Summary

In this episode of Bookmarked, Nicole, and Oakleigh share their hot takes on reading and answer common questions about books. They discuss topics such as whether audiobooks can be considered reading, the ethics of pirating books, the influence of book reviews on reading decisions, the use of real-life events and people in fictional stories, parental censorship of children's reading sources, the need for trigger warnings in YA books, the adaptation of books into movies and shows, reading multiple books at the same time, listening to music while reading, and the acceptability of reading smut. They also share their opinions on various book-related topics, including the necessity of happy endings, the impact of listing tropes as spoilers, the importance of book covers, the debate over breaking book spines, the pricing of e-books, the standard size for softcover books, the dislike of fake or permanent stickers on books, the lack of third-act breakups in fluffy romance books, and the use of pop culture references in books.

Summary

In this episode, Nicole shares her March wrap-up and reviews the books she read during the month. She discusses her disappointment with House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas. Nicole compares the characters and plot of Crescent City to Maas' other books and expresses her attachment to certain characters. She also reviews other books she read, including Binding 13, Fourth Wing, and A Groom of One's Own. Nicole concludes the episode by wishing her listeners a good April.

Takeaways

House of Sky and Breath was a disappointing read for Nicole, particularly due to the lack of her favorite characters and the feeling of it being a cash grab.
Nicole compares the characters and plot of Crescent City to Sarah J. Maas' other books and expresses her attachment to certain characters.
Nicole enjoyed reading Binding 13 and Fourth Wing, finding them entertaining and engaging.
A Groom of One's Own was a wholesome and enjoyable read for Nicole, with a sweet romance and relatable characters.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and March Wrap-Up
00:50 Review of House of Sky and Breath
04:34 Overview of Crescent City
06:16 Review of Binding 13
09:01 Disappointment with House of Flame and Shadow
10:50 Review of Fourth Wing
14:13 Review of Amazon Prime Novellas
16:11 Review of Iron Flame
19:29 Conclusion

Summary

In this episode, Nicole discusses various topics related to reading and books. She starts by talking about how to avoid a book slump and shares her personal strategies, such as looking up spoilers or reading with a buddy. She then talks about how to determine if a book is a five-star read, highlighting the emotional reactions and connections she experiences while reading. Nicole also shares how reading helps her understand and empathize with different perspectives and how it has deepened her faith. Lastly, she recommends some beginner-friendly books in the fantasy and fiction genres.

Takeaways

To avoid a book slump, try strategies like looking up spoilers or reading with a buddy.
A five-star book is one that elicits strong emotional reactions and connections.
Reading helps to understand and empathize with different perspectives and can deepen one's faith.
Recommended beginner-friendly books in the fantasy genre: Dance of Thieves. Recommended beginner-friendly book in the fiction genre: Inheritance Games.