Solutions and Other Problems Episode

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Would you feel more comfortable on an improv stage or canoeing in the backcountry? [00:00:06] Speaker B: Find out which Book Interrupted member you're. [00:00:08] Speaker A: Most like by visiting www.bookinterrupted.com members. [00:00:16] Speaker B: Parental guidance is recommended because this episode has mature topics and strong language. Here are some moments you can look forward to during this episode of Book Interrupted. [00:00:28] Speaker C: Right. [00:00:28] Speaker A: They wake up and there's poo all over the house. And they're just like, where did it come from? [00:00:33] Speaker C: Yes. The faces that are made in this book, I think are hilarious. [00:00:40] Speaker D: Don't like the Office? I don't like anything where it's like, that kind of awkward humor. So I don't know. [00:00:45] Speaker B: This seems a bit sketchy. [00:00:48] Speaker A: Like, I don't know. [00:00:49] Speaker B: This is not awkward. This is like, oh, sick serial killer is. [00:00:53] Speaker A: Her sister died. I'm gonna cry now. I'm such a crier. [00:00:59] Speaker C: Right? It's a loneliness epidemic is upon us. [00:01:03] Speaker D: And that picture you showed me is totally creepy. Like, I would have a nightmare about that face. No, I didn't. But, like. [00:01:09] Speaker A: Because that's intimacy. Buckaroos. [00:01:19] Speaker C: Try to learn something new without it. Mind, body, and sound. Information is the cloud trying to learn something new without being disrupted. Mind, body, and soul. Inspiration is the time, and we're gonna talk it out. Book Interrupted. [00:01:48] Speaker B: Welcome to Book Interrupted, a book club for busy people to connect and one that celebrates life's interruptions. During this book cycle, we're reading Meredith's book, Pick Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh. This graphic novel includes humorous stories from Allie Brosh's childhood, the adventures of her very bad animals, merciless dissection of her own character flaws, incisive essays on grief, loneliness, and powerlessness, as well as reflections on the absurdity of modern life. Let's listen in to this episode's group discussion. [00:02:25] Speaker C: I also have the bookmark. [00:02:27] Speaker A: Excellent. From the library? [00:02:29] Speaker C: Yes. Which library did you get yours from? [00:02:32] Speaker A: My home library. Had it. So Prince George. [00:02:35] Speaker C: Oh, cool. I got it from Houston, British Columbia. Olivia. [00:02:40] Speaker A: Nice. [00:02:40] Speaker C: Whoa. [00:02:41] Speaker A: You can see on mine, it says staff pick kin. So it was on one of those with a shelf that has the staff picks, and they have a whole bunch of books. And this is why I picked up this book in the first place. [00:02:52] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:02:53] Speaker A: I was like, what is this book? And it looks from the outside like kind of like it might be a kid's book, but it's not. Is something important to say. But I should introduce the book before we start. [00:03:03] Speaker B: Yes, please. Yeah. [00:03:04] Speaker A: So, hi, this is Meredith. This month we're doing my Book pick called Solutions and Other Problems by Ali Brush. Here we go. It's a graphic novel, but it's not like your classic graphic novel. I mean there's a lot of pictures, but also has like huge sections of writing in between the pictures as well. That makes this a really heavy book because it's thick but because of all the color bank, it's so heavy. Does anybody else find that? [00:03:30] Speaker C: I didn't realize that's why it's so heavy. Wow. I did not know that when I first picked up the book. I thought it was going to be way smaller. And then I saw that and I was like, how are we going to finish that? I thought it was a really nice read. [00:03:45] Speaker B: Very quick. [00:03:46] Speaker A: Yeah. This book is hilarious. [00:03:48] Speaker C: Yes. Yeah. It was so cute. I read Lindsay's book pick before I read this one and I felt this was such a nice, light hearted, easy read after such a hard read, you know? [00:04:01] Speaker A: Indeed. [00:04:02] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:02] Speaker A: Yeah. There's definitely like laugh out loud. When I'm reading the book, I find myself stopping and like just reading parts out loud to my family. Especially like the dog parts where all the dogs are doing. We're like, there's the chapter where the snow blankets the landscape and we wake up and there's just poo everywhere or whatever. Like. Or. Right. They wake up and there's poo all over the house and they're just like, where did it come from? [00:04:28] Speaker C: Yes. And it happened over, you know what? From having a dog who likes to eat poo. Other animal poo. I felt like I knew it was one of the dogs right away. Had to be. [00:04:39] Speaker A: Right. Me too. I was like, it was one of. [00:04:41] Speaker B: The dogs for sure. How did horse poo get in your house? [00:04:45] Speaker C: Horse all over too. [00:04:48] Speaker A: Just all over. [00:04:50] Speaker C: Yeah. I like that. The reason was the dog was on a diet and was not happy about it. [00:04:57] Speaker A: Just like went and found a different. Totally. Yeah. [00:05:00] Speaker C: Like it was just upset. It wasn't getting enough food, I guess. [00:05:04] Speaker B: No, that happened. [00:05:05] Speaker A: We. [00:05:05] Speaker B: The vet put my. I had a little chihuahua and they said you should put it on like losing weight food. And she started going crazy too, like eating random stuff. And I was like, you know what? [00:05:17] Speaker A: Not worth it. [00:05:18] Speaker B: She could just be. [00:05:19] Speaker A: She could just be fat. Right. [00:05:22] Speaker B: I'll just walk her more or something. Like that's just weird. Like she would just be eating random things. [00:05:28] Speaker D: Like she was starving. [00:05:29] Speaker B: Like we'd go for walks and you just like eat like pine cones. Anything she could get. [00:05:33] Speaker A: I was like, okay. [00:05:34] Speaker B: No. [00:05:35] Speaker C: Oh no. Hey. [00:05:36] Speaker B: This is. This is weird. She's Hungry. [00:05:38] Speaker A: You're like, this is going to cause a health problem. Right. We're not solving a health problem at this point. Hungry. Right. [00:05:45] Speaker C: We're causing eating disorders. Like, let's be for real, right? [00:05:49] Speaker A: Let's be for real, right? [00:05:51] Speaker C: Yeah. Oh, my God. So, Sarah, you almost had a horse poo eating pup on a diet too. [00:05:59] Speaker B: Yeah. Although she was a little Chihuahua, so. [00:06:01] Speaker C: It would be really weird. [00:06:03] Speaker A: But the point is, if there was a doggie door, she would have escaped and eaten random stuff. And who knows, right? If she would have brought it in. [00:06:10] Speaker C: Mm. Goose poo. [00:06:12] Speaker B: She ate the poo from the cat's kitty litter. I was like, okay. [00:06:16] Speaker C: I do. Dogs love that. Dogs love that. It's so sick to me. Yeah. I mean, anyways, eating poo in general is sick to me, so I can't relate on a species level. You know, I love how, like, it. [00:06:31] Speaker A: Had to be said. Just for the record, just for the. [00:06:35] Speaker C: I'm putting it out there. I don't want that. [00:06:37] Speaker A: You don't have to wonder. Yeah. [00:06:39] Speaker C: None of us here are into what the dogs are into. Yeah. [00:06:43] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:06:44] Speaker B: And how about the one where the dog had that disease, which was sad. And that Pile dog. Pile dog and that. They decided to shave it, thinking that would be better. And then had to put that little sweater and that. And that repair. The AC repairman came and was like, what is that? And they're like, no, it's a dog. [00:07:03] Speaker C: And like, what is it? [00:07:04] Speaker B: No, seriously, what animal is that? [00:07:06] Speaker A: It's a shark. You don't ask that if you're not sure. [00:07:10] Speaker C: You don't ask if you're not sure. [00:07:13] Speaker A: Like, you've got to be really not sure that it's something you've never seen before. [00:07:17] Speaker B: I laugh out loud at that part. [00:07:19] Speaker C: One of my favorite chapters. One of the first ones. It might have even been the second one. Yes. Richard, when he is, like, stalking and breaking and entering. [00:07:32] Speaker A: She's breaking into her neighbor's house. [00:07:34] Speaker C: Yes. Oh, my God. And I thought, it's just as a small child. As a small child hanging out with Richard. And my favorite thing is. And I'll pull up the page because I just. The faces that are made in this book, I think are hilarious. [00:07:51] Speaker B: The drawings are good. Yeah. [00:07:53] Speaker C: Yes. Like, I just love right here. Right here, this face. And then immediately when she finds out that other people live in houses, the faces in this one are so funny to me. And it's just the neighbor had no idea. [00:08:08] Speaker A: No idea. [00:08:09] Speaker C: Could you imagine a kid sneaking into your house? [00:08:12] Speaker B: She's sneaking. [00:08:13] Speaker A: She's leaving gifts and stealing stuff. She took the cat. The cat. Yes, yes. [00:08:20] Speaker C: It's so funny. And then it's like just staring out the window. [00:08:26] Speaker A: Richard, you're just staring at Mookie, waiting for him to come in and out. [00:08:31] Speaker C: Yes, I am. [00:08:32] Speaker A: For Richard. [00:08:32] Speaker C: You. [00:08:33] Speaker B: Yeah, I laughed out loud. [00:08:34] Speaker C: Oh, this was such a funny chapter to me. [00:08:37] Speaker B: Or the note she left because she can't really write anything. [00:08:39] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:08:40] Speaker C: Like how cute it was just like. [00:08:42] Speaker B: A whole bunch of letters and numbers, the entire Alphabet. [00:08:45] Speaker C: And then mom, she wrote something in the beginning of the chapter saying like. Because I think she was three, the only way she knew how to find people was people coming to her house. That I just think is so cute. Like a little kid finding out that there are other people existing outside of your house. That is just so cute. And I totally remember being a little kid and finding out that other people are living their lives outside of mine and being so confused by it. So, yeah, I really. The chapter called Richard was seriously one of my favorites. I loved it from start to finish. [00:09:24] Speaker B: Could you imagine as her parents being like, why is my 3 year old hanging out with a single man next door? Like, what the hell? [00:09:32] Speaker A: He's definitely a predator. Is like, what? I don't know what they're. She talking about. Sure you don't. [00:09:36] Speaker B: And him being like, I don't know. Right. Like, he's like, he's never been in my house. And she's like, I know where everything is in his house. And he's like, I've never had her in my house. I swear. [00:09:46] Speaker A: She's watching him sleep. [00:09:47] Speaker C: Yes. And just all the drawer, just with all his trinkets and stuff. Like, you would have to think that something. [00:09:53] Speaker A: And the cat. [00:09:55] Speaker C: The cat, like, like, they have to. [00:09:58] Speaker A: Know that because the cats in there. He did not give a cat as a special gift. She took it, I guess. [00:10:03] Speaker C: And there's like a picture of the cat finally going home. That's how it ends the chapter. And it's so funny to me. Like, the cat's like, what is happening? So, yeah. This was seriously such a good book, Mare. I absolutely loved this book. Told my nephews when they come and visit that we're going to. Do you rent from the library? I don't know. [00:10:27] Speaker B: We're going to borrow. [00:10:27] Speaker C: We're going to. Yes, we're going to reborrow and read it together. Because it's just. It's so funny. It's really cute and I feel like it's something. They're 9 and 11. And I feel like it's also some stuff in here. Like just some weird things I feel like they can relate to. [00:10:43] Speaker A: Totally. My 9 year old wanted to read this book. She's an avid reader. And then I was like, I think there might be stuff that might be adulty in here. As I went ahead and I was like, maybe don't read the chapter called like the Ultimate Plan. And it's like where she takes a whole bunch of drugs. [00:11:03] Speaker C: Fair enough. [00:11:03] Speaker A: The one that's really dark. Just skip over that. And like, you know what? To my kids credit, she was just like, okay, you're going to call it the ultimate plan. Because she like wants to become stronger. She's like, I need something more extreme that's going to happen faster. [00:11:17] Speaker C: Like I need results today. [00:11:19] Speaker A: I need results now. I love what she said before. She's like, I don't know why I'm in the middle of nowhere. And then when the drugs kick in and she's like, but there's a lot of trees over there. She didn't know why she was there. She's trying to get home. [00:11:32] Speaker C: I think each chapter is so. Has so much relatable content in it. Not that I've done drugs, have been like, oh my God, like where am I? Type of thing. But I've had friends who are kind of like that say their experience is similar to that. So reading it, I'm like, I've experienced this through someone, you know. [00:11:51] Speaker A: Yeah. I really like her. Revenge on the hammering neighborhood. [00:11:56] Speaker C: Yes. [00:11:56] Speaker A: Is this revenge? And his wife's like, how would that make sense? She's like, I don't know. [00:12:01] Speaker C: I don't know. [00:12:02] Speaker B: I know. She leaves a stick and he like removes a stick and she puts the. [00:12:06] Speaker A: Stick back in the exact same months. [00:12:09] Speaker B: And then she removes it and puts a banana. Like it's just like so great. [00:12:14] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:12:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:15] Speaker C: But it also kind of like brings back to when she was a child, like leaving presents for her neighbor. It's kind of leaving like these presents to stop. Yeah. So it's. Yeah. I like how it tied into some of the earlier chapters too. [00:12:35] Speaker B: The hammering one though, I think that was my favorite for the drawings because she made him like crazy. Like hammering in space and hammering for the sake of hammering. And I'm gonna hammer everything all morning, all night. [00:12:47] Speaker A: He's gotta be stopped. Crazy. And so it is true. [00:12:51] Speaker B: Sometimes you feel like that. [00:12:52] Speaker A: Like sometimes. [00:12:52] Speaker B: Sometimes with your neighbors you're like, are you kidding? Can we like other people live here? Can we just be a little bit considerate? [00:12:59] Speaker A: Of other people? No. [00:13:00] Speaker B: Okay. [00:13:01] Speaker C: Hammer day and night, think of other people. Seriously. [00:13:04] Speaker A: The hammering guy came up in conversation in our house today because. Because we just got back from vacation and so our lawn is really long and my husband's going to go mow it and he's like, oh, I'm just going to wait till 8. I was like, is this because of the hammering guy? [00:13:18] Speaker C: He's like, oh, maybe he's like, subconsciously. [00:13:25] Speaker A: Yeah. Like at least eight before you move the lawn. Yeah, totally. [00:13:29] Speaker C: Wow, that reminds me on. I'm part of like a bunch of local Facebook groups here, and there's always someone asking like, oh, I just moved here when's okay to do yard work? And there's always someone that's like, oh, as soon as you're up. Like, if you're up at 4 or 5 in the morning, that's the only time you have do it. [00:13:48] Speaker A: Really? You're like, what? No. [00:13:51] Speaker C: According to no other. Yeah. I'm like, you have no other time and you're a whole day. Except for four or five in the morning. Be so for real. [00:13:59] Speaker A: Totally. [00:14:00] Speaker B: You should start a group on the local group that just being like, listen, I have a revenge. You could be the people that leave the sticks and the people who do. [00:14:08] Speaker A: The four in the morning things. [00:14:10] Speaker C: Oh, my God, that would be hilarious. Yeah. Oh, my God, that would be awesome. [00:14:20] Speaker A: Right? So as I said, I kind of stumbled upon this book because it was recommended by a staff member at my library. And how I read the book was like, basically out loud to my family being, like, reading it, but, like, I'm gonna read this to you. But then I also read her other book in a similar fashion. So this is her second book, and her first one's called Hyperbole and a Half. And it's also hilarious. Although this one has like that serious part where her sister dies and also her health problems that were happening during her book tour. The first book. And you're like, holy. I have to admit, I cried during the whole sister chapter. [00:14:58] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:14:59] Speaker A: But like, the way that she summarized their relationship as children, all the different scenes of what they were doing. And looking at this, I'm like, that's what kids do. I can look at my two girls and they do all of those things. One builds a sandcastle, the other one breaks a sand castle and. Or whatever, they're looking at a bug or they're doing whatever they're doing. Anyway, I thought it was a very interesting way to maybe honor her sister that she was missing. There was a sad part where she's like, I thought I'd have time to, like, work out our relationship. We had a weird relationship and I didn't have time and I didn't know. So that part kind of hit me by a surprise the first time I read it. [00:15:36] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Did you read that out to your family? That part? [00:15:41] Speaker A: I can't read things like that out loud because I cry. [00:15:44] Speaker C: Oh, no. Fair enough. Yeah. [00:15:49] Speaker A: What happened? Her sister died. I'm gonna cry now. I'm such a crier because the. All the stories are so hilarious. You're like, how does she think of these things? And the way she words it is just so hilarious. But then she's like, okay, here comes the serious part. And there's no way of stopping it. It's coming a couple series, really serious things that happen. [00:16:13] Speaker C: So in the first book, is it also a graphic novel? [00:16:17] Speaker A: Yeah, it's like the same type of book. And like, she looks the same. Yeah, Like, I mean, like her drawing of herself. [00:16:23] Speaker C: Her little pony. [00:16:24] Speaker B: Yeah, she looks kind of like a alien or something. Like she feels like so different from everyone else, but everyone else is like regular people. [00:16:32] Speaker A: Their sister. I think she started off as like a blog and then she ended up making a book. Her first book. Right. So it's. I think it was started off as little stories. If you read the first book, there's an awesome story in there about her mom taking her and her sister out into like the woods and getting along. I mean, they obviously live. So anyway, just hilarious the way she puts it clearly, because, like, the mom doesn't want to tell them or whatever. Like, why wouldn't she let us go home or whatever. [00:16:59] Speaker D: Anyway, hi, everybody. I just joined. [00:17:03] Speaker A: Hi, Lindsay. [00:17:04] Speaker C: Hi. [00:17:04] Speaker D: Please talk about the book. Yeah, great. [00:17:07] Speaker B: Okay, so I want to add something just quickly before, because I didn't say this before, so I thought there was many laugh out loud moments in the book. Like, there's a couple other ones that we didn't mention. But the ones you've mentioned are the ones I wrote so far, other than we'll talk about the guy from the grocery store. Because that was hilarious for me. The knitting, the other stories. Some of it was just too weird for me. Like, some of her stories were just like, really too weird. Like, I was just trying to get through, like, when she was becoming her own best friend. Like, I was like, this is weird now. So some of the parts were too weird for me. But the stories that we already talked about, and then also about how she was doing that guided meditation about loving kindness and they're like, pick someone you don't really know. And she created this whole backstory about this guy at the grocery store and then was embarrassed every time she saw him because he was a knitter. Like, it was just like, I thought that I laughed out loud. The stories that were funny, like the poop, the ones we already mentioned, the Richard, the hammering. What else did I put? The weird animal sweater. Like, all those things I was laughing out loud. But the ones in between, some of them are just really too weird for me. And I was just like, ugh. Trying to get through the stories that were too bizarre. Like, I was like, this is not hitting with me. I like awkward comedy. But some of it was not awkward. It was more unusual. I just wanted to say that because. Because you mentioned all the stories I love. So I was like, yes, I love that one. Oh, I love that one. But I was like. I just should add, there are ones that I was like, ugh. Anyway, Lindsay, what did you think of the book? [00:18:40] Speaker D: I love you, Meredith. This is how I started. Sarah's one was not my favorite book. I just can't. I don't know. I am really not a graphic novel person. I try. I got yay far. And then I flipped and, like, read some things at the back, and then I read some in the middle. And then I was trying to, like, find something that I connected to. I do not like awkward humor at all. Like, I really, really, really don't. [00:19:04] Speaker A: I know you don't. Then that would not be for you. If you don't like awkward humor. You would just be like, I can't. [00:19:10] Speaker D: So everything felt awkward. [00:19:12] Speaker A: The whole thing's awkward. She's awkward. [00:19:15] Speaker C: Totally. Totally. [00:19:16] Speaker D: I don't like it at all. I don't like the office. I don't like anything where it's like, that kind of awkward. Hu. So I started. I tried. I just. I also have a hard time. For me, I think the way my brain works, I look at the pictures and then I read and then I'm, like, trying to connect them all. Like, my brain when I'm reading this doesn't seem like. I think maybe if I read more graphic novels, I get into it a bit more. But I just felt it was really disjointed and the stories didn't really connect me. And I don't remember laughing at all in the whole thing. The ones that I read. So sorry. I just found it awkward. And like, there was like, a dog at one point that he should talk for a very long time. [00:19:56] Speaker A: There's Lots of dogs. [00:19:57] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:19:58] Speaker A: Lots of animal stories in this book. [00:20:01] Speaker D: But I did read it a long time ago. Sorry. I did start reading it forever ago because I was like, I have to read this to make sure that I'm done. [00:20:08] Speaker A: I love when you don't read the book and you're like, I have to do it. I have to. And you're like, I can't do it. I just can't. [00:20:15] Speaker D: Well, it's hard when you're really busy. I've said this before too. And you don't really like a book. It's hard to commit to it. And then for me, like, so many times in my life, I have read part of a book and put it down because I'm like, I don't want to. I have so little spare time that I would like to devote it to something that I enjoy doing. [00:20:34] Speaker A: So this is why book clubs in general can be difficult. Because, like, I have this book club. [00:20:41] Speaker B: Yes. [00:20:41] Speaker A: And I have like another book club. [00:20:43] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:20:43] Speaker A: And sometimes if I'm busy, it's all I can do to read those two books. You know what I mean? The book club books. But then I have all these other books that I like. We go to the library twice a week and I have. Every time I'm there, I'm like, ooh, that book. And I try to get through these books and some of them are very good and I sometimes finish them or I don't. But you're right. Like when you're busy, you're like, well, you have the books that you feel obligated to read. [00:21:07] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:21:07] Speaker A: And the ones that you actually. They fill your bucket. [00:21:10] Speaker D: Yeah, exactly. And I just, I don't have. I just finished my big exams. Like, I have been so, so full. Like every minute of my time. I would get up early and study. I would work nine or 10 hours. I would come home and study. So when I was doing other things that were just for me, I was like, it's just not my thing. Like, I gave it a good go and it's just not. Unless you guys make me read another graphic novel, will I ever pick one up again. [00:21:35] Speaker A: This is very interesting because my mom really hates awkward humor as well. She's a fairly easy going lady, but if you show her awkward humor, she's just like, she hates it. [00:21:45] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:21:46] Speaker A: Capital H. Right. I should try to get her to read some of this to see how she reacts. [00:21:51] Speaker D: See if she would like it. [00:21:52] Speaker B: She won't. I don't think she will. You know why? Because also, mom is a speed reader. [00:21:57] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:21:57] Speaker B: And Lindsay, you skim too. [00:21:59] Speaker D: Yeah, I do. [00:22:00] Speaker B: So I think graphic novels are. Because graphic novel. This one was easier for me because it had so much writing in it. I actually enjoyed this graphic novel more than I have the other ones. The other one we did because there was more writing in it because I need more texts to give myself. And then I look back at the pictures. But I'm not a speed reader. Like, I read every sentence. [00:22:24] Speaker C: Me too. [00:22:25] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:22:25] Speaker B: I don't know. I know. And my mom is like, you, Lindsay, where she speed reads through a book. She could read a book in a day. So she would hate a graphic novel. She would just hate it. And then the awkward humor on top of that mare. There's no way. She would be like, I don't even know what that was about. And there's lots of really weird parts. And she'd be like, I don't understand. And then the parts with drugs and stuff, she'd be like, she would not. [00:22:47] Speaker A: She would put it down. [00:22:48] Speaker B: Yeah. She would just. It was not her book. [00:22:51] Speaker A: And then when it got to the, like, the health problems and Mr. Dying and Stuff, then she would have been like, it was so depressing. You know, if anything bad happens in a book, she's like, that book was so depressing. And I was like, well, yeah, most books have a conflict in them, right? So it is hard. [00:23:06] Speaker D: She likes, like, murder mysteries. [00:23:09] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:23:09] Speaker A: That's the conflict. She's okay with people being strangled or stabbed as the conflict. Totally. [00:23:15] Speaker B: If they die, fine. [00:23:16] Speaker C: It has to be a really painful death from someone else. [00:23:20] Speaker A: That's why she likes it, because it doesn't seem realistic to her, like some psycho. It's not like something would happen to her life or family is how she. You know what I mean? But all books have some conflict, right? So if any listener out there has a good recommendation for like, a really, actually uplifting without really depressing themes in it book, let us know. Because there's so many people who. That's all they want. They just want, like, an uplifting book that makes them feel good about life and they can escape and it's fine. Right? Yeah. [00:23:54] Speaker D: Me. [00:23:54] Speaker B: That would be me. [00:23:56] Speaker C: I really admire Lindsay. When you don't like a book, you're like, I'm not doing this. And I find myself so trapped. Even if I don't like a book, I'm like, no, no, no. You have to give it at least half the book. And then I'm halfway. So I'm like, whatever, just finish it. And I'm not enjoying the experience. At all. So I really admire when you come on and you're like, I did not like this book. I didn't finish reading it. I barely got through a couple chapters. And that's that. Like, I'm moving on. [00:24:26] Speaker A: I also, like, she preambles it with like, I love you and don't end our friendship, please, over a book by somebody that we have never met and may never will. [00:24:36] Speaker D: Hey, you guys hated my last book, so all of you. [00:24:39] Speaker A: Wait, did I hate your last book? [00:24:41] Speaker D: Yeah, the one about I was like a rom com. [00:24:47] Speaker C: Oh, I still tell people how much I hate that. [00:24:49] Speaker A: I feel like. I feel like I would have hated. I think I hated the book less than the movie, though. The movie. I was just like, oh, my God. [00:24:56] Speaker C: No, I couldn't even watch the movie. Just I saw the actors. [00:24:59] Speaker A: That was great. [00:24:59] Speaker C: Not happening. [00:25:01] Speaker A: Although I have a friend who loves. She's like. I said, hey, you should come on the podcast. She's like, no, I only read smutty novels. Or she's just not exactly a direct quote. But that's like, the summary of our conversation. I was like, you might like this book. And so I did recommend it to her. Oh, I don't know if she read it. I'm like, the unrealistic. You know, whatever. I was like, oh, you might like this, but, you know, there's an audience for any book. [00:25:25] Speaker C: Is there an audience for the Hating Game? [00:25:27] Speaker B: Yeah, there is. No. A big audience. [00:25:29] Speaker C: No, I'm just kidding. I'm just bugging. I know that book's, like, really loved. [00:25:33] Speaker B: It's one of our most watched episodes on YouTube because people search for the Hating Game like crazy. People love that movie. So people watch our video, I'm sure, until they have, and we're all like, we hate it. [00:25:43] Speaker A: And they're like, oh, oh, see, there you go. [00:25:47] Speaker C: I would love to see the analytics of that video when they. When they click out, like, as soon as we're all like, yeah, we don't. [00:25:55] Speaker B: Oh, they hated it. [00:25:56] Speaker C: And then they click out unsubscribe. I know, Totally. [00:26:01] Speaker A: I thought, you're gonna show hot pictures of the actors. [00:26:04] Speaker C: Yes, totally. Yeah. [00:26:07] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:26:08] Speaker B: But so for me, it's because joining this book club, Ashley, I was like, you. I never not finished a book. I just never did. I felt obligated if I started a book to finish it, to see, well, maybe it'll get better. Maybe it'll get better. And it's after we started the podcast that I was like, if I don't like a book, I'm Gonna stop reading because I have so many books to read. I've actually bailed on books since we started the podcast, and I never had done that before because we're together. [00:26:34] Speaker A: We've made this, like, culture in the podcast where everyone's like, hey, if you didn't read it, it's okay. And we're giving each other permission to be like, I usually finish all books as well, but there was a couple that I didn't finish. [00:26:47] Speaker D: You did. I was surprised there was something. [00:26:50] Speaker A: I was surprised. [00:26:51] Speaker C: There was one book that you barely talked on. And then I think, Lindsay, you had called it out. And then Mare was like, so I actually didn't read it, Lola. Oh, right. It was my book. [00:27:03] Speaker A: It was Marla. Okay. I have a confession to make, though. [00:27:07] Speaker C: Okay. [00:27:08] Speaker A: After the podcast, I did listen. Okay. Because you told me how I could get a free audiobook with my subscription, my music subscription, every month. I do use that now when I can't get a book or I'm waiting for an interlibrary loan. I might, like, speed listen things when I read a book. I can speed read, but I usually don't. I like to take my time when I'm, like, reading a book for pleasure. [00:27:36] Speaker C: Reading a sport. [00:27:37] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. [00:27:40] Speaker B: Oh, did you like this part? She's like, oh, I don't remember that. [00:27:42] Speaker A: I don't remember that. [00:27:43] Speaker B: Yeah, because you read it in four hours. That's why you don't remember that part. [00:27:47] Speaker C: You read a summary, basically. [00:27:50] Speaker A: But when I listen to audiobooks, I don't listen to any audiobooks. Usually on regular speed, it's usually at least one and a half. Two is too fast. [00:28:00] Speaker B: I do 125. I never do one and a half. [00:28:04] Speaker A: I even listen to. If I listen to our podcast, I listen to that on one and a half. And then when I listen to a regular speed, I'm like, oh, yeah, that's what we actually sound like. And it sounds like we have a lot of pauses, but I don't think we actually do. Like, I changed my brain. How I listen to things. [00:28:19] Speaker D: Well, both sisters talk very fast. [00:28:23] Speaker C: I appreciate that. Because I don't know if it's because of tick tock or just growing up with so much technology, but that's why I like listening to things on quicker speeds, because I find some people talk so slow. [00:28:38] Speaker A: And you're like, get to the point. Get to the point. [00:28:40] Speaker C: Yeah, I. I have no time. I do. Really. I was unemployed for four months. Like, I could have had the time. Didn't have the time, I guess. Don't speed up. So I appreciate the speed at which you guys speak. [00:28:54] Speaker A: Excellent. Very quickly. That's because in our house, if you ever take a breath, somebody interjects and you've lost your turn to speak. So you have to be like. You have to, like, speak as fast as you can without breathing or learn how to breathe while speaking. Like, in and out. Breathing in and out while talking. [00:29:12] Speaker C: I. [00:29:12] Speaker D: Since I started managing, I've learned a lot better to. To listen and, like, speak slower and try to, like, not interject and just let someone, as a manager, to, like, let them say their whole thing and then say my thing because they, you know, you're kind of a therapist when you're a manager, so. [00:29:32] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. Pretty much tell them what your problem is. [00:29:34] Speaker D: Yes. Okay. And then I listen. Instead of, like, trying to interject all the time. [00:29:38] Speaker C: I think let's troubleshoot this together. [00:29:41] Speaker D: Yeah, I learned to slow down a bit. [00:29:44] Speaker C: Yeah, that sounds like you have a really good managing style. When I'm the manager, sometimes I'll be. I can do it better than you. I'm doing it. Like, I just. Sometimes. But I've also. I've had. Yeah. I've also had to manage people at such an incompetent level where they probably should not have been with the company and was possibly just a Nepo hire. So I don't have time for that. Like, if your family brought you on and you can't do the job out of here, don't got the time. Yeah, I'm not listening to nothing. Like, that's. No, absolutely not. [00:30:23] Speaker A: It is hard, too, when you're, like, working with somebody, trying to teach somebody something, and you think they're probably just going to leave soon anyway, so I'm wasting my time. But your effort, your energy, it happens. [00:30:36] Speaker D: I'm sorry I came on here and now you guys have not talked about the book. [00:30:41] Speaker A: But we don't hate us because we loved the book. [00:30:46] Speaker C: I really liked the book one day. So I was saying earlier what I really like about the book. It is awkward. I love the awkward faces. There's. Yes. They're so funny to me. Even this one, when she's babysitting this child and the kid is running around those pictures, to me, this. [00:31:05] Speaker A: Terrified of dandelions. [00:31:07] Speaker C: That's so funny to me. Like, I was showing everyone. I was like, look at that. That's hilarious. No one else was laughing with me. [00:31:15] Speaker D: Okay, what page is that? [00:31:17] Speaker C: That's 135. [00:31:19] Speaker D: 135. [00:31:21] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:31:23] Speaker C: Like, I just love it. [00:31:25] Speaker B: She Was scared of dandelions. Yeah. [00:31:28] Speaker C: Funny. [00:31:29] Speaker A: It's one thing that she's scared of dandelion, but the fact that she makes the jump and wraps the kid in a towel, I was like, that's where things went wrong. You shouldn't whatever. Two or three year olds in the towel. [00:31:46] Speaker C: And also, I want to admit, going into this book, so I know it was by the author, Allie Brosh. I don't know why I thought the main character was male, even though in a gender typical way, they have a ponytail and a hot pink dress. I totally thought this was male. So when I was reading the chapter where the kid is continually asking them to go see their room, I was like, oh, yeah, I could totally understand why they don't want you. That's so inappropriate. Right? And then when they have to put, what is it, the blanket or whatever or the sweater over the child running around, I'm like, this person does so many damaging things as a male. And then I realize, I'm like, wait, this is totally a female. So anyways, I was under the impression this was male for the first few chapters, and I'm glad I figured it out. [00:32:41] Speaker A: It's interesting that it changes your perspective on the stories a little bit too, right? [00:32:46] Speaker C: Totally. Because at first I was like, this is kind of creepy in like an older man perspective. Anyways, I'm glad I corrected myself because it became funnier after that. And not to say that it couldn't have been funny if it was a man, but it does in society change a few. A few things. [00:33:08] Speaker B: You know what else was kind of weird? Talking about creepy? The creepiness when the sister and her best friend would do some, like, torturous, shady things to each other. She was just like, I just let them. They just really, like, put a bag on her head or something. It was just like, she loves it. She locked the other one in the closet. [00:33:28] Speaker C: Closet. [00:33:29] Speaker B: Like all this crazy. Yeah, she's like, she wants to be tortured. What? I don't know. This seems a bit sketchy. [00:33:37] Speaker A: Like, I don't know. [00:33:39] Speaker B: This is not awkward. This is like, oh, serial killer is like. [00:33:44] Speaker A: It's like weird that both of them were totally into it. That's why it's hilarious. She's like, this friendship is messed up, but she was kind of jealous of it. And she goes, because that's intimacy, buckaroos. Because they, like, totally get each other, right? But they're both completely crazy, doing crazy, weird things to each other. You know, psychopathic things to each other. [00:34:07] Speaker B: Like, it was weird. It was like oh, they were in, like, a hostage situation all the time with each other. [00:34:13] Speaker C: Like, it was a great deal. [00:34:14] Speaker B: It's like, at places that went sideways for me. [00:34:16] Speaker A: I'm like, this is too weird. Like, this is. [00:34:19] Speaker C: I don't know. Oh, so that was one of the chapters where you weren't into it. [00:34:23] Speaker A: You're just like, I don't know what these kids are doing. [00:34:26] Speaker D: I did read that. So I'm. I think I did flip through most of the book and read little bits here and there. But I agree, the pictures are weird to me. I know you liked the pictures, Ashley, but that. That picture you showed me is totally creepy. Like, I would have a nightmare about that face. No, I didn't. But, like, all of them true. [00:34:45] Speaker C: And it's. [00:34:46] Speaker D: Look at these creepy faces. [00:34:47] Speaker C: Like, they're all just creepy. I will give you that. [00:34:51] Speaker A: That kid. [00:34:52] Speaker C: Little kid. That was creepy vibes for sure. [00:34:55] Speaker A: Purposefully creepy, though, because, like, want to see my room? Like, no, they read that and I. [00:35:01] Speaker D: Know that's farther in. That's like page 357. So I just didn't read it linearly. Is that a word? [00:35:07] Speaker A: I think you don't have to. Which is nice. [00:35:10] Speaker C: Yeah. I think the only one where you probably should have. It's the one with the neighborhood girl where it's like, okay, now we're going to jump to another story. And then when you see this symbol, is that with the girl asking? [00:35:26] Speaker A: It is. [00:35:26] Speaker C: Yes. Okay. On page. Not all of the pages have numbers. Just so everyone listening. Here's. Okay, so on page 50, we're in the middle of the story about the neighborhood girl. She's a child asking the main character to continuously go to their house to see their bedroom. Yes. For whatever reason. And then you're like, right in the middle of the story. And then they go, and now we are going to pause the story and tell the rest of it later. And it gives you some symbols here to look for in the rest of the book. And I would say that is really the only one. I would say that, like, is worth reading before kind of the rest of the book. Just so you're not like in the rest of the book. And then you're like, what is this about? [00:36:11] Speaker A: What is this about? [00:36:13] Speaker D: Yeah, I think they're, like, jumping. That was confusing to me too, where I was like, oh, okay, well, now I gotta go here. And now I gotta, like, I. Yeah. [00:36:19] Speaker A: I don't think it's, like, out of line for the author to expect you to read the book in order, though, and maybe the whole book. All right, you're reading the book. [00:36:32] Speaker D: Okay, fine. [00:36:33] Speaker A: You win. [00:36:34] Speaker C: That's why I put it in chapter three. [00:36:36] Speaker A: This one had a lot of lot more, like, themes of, like, feeling alone and, yeah, unloved, even maybe by herself and trying to really find companionship and love and even finding that hard to give to herself. You know what I mean? So it was funny. But there's a lot of things too about, you know, how she even ended up alone anywhere where she's like, I didn't think I needed anything. And then I was alone and I realized, oh, I actually do need companionship. And now I'm all alone. Her sister is gone as well. [00:37:11] Speaker B: She broke up with her boyfriend. [00:37:12] Speaker A: Right. And she's, you know, not in a good place, maybe health wise, because she said, like, half a dozen organs got removed or whatever. And maybe also anxiety wise or whatever, you know. So this one did have some, like, serious themes as well. But I do appreciate the way she tells stories. Is really hilarious. And some of the things she talks about is super relatable. I really like the weird fight they have where she's like, you don't get to choose the bananas anymore. [00:37:41] Speaker C: Yes. [00:37:42] Speaker B: I was just gonna say that. I just read it. [00:37:44] Speaker A: It's the most ridiculous. She's like, here it comes, the huge blow. I'm gonna say the most ridiculous thing because I was so angry and it's so. [00:37:53] Speaker C: You recognize, like, I shouldn't say this is the most. [00:37:56] Speaker A: Yeah, it's shameful. I shouldn't say this ridiculous thing. And then he just doesn't even know how to respond. What? You know, it's just like when you're really angry and you say the stupidest things, you know, and she's like, let's just. Let's just go back. He's such a nice person. And we got into this ridiculous fight that built up over a while. [00:38:15] Speaker C: I do think this book was super relatable. Again, bringing it back to the first couple of chapters with creepishly stalking your neighbor. I was totally a creepy child, and I was so fascinated with other people's lives. And I even remember my dad being like. Stopped talking to the neighbor so much. Like, you're being weird. And I would just. I would do that. I would knock on the door. I'd be like, can I come hang out? Like, why did I do that? I don't understand. [00:38:42] Speaker A: I used to knock on the door. I'm like, can I use your bathroom? I would look at the bathroom. I describe the bathroom. I come home and be like, so and so's bathroom has this decor. And so. And so his bathroom has that decor. I'm almost like, what? So why are you going to these bathrooms? Like, And I didn't know. I was obsessed with bathrooms and, like, what was going on in there. And, like, my bathroom isn't anything special. I probably should renovate my bathroom or paint it or something, you know? [00:39:07] Speaker C: Like, I still do the same thing in people's houses, especially the bathrooms. I love seeing what everyone has in their bathrooms. It's unique. I'd like to see what people have got going on. [00:39:19] Speaker A: And so, like, liquid soap or bar soap. [00:39:23] Speaker C: Is it empty? Is it full? What kind of toothbrush do you have? Toothpaste. [00:39:28] Speaker A: Is that my toothpaste? Could they possibly have the same toothpaste as me? Oh, yes. [00:39:32] Speaker C: Oh, same. [00:39:33] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:39:33] Speaker C: And then I think major brand. I'm like, oh, my God, we love the same toothpaste. We're gonna be best friends. So, yeah, I did like the book in that sense. And to your point, Mar, where they're talking about being lonely, I think that is so in tune with what society is going through right now of people are lonely and no one has a community, and people, you know, they have a boyfriend and then they break up or someone dies, and then that was their main social life type of thing. And. Yeah, just no one has communities anymore, and so many people are feeling lonely. So when I was reading that, that resonated with a lot of things I see online about most people complaining about how they don't have those relationships and. [00:40:21] Speaker A: They don't know how to do it. But there's so many lonely people. [00:40:26] Speaker C: Yeah, right. It's. A loneliness epidemic is upon us. And. Yeah. So I don't know, maybe I'm just, like, weird and awkward and that's why I liked this book. Yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. [00:40:40] Speaker A: Me too. I love that Lindsay hated it. [00:40:44] Speaker D: Okay, there's no hate. [00:40:45] Speaker A: Okay. You really dislike a strong dislike. [00:40:49] Speaker D: It wasn't my favorite strong dislike for graphic novels. [00:40:53] Speaker A: They're too slow. [00:40:54] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:40:54] Speaker C: And what's interesting is you guys were commenting on how there's so much text in this book, and I don't read a lot of graphic novels myself, and I was so happy that there was little to no text. I'm comparing it to a typical novel where the whole page is just full of text, not comparing it to other graphic novels. So maybe that's why. But yeah, I really enjoyed how, again, because I read Lindsay's book before I read this one, and that one was a very heavy Book, in my opinion. [00:41:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:41:28] Speaker C: And so maybe that's part of the reason I enjoyed this so much, was that it was a nice. It was such an easy read. I thought it was so fun. I just. Yeah, I really enjoyed it. [00:41:36] Speaker D: It was easy. You don't need to sit down and, like, you could devour it, I guess, quickly, but you could also, you know, flip through it and read a little bit and a little bit and laugh or whatever. Like, fair enough for me. Cringe. It was more like I just didn't get it. I'm not. Maybe I'm too linear. [00:41:58] Speaker A: She's not a weirdo, is the problem. [00:42:00] Speaker D: No, I'm a weirdo in my own way. I'm like a geek. [00:42:03] Speaker A: Like the bucket chapter, I was like, that is something I would have done as a child. She's like, what's more humiliating than, like, getting stuck in a bucket 19 times? Surrender. That was the type of kid I was. [00:42:17] Speaker D: I wasn't. [00:42:17] Speaker C: So not only that I got stuck. So not that I was an only child, but the next closest person I had in my family was my brother, who was 16 years older than me. So I was raised kind of as an only child. So I would go to the park by myself, and it was just down the street. It was maybe a block away from my house. Right. So I was always going there. And one time I had seen, because I was a chubbier kid, I had seen all of my, like, thinner friends go into those baby swings. I was like, that looks so comfy. Like, I'm going to try it. And I got stuck. But my dad was disabled. He had no legs, and he was trying his best to help me out, but it's like, it's awkward. He's not tall enough and whatever. Right. Anyways, we had to call the fire department, and they had to come get us out. And so for the book to open, like, with the bucket, I was like, this feels like my childhood almost. This is relatable. [00:43:18] Speaker A: Getting stuck in a bucket is a long, like, getting stuck in a bucket swing. [00:43:22] Speaker C: Yes. I mean, and then, like, the weird looks. And I thought it was so funny when the parents were, like, trying to move the bucket around. You find a way. You find a way. [00:43:33] Speaker A: Determination. [00:43:35] Speaker C: Absolutely. [00:43:35] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:43:36] Speaker D: Mayor, it's your book. Say, like, elastic. Very intelligent and profound thoughts. [00:43:42] Speaker A: Oh, no. That's a lot of pressure. Wait, but I feel like I interrupted. Lindsay, do you have anything else that you wanted to say? [00:43:49] Speaker D: No, no. I, I, I'm happy. I'm happy that you guys really liked it. Yeah. I think that it's. It's just not my style. But that doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with the book. Like, I think people will like it. So don't listen to me. There'll be people like me for sure, and your mom who are going to be like, this is not for me. But, you know, if this. If you're intrigued, I feel like you should give it a shot. [00:44:12] Speaker A: Interesting thing is, I got this other graphic novel out of the library once, and it was almost exclusively pictures. Very, very little words. You would think that it would be really fast read, but you had to, like, really, like, look at each picture and figure out what the author was trying to convey. [00:44:31] Speaker C: Kind of like an English lesson where it's like, what does the author mean by this? [00:44:35] Speaker A: What is this? And, like, there'd be different textures maybe depending on what was going on and stuff. So I think that it's a different process sometimes consuming a graphic novel from, like, a written novel. And this one's a little bit of both together. And so if you don't like one of those styles, maybe this book isn't for you. [00:44:57] Speaker C: Very interesting. [00:44:58] Speaker D: Or maybe it is. [00:45:00] Speaker A: Or maybe it is. [00:45:01] Speaker C: Try it out. You never know. What is the difference between a graphic novel and a comic book? Is it this stuff? Like, comic books are the strips, and that's. [00:45:10] Speaker A: I think it's more like the length. I think it's more like the length of it. [00:45:14] Speaker C: Okay. Okay. Okay, cool. That's good to know. [00:45:17] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:17] Speaker C: I will actually look that up and put that in my personal journal on what the difference is, if anyone wants to find out. [00:45:23] Speaker D: All right, we should wrap this up. [00:45:25] Speaker A: It was good to see you. [00:45:26] Speaker D: Well, thanks for picking the book. [00:45:28] Speaker C: Yes, thank you, Mayor. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I hope some other people pick it up and like it or don't like it, and that's okay. [00:45:34] Speaker A: And Ashley, you should really get her first book, too, if you like this one, because it. I feel like I'm also hilarious, but there's less of the feeling sad because she's lonely part. [00:45:44] Speaker C: Sounds like a good book to me. [00:45:45] Speaker A: Okay, we'll see you next time. [00:45:47] Speaker C: Bye. Bye. [00:45:49] Speaker B: This interruption is brought to you by unpublished. Do you want to know more about the members and Book Interrupted? Go behind the scenes. Visit our website at www.bookinterrupted.com. [00:46:02] Speaker D: Book interrupted. [00:46:07] Speaker B: Hello. So here is my interruption. It's spring, and I have. I actually have four cats. I have outdoor cats because I live in a warm place. I have a girl and three boys and one of Them is because call him the kitten because he's only a year old, where the other three are actually siblings. And I unintentionally adopted them because their mother dropped them at our house and then left. So that's how we got those three cats. Anyway, so spring is in the air and there is a male cat, this gray male cat that keeps on coming to our house and attacking the kitten constantly. And we are constantly chasing him off and it's got to the point where he comes day and night. So in daytime we've been able to really scare him off. So now he's now coming in the evenings, which is just ridiculous. So I'm constantly running out into the yard in the middle of the night or bringing the cats inside at night, which they like to be outside at night, to be honest. Honest, because of this gray cat that keeps on coming into our yard and we have very high fences, so he has to like climb a tree to get in. Anyway, it's really disrupting my life because I'm constantly having to like jump out of bed and chase off this cat. And he just won't be deterred anyway, I guess I just continue chasing him off until the gray cat finds someone else to bully. So that's my interruption. If you listeners have any suggestions of what I could do to deter this cat from coming into our yard, that would be great. [00:47:44] Speaker D: Book Interrupted. [00:47:47] Speaker B: It's book report time. We're going to find out from each member their final thoughts and do they recommend the book. Let's listen. [00:47:55] Speaker A: This is my book pick and I chose Solutions and Other Problems after reading Allie Brosh's first book, Hyperbole and a Half, which I found hilarious. And then I got this out of the library almost immediately and started reading it as well. And I said, yeah, like, this is kind of the same feel. So I wanted to pick this for the podcast. What I really wanted was a funny book for the podcast because I knew there's going to be probably some heavy books. Something that I hear from people a lot is that they just want to read something funny. And there's so many books that are depressing for different reasons. There's lots of, you know, children getting hurt or people dying or injustice and stuff like that. So I want to get something that was maybe a little bit more light hearted. I was a little bit. Actually, no, I was gonna lie. I was gonna say I was cautious about it being a graphic novel because some people didn't like the graphic novel before, but I wasn't cautious at all. I think Graphic novels are fine. I enjoy them myself, so. And this one was a little bit different from an actual graphic novel. So, yeah, what can I say about the book? It was hilarious. I found this one, in comparison to her first book, was maybe a little bit more vulnerable, if possible. And it was really sad, kind of. I did cry in this book, even though I also laughed out loud. I think it did have a happy ending in the end, but it also made me kind of worry about how Ally is doing. You know, I don't know if there's much to say about that. Maybe I should end on something really happy or hilarious. The hammering. The hammering chapter is hilarious. Not just the revenge part, but just like the visual pictures of the guy hammering. Just like everything around just everything's being hammered. And all of the animal chapters were hilarious. So if you don't have animals, if you haven't had dogs or cats and you're not really an animal person, maybe you wouldn't enjoy this as much as I did. The pictures and her description of the animals, if you are an animal person, are just perfect. So thank you, Allie Brosh, and I hope everybody enjoyed it because I certainly did. [00:50:07] Speaker C: This is Ashley and this is going to be my personal journal for Meredith's book Solutions and Other Other Problems. And I loved, loved this book. I don't know what it is about this season. Maybe it's because women know how to do something. Well, I really enjoyed the graphic novel part of this. I read it after reading a very heavy book and I thought this was a really great book to pick up because it's a graphic novel and this chapter, chapters, they're medium length, I would say, but because it's a graphic novel, they go by so quickly. I was able to read a couple of chapters on my lunch breaks at work and I just thought it was a really nice book to read to kind of escape. While there are some chapters that have maybe sadder topics, a lot of it was pretty funny and I related so much, much to a lot of the chapters in here. I was definitely like a weird, creepy, awkward kid. And reading these chapters, I felt so seen and heard and I related so much to them. One of my favorite things is the pictures in them. I think this awkward depiction of Ali Brosh is hilarious. I love the faces. I love the awkwardness of it and how weird people look. This is just my type of book and I didn't even realize I was into graphic novels. Meredith really recommends the first book from Ali Brosh and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna pick it up just because of how much I enjoyed this one. I would absolutely recommend it for a light read. I felt like it was a quick read. Even though it's. Though it's over 500 pages, there's not as much text, obviously, as a regular book. So I would absolutely recommend this. I want to read this with my nephews. I think it's a great one and I think the pictures are really fun. I do just want to mention in the episode, I asked what the difference between comic books and graphic novels are, so I looked, looked it up, and Google says that comic books are serialized stories. They're mostly short in length, and the stories typically continue over months to even years. Whereas graphic novels tend to be a lot longer than comic books and also usually have their storylines wrapped up in one or two books. Whereas the comic books typically go on for like, comic book after comic book after comic book. Comic book. So that was the difference. And I'm not super a fan of reading comic books. They're not my favorite. But this was really great. So thank you, Mare, for picking an awesome book. I absolutely recommend it and I hope some of you read it too. [00:53:03] Speaker B: All right, so this is my book report for Meredith's book pick. So what do I say with this book? I did like the format of this graphic novel more than I have other graphic novels, so I'll say that. And it was like a super fast read and super. Like there was some heavy stuff in it, but it was super light generally. And there were some laugh out loud moments, like the neighbor who was always hammering and her leaving, like the stick and the banana, like, as her protest. That was kind of funny. And the whole story about the grocery store guy, how she created this backstory story of him because of her guided meditation to learn loving kindness about a stranger. That was funny. So there was some funny moments, but mostly it was just weird. I felt the book was really weird. So, yeah, I like awkward comedy, but it was just. It was more awkward than funny is what I want to say about it, I guess. And there were some tragic moments, but generally it was just really bizarre. It was a bizarre book for me. However, as a graphic novel, I really like the graphic novel format a lot. I think I could read another graphic novel now. I really liked her drawing and her pictures and stuff like that. I like how like everyone else was human and she was like something else because she thinks she's an alien or something. [00:54:20] Speaker C: Or something. [00:54:21] Speaker B: So weird. But I did like reading this graphic novel more than I have the other ones, so it didn't stop me from reading. I, like enjoyed it and it was light, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone because it was really bizarre. So that's what I'll say about that. Yeah, it was funny though. Like there was, I see where Mare said like sometimes you laugh out loud because it's kind of funny and shocking. Like the pooh just appearing. Or that weird thing when she was a kid about the neighbor and how she like broke into his house and obsessed with him. [00:54:53] Speaker A: What was his name again? [00:54:54] Speaker B: Oh yeah, Richard. Anyway, so yeah, that's all I have to say about that. I guess I'll see what the other people think. Maybe they really enjoyed it. Alright, bye for now. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Book Interrupted. If you'd like to see the video highlights from this episode, please go to our YouTube channel, book interrupted. You can also find our videos on www.bookinterrupted.com. [00:55:22] Speaker D: A book club is just a book without members. Join the community by following us on Facebook, Instagram or sign up for exclusive content through our [email protected] unpublished we'd like to give a big shout out to our listeners. Your support makes this all possible. Thank you for the uplifting feedback and for recommending us to family and friends. We love hearing from you. Please reach out through our website at bookinterrupted.com fans or by emailing [email protected]. we appreciate you for taking time out of your busy schedule to connect with us. See you next time on Book Interrupted. [00:56:00] Speaker C: Book Interrupted Never forget, every child matters.