Latest / The Read Carpet Report / Queen Camilla's Book Club: The Queen's Reading Room

Transcript

Queen Camilla's Book Club: The Queen's Reading Room · The Read Carpet Report

• Jackie: Welcome to the red carpet report, your backstage pass for celebrity book clubs, book adaptations and new book releases. I'm Jackie and I'm here and we're your hosts. Kirsten Baritz: Welcome to the Carpet Report, backstage pass for celebrity book clubs, book adaptations, and new book releases. I'm Jackie. And I'm Kirsten. Today's episode is a deep dive and it's one I've wanted to do for a while. ⁓ It is the deep into the Queen Camilla Reading Room Book Club. I'm so excited to talk about this book club slash charity. before we get into that, let's get into the red carpet rundown. So we don't have a of new book adaptation news, but I do want to talk about some adaptations that I saw over the weekend. ⁓ Jackie: I'm so excited to talk about this book club slash charity. But before we get into that, let's get into the red carpet rundown. Kirsten Baritz: And I know that you saw too. first off on Friday, Remarkably Bright Creatures, my 14 year old and I watched it together. And he told me before it even started, like, I don't remember the ending of this book, but I remember that I didn't want to go to bed and I stayed up until 1130 to finish it. So that's like a ringing endorsement for a book in general. Jackie: Yes. So that's like a ringing endorsement for a book in general. ⁓ That's so funny because my daughter said the same thing. She was like, I remember so much that I loved it. I just can't remember how it ended. Kirsten Baritz: just can't remember how it ended. Yeah. So we watched it. We loved it. It was like a great mom, son movie night. I ⁓ what they took out. ⁓ okay. At the very end because the paddle boarding lady had more of a, there was like a through line at the very end that connected her overall to the main story ⁓ was missing. you, I mean, they always have to cut stuff, especially for a movie adaptation, because you just can't get it all. Jackie: ⁓ okay. Yes. Yeah. No, and I thought they did a phenomenal job. I watched it with my husband and my daughter and they both loved it. My husband loved it. He was like, that was so good. I like, I told you. Kirsten Baritz: He was like, that was so good. I was like, I told you. It was surprising to me because I think it was done by the same person who did Where the Crawdads Sing, but it felt like a very different kind of movie. It wasn't this kind of auteur type director where every single one of their movies feels the same. It felt different, but still give you that warm hug. I cried multiple times, obviously. Jackie: ⁓ did. Yeah. ⁓ I listened to Remarkably Great Creatures and I loved the voice of Marcellus in the audiobook. So I was a little afraid that I was not going to like the voice of Marcellus in the movie. And they're very different. But after three seconds, I was like, OK, I can totally get into this. Kirsten Baritz: Listened to remarkably great creatures. And so I loved the voice of Marcellus in the audiobook. Mm-hmm of Marcellus in the movie and they're very different, but after three seconds, I was like, okay, I can totally get into this. I was just happy that they kept the voiceover. Cause sometimes when there's like, like lessons in chemistry, there's a voiceover of the animal and that was cut. I'm almost positive, wasn't it? From the show? Yeah, I didn't. Or if it was, it was not the same. Jackie: Yeah, I didn't, I don't remember that. No. Kirsten Baritz: weave through that it has with Marcellus and so I was very glad that they kept him. I think they needed to. I mean that is pretty much the heart of this of this book or hearts. I will say the setting made me want to go visit. Apparently it's a real place. Really? Jackie: think they needed to. mean, that is pretty much the heart of this book or hearts. It's a real place. Really? It's a real place. Apparently it's a real place and you can go to, it was all filmed in Vancouver, Canada and you can go and you can see the squarium. I said I was going to Tofino before and that's, I think I'm just gonna do a whole BC trip. Yep, I think I'm gonna need to. Kirsten Baritz: I before, the tofino before, and that's... I think I'm just gonna do a BC clip. think I'm gonna need to go visit some Canadian sites. I know. With my Canadian bestie. Okay, the other movie that I saw this weekend, I finally saw The Devil Wears Prada 2. I know, I'm a little jealous about that. I know, we were supposed to see it together, our plans fell through. Jackie: I know. Nice. I know I'm a little jealous about that. Kirsten Baritz: I went for Mother's Day and I thought it was fabulous. my husband was disappointed and you have to understand that this is like his number one, like his secretly his favorite movie. He puts it on if it's ever on, like he stops for the office, he stops for side belt and he stops for the Devil Wears Prada. Okay. Jackie: Which you deserve. So I'm so excited to see it, but I'm afraid that I'm going to be disappointed. Kirsten Baritz: Literally, he loves it so much. So he was upset because Miranda is not as mean and snarky. And they try to write it off at one point, like there's like, you know, one of her sisters is trying to like monitor her and get her to like change her ways to be like more up with the times. But she smiles in the movie. Jackie: Miranda is not as mean and snarky. Right. And they try to write it off at one point, there's like, you know, one of her sisters is trying to like monitor her and get her to like change her ways, be like more up at the time. But she smiles in the movie. Oh, no, she's not supposed to smile. think there might even be a laugh. What? she's just a... Kirsten Baritz: Like multiple times. I think there might even be a laugh. So I know. So she's just a kind of different. It's not, that's not really a spoiler. It's just like the characters are different. There's a lot of callbacks to old things So there's a lot of Easter eggs ⁓ to unpack, which I really appreciate. ⁓ But the overall story was about journalism and how it's dying basically. Jackie: okay ⁓ Okay, so you liked it overall. Kirsten Baritz: So you liked it overall. I did like it overall. It was really campy. It was not as good as the first one. It's never gonna be. The fashion, let me tell you, my big takeaway. We all need to be wearing sequins in some form, like as a blazer, as a bag, as a belt, as a shirt under a blazer, as a jean, as a skirt, as maybe a culotte tucked into a, I mean, there's a lot of sequins in every outfit, in every scene somebody was wearing a sequins. Jackie: right. I don't know that I can pull off a sequin anything. Yeah, that you can do it for both of us. Kirsten Baritz: ⁓ I am very pro sequin. As I'm in my weird crazy matching floral pan outfit with a neon yellow shirt. Jackie: If nothing shows the juxtaposition between our style. So you can do sequence for both of us. Kirsten Baritz: It is this moment right here. Well, I will tell you what the other takeaway was, which you will be very on board with. The long blazer is back. Goodbye crop blazers. We're back with the long shoulder pads. Yeah. The blazer that you just bought, the one from Ever Eve, the really pretty one you've worn in a few episodes fully like one of the blazers she wears looks like that blazer. Jackie: Sweet. Shoulder pads? Yeah. ⁓ Love that. Okay. Love it. Over like a straight leg jean rolled and a short boot. Oh, I can totally do that. that. skin like shorty. No, snake skin for Jackie. Kirsten Baritz: over like a straight leg jean rolled and a short boot. ⁓ I can totally do that. That, that. A snakeskin like shorty. No, snakeskin. ⁓ I already have that too. It's already in my closet also. Jackie: sequence, snake, snakeskin, animal print of any kind. You won't find it anywhere in my cupboard as opposed to you. You have some fabulous dresses. I mean, you rock them, but. Kirsten Baritz: anywhere in to you, you have some fabulous dresses. I mean, you rock them. But I will never wear black. I won't wear camo, right? Like I, there's like some very clear lines between us where I'm like, no, this is not for me. Jackie: I love me some good camo. Kirsten Baritz: You know, my mom just gifted me, because she bought it for herself, and she handed it me. She's like, I never reach for it. I'm like, obviously you didn't. A cream sweater cardigan with silver leopard, like the spots are leopard. And I was like, ⁓ mom, you would never, but I will wear it immediately. Jackie: She probably bought it and was thinking of you and loved it and didn't realize that subconsciously she was thinking that this screams Kirsten. Kirsten Baritz: Probably. Right, right, and she was like, I never reached for it. I'm like, of course you didn't, but I will. Anyway, it was worth ⁓ I will go back in a heartbeat. Like, you tell me when. Let's do it. ⁓ a matinee. Let's do it. Let's just like sneak away. tell everybody we have plans. Just go in the middle of the day. Jackie: Okay. Okay. Let's do it. That would be, ⁓ we should totally do that. Kirsten Baritz: Yes, yes, we'll be like, I'm sorry, we're unavailable. We're filling a podcast. All right, we're gonna do it. Jackie: so I'm so excited because they just released the trailer for Five Star Weekend and I can't wait to see it, especially because it stars Jennifer Garner and I love Jennifer Garner so much. Kirsten Baritz: She's your number one. I love her. I love Gemma Chan who's in there. I think she is the most flawlessly beautiful, elegant person. This we can watch together. Jackie: I love her. ⁓ yay, Wends are coming out! Kirsten Baritz: It's coming out, I think July 7th or 8th. Like just post hysterectomy when you're gonna come and like hang out with me. We're gonna be in bed just watching TV. Jackie: Just post hysterectomy when you're gonna come and like hang out. ⁓ it's very important. I feel like I need to come over wearing pajamas also. Kirsten Baritz: Yes, yeah, we're gonna be like pajamas. Jackie: Sorry, Cory. I'm taking over your spot in the bed. You can go sleep somewhere else. Kirsten Baritz: you're being kicked out. Yep. But this is like perfect timing for me because this is a reason for me to rot in bed that I will not feel like I am suffering through. right. Actually, you need to. Right, So this will be amazing. I love Jennifer Garner. She does a lot, a lot of stuff for literacy. ⁓ She does. ⁓ And so. ⁓ Jackie: Right, right, right, right. Actually, you need to. So this will be I love Jennifer Garner. She does lot, a lot of stuff for literacy. And so I just love that about her in addition to the fact that I think she's adorable and so real and she cracks me up. Kirsten Baritz: I just love that about her in addition to the fact that I think she's adorable and so real and she cracks me up. She is if there was a celebrity that I would want to start a book club. I know so. But what is our what is our like pitched Jennifer Gardner because we've talked about this before off screen. We have that we want her to start a celebrity book club with us. But we want it to be for middle grade fiction. Yes. We think that she could get literacy happening. Jackie: I know so badly. we have that we want her to start a celebrity book with us. Yes. Yeah. Kirsten Baritz: for parents and kids together, like older kids? Because how often do you read with your older kids? I feel like for me, my reading falls off with them. we think that she'd be the person to bring back a kid parent book club. ⁓ think she should do that. ⁓ we can give you. Jackie: I think she should do that and we can give you any advice if you want it. Kirsten Baritz: I mean, Beyond the Bookends times Jennifer Gardner, middle grade book club. Just come on, let's do it. Jen, give us a call. Jackie: That sounds amazing. Kirsten Baritz: Queen Camilla, give ⁓ us Queen Camilla 101. That's what we need. Give the rundown because I don't think Americans know about it. ⁓ Jackie: Okay. Okay. Perfect. Okay, I don't think so either. So in 2021, Camilla, who was then the Duchess of Cornwall, started the reading room. And what she did was she recommended four books every season. Kirsten Baritz: ⁓ Camilla, who was then the Duchess of Cornwall, started the reading room. And what she did was she recommended four books every season. winter, spring, summer, fall. Yeah. Jackie: So... Like winter, spring, summer, fall? Yes. Season. So that she ends up having more books per year, but she recommends four at a time. Got it. Okay. And in 2023, February, the Queen's Reading Room became an official charity. Kirsten Baritz: Yes. ⁓ got it. Okay. So season, season. Season. Okay. Got it. Okay. Okay. And in 2023, February, Queens Reading Room became an official charity. The idea is to bring the Jackie: The idea is to bring the ⁓ books people may not ⁓ have accessibility to it. So people in shelters or maybe banks, and she chooses fantastic books. Kirsten Baritz: books to people that may not have accessibility to it. So people in shelters or maybe food banks, ⁓ And ⁓ she chooses fantastic books. ⁓ does. what I love about is she chooses ⁓ all over the map. Yes. She chooses She chooses contemporary fiction. She chooses mystery. She chooses Jackie: Yes. Kirsten Baritz: YA classics from when we were younger. She's really picking from all over. So even if you don't like one of her picks, she's highlighting a different one. Are they all British authors? I think the majority of them are. Jackie: Now that I'm thinking about it, I think so. Kirsten Baritz: I think so. No, not all of them. I'm looking at the ones on my list. No, they're not. Jackie: No, no, no, they're not. And so she chooses some new books, some old books. She chooses some books. One of the books that I have on my favorite. I don't think most people have heard of it was a fantastic book. So I love what she's doing. I feel like she's choosing books that are extremely accessible, but that aren't necessarily the most Kirsten Baritz: favorite. I don't think most people have heard of it was a fantastic book. So I love what she's doing. I feel like she's choosing books that are extremely accessible, but that aren't necessarily the most popular at the time. And some of them are, but not necessarily all of them. And hers more than I think any of the other ones which are trying to Jackie: popular at the time. And some of them are, but not necessarily all of them. Kirsten Baritz: chase the newest release or, you know, with an occasional backlist. Because she's choosing these backlists, it feels like you're really reading along with her. she's chopping her own shelves and like this month she chose to read, you know, Rebecca. And last month she chose to read Remarkably Brave Creatures or whatever it is. I don't think that one was on her list. But you know what I'm saying? Like, you feel like you're reading around her library. which for a lot of these other ones, it's just the newest, newest, newest, newest, newest. ⁓ Jackie: which for a lot of these other ones, it's just the newest, newest, newest, newest, newest. And what I love is that so many of these are on my back list. So that if you're choosing to read the books that she chose, often, I think you're gonna find a bunch of them are like, oh, I really wanted to read that. Kirsten Baritz: And this is really great if you are a summer reading challenge participant, because we always say read a celebrity book club. And a lot of times people are scrambling to get the latest celebrity book club. And there's a huge weight the apps to get one of the newer releases. But I guarantee you on one of the many places that you can get books, you can read A Tale of Two Cities. Jackie: Yeah. to get one of the newer releases, but I guarantee you on one of the many places that you can get books, you can read A Tale of 100%. And some of these other ones that we're gonna talk about. we each, we don't know what the other chose. This is my favorite thing to do. I know. except for that, I need to put on glasses. Kirsten Baritz: So we don't know what the other chose. This is my favorite thing when we do this. I know. Top 10. Okay, except for that, I need to put on glasses. Are these your new? These are. Jackie: These are, these are, these are my new eye bobs. And these are the cutest reading glasses ever. And they're really good. Kirsten Baritz: They sent her a pair. And these are the cutest reading glasses ever. They are really, really, they're way cuter than mine. When I put my reading glasses on, everyone in my family starts calling me Maude. Okay. Those, if I put those on, they would not call me Maude. Well, no, these are really cute. They're like little aviator style for those listening. Right. Jackie: Well no, these are really cute. it also helps that then I don't have to list this up all the way to my face. Okay. Kirsten Baritz: as opposed to me who's sitting here like this, because I can't put my mod glasses on or it would be a problem. Okay. Are you going first or am I? I want to go first. Okay. Because one of my favorite authors is on this list. Not my favorite book by this author, but one of my absolute favorites of them. I saying? Rebecca. Of course, Rebecca by Daphne de Marriott. I am obsessed with Daphne. I love her books. Branchman's Creek is my favorite, but. Jackie: Okay. Are you going first or am I? I'm going first. Okay. I know what book you're saying. Rebecca. Kirsten Baritz: Rebecca is a very close second. It is a classic. yeah, that's number one. Jackie: Yeah, that's number one. My first one, I'm so excited that it is on this list is Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Oh, I love that book. It's on the list. It is phenomenal. Kirsten Baritz: so excited that it is on this list is Horse by Geraldine Brooks. ⁓ that's on the list. It's on the list. is phenomenal. put it down. It's it's brilliant. If you haven't read that, would highly recommend that We've already kind of like touched on this one, but Pride and Prejudice ⁓ and Jackie: I couldn't put it down. ⁓ It's brilliant. If you haven't read that, I highly recommend that one. Kirsten Baritz: Unlike Jenna who picked it, and I was pissed that she picked it Camilla has chosen other Austens throughout. She's chosen like books about Jane Austen that are not, like she chose Miss Austen. She chose Sense and Sensibility. She chose Sense and Sensibility. I think she chose another one, but also it's like British literature, so I'm down with it. Jackie: She chose sense and sensibility. Kirsten Baritz: and she chose Pride and Prejudice twice. It was in one of her earlier seasons and then she did it again for the 250th. And to me, if anyone's promoting Austin, it should be the queen, it should be an English book club, and I'm down with it, especially because she has a million other classics on the list. So it doesn't feel like the easy grab. Jackie: to me, if anyone's promoting Austin, it should be the Queen, should be an English book club, and I'm down with it, especially because she has a million other classics on the list. It doesn't feel like the easy grab. I'm going to choose ones first that I know that you haven't read. Okay. Pachinko. Kirsten Baritz: Okay. Pachinko. I didn't read that one. Jackie: Min Jin Lee. ⁓ my gosh, that book. Whew. If you want a saga that it's sensational and it's heartbreaking and it's big and I couldn't put it down, it's so good. Kirsten Baritz: It's spring and they're cutting the grass. You may hear Our apologies. ⁓ I am going to go with. Okay, hear me out. Bridget Jones. Jackie: Hear me out. Bridget Jones. I thought you were gonna pick that. Here's why. Okay. Speaking of her life, love, or oxygen. Yes. Kirsten Baritz: Here's why, number one, speaking of her love for Austin, it is a rewrite of Emma. But ⁓ what I really like about it is that it is a book that was from the 90s that was very pop culture. It's not necessarily highbrow literature, but she's choosing it she's choosing it in modern day to revive it with the new generation. It's almost as if someone were to choose the divine secrets of the Yah-Yah sisterhood. Jackie: very pop culture. she was like the divine secret that we all have since were Right, right, right, right. her moms read it back in the day. It's not fine literature, but it's like it was very of the moment and she's bringing the moment. Kirsten Baritz: Like all our moms read it back in the day. It's not fine literature, but it's like, it was very of the moment and she's bringing the moment back and I love Jackie: Miss Benson's Beetle. And this was one that I was talking about that I don't think ⁓ anyone has read it. ⁓ It's Joyce. I love her books. This was one that I don't think ⁓ people were even aware of. And it is about a woman who in search of a beetle and brings along someone to help her and they become friends and they're both really quirky and you know how I love a story that's weird and quirky and this one was so well written this is such a good book club pic and people might not have heard of it otherwise. ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: someone to help her and they become friends and they're both really quirky and you know how I love a story that's weird and quirky and this one was so well written this is such a good book club pick and people might not have heard that otherwise. I love that. I am gonna go with Magpie Murders. It's like a classic Anthony Horowitz. It's a book within a book. It was very clever. I think one of the best mysteries like ever written. And so I am very much down that she chose that Okay, now I'm getting into some ones that I think probably might've been reader favorites also. Okay. Okay, I have a gentleman in Moscow. That is a reader favorite. Yep, that's one of the five. have never read it. Jackie: Okay, now I'm getting into some ones that I think probably might've been reader favorites also. Okay, I have a gentleman in Moscow. What about you? Was that one of your favorites? What? Kirsten Baritz: I know you're shocked because he's one of my favorite writers of all time and I think it might be the only book of his that I haven't read. I know. I'm shocked. I know. I really need to, I won't let myself watch the adaptation because I need to read it first. It's really good. I know, but where do I have the time? I But it's, I do want to read it. Wouldn't you think that we would have so much time just to sit and read like whatever we wanted? I know. Wouldn't that be so lovely? That was actually the case. Jackie: I know! I'm shocked! It's really good. I know. I know. Wouldn't you think that we would have so much time just to sit and read like whatever we want? Kirsten Baritz: I am gonna go with raising hair. This was Chloe Dalton. It was one of my favorite non-fictions. It was about the COVID lockdown where she found a little tiny baby bunny and she raised it. And it's all about raising this hair I loved it. ⁓ It's true. ⁓ It's like if Potter came life, like, I don't know. It's just- Jackie: I knew you were gonna choose that one. this loved it. It's true. No, I know. I love that. I got Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. I love that book. I loved it. It was so good. Kirsten Baritz: It's great. I got Hamlet by Maggie O'Farrell. I love that book. Of course. it was recently an Academy Award winner. Yes. Mine are pretty popular too. I've got Tom Lake and Patchett. mean, that's a given. That was a Reese pick, I think. have The Book Thief. Oh, that's our first over... Jackie: Yes. Yeah, have the book Thief. Oh, is it? Yeah, that's our first overlap. I love that book so much. I love it more. I've read it like multiple times because my daughter read it in school. So I read it again with her. It's just it gets better every time. does. Kirsten Baritz: Yeah, that's our first overlap. Great. love that book so much. I love it more. I've read it like multiple times because my daughter read it in school. So I read it again. It's just, it better every time. It does. Speaking of better every time, I captured the castle. Read it when I was younger. Dodie Smith. It's a classic. I think it was written in the forties or something about like a young girl I love it. It's just a it's a good coming of age story that I think stands the test of time because it just captures your imagination. Jackie: Okay, so my next one is Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible. Kirsten Baritz: OK, so my next one is Barbara King Solver, the Poisonwood Bible. I think that might have been an Oprah pick. Was that an Oprah pick? Am I making this up? No, I think so. And Jackie: I think so. No, I think so. this is again, one of those books, is literature, right? So, so she's picking, she's picking all over the place, right? If you're in the mood for a Bridget Jones, she's picking Bridget Jones, which is a great book. It's not literary fiction. Poisonwood Bible is literary fiction, but I feel like the story is so captivating that once you start reading it, you can't put it down. And so in that way, it's, it's very readable. Kirsten Baritz: Mine is also a reader favorite, Lessons in Chemistry. ⁓ I have that That's on everyone's list. That was also a Celebrity Book Club pick. It a reader favorite pick. Jackie: ⁓ I have that one too, yeah. well I have another one that I'm sure you chose and I chose and everyone chose. are the crawdads saying? I didn't choose it. What? Kirsten Baritz: You chose and I chose and everyone chose. Which is? Where the crawdads at? I didn't choose it. didn't choose it because I knew you were gonna choose it. And I knew everybody else was choosing it. I wanted to highlight something different. So I could have chosen it, but I didn't. Jackie: Okay. I mean, I have a love for Where the Crawdads Sing. I really do. think is one of the cases where you have a book that's so popular, but also for very good reason. Right? Who else is writing about a Marsh girl? ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: Mm-hmm. This is one of the cases where you have a book that's so popular, but also for very good reason. Yes. Yes. Who else is writing about a Marsh girl? Yep. And that one took off in a way. I mean, A is what we've talked about this before. It's what put reason on the map. But I think it took off in a way that people didn't expect it to almost like the correspondent. You know what I mean? it really took off because it was so great. And it was one of those like whisper down the lane books that was read. And it stayed on the New York Times bestseller for a long time for good reason. Okay. What else do you have? My final one. And just, especially with the timing of it all, like at this one, really, I was glad she chose it in January of 2025, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. I just thought that was appropriate and nice. And Jackie: Okay. What else do you have? Kirsten Baritz: It's one of those classic stories that everyone needs to have read. You should have read it in school. If you didn't read it in school, like read it now, it's not that hard. You know what the ending is going to But it is Jackie: I mean, you know what the ending is going to be. But it is readable and relatable and it's coming of age and. Kirsten Baritz: And it's just a beacon of what a child is going through, while nursing a crush and having fights with her siblings, you know, It's a real person really went through this thing. And it just puts the humanity into the bigger overall picture ⁓ of the Holocaust. So I really appreciate she chose that story. ⁓ So my last one is a little than that. What you got? I'm surprised. Jackie: Yeah. Yeah. And it just puts the humanity into the bigger overall picture of the Holocaust. Yeah. I really appreciate that she chose that story. So my last one is a little different than that. I'm surprised you didn't know that I was gonna pick this one, obviously. Kirsten Baritz: You didn't know that I was gonna pick this one, obviously. Wait, what am I missing? Louise Penny. ⁓ the gray wolf, yes. I almost said it for you out loud. Yep, I didn't read that one. I am two Louise Pennies behind, which is also shocking. It is shocking. Jackie: Louise Penny? I know. Okay, it is shocking, but actually it's kind of good for you because you need to read the Grey Wolf and the Black Wolf together, back to back, because Kirsten Baritz: because you need to read the gray wolf and the black wolf together. Okay. Because Jackie: is a two story arc. does end after the first one. You're not left on a cliffhanger or anything, but you're left with the understanding that there might be more to the story and that takes place in the Black Wolf. This was so good. It's so crazy creepy. It is about if there was an attack to the drinking water. in Montreal. Seeing as how my son is in Montreal, this is like the freakiest, the freakiest. And it goes on and it's crazy because I feel like it's a little too probable Kirsten Baritz: it is a two story arc. It does end after the first one. You're not left on a cliffhanger or anything, but you're left with the understanding that there might be more to the story. And that takes place in the Black Wolf. This was so good. It's so crazy creepy. ⁓ It about if there was an attack to the drinking water ⁓ in ⁓ boy. saying is how my son is in Montreal. This is like the freakiest. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ And it goes on and it's crazy because I feel like it's a little too probable. That's Louise Penny in general. which is why she's a great writer because she, though there's also the like mental capacity stuff that she does when she's talking about what ⁓ people do what they do and the emotions behind things and just, she's such a phenomenal writer. But yeah, she, that's like when I read ⁓ Last Mandarin now I'm terrified of elevators because the scene that's in that book could happen. ⁓ Jackie: Yes! Yes, yes. scene that's in that book could happen. Right. And I think this is one where, yes, it's the 20 something in the Louise Penny books, but I also think that it's one that if you wanted to just start at this one and read it, you could. Kirsten Baritz: but I also think that it's one that if you wanted to just start at this one and read it, you could. and this is where I'm gonna have to plug Jackie because she did the Lord's work ⁓ ⁓ has a full character guide of every Louise Penny character. On our website, she also has reviews and summaries of the most recent books so that you can like if you're going to read Black Wolf and you forgot what happened in Grey Wolf, you can go back and read Grey Wolf. And she has this whole list that will remind you of what order to read the books in and what happened in each book. So basically she is our guru and I will link all of that in the show notes below. But if you haven't yet read the first one in the series is still life. ⁓ It's phenomenal. mean, dies at a curling match. ⁓ Right. It's definitely winter read, but it's so good. Jackie: It's so good and I mean somebody dies at a curling match in Canada. Yes, yes, yes. Kirsten Baritz: OK, well let's just finish up with your favorites. We already talked about crawdads, lessons in chemistry gentlemen in Moscow. last two are the secret history. No surprise there. That was a Jenna Peck, I believe, ⁓ and my brilliant friend. Jackie: and my brilliant friend. Yes, which I've read both of those and great picks. Kirsten Baritz: which I've read both of those and great picks. Yeah. And I think both are adaptations also. Actually, all five of these are adaptations. there you go. Because good books make good movies. Jackie: ⁓ that's really funny. So the bookmark this week, what do you have? OK, so this Kirsten Baritz: So the bookmark this week, what do you have? Okay, so this is a story that kind of goes with literacy and the love of reading and all of that. So I think it works really well with this episode and it just came out. ⁓ I am choosing Make Believe by Mac Barnett. It is 98 pages. It's, she's short, okay? I read her in an hour. Jackie: I know what you're choosing. Kirsten Baritz: I cried when I read this, not because it's nonfiction. He is an ambassador for children's literature for the US. ⁓ ⁓ whole thing is that before books get into the hands of kids, they have to go through adults, from the graphic designers to the writers to the publicists to the editors, all of it. And so in order to have... good children's literature, adults have to be on the level with the kids and giving the kids what they want. And that is a good story. It's not always to do a teach a lesson. It's not always, you know, to instill our morals and our values on the kids, but it's for them to have imagination and make believe. And the passion he puts into writing this story in defense of children's literature, essentially. ⁓ Jackie: And that is a good story. It's not always to do it teach a lesson It's not always you know to instill our morals and our values. Yeah, it's for them to have imagination and make yeah and The passion he puts into writing this story In defense of children's literature essentially ⁓ is wonderful and it's everything that we've ever talked about. Yeah ⁓ Kirsten Baritz: is so wonderful and it's everything that we've ever talked about offline. And to see it articulated so wonderfully, why reading is so important, why good storytelling is so important, this would make an excellent gift for any teacher, librarian, mother, anyone who is about to ⁓ start building their children's library. This is great. And if you don't know Mac Barnett, he is himself ⁓ a bestselling, incredibly well-known children's author. ⁓ And talks about how it's actually harder, Richard Scarry talks about how the best writers are children's writers because they have to do all the things that adults do, but they have to understand kids in the process. And they're like the translators of the world for children. Jackie: himself a best-selling, incredibly well-known children's author. And he talks They have to do all the things that adults do, but they have to understand kids in the process. And they're like the translators of the world for children. Yeah, because if kids are not interested in the story immediately, they're not reading that book. No child is investing 50 pages before they're saying, this isn't for me. You don't catch them within three pages, you're done. No child is reading that book. Kirsten Baritz: Because if kids are not interested in the story immediately, they're not reading that book. Right. No child is investing 50 pages before they're saying, this isn't for me. You don't catch them within three pages, you're done. No child is reading that book. Jackie: bought it for myself this weekend. Happy Mother's Day to me. I'm so excited to read it just because obviously children's literature is something so close to my heart. So I'm very excited for this one. Kirsten Baritz: I bought it for myself this weekend. Happy Mother's Day to me. I'm so excited to read it just because ⁓ obviously literature is something so close to my heart. ⁓ So I'm excited for this one. ⁓ It It's truly wonderful. ⁓ So Grab it for yourself, you won't regret it. It's a great throw it in your bag and read it when you go. I actually wanna reread it and start highlighting, which I never like to highlight a book. I'm gonna highlight this one. Maybe I'll sticky tap it. But there's like a lot of nuggets. Yeah, yeah. But anyway, it's worth ⁓ Jackie: Maybe I'll sticky tap it. I was going say I'll buy you some sticky tabs. Yeah. But anyway, it's worth And our reader question of the week is, what is your favorite book about a family inheritance? That will be next week's episode. Kirsten Baritz: That will be next week's episode. And I think that might be all for today. I think so too. Jackie: I think so too. like, subscribe, follow, and we will see you next week. Kirsten Baritz: Happy reading.