This week, BFL and Derek read a musician’s memoir, Just Kids by Patti Smith, which is famously referenced in The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift. They start off the episode by discussing BFL’s relationship struggles (?!?!), then they open up about the conceit of being an artist, before reacting to some scornful Goodreads reviews of their new favourite book. It’s a special episode.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

04:21 Why this book?

31:40 XYZ question

46:43 Artist’s conceit

55:20 Goodreads reviews

[Split into spoiler-free and spoiler sections] In LP’s first ever TV club, Derek and Fung-Ling dissect the TV show that everybody is talking about, Severance, created by Dan Erickson. They talk about the show’s pacing, themes, acting, set design, and plot, while relating it to their own experiences working in corporate jobs. This episode is about Season 1.

Chapters

00:00 Music

02:14 Synopsis

02:38 Showrunner bio

14:30 Corporate satire

32:55 Spoiler

51:40 IMDB reviews

LP sits down with Kwame, a friend from FBi Radio, and discuss Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. HP Lovecraft advanced the comic horror genre, but also left some racist and terrible impact on literature. Does this new take on 1950s America subvert Lovecraftian racism? Join Fung-Ling, Derek, and Kwame in their very nerdy discussion.

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Find Kwame @kwameslusher

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:02 Guest bio

06:25 Synopsis

22:50 Structure

36:00 XYZ question

54:52 If I was the writer…

01:00:10 Goodreads

01:10:31 Outro

In this casual episode, LP takes a break from book clubs and reminisce on an author who has a special place in many people’s hearts, John Green. BFL and Derek dive into his novels, podcasts, educational videos and philanthropic work, after they give an update on their chaotic writing life.

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chapters

00:00 Intro

00:11 Writing update

09:50 John Green's work and influence

19:17 JG work we have consumed

28:00 JG fiction formula

31:40 Crash Course

50:05 JG’s general life advice

In line with LP’s new branding as the BEST book podcast for writers, Derek and BFL discuss The Art of the Novel by the patron saint of literary wankers, Czech-French author Milan Kundera. He has had an enormous impact on BFL’s writing, and maybe even transmitted parts of himself to her, oh my god. Meanwhile, Derek has a love hate relationship with this book, and shares his delightful meta spirals. Chat, you’re welcome.

BFL’s piece link here

Support LP link here

00:00 Intro

00:51 Table of contents

04:46 Why this book?

09:06 Five Words or Less

11:05 Synopsis and Author Bio

16:19 The XYZ question BFL

33:30 The XYZ question Derek

41:55 Recommend to whom?

51:40 Roadmap: chapters of thebook

01:00:59 Takeaways from the book

01:05:24 Goodreads Reviews

01:10:00 Outro

Derek’s best friend and ex-landlord Jeremy recommended The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu, the translator of The Three Body Problem, so of course LP had to read it. What did they think? Who, if anyone, would they recommend it to? Finally, they also react to some truly unhinged Goodreads reviews. PS, please, Ken, I want to be your friend.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

09:18 Five word summary

26:03 About the author

35:21 The XYZ question

01:10:34 Recommend?

01:16:56 Spoilers!

01:26:59 Goodreads reviews

01:45:02 Outro

Sound expert Ivy Xu joins BFL for a book club episode on The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Previously, Ivy collaborated with LP on ‘A Literary Podcast Origin Story’ for All The Best podcast by FBi Radio, and she brings her experience in video game audio to her book club insights. BFL has read this book before, does she still love it on the second read? Disclaimer: this episode was recorded in December 2024 - sorry for the clickbait :D

Find Ivy here

Support LP here

Chapters

00:00 Music

01:07 Ivy intro

04:18 Blurb

06:31 Neil Gaiman’s other work

11:30 Five-word summary

15:16 Spoiler Free

26:24 Who would you recommend this book to?

29:06 Spoilers from now!

31:33 Author’s goal

46:19 Jack Ma lmao

51:35 Criticism

01:15:01 Outro

Discussing wanker aesthetics and toxic soft boys, LP opens the first episode of 2025 by firmly positioning the itself as the book podcast for writers. BFL followed up on end-of-year promises to read Nick Hornby and Murakami, whereas Derek shares his love for music references in literature. Then, both are very outraged by reviews attacking their favourite books on Goodreads.

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00:00 Music

01:58 Remote Recording Setup

04:36 Table of Contents

05:34 Barnes and Noble and other DC bookshops

09:43 Librarie Avant-Garde in Nanjing, China

12:25 RU: Sputnik Sweetheart

21:27 RU: Set My Heart on Fire by Izumi Suzuki

29:03 RU: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

42:56 RU: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Hartman

47:19 Funny One Star Reviews on Goodreads

49:30 Whiny Wanker in High Fidelity

56:16 Ready Player One and Two

01:05:36 Piranesi

01:11:35 Area X Series by Jeff VanderMeer

01:17:21 Interlude Eslite Bookshop in Hong Kong

01:20:19 Die Orwell Die

01:25:41 The Vegetarian

01:34:29 Conclusion

01:36:32 Blooper