Books & Banter

Oct 14 2024 52 ep. 61 mins

Books & Banter Podcast artwork

Jess and Janine (aka Cynical and Naive) discuss books of all kinds. Come for the snark, stay for the tangents! (or vice versa).

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Goodbye! The last episode of Books & Banter

Oct 14 2024 10 mins

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 joining us, whether it was for one episode or from beginning to end. Theme tune: Nothing Just Happens by lemonmusicstudio via pixabay.com Additional sound effects courtesy zapsplat.com

Highway of Tears by Jessica McDermid

Sep 30 2024 81 mins

Jess and Janine are reduced to angry speechlessness more than once, Cynical and Naïve make another appearance, and Jess would definitely pick up hitchhikers in a Manitoba winter, in this episode of the Books & Banter podcast, featuring Highway of Tears by Jessica McDermid. Please note that contrary to what Jess says, “skittles” is a type of bowling, not a type of billiards

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

Sep 16 2024 69 mins

Janine is grossed out by certain hide-tanning techniques, Jess never trusts anybody, and the two of them discuss various First Nations cooking techniques in this episode of the Books and Banter podcast, featuring Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom. To place a hold on Crow Mary, click here. To place a hold on Pioneer Quest, click here. For recipes and a book club discussion guide, click

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

Sep 02 2024 71 mins

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 too fond of the word “unalive” in this episode of the Books & Banter podcast, featuring The Teacher by Freida McFadden. Place a hold on The Teacher here. Reddit thread is here. Verity podcast here. Verity bonus chapter podc

Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

Aug 19 2024 87 mins

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 the practice of being asked for your email at store checkouts in this episode of the Books and Banter podcast, this episode featuring Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini. To place a hold on Fractal Noise, click here. The podcast episo

Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades by Rebecca Renner

Aug 05 2024 63 mins

Jess claims that, technically, everyone is allergic to alligator bites, Janine reveals that she hates paper straws and hoards her plastic ones, and Jess and Janine discuss the ethics of being a bodyguard for endangered rhinos in this episode of the Books & Banter podcast, featuring Gator Country by Rebecca Renner. To place a hold on Gator Country, click here. Author Rebecca Ren

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

Jul 22 2024 62 mins

Janine takes grave offense at Bienenstich being called a dull dessert, Jess thinks Will Patton’s audiobook narration radiates the appropriate total disdain for humanity, and digressions abound in this episode of the Books & Banter podcast, featuring Call Down The Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater. To place a hold on Call Down the Hawk, click here. To place a hold on L.A. Meyer’s B

The First Fast Draw by Louis L'Amour

Jul 08 2024 54 mins

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 featuring The First Fast Draw by Louis L’Amour. To place a hold on the First Fast Draw, click here. To place a hold on Pioneer Quest, click here. The "Bear at Disney" story is here. More about Quantrill’s Raiders here. Jesse

How I'll Kill You by Ren DeStefano

Jun 24 2024 66 mins

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 this episode of the Books and Banter podcast, featuring How I’ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano. To place a hold on How I’ll Kill You, click here. For more about Michael Peterson and (alleged) murder by owl, click here or here. Sources f

Garden of Burning Sand by Corban Addison

Jun 10 2024 75 mins

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 featuring Garden of Burning Sand by Corban Addison. To place a hold on Garden of Burning Sand, click here. To place a hold on Change of Heart, click here. The articles where Janine found her fun facts are here: Why Legal Medicine