Hedge universe recently, a children’s book world filled with the most comforting and cozy illustrations of woodland creatures going on picnics, taking their tea, and just living in a harmonious community in the English countryside. Basically, Brambly Hedge sounds like heaven to me. And then it got me thinking about how I’ve always loved bookworlds revolving around woodland creatures, including the Beatrice Potter books, Winnie the Pooh, La famille souris, Frog and Toad, and of course, Redwall. 

Every year when I go to my parents house for Christmas, I like to re-read an old childhood favourite, and this past Christmas, my book of choice was one of the Redwall books by Brian Jaques. The Redwall universe is vast and complex, filled with evil rats and ferrets, brave mice, hares, otters and all kinds of other creatures, slavery, war, but also friendship, community, and lots of delicious food at the coziest (imagined)  place on earth: Redwall Abbey. I had read pretty much all the Redwall books between the ages of 10-15, and now, over a decade later, I remain just as impressed by the books as I was when I was a kid. They have the perfect mix of questing, destiny, battle, and woodland coziness – clearly, I have never grown out of my Brambly Hedge phase. 

All that to say, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the Capitalist system, or have a case of the winter blues, I highly recommend picking up any of the woodland creature books mentioned here for a much needed dose of cozy comfort.