This week we dive into Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow, a multigenerational novel of a southern black family trying to navigate and overcome the hurdles before them.
Topics of discussion include the cycle of abuse, the discouragement of arts among people of lower socio-economic backgrounds, systemic discrimination, how historical fiction authors weave in real history, and the media.
The kids books this week are Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan and The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
This week we delve into Former First Lady Michelle Obama's autobiography Becoming, which details her life from her youth through her time as First Lady.
The kids' book feature this week is Sing a Song of Seasons, collated by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Fran Preston-Gannon.
Other topics this week include community, pregnancy loss, thirsting after a former president, marriage of opposites.
This week, we delve into Sadeqa Johnson's House of Eve, a historical novel about two young women navigating love, their position in the world, and the ache of motherhood.
The children's book feature this week is The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch and Martin Martchenko
Other topics of discussion include the lost history of the Black Elite in America, colorism, unwed mother homes, every brown person's first "reckoning," and the lack of advocacy for women in the medical field
This week's episode is a pretty heavy one, topic-wise. We review Salt Houses by Hala Alyan, a multigenerational story about a Palestinian family who face displacement after displacement in the wake of wars in the Middle East.
The kids book feature "These Olive Trees" by Aya Ganameh is also a Palestinian story.
Other topics mentioned in this episode include a brief historical context of Israel-Palestine relations, the "Not In My Backyard" mentality, Sunk-cost fallacy, the danger of getting caught up in a niche aspect of an issue, how we're not meant to know all the terrible news.
If you're interested in the brand of bike Shay and April got for their kids, you can check it out at: https://guardianbikes.com/
If you would like to donate to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, please donate at: https://www.pcrf.net/
This week, we delve into Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart, a memoir about her experience as a Korean American and navigating her mother's illness.
Topics of discussion include the difference between autobiographies and memoirs, a long tangent on American food culture, food as cultural representation, food as a marker of love, the idea of just not existing, and not ever entertaining the thought of us--the mothers--being the ones to go first.
The kids books this week are Big by Vashti Harrison and White Water by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein.
This week, we welcome Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, a cozy novel about found families, set at an estate house in the UK.
Tangential topics include tokenization, tea, women's default to hiding their true selves, and Taylor Swift of course.
Kids book is Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy and Ekua Holmes
We're back! Here is our first official episode of Season Two!
This week, we delve into Nadia Hashimi's When the Moon is Low, a moving novel about an Afghan mother trying to get her children to safety. Topics include mother-in-law relationships, weird boy mom culture, different cultural approaches to storytelling, the importance of the education of women and young girls, and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
We also reference Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "The Danger of a Single Story" talk, the podcast You Are Good. and Melinda Gates' The Moment of Lift.
The kids books mentioned in this episode are:
We Could Fly by Rihannon Giddens and Briana Mukodiri Uchendu
Worm loves Worm by J. J. Austrian and Mike Curato
Escargot by Dashka Slater and Sydney Hansen
*Correction in today's episode: the movie Shay mentions is actually Billy Madison, not, in fact, Happy Gilmore. They are both Adam Sandler movies that came out in the mid '90s.
Today we have a really special bonus episode! March 21 marks the publishing anniversary of our very own Shay Galloway's debut novel The Valley of Sage and Juniper,
To celebrate this milestone, we sit down and discuss the book, and, as usual juggle our sick children while going on our own tangents including sex scenes, taciturn past generations, and strong female characters.
This week, the Bitches tackled Rachel Yoder's raw, walloping, and divisive Nightbitch. Topics of discussion include Literary fiction, mental load, PPD, being judgmental of other mothers, projecting our own insecurities, creativity and motherhood, and whether children are worth it.
Today's kid book is Miimi Maraal, Mother Earth by Melissa Greenwood
This week, the Bitch Moms present of their long-time favorites: Joanne Harris' Five Quarters of the Orange, a historical novel set in German-occupied France. Topics of discussion include generational differences in parenting, how children can be both terrible and motivating, the stupid insurance-based American healthcare system.
Today's kids book is My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
This week, the Bitch Moms cover Steven Rowley's The Guncle, a book about a semi-retired actor uncle who is tasked with caring for his grieving niblings for a summer. Other topics discussed include children (and spite) as motivators, meeting kids in their weirdness, and the struggle of trying to decide when to take your kid in to the doctor or not.
Kids books include Butterfly Child by March Majewski and The Moon over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston and Jerry Pinkney.
This week, the Bitch Moms delve into Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, a retelling of the Biblical tale of Jacob/Israel's daughter Dinah, through her eyes.
Topics of discussion include reproductive rights, menstrual syncing, women's worth being tied to fertility, the King James Version, and women's stories lost to history.
Children's book features are Snakes in Space by Kathryn Dennis and A Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn and Barbara L. Gibson
This week, the Bitch Moms welcome Sara Read, author of Johanna Porter is Not Sorry to the show.
Kids' Book features this week are Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin and Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney
Topics we hit in this episode: the genre of Women's Fiction, sex, reclaiming yourself after children, "free-range parenting," and how teens get a bad rap.
**Note: Due to the length of the book and the discussion it inspired, the episode was split in two. This is the second part.
This week, the Bitches get into Educated, the bestselling memoir by Tara Westover chronicling her journey from the clutches of isolated extremist family to "worldly" PhD wielder.
Topics discussed include: the harms of extremism, and potential harms of isolationism, purity culture and the perpetuation, the education system, the worth of college, and the power of people in your court.
Today's kids book features The Stuff of Stars by Marian Dane Bauer and Ekua Holmes and We are Water Protectors by Carol Lindstrom and Michaela Goade.
This week, the Bitches get into Educated, the bestselling memoir by Tara Westover chronicling her journey from the clutches of isolated extremist family to "worldly" PhD wielder.
Due to the length of the book and the discussion it inspired, the episode was split in two.
Topics discussed include: the harms of extremism, and potential harms of isolationism, purity culture and the perpetuation, the education system, the worth of college, and the power of people in your court.
Today's kids book features The Stuff of Stars by Marian Dane Bauer and Ekua Holmes and We are Water Protectors by Carol Lindstrom and Michaela Goade.
*Special Episode Alert*
This week, the Bitch Moms are joined by Diane Marie Brown, author of the novel Black Candle Women, A Read with Jenna pick.
In this episode we discuss generational relationships, Voodoo and HooDoo, the futility of trying to control our children, and how GenZ is going to save us.
The kids books featured this week are: Old Wood Boat by Nikki McClure and Smokey Night by Eve Bunting, David Diaz
In this episode, the Bitch Moms discuss Shonda Rhimes' Year of Yes. Shonda Rhimes is the creator of shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and Bridgerton.
Topics discussed in this episode include saying yes to the things that scare you, saying no to the things that don't work for you, setting boundaries, using your kids an excuse to get out of stuff, motherhood as a job, and juggling.
Today's kids book is Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard and James E. Ransom: https://bookshop.org/a/96184/9780395720776
Check out Big Little Feelings, a course to guide you through the toddler stage!
This week, the Bitch Moms take on The School for Good Mothers. Discussion topics include the lack of distinction between "bad" moms, the Horseshoe Theory, child development professionals without children, the Bell Curve of Normalcy, WASP-centric parenting models, and the double standards between male and female parents. Also, is this book really dystopian?
Today's books include:
Meet Shay and April, the hosts of the Bitch Moms Book Club. In this welcome episode, they detail their professional backgrounds and the impetus of the podcast.
Purchase Shay's novel https://bookshop.org/a/96184/9781955062602
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