Books & Banter
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Goodbye! The last episode of Books & Banter
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Janine (and Editor Linda) wrap up three years of podcasting in a compilation episode of out-of-context snippets and bloopers. Thanks for join...
Highway of Tears by Jessica McDermid
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Janine are reduced to angry speechlessness more than once, Cynical and Naïve make another appearance, and Jess would definitely pick up hitc...
Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine is grossed out by certain hide-tanning techniques, Jess never trusts anybody, and the two of them discuss various First Nations cooking techniq...
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess explains you shouldn’t commit murders unless you really enjoy digging, but she is not giving murder tips to criminals, and Jess and Janine are ...
Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine doesn’t understand the appeal of a giant hole in the ground, Jess would get up on broken legs to turn off a dripping tap, and both deplore th...
Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades by Rebecca Renner
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess claims that, technically, everyone is allergic to alligator bites, Janine reveals that she hates paper straws and hoards her plastic ones, and Je...
Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine takes grave offense at Bienenstich being called a dull dessert, Jess thinks Will Patton’s audiobook narration radiates the appropriate total ...
The First Fast Draw by Louis L'Amour
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess would pay money to see Janine trying out pioneer life, and the Janine Nap-O-Meter returns in this episode of Books & Banter, this week featur...
How I'll Kill You by Ren DeStefano
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine admits she doesn’t carry a shovel in her trunk, and Jess questions the internal defense mechanisms of the main character’s boyfriend in thi...
Garden of Burning Sand by Corban Addison
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine can’t trust her memory, and Jess calls out “poor little rich girl” hypocrisy in this episode of the Books & Banter podcast, this week...
American Demon: Eliot Ness and the hunt for America's Jack the Ripper by Daniel Stashower
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess gets hives at the thought of 1930s forensics methods, and Janine is open to bribery, in this episode of Books & Banter, this week featuring A...
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A Page to Screen special episode! Jess hears “Capricorn” and thinks “candy corn”, Janine starts out not knowing who Andy Serkis is and ends up...
The Mermaid, the Witch, and The Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess dreams of a movie about a shark-ray hybrid (starring Steve Irwin), Janine reveals she doesn’t like Calvin and Hobbes, and both go on all manner...
Death by Bubble Tea by Jennifer Chow
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine is sad for kids who are exploited by their influencer parents, Jess can’t stand the logical and scientific inconsistencies of cozy mysteries,...
A Semester in the life of a garbage bag by Gordon Korman
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine has no idea how to pronounce the name of that Greek Island, and Jess can’t pronounce “salete” or “chaperone” in this episode of Books...
Behind the door: the dark truths and untold stories of the Cecil Hotel, by Amy Price
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine shows off her Dolly Parton impression, Jess reels off her favourite facts about the appendix, and both spend as much time on tangents as actual...
Homecoming by Kate Morton
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine is weirdly attached to her copy of certain books, and Jess (verbally) flails incoherently while attempting to describe the plot in this episode...
Bonus chapters! Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine and Jess return to the Empyrean Riders again, all too briefly, before going off on a tangent (again), in this bonus episode of Books and Banter...
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cynical and naïve make a triumphant return as Jess and Janine unabashedly fangirl, Jess is unnervingly good at thinking up torture methods, and Janin...
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess cannot stop referring to “How To Train Your Dragon for adults” and Janine is a sucker for reality shows, in this episode of Books & Bante...
Look Out For The Little Guy by Scott Lang
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess finds Paul Rudd’s lack of aging to be suspicious, special guest Kelly questions the health of Ant-Man’s relationship, Janine is confused by t...
Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Janine divulges the wisdom of her mother when it comes to murder, special guest Britany prefers their murders slightly less classy and organized,… a...
The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess finds the main character’s obsession with her future father-in-law rather creepy, and Janine thinks Thanksgiving dinner stuffing made of Timbit...
Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess is looking up property prices for sinister secluded cabins, Janine explains that crocodiles feel like leather purses, and Jess and Janine lose it...
The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess would take self-defense courses if she ever had to work as a kindergarten teacher, and Janine has finally read a podcast book without falling asl...
The Wager by David Grann
09 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess is still annoyed about a book she read for the podcast eleven months ago, Janine wants to go swimming, and Jess gives Janine 8 hours of homework ...
Holly by Stephen King
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess thinks Psycho is hilarious, Janine is tired of all the half-jokes, and no one wants to hear any more about Covid, in this episode featuring Holly...
What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine is tired of hearing about Flynn’s nose, and Jess promotes an alternative pronunciation of "chameleon" in this week's podcast, f...
Mistborn: the final Empire by Brian Sanderson
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess feels about Brandon Sanderson the way Janine feels about Louise Penny, and Janine and Jess agree that anything is better than Patterson, in this ...
American Predator by Maureen Callahan
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine has Strong Opinions about audiobook narration styles, and Jess is too crabby for that level of perkiness, ever, in this week's podcast, fea...
Crossbones by Kimberly Vale
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess can taste the desperation, and Janine is against basing her judgment of books on her caffeine consumption, in today's episode, featuring Cros...
The Pawn by Steven James
03 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess thinks serial killers should have the courtesy to let the press give them their nicknames, and Janine wonders why someone who calls himself “Th...
Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo
02 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine’s role on the podcast is revealed as snack-bringer and explaining the most basic parts of the books to Jess, and Jess has logistical question...
Happy Place by Emily Henry
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess is too crabby for books where no one dies, and Janine gets deeply invested in someone else's relationship, in this week's podcast, featur...
Amish Vampires in Space by Kerry Nietz
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine sees no need for anyone to own five shovels, and Jess thinks a human equivalent of fainting goats would be hilarious, in this week's podcas...
The Winterbourne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess needs a butler, Janine briefly channels her inner Mr. T, and both are in the same boat... with no idea of where they're going, in this week’...
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine discovers there's an actual sport called "hurling," and Jess wants to line up all the crabs on the beach and make them fight, in ...
Friends, lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine almost jinxes Matthew Perry, and Jess suggests renaming the podcast "Naive and Cynical" to reflect the hosts' characters, in this...
Contact by Carl Sagan
26 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle calls Matthew McConaughey "delicious," Janine discovers Carl Sagan smoked weed, and Jess sends an unscientific translator to the co...
Spare by Harry, Prince of Cornwall
25 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess has no problem imagining being smuggled out of a bar and leaving hidden in the trunk of her own car, Janine bemoans the fact that there will like...
Ride the River by Louis L'Amour
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess covets an elderly lawyer’s swordstick, Janine calls the Sacketts the Kennedys of the Wild West, and both agree to disagree in today’s episode...
How to Be A Wallflower by Eloisa James
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess speculates about the backstory of Frederica the Cow Lady, Janine discovers a horrifying definition of “tool”, and special guest (and editor) ...
Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess shares her appreciation for orcas (who aren't all that diplomatic) and Janine reminisces about crushed childhood illusions about the movie Fr...
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Janine welcome special guest Cathy, and talk banned books, Freedom to Read week, talking polar bears, and Tom Hanks as audiobook narrator in ...
Playing the Part by Jen Turano
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine does not appreciate chaos, but Jess really really likes cannons... all this and more in this episode, featuring Playing the Part by Jen Turano ...
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V. E Schwab
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine realizes she will not live for 300 years, Jess realizes that she would be a terrible counselor, and special guest Raina realizes that there ar...
Clinton v. Clinton: Who writes the better thriller?
19 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine gets fangirly over Louise Penny and Jess disapproves of Action! Hero! President! in today's podcast, featuring a comparison and contrast o...
Furious Hours by Casey Cep
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess calls for "more blood!", and Janine finds the author's photo a bit disconcerting, in today's podcast discussion of Furious Hour...
Twisted Tea Christmas by Laura Childs
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast, Jess accidentally renames a character and Janine admits her true feelings about pets in cozy mysteries, as they give their opinions o...
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Janine's kids are scared of the Grinch, and Jess only likes the crappy parts of Christmas... and other revelation in this page-to-screen podcast a...
Verity by Colleen Hoover - the bonus chapter!
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Janine revisit their favorite (?) characters from Verity in the bonus chapter, and give you their opinion on whether of not it's worth b...
Verity by Colleen Hoover
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jess and Janine dig right into booktok hit Verity by Colleen Hoover. Opinions about characters, plot twists, and turtles are all coming your way - and...