Ep. 47: Lit Chats: Books That Changed Us

Join Amanda and Kelsey as they explore the books that have had the most significant impact on their lives. Expect emotional recollections, bookish banter, and a humorous take on the tales that transformed them.

00:00 Welcome to Lit Vibes Only!

00:28 Join Us on Social Media

02:17 BookTok Tea w/ Kelsey

13:52 Why We Chose Our Books

16:34 The Help 

26:50 Divergent Series

30:52 The Alchemist 

36:24 Autobiography of Malcolm X

40:33 Educated 

46:13 A Court of Mist and Fury

48:22 Recap and Closing Remarks

Follow us on TikTok & Youtube @litvibesonlypodcast and on Instagram @litvibesonly_podcast. You can also email us at litvibesonlypodcast@gmail.com We'd love to hear from you!

See you on Mondays!

Transcript

Ep. 47: Lit Chats Books That Changed Us

[00:00:00] Welcome to Lit Vibes Only, where we lit the shit out of books we love and hate. I'm Amanda, the insightful, thrill seeker, and historical fiction 

[00:00:12] Kelsey: nerd. I. And I'm Kelsey, the unhinged, diehard, romantic and fantasy reader. I'm so proud of myself. YI was like, yes. I just did it. I sat it without crossed fingers Script.

[00:00:24] Kelsey: Welcome. Amazing. Well done. So glad you're here. Welcome, welcome. Before we get started into our Lit Chats episode, we want to direct you straight to our socials on Instagram we are lit Vibes only Podcast. Come hang out with us, chat with us on TikTok. We are lit Vibes only podcast where we just reached a thousand followers, but.

[00:00:50] Kelsey: By this time in July, end of July, last episode in July. Oh my gosh. End of July. We'll likely have so many more. So welcome [00:01:00] everybody. Welcome, welcome. Our goal is to continue growing our community and fan base. Mm-hmm. And so we are here for it.

[00:01:06] Kelsey: So go take two seconds. To go rate our podcast. Mm-hmm. If you like it just as much as we love making it mm-hmm. We want other people like you to hear it. So go rate it and if you have a minute or two, go, review it as well. And also if you ever have feedback for us or suggestions like mm-hmm.

[00:01:28] Kelsey: You can comment on any of our videos or you can message us on Instagram or TikTok. Mm-hmm. We would love to hear from you. Yes. And we don't get much feedback yet, so we wanna hear it. We wanna know what you wanna hear and what you want us talking about. Yes, you can 

also, also, if you're 

[00:01:44] Kelsey: like, 

Ugh, I'm not on socials, because I know some of you aren't, which is totally fine, you can also email us.

Email us. We don't mention that very often in our episodes, but we do have an email that we do check. Yes, it's lit Vibes only podcast@gmail.com and that's also a great place to send your feedback, send [00:02:00] recommendations for books that we should cover on the podcast. If you wanna send us book talk news that you think we should include in some of our segments 

[00:02:08] Kelsey: or if you ever wanna send us.

[00:02:10] Kelsey: Arcs. We're here for that. Yes, please. 

We're here. Send them on over. We would love 

[00:02:15] Kelsey: it. Yeah. Yes. But we 

do have book talk T 

[00:02:19] Kelsey: for today. Yeah, we do. And it's an interesting conversation. I, I am curious, I, I actually know what you're gonna say, but I'm curious like. I'll have a conversation will unfold. No, I don't think you'll it's funny 'cause the last episode you told me I was unpredictable in my, like, reading taste.

[00:02:38] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. You are so very, very predictable in your reading taste. 

I don't wanna be predictable. It's so 

[00:02:44] Kelsey: boring. It also just means, you know, you're, you're, I'm co consistent. Yeah. You're consistent. So. I don't know how long ago this happened actually, but what's her name? The author of Red Queen, which came up in our [00:03:00] Yes.

[00:03:00] Kelsey: Carlos episode. Uhhuh Victoria Ard. She's writing a new book and has been talking about it on social media. Mm-hmm. And one of her posts. Alluded to someone using AI in their writing to write their book essentially. Mm-hmm. And this sparked this huge controversy, which like, I don't know that it should be a huge controversy because honestly it's, there's a few things going on here.

[00:03:28] Kelsey: The use of ai mm-hmm. When you're writing mm-hmm. A novel. 

Mm-hmm. 

[00:03:32] Kelsey: And then also the mob mentality when you. Want someone to do something. Okay. So people were rallying for Victoria to like out the people or person that is using ai. And she never says like who it is. And people are like wanting to what's the word called destroy her, but like also God.

[00:03:58] Kelsey: I don't Oh, on social [00:04:00] media. Like make her go away essentially. 

Okay. 

[00:04:03] Kelsey: What 

is that called? Ostracize? I don't know. It's a very 

[00:04:10] Kelsey: canceled, yes. Yes. They want her canceled. Okay. Okay. They want her canceled. Okay. Because she won't share who this author or company or publisher is using ai. What are your thoughts?

Well, since I'm predictable, Kelsey, what do you 

[00:04:25] Kelsey: think I'm going to say? Well, with the AI thing, I think you're like, yeah, you shouldn't be using ai. That's what I think. Yeah. I mean, I agree. Yes, 

absolutely. You shouldn't be using AI to write a novel. I think it is, and again, this is something that we're obviously really grappling with in schools, as I'm, of course, you know 

[00:04:43] Amanda: mm-hmm.

[00:04:43] Amanda: The educational spirits, like mm-hmm. 

How do we. Incorporate this into education, do we incorporate it? How do we teach students how to use it as a tool and not as a replacement? So yeah, definitely against having something do the work for you. But I think it can be a helpful tool, right? Whether it's like with editing or [00:05:00] like, I don't know, maybe if you need, help brainstorming something or kind of talking through an idea. Sure. But yeah, totally against that. I think I, I'm assuming the second part of, of this whole thing is wanting to know where I stand and whether or not to out them essentially. And two, yeah, I don't think that is someone else's place to do that, even if I don't agree with what they're doing.

Like you're, that's someone else's reputation. It's their livelihood. And while it does feel like cheating to have AI writing your books and having you profit off of them, I feel like it's just like, wouldn't be my place. And it's up to them to be the kind of person that's gonna own up to it and be like, yeah, this is my quote unquote writing process.

Right. Just using ai. Mm-hmm. 

[00:05:45] Amanda: Mm-hmm.

But I think it, yeah, I, it would, it would feel it, it would literally feel like outing someone and I would not. Feel okay with that? 

[00:05:56] Kelsey: Well, and not only that, the point that was [00:06:00] made in the video that I watched was she's part of the publishing world and if she does that, she's also risking her own livelihood.

Yeah. And 

[00:06:10] Kelsey: reputation. 

Yeah. 

[00:06:12] Kelsey: By actually like outing the person by name. Well, 

so just, just for my own clarification, 'cause I'm not sure if I understood this. Was Victoria the one who brought up this author and was like, oh, by the way, there's an author who does this, or did somebody comment kind of on one of her post and said that?

No, I don't 

[00:06:32] Kelsey: think it was. I think it was just like alluding to, because wait, is it this one? She brought 

it up and I would be like, well, what was your intention in doing that? If you. Weren't gonna kind of, I guess, follow through, so to speak. Like, why did you share that information if you were only gonna kind of tease people with this, like, well, guess what?

I know, you know, I don't know.

[00:06:54] Kelsey: Yeah, I don't, I actually don't know. I, I didn't see the first [00:07:00] post that she made. 

Okay. Like the original post.

[00:07:02] Kelsey: Paige Pirate fantasy with me. Yeah. No. So I, I can't say exactly how it came up. 

Okay. 

[00:07:10] Kelsey: But no matter what, is that what also 

changed my response of like, she was the one Yeah.

Who brought it up Then I'd be like, what was your intention in doing that? There 

[00:07:15] Kelsey: is one post where she's like, just doing like editing on, oh, all she did, all she, no. What she posted was edit my 1000 page pirate fantasy with me using. Without using Gen ai, Uhhuh. And then, so she's, it's like a video.

[00:07:36] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. And then she goes on to say the issues around generative AI is trained on copyrighted material that has been stolen from artists without license or compensation. Mm-hmm. So she's just kind of talking about Yeah. The issue. Sure. Rather than like, yeah. Okay. But so. Using gen AI to come up [00:08:00] with characters plots and story ideas.

[00:08:01] Kelsey: Isn't writing it's theft. 

[00:08:03] Amanda: Hmm. 

[00:08:04] Kelsey: Okay. So that's what she's like saying. I see. Yeah. But 

she didn't call out a particular person and be like, oh, I know of someone who did this. Yeah. That was something that must have come up in like, 

[00:08:15] Kelsey: which is so weird. I don't know. I think the other issue about this is that, the mob mentality really gets me every time this happens on social media and it's like, we need to gang up on this person. 

Mm-hmm. 

[00:08:29] Kelsey: Like mm-hmm. It's so strange to me. 

Well, but it's so easy to do that on social media. Like it social media is so conducive to the mom mentality because. It's relatively anonymous.

Right. And you can kind of jump on a bandwagon with very little effort, right? Yeah. From the comfort of your living room. Mm-hmm. And people are obviously gonna be more emboldened to say and do things when it's not in person face-to-face. So it, it does make sense. I think it's really unhealthy, but like that's the 

[00:08:56] Kelsey: only reason you think people do that.

[00:08:58] Kelsey: Like, I don't know. That's just [00:09:00] weird to me. 

Well, I mean, I think it's also just human nature to want to be part of something, even if it's not a bad or not a good thing. You know, like mobs have been around for forever. Sure. Both in person and now on social media. So I do think it's a part of human nature.

Because there's also, depending on what the mob is mobbing about, like there's also this element of self-righteousness. Like, I'm right, you're wrong. Mm-hmm. And kind of yes. Bolstering themselves by thinking like, look at me, out here. Crusading for a just world when in reality they just love the drama of it, or they love being able to tear someone else down.

Yes. Or feeling, yeah. Again, better about themselves. Mm-hmm. But yeah, in terms of like the big AI question, yeah, I think. I personally don't respect an author. I don't, I wouldn't consider someone an author if they just put a prompt into a, and was like, write me a 300 page story about a fairy who lives in, you know, I'm like, that you didn't, that's Well, I don't, and you are stealing from other people as she pointed out, because [00:10:00] AI is based on other people's work.

Mm-hmm. 

[00:10:03] Kelsey: Yeah. And would you be okay. With someone using it for like editing purposes. 

Yeah. So that was the other thing I wanted to bring up. Yeah, I think it depends on the level of editing, if that makes sense. And it's something again, I talk about with my students. You know, doing grammatical corrections or, rephrasing a sentence because it's lacking clarity is one thing.

Mm-hmm. But I think a really kind of high level of editing where you're essentially kind of. Changing the tone of what the author mm-hmm. Was communicating or in some parts of the story itself. I don't, I'm not okay with that. Mm-hmm. And it's interesting, so for, you know, for folks who are listening, we use a platform called Script to edit our podcast episodes.

And so I, I do all the editing for that. And there is an AI tool on the script called Under Lord, and there's an option. For [00:11:00] under lore to edit your podcast episode for you. And it's basically like low, medium, high. And basically that dictates how much freedom you're giving AI to alter Right.

Your content. Mm-hmm. I don't use it especially 'cause I, I like to be able to be more hands on and have things be the way that we want them to be, so I think it depends on the level is what I'm trying to say. Mm-hmm. Of just like exactly how much you're entrusting this. AI to do. 

[00:11:25] Kelsey: Yeah. Yeah. Well, what if you're like.

[00:11:27] Kelsey: Here's a plot I want to use. Help me fully flush it out. 

Yeah, but that's not editing to me. That's not editing. Well, no, no, I know. Oh, that's just another 

[00:11:38] Kelsey: idea. Like, yeah, so is like, well, yeah, that's what I'm saying. 

I don't basically writing, like if someone's just like, here's the premise, right? Here's like this idea that I have, write it from you.

I'm like, that's, you're not writing. You came up with a really, perhaps good prompt, right? Yeah. And knowing how to craft good prompts for AI is a skill actually. But it's mm-hmm. Doesn't make you a writer. Mm-hmm. You know, like, I, I think that line needs to be very [00:12:00] clear. Yeah. But yeah, I know these conversations are just gonna keep happening as Yeah, absolutely.

It takes off, and this is a quick tangent but I was reading an article the other day, I was talking about this with a friend. Mm-hmm. Which is a little terrifying. Oh God. Is that, I hope I don't get the details wrong. They already have situations in which. Ai, these like ai, whatever tools have rewritten their own code to keep them from getting shut down by us.

Oh my God. I'm like, that is alarming. If we're already at the stage, we're like these AI programs. Are Yikes. Basically taking defensive measures to keep us from being able to shut down these programs that we've created like that. That is just the beginning in my opinion, and I'm like, oh 

[00:12:45] Kelsey: my God. Oh yeah, 

the AI apocalypse is upon us.

Y'all 

[00:12:48] Kelsey: like, oh God. I 

read that. I was like, this is literally the start of like every apocalyptic. 

[00:12:54] Kelsey: It's not gonna be vampires or zombies. 

No, it's not. It's gonna be ai. [00:13:00] Anyhow, listeners, you can definitely tell us if we're being completely unhinged, but I read that and my stomach just dropped. I was like.

Again, this is like where it starts and it's easy. That's terrifying. And even terrify, even the folks who are in AI are like, yeah, like it's really rare when this happens. No need to be alarmed. I'm like, this is, I'm the most alarmed. Like this is alarming. We should be concerned. So anyhow, but I don't want this.

Yeah. 

[00:13:25] Kelsey: Why wouldn't they be alarmed? Or they're just trying to tell people not to be alarmed. Sure. Right. Like Right. 

And there's so much they keep from the public. Oh my God. So who knows, like, yeah. I don't wanna be like a conspiracy theorist over here, but like, reading that, I was like, conspiracy 

[00:13:37] Kelsey: theory.

We're gonna start another podcast, a spinoff where we just Oh, okay. But anyhow, I don't wanna go down too much of an ai tangent, 

[00:13:46] Kelsey: tangent 

rabbit hole. 'cause I am excited to talk about, we can talk about 

[00:13:49] Kelsey: for a while. 

These books that we, we've chosen? Yes. 'Cause the premise for today's chat is just like, we've each selected four books that have changed us in some way, big or [00:14:00] small.

[00:14:00] Amanda: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And we wanna share those 

with you. We're not gonna spoil anything about the books. I don't think, we technically didn't talk about this before. Are you gonna spoil anything? I'm not. Oh, 

[00:14:09] Kelsey: no. 

I mean, you can if you want to. I don't. 

[00:14:13] Kelsey: There's just, okay. There's just one thing that I might, but I will Okay, go for it.

[00:14:18] Kelsey: Say, before it, you just say that there's a spoiler alert, 

but for the most part, this is not like, we're not doing a deep dive into these books. No, we're not summarizing the plot or anything. We're just gonna tell you what these books are, how they impacted us, and probably encourage you to read them for the most part.

Okay. Some of them maybe no, 

[00:14:34] Kelsey: but I can do it in a way where I don't have to spoil it 'cause it is a big spoiler and, Okay. I'm just, I'm just gonna stay away from it. 

Okay. Alright. But I'll touch, I'm sure our listeners will appreciate that. So yeah, I, and again, I love these chats because they're a lot more freeform and less structured than our Yes.

Like lit racks or like our lit it or quit it. Mm-hmm. So, yeah. Let's, let's chat about the books that have changed. Hey. 

[00:14:59] Kelsey: [00:15:00] Yeah. It's so funny because when I first brought this prompt idea up 

mm-hmm. I was 

[00:15:06] Kelsey: thinking, oh, like. Emotionally crushed me. 

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And I. 

[00:15:11] Kelsey: I didn't, I looked back at the various books that I've read and I'm like, what books like crushed me?

[00:15:18] Kelsey: I was like, I've cried in a lot, but like mm-hmm. You know, I've cried like in Onyx Storm mm-hmm. And those types of books, but I'm like, I don't feel like it changed me. Mm-hmm. You know? Sure, sure, sure. Yeah. Yeah. So it was an interesting process to be like, mm-hmm. Oh, what books am I going to? 

Yeah. 

[00:15:36] Kelsey: Choose and decide on.

[00:15:37] Kelsey: Yeah. Did you have a theme or did you have it all over the place? 

I think I had a couple of different criteria. I guess I wanted to think about books that like maybe shifted my perspective on something. Mm-hmm. Books that perhaps got me into a genre maybe that I hadn't really considered before or had but had fallen away from.[00:16:00]

Mm-hmm. Books that had an impact on my own, like personal growth in develop, at development as like a human being. Mm-hmm. And then books that also changed the way that I perhaps interact with books and how I respond to 'em. I know that sounds kind of vague, but it'll make sense once I get to my book choices, I promise.

Yeah. 

[00:16:17] Kelsey: No, that makes sense. And then I think the only thing that I would add. I also included were books that changed my reading trajectory. Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

That's a good one. 

[00:16:29] Kelsey: Yeah. Yeah. 

Cool. Well, do you wanna go first or do you want me to go first? 

[00:16:33] Kelsey: You go first. 

Okay. So I'm gonna start off with, oh God, let's see.

I'm gonna start with the most controversial book first, I guess, to get it out of the way. So my first book, and let me explain why I chose it, but the, my first book is The Help by Catherine Stockett, and I, of course, am well aware of. All of the controversy that has Yeah. Come out about this book since its publication.[00:17:00]

Mm-hmm. But I think I chose this book for two reasons. One, when I read it, a lot of that controversy hadn't really risen to the surface yet. Mm-hmm. And so I wasn't aware of that. I read this book when I was in my early twenties. I was living in Australia doing my masters and was kind of just getting back into.

Reading in the sense that, I don't know about you, but when I was in college, I didn't read a lot for fun. Mm-hmm. I was like so focused on just right school and textbooks and studying that. When I had free time, I didn't necessarily want to be reading. And so, when I was doing my master's down there, I did have a little bit more free time sort of than I had an undergrad.

And so I got back into it. This book was in the boarding house that I lived at. I was at an all girls private school boarding school. And it was just there. So I picked it up. And so two reasons. One of the reasons why this book was impactful was it was one of the. Books that I read as an adult where I, I distinctly like, I, I can envision this moment in my mind.

Mm-hmm. I finished the book, I was like sitting on the floor in my room. The sun [00:18:00] is like streaming through the window. I close the book and I just remember this sense of loss and I was like, this is it. Like, I'm, I'm done with these characters, I'm done with this story. I'm never gonna see them again.

I'm never going to like be inside their heads again and watch them interact like it truly felt like this grieving process. And I'd never had that kind of response really, at least as, as an adult with a book. And it just like knocked me off my feet for a second. I was like, oh my god, Uhhuh. And I remember just sitting there just like so distraught.

So that was a really big reason why the help stuck with me. I think the second thing is that, you know, growing up as a black person in a predominantly white. Area in Ohio. Mm-hmm. You know, I didn't really have. An opportunity to think about my race in a way that was productive and critical and helpful, especially as somebody who's both black and white.

And how to navigate that. And so I think also reading a book that was so [00:19:00] specifically about race. Mm-hmm. And also a book that was specifically. A lot about black women was also really helpful for me in my own journey. Okay. In starting to think about my race and what that means and unpack it because I think I read a lot of white books when I was growing up, just based on my environment and the books I was being told to read in school and the books I was being recommended.

Mm-hmm. And I, I understand that the help is written by a white woman and it still has a white female protagonist. Mm-hmm. But, you know, it does give voice to. The black female experience, and I think it was just kind of a, a catalyst for me to be like, okay, I do wanna make more of an effort to read books that tell.

My story and the story of like my people and like my ancestors and black women. Mm-hmm. And so, again, even though I know the book itself is like, ugh it served a really great purpose, like for me, both personally. Okay. And then again, how I interact with texts. And now like I want, I'm always looking for that [00:20:00] feeling when I close a book and I'm like, oh yeah, I'm gonna miss those people.

Like I really enjoyed getting to know them and like spending time in their world. So that is why my first book is the help. 

[00:20:09] Kelsey: Like that really is the best feeling. Ugh. So good in a book. You're like, oh my gosh, I just love this world and the people and yeah. It always is really sad to be like, Ugh, now I'm not with them anymore.

Yeah. And I think that's why I love and I seek out character driven books. I love Platinum looks third great. But it's like, I want that feeling where I'm like, I felt like I really got to just sit with some other individuals who are very different from me, perhaps. Mm-hmm. And just walk through life with them, you know, for like 300, 400 pages.

I love that. I love it. 

[00:20:43] Kelsey: Okay. I'm sitting here looking at my books and I just feel, I was like, God, I have two like kind of basic books. Great. Love it. And then two other ones that are more in depth but also it's funny because I've. Mentioned two of the books. [00:21:00] Mm-hmm. On our podcast already.

[00:21:00] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. And then two books that I, well, no, actually maybe I've mentioned all three and then haven't mentioned one. 

Okay. I think I know for sure what one of them is, but we'll see if that works. 

[00:21:10] Kelsey: I think I told you, but, so I will start with the earliest memory mm-hmm. 

[00:21:15] Kelsey: For me. Mm-hmm. And, this is curious.

[00:21:18] Kelsey: This is the Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Oh my God. Classic. I love it. Okay. And the reason why is my sister growing up, I always really, idolized her and like looked up to her. Mm-hmm. And I remember, I don't remember when the notebook came out, but it was like mm-hmm. I was a teenager mm-hmm. When I read it.

[00:21:40] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. A young teenager. Mm-hmm. And I just specifically remember, so similar to you having this memory. Mm-hmm. Like mm-hmm. It's also rooted in like me growing up because I was, I remember it was the summer and my mom was selling clam chowder at [00:22:00] one of the canoe races, and we were like . At the beach.

[00:22:02] Kelsey: And so it was like this whole memory where I was reading this book, and the reason why I was reading is because I wanted to go see the movie. And my sister was like, we can't go. I will take you to go see the movie. Mm-hmm. But you have to read the book first. Mm. And so I was like, okay. Sure. Because I really wanted to go see the movie and and so I like read it really fast one to kind of, you know, like, align with my sister in that way because again, like I, I really looked up to her.

[00:22:31] Kelsey: And then because I just was interested in it. And it was one of those first times where I was like, because. Unlike you Amanda. Mm-hmm. I didn't grow up reading a ton. That came like later in life. Mm-hmm. And so this was one of the first books I like, read straight through and like really enjoyed.

[00:22:46] Kelsey: And I thought the story was compelling. I really enjoyed it. 

[00:22:51] Kelsey: And it was my first like romance, you know, I've ever read. Oh yeah. It was just so silly. I love it to think like it's been like that. Long 

[00:22:59] Amanda: [00:23:00] mm-hmm. 

[00:23:00] Kelsey: Of a journey. But so yeah. So that was, yeah. Good. 

[00:23:05] Amanda: That's for me, that's a great choice.

[00:23:07] Amanda: I've actually, because I don't read romance, I've never actually read the Notebook, but of course I've seen it. Mm-hmm. And I have a funny quick little story about it. Oh yeah. So in the trailer for the Notebook mm-hmm. There's a scene, like, very briefly, a scene of, Ryan Gosling , but he's like, you know, he goes off to war Right.

[00:23:24] Amanda: And there's like a very brief scene of him, like, you know, Uhhuh and Warmth. Yeah. So my brother was under the impression, for whatever reason, this was a war movie. Oh my gosh. And not much knew what the movie was about. So we like show up to the theater. It's me and him, like the brother right below me. And we realized like, you know, like a third of the way into the movie, like it's a romance.

[00:23:43] Amanda: And he's like, I can't believe I agreed to come to this. Oh, that was too hilarious. Hilarious. That's too good. So I also have the theme from the Notebook. It's like one of my favorite songs to play on the piano. It's so beautiful. Oh, it is beautiful. Yeah, it's so beautiful. Yay. Yeah. So, yeah. Love that. Oh, that's a [00:24:00] good, that's a good choice.

[00:24:00] Amanda: I like that. Okay. I'm also looking at my list and like, okay, where do I wanna go from here? I think I'm gonna go and like, try and sort of go into chronological ish order. Yeah. So, I think. I'm not sure. Out of these next two, which one came first? We'll just go with this one next. So I've mentioned this book before in the podcast, and this is an author where I've read all of her books.

[00:24:19] Amanda: So Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Okay. You all know I love Geraldine Brooks. Geraldine, she's like my, you know, one of my favorite good old Geraldine one of my favorite historical fiction authors. But again, I read a fair amount of historical fiction when I was younger. So again? Mm-hmm. Like I was saying, like.

[00:24:36] Amanda: The American girl books and the Dear America, the, like that whole series. Yeah, I, I was trying to remember is a kid's. A series called like the Magic Tree House, and it would like take them back in time to different parts of history. Yes. Like that was just my jam. I loved it. Cute. And then again, as I got older, I kind of fell away from reading historical fiction, was reading more like contemporary fiction, like thriller type stuff.

[00:24:59] Amanda: Okay. And [00:25:00] I distinctly remember. Year of Wonders was like the book that really kind of reignited my love. Mm-hmm. For historical fiction as an adult. Mm-hmm. And again, I've said this before on a previous episode, but I was just blown away by her ability to, so. Specifically in such a detailed way, bring to life a world in a time so far removed.

[00:25:23] Amanda: Mm.

[00:25:23] Amanda: Like she, she literally spared no detail, whether it was like the, the cloth that they used in their clothing and how it might feel against one's skin to like mm-hmm. Again, like how the air might have smelled based on like, the animals nearby and like the way that sewage was disposed of and the bakery up the street.

[00:25:38] Amanda: Like it was just so, so detailed. And. I liked it even more because it was based on a true story. So it also just had like added interest and value for me 'cause it felt okay. Additionally interesting and educational. So for me, like this book changed me in that it really, fully got me back on the historical fiction and bandwagon.

[00:25:58] Amanda: Got it. Where I. [00:26:00] Still am and obviously went on to devour all the rest of her books. But yeah, without that book, I don't know if I would be as big of an adult historical fiction fan as I am. I mean, maybe I would've stumbled upon somebody else. Probably. Yeah. But yeah, I, I definitely credit that book for like getting me back into that particular genre and I'm so grateful because.

[00:26:24] Amanda: Historical fiction's a great place to be 

[00:26:27] Kelsey: me, 

for me, for me. I'm so glad 

[00:26:30] Kelsey: you love it. Thank you Kelsey. So glad. Yeah, it's interesting to learn about, um mm-hmm. Our little like journey mm-hmm. Reading journeys, everyone has a different story and so it's a great Yeah. 

And it can take like twists and turns that are expected.

Yep. 

[00:26:44] Kelsey: Absolutely has. And I think I'll, I'll do chronological as well. Okay. I think that makes the most sense. Yeah. To me. , So my second book or series rather mm-hmm. I'm going to mention is the Divergent series by Veronica [00:27:00] Roth. Oh yeah. This is where I was like, okay. The reason why it was so impactful for me, it is a spoiler, but I will try not to spoil it.

[00:27:11] Kelsey: You, we did if to It's okay if we do end up for likes in the beginning. Yeah. And tell you, tell you all, but yeah. It it's just the story of I'm like, tr Tri Tess. Yeah. Tri. Mm-hmm. Tris. 

Tri Tris. Yeah. Yeah. 

[00:27:25] Kelsey: Was so like, compelling for me as a young person because I, I read it when I was in my early twenties.

[00:27:33] Kelsey: Mm. Okay. And to give you kind of perspective. Mm-hmm. And I also have a memory of when I finished this series 

[00:27:41] Amanda: Mm. And 

[00:27:42] Kelsey: how heartbroken I was. Mm-hmm. Like, I have never like period cried so much. Wow. It was, it was like a. It was so intense for me. 'cause you've read the, the series, right? Yeah, yeah. All the way through.

[00:27:56] Kelsey: Yeah. So you understand. But it was [00:28:00] just like, yeah, I don't know exactly, what was so impactful, but it, it was a lot of foreshadowing to that point. Mm-hmm. And like, why it happens is also like beautiful. And yeah, it just was like. , The whole story of sacrifice and wanting to do good mm-hmm.

[00:28:21] Kelsey: And trying to be morally just in. Their actions. Mm-hmm. Like, I think that comes really strongly through in this series. And also starts with like her original faction, which is obligation right. Or something. Mm-hmm. Is that the faction? 

I 

[00:28:37] Kelsey: dunno, I don't know. God, it's been literally years Yeah.

[00:28:40] Kelsey: Since I've read 

it. 

[00:28:41] Kelsey: But I remember I was staying with my mom and I was in. My bed cause they had like two bedrooms or whatever. And I was in the other room and I just remember just crying myself to sleep. It was so heartbreaking. Oh my gosh. Yeah, no, it was a very, [00:29:00] very intense.

[00:29:01] Kelsey: And I just, I think the, the story itself was just really powerful. Mm-hmm. And yeah, it's like also how you move on from heartbreak is part of the story too. 

Yeah. Yeah. Was this, did this like kind of. I don't know, plant a seed in you where you were like, oh, now I'm really drawn to stories that are devastating because I feel like you do like to be ripped apart by a book and I'm like, this is where it all began.

It's your origin story. Yeah. It all started 

[00:29:28] Kelsey: with Divergent and I, yeah. I'm like, I cried so hard. That was so good. Like what? Yeah. It's probably cathartic too. Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Yeah. And I was. Also in like a difficult time of my life. So that could have like Yeah. You know, added to it. Sure.

[00:29:46] Kelsey: But , one of the books that I'm thinking about reading is one of Rebecca Ros's, contemporary fiction. Oh. 'cause because I hear that they are just hard, they're [00:30:00] difficult, just like tear jerkers. I remember watching other people review one of these books and they were like, mm-hmm.

[00:30:05] Kelsey: Like this was too much for me. It's like as they're bawling, like they're like, oh my God, this is too much. 

So we'll see. You know, sometimes, sometimes you do just need a good cry and it feels renewing and cleansing after, but I can't say that I seek that out in books to be honest. That's 

[00:30:27] Kelsey: not 

like a huge, I need to be tortured sometimes.

Oh my gosh. Yeah, I guess, yeah, I get it. I guess if I'm looking for a good cry, then maybe that's one way to do it. I usually will like, I don't know, play some inside music or something and if nothing is 

[00:30:38] Kelsey: like going on in your life that you're like devastated by, you're like, God, I have to get it from somewhere else.

[00:30:43] Kelsey: I Okay. Books are perfect for that. They sure are. They 

absolutely are. Well, thank you. Okay. So my third book, I actually have it next to me. It is The Alchemist by [00:31:00] Paolo Coho Goodness. And I know, again, this is a book that has both a lot of praise. And a lot of criticism. And I can, I can understand both sides.

Mm-hmm. Some people just think like it's shallow and overly idealistic and just kind of trite in some of the messages that are in it. But I think, again, for me, I read this book, I wanna say maybe my mid twenties at this point. Mm-hmm. I grew up in a super. Conservative, fundamentalist, like Christian religious household.

Mm-hmm. And so my only experience with faith and spirituality was within the Christian faith and like a very specific kind of form of the Christian faith. And obviously as I got older I started to kind of question what I believed mm-hmm. And why I believed it and all of that. And this book in particular , helped me to look at the world through a spiritual lens that wasn't.

Christian, if that makes sense. Okay. And it was like, oh, there are other ways to approach spirituality [00:32:00] and belief and kind of a view of the world and humanity and morality that is not rooted in Christianity. Mm-hmm. That also resonated with me in a lot of different ways and gave me pause. Mm-hmm. And so again, regardless of how you feel about this book and its message, I think for me it was this really important moment of

self-discovery and that I can kind of craft a faith for myself that aligns with who I am. Yeah. And what I deeply believe, and not just what I've been forced to believe. And it was definitely one of those books that, and I don't do this often. That I was like annotating. I was like underlining things.

Oh, yeah. Like writing notes and like jotting down my favorite quote. So I have like this little journal here. I'm not gonna like read all the quotes I wrote down, but there's like these little sayings. And again, this is younger Amanda. I feel like I've definitely grown in , my thinking.

But it was a place to start. Mm-hmm. And one of the quotes is, there's only one way to learn. It's through action. Everything you need to know, you've learned through your journey. And I think again, this idea of faith in [00:33:00] yourself. Mm-hmm. Self-reliance and that within yourself you have so much to offer to give, to learn from.

Whereas growing up in a family where it's like, oh, you rely solely on God for all of that and you're just kind of this helpless creature. Just, yeah, I just really shook up my worldview. It really shook up my perspective. And then this book was the catalyst for me to go on and read other, like more, I dunno how I would describe it.

Like I guess more . Secular spirituality, like books again, that are talking about ways in which to interact with the universe or the divine or other humans that, again, wasn't couched in the Christian religion and really helped me, like deconstruct my faith in a way that was really productive and cathartic and intentional.

So I feel like I, I owe a lot to this book Interesting. To getting me to where I am today. So I realized I was a bit like deeper and heavier than some of the other things we've talked about, but could not do this. Mm-hmm. . Episode without mentioning it. And I think it was the perfect book for younger Amanda to get started on this journey of self-discovery and [00:34:00] like, what does faith mean to me?

Yeah. As an adult, as I'm like, yeah. Charting my own path forward. So it will always have a very special, very important place in my heart. 

[00:34:11] Kelsey: Nice. For sure. I've never read The Alchemist. 

[00:34:15] Amanda: Oh, I mean, as you can see, it's super, super tiny. Yeah. It's also a little pamphlet, really easy to get through and like yeah.

[00:34:20] Amanda: You can see like my underlining, I dunno if you can see it on the camera, so silly. But yeah. Yeah, it was, I really enjoyed it. And I, yeah, I wonder. If, you know, 37-year-old Amanda would have the same response. Maybe not. Right. Maybe. I would think some of it seems like silly and like overly simplistic.

[00:34:36] Amanda: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. But it was the right book at the right time for me. 

[00:34:39] Kelsey: Sure. Yeah. The way you were talking about it, it reminds me of, did you ever read that book? Conversations with God. 

No. Or hear 

[00:34:49] Kelsey: about it? 

Maybe? Yes.

[00:34:51] Kelsey: Is it by Neil Donald or something? Okay. It's this guy that says that he Walsh something.

[00:34:58] Kelsey: Walsh. Okay. [00:35:00] Walsh is the author. Okay. He. Says that he literally is having a conversation with God, and this is like his transcript or whatever, of his conversations with God. I didn't put it on my list. Mm-hmm. It could have been. Mm-hmm. Because that was one of my, like, first introductions to the idea of religion and like mm-hmm. What it means to I don't know, to be following mm-hmm.

[00:35:21] Kelsey: God in some way. Mm-hmm. Because I'm not really religious personally. And I don't follow a specific religion. But yeah, that was a, a yeah. Good read. For me too. 

Yeah. It's just like exposure to a different way of thinking, a different perspective. Uhhuh. I love that. And that's what reading is perfect for.

[00:35:39] Kelsey: That's what it's for. That's 

why we're here. 

[00:35:41] Kelsey: Oh my gosh. I have to mention my dog. He's underneath and he's like snoring so loud. I cannot 

hear him. At all, which is great, but I'm glad he's getting his nap time. Oh my gosh. 

[00:35:54] Kelsey: He's so 

happy. He's like a little old man and I love that he's only two and he is just like, I am.

I'm good. I'm just gonna and sleep [00:36:00]

[00:36:00] Kelsey: for half the day. I think pugs in general are very like. Nap prone. Oh, I love that. Anyway my third, I'm on my third book, right? Yep. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Okay, so I'm gonna continue in chronological order. Okay. And I have mentioned this book on the podcast. Mm-hmm. I actually recommended it in one of our.

[00:36:22] Kelsey: Episodes. Oh, okay. The Rex episodes. Mm-hmm. And that's autobiography. I knew it welcome. I 

knew what I was waiting for it. I was like, she's gotta use this one. 

[00:36:30] Kelsey: It just like, God, it is, it was very life changing to read this book. Mm-hmm. I think I read it in my twenties. God, I mm-hmm. Yeah, I think so.

[00:36:43] Kelsey: And it was like one of the first books that. Really opened my eyes to like the true idea around civil rights and like what happened mm-hmm. In that generation mm-hmm. Or [00:37:00] throughout that generation. Mm-hmm. And also the corruption, you know, of the United States government. 

[00:37:07] Amanda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:37:08] Kelsey: And it was just very eye-opening for me as a younger person and helped.

[00:37:15] Kelsey: Transform my political views. Yeah. And set me like, you know, on a much stronger , path of who I am and what I believe in. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And also, his story is parallel and so similar to the stories of like indigenous resistance as well. 

[00:37:38] Amanda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:37:38] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. And, it just brings up so many questions of, again, morality and like, what if you are being oppressed?

[00:37:46] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. Murdered, killed. Mm-hmm. Like, , what should your response be? Yeah. 

[00:37:50] Amanda: What could your 

[00:37:51] Kelsey: response be? Mm-hmm. To actually make change. 

[00:37:54] Amanda: Mm-hmm. 

[00:37:55] Kelsey: And, it's not by just like being quiet. Mm-hmm. You know? Mm-hmm. [00:38:00] And it's by being quite radical. Yeah. And I, I continue to believe those things in my personal life and in my political ideals.

[00:38:11] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. And everything, you know, that has been happening in our generation. You know, where we are talking about, oh my gosh, I think I'm getting the name wrong. Lloyd four. George Floyd. George Floyd. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Mm-hmm. George Floyd, like what happened after that?

[00:38:29] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. After his murder and you know, the various . Essentially uprisings. Yeah. Around, around that. And even what happened like in Seattle? Did you ever go to the I, oh my god, what was it called? 

Yeah, the, the in cap hill. Yeah. I didn't get here until, oh, July of 2020. And Oh shit.

You moved in during the pandemic? Yes. Yeah. Oh my God. I know, I know. And I also wasn't going out and about 'cause so much was shut down. Yeah. I was brand new here and didn't know anyone, so. Oh my God. [00:39:00] It was called the, what was it, the Chaz, was that it? The Capitol Hill, autonom Zone? I think that was 

[00:39:04] Kelsey: one.

[00:39:04] Kelsey: I think that was one name for it. Yeah, I think it's the one that I was familiar with. It's like the Chaz, 

Or Chaz. 

[00:39:10] Kelsey: I feel like there was, but I had different iterations, but yeah. Okay. No, I did actually go something. I don't know. Okay. Okay. Yeah, we went like one time, or I went one time. Was I with sio?

[00:39:22] Kelsey: Anyway, just seeing those things that like actually come to life in our generation mm-hmm. Which is we're fighting the same fight. Sure. Essentially. Yep. We have, you know, and so same issue, things change because they're a little more like underground, like the racism and oppression mm-hmm.

[00:39:41] Kelsey: Are kind of not like front facing as blatant. Yeah. Sometimes. Yeah. And sometimes not. Yeah. So it's just a different kind of fight now mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That we are facing. Mm-hmm. But I think that the the themes and. Ideas that came through [00:40:00] from his autobiography and his whole life. His ideals are still range true today.

[00:40:05] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. And so, yeah, if you want to hear more about that, we have a lit Rex episode. Was 

it for our, it was for Black History. Yeah. Black History Month. Yeah. 

[00:40:14] Kelsey: So definitely check that out. I also talk about it there. 

Yeah. So good. That's a biography in a memoir. Like I haven't.

Yeah. Red. And I know I need to Absolutely. 'cause yeah, there's a reason why and it continues to be so acclaimed and mm-hmm. Has had such a huge impact. Yeah. And continues to have a huge impact. Well, my final book is also an audible, well, it's a memoir. Mm. And it is, I also have it here with me. It is Educated by Tara or Tara.

Tara Westover. We read this in my book club a couple years ago, and. Two reasons why I chose it. One is this book really helped me get back into reading more memoirs. Mm-hmm. I have kind of read them kind of here and [00:41:00] there over like my reading journey. It's never been like a, I guess a genre that I, yeah, like a main focus.

But this book definitely helped to reignite that interest. But I think the second reason is, I don't know if you're familiar with the. Kinda the premise of her memoir, but she grew up in like, no, I was just gonna look it up. Yeah. She grew up in the survivalist family in, I wanna, which it's out in the, oh, it's in Idaho.

It was like, it's out west. So she, interesting. Yeah. She grew up in the survival fa survivalist family in Idaho. They're also religious as well, and again, grows up in this very strict. Like fundamentalist household, you know, the dad is very controlling. They're kind of cut off from the rest of the world.

'cause the world is evil. Right? The government's out to get you. And there were kind of maybe similar to what you were saying with Malcolm X, there were a lot of parallels with her story, with my own childhood and growing up, and just some of the beliefs that we were raised [00:42:00] with and. How we viewed the world.

And so I felt like very seen in a lot of ways reading this mm-hmm. Book and deeply resonated with me. And I think the other big reason why I chose this, because I've always toyed with the idea and I've mentioned it in passing on this podcast of like writing my own memoir, Uhhuh. 

[00:42:19] Kelsey: And 

I think reading her story.

And seeing the way in which she told it, I was like, oh, I could do this. Like this seems attainable and achievable. Mm-hmm. And it really inspired me to keep going down that path. I don't know if it ever actually will. I've started on it and I have a lot of ideas and I've some outlining and things.

Obviously writing a memoir is tricky because it's not just your story that you're telling, right. It's connected to a lot of other people in my life, family, friends, and so, 

[00:42:44] Amanda: mm-hmm. 

I wanna be mindful about that can be difficult. Mm-hmm. It can be very difficult and how it's received and how people are portrayed.

'cause obviously it's from my perspective, right, right. 

[00:42:52] Amanda: Mm-hmm. 

But I think it was really instrumental to my both like reading journey and my personal experience having this story [00:43:00] told. Feeling represented and seen in it. Like it was a mirror for me in a lot of ways. And then also seeing like, oh, this is how you do it.

Like if I do wanna write a memoir, this is how I could consider structuring it, how I could talk about these things. And so it's very inspirational for me and that way, and it's just also a solid book. There's a reason why it's won all of these awards and, you know, it was a New York Times one of the 10 best books of 2018.

Like, it's very, it's 

[00:43:26] Kelsey: a very high rating. Yeah, on good rates. It's like almost 4.5. 

[00:43:30] Amanda: Whoa. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So like I said, if you haven't read it, I highly encourage it. It's not, it's also, again, not a super long book. And, and her life is just, some of the things that she goes through are just so wild.

[00:43:44] Amanda: But it's interesting when you're raised in a really strict household. How much you just take at face value and like this is just the way things are. This is the way life is, and also we are right, right? Like this is the right way to live. This is the only way to live, and everyone who's not [00:44:00] living this way is wrong and.

[00:44:03] Amanda: Wrong in a really fundamental way. Like they're jeopardizing their very souls. Right. Oh. So I think, you know, 'cause I read this book after I had deconstructed my faith and kind of left it Uhhuh and so it also was like, oh yeah, I used to believe a lot of this stuff and think in a lot of these same ways and like, oh okay, this was just my world and you know, obviously Bush, she and I are outside of that world now and looking back on it and mm-hmm So just that perspective shift as well.

[00:44:28] Amanda: And the CFR I've come was also like. Yeah. I don't know, like cathartic. Mm-hmm. And compelling and but yeah, just very personal and emotional. Yeah. All the things. When did this book 

[00:44:40] Kelsey: come out? 

I think it was 2018, because I Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So not in incredibly long. Yeah. 2018. Yeah. 2018. 

[00:44:48] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:44:48] Kelsey: And when did you all read it? 

Oh, maybe like 20 20, 20 21. I'd have to look. I'd, I'd have to like go scroll back through the book club 

[00:44:58] Kelsey: chapter. And how long [00:45:00] have you all been in book club? Oh 

God. We started book club work. I guess I started it actually. Nice. I think it's been like eight years. Holy cow.

Yeah. We've been going strong for close to, we're in close to a decade. 

[00:45:13] Kelsey: Have you guys ever skipped a month? 

We have usually around the holidays, like sometimes we'll be like December we, we might not, but then we'll do something else, like maybe, 'cause we're all over the country now. Yeah. So now we might do a virtual Christmas movie and we'll do like a watch party or something.

Yeah. That's, but yeah, for the most part, every month consistently that for the last Oh, that's so crazy. 

[00:45:34] Kelsey: And also, so y'all know, Amanda also goes on like retreats with these women. Okay, well 

lemme to be great. It's great. We've done, we've done one, we did one book club trip to Greece two summers ago. We're trying to plan another one domestically, but yeah.

Okay. Yeah, it's 'cause and we all started off as friends first, and then we're like, oh, we also all love to read. But yeah, it's great. I, I love them so much and they've just been a constant in spite of moves, in spite of COVID, in spite of job [00:46:00] changes, marriages, graduations. So it's like 

[00:46:01] Kelsey: mm-hmm. It's 

really great.

So. Fun. That's my last 

[00:46:05] Kelsey: one. Okay. So my last one is gonna be pretty basic. I love it. Go for it. I have to mention a cord of Mist and Fury by Serge Mass. Of 

course. But of course. Where would we 

[00:46:21] Kelsey: be without it? I, I, I wouldn't say the whole series. I would Okay. I would very specifically say a chord of Miss a Fury.

[00:46:28] Amanda: Okay. 

[00:46:29] Kelsey: While I am. I have moved beyond the fandom of Resand. Okay. Like he's, he's not one of my top book boyfriends anymore. Okay. Like, he's just, he's not Okay. There's a lot of others out there. So I have moved on. He's been replaced. But there are definitely like diehards for Resand. Mm-hmm. And continued to this day.

[00:46:51] Kelsey: Like, oh yeah. They just, yeah. One and only for some, but I would say that this was the [00:47:00] book that really, so while the notebook was like First Romance mm-hmm. This was like first like romantasy mm-hmm. That like. Got me. I was like, oh, I love this. I really, really like this. So I'm here to stay. I need all of it now.

[00:47:16] Kelsey: Mm-hmm. So this is a book that really got me into that and yeah. I credit it for, for that and also very grateful that 

yeah, 

[00:47:25] Kelsey: it existed and that I have continued my reading journey. Yeah. Literally because of this book, and so, mm-hmm. So here we are. We probably wouldn't have a podcast without this book.

[00:47:36] Kelsey: I 

certainly wouldn't have read it if Kelsey Hadn read it and yeah, for sure. So I guess that started me on my romantic journey. There you go. 

[00:47:46] Kelsey: And you didn't absolutely hate it. 

[00:47:49] Amanda: I did. In fact, according to this, in Fury, I gave I, that was a lit it for me. Yeah. I think I gave it like. Three stars. And then I think I gave the next one four, so it just kept going up as I went.

[00:47:59] Amanda: [00:48:00] Yeah, I know. 

[00:48:00] Kelsey: It's wild. So, yeah. I'm so curious. I'm so curious if I'm gonna be right about this next book, A Quarter of 

Silver Flames. Yes. Yeah, I will be reading it this summer, you see? So stay tuned for that. Yeah. But yeah, of course you, of course you had to include a book from aar, like this episode would've.

I have to. Yeah. But yeah, so those are all the books. Should we like recap them really quickly for folks? Oh, sure. Okay. So my four were in order the help. By Catherine Stockett, year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, the Alchemist by Paolo Coho. I always screw that up. And then educated by Tara Westover.

[00:48:40] Kelsey: Nice. My four also in the same order, the Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Divergent by Veronica Roth, autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. And a Court of Miss in Fury by Sarah j Mass. Herself. Yes, yes, yes. 

So of course we would [00:49:00] love to know and would love to hear from all of you, what are some books that have changed your life?

Yes. In some way have had some sort of like deep impact Exactly. On you, so. If you are not on socials, you need to get on our socials so that you can tell us that this Thursday when we put up our post about this episode. Mm-hmm. So once again, we are on Instagram at Lit Vibes only under podcast. Mm-hmm. And then on both YouTube and TikTok at Lit Vibes only Podcast.

And if you're not on socials, but do wanna reach out to us still? You can hit up our email at Lit Vibes only podcast@gmail.com. All of those are great ways to get in touch with us, to share your thoughts with us, to like chat with other folks in the community, not just us. Yes. But I am curious for this one, 'cause I'm hoping to get some good book recs out of it, so Heck yeah.

[00:49:50] Kelsey: We wanna know the books. Yeah, please. That changed your lives 

and let us know so that we can experience those books as well. And then of course, last but not least, [00:50:00] if you are sitting out there and you're feeling a little guilty because you have not yet. Rated and reviewed us. Mm-hmm. You can rectify that today, right now.

So 

[00:50:09] Kelsey: in like two seconds, as soon 

as you hear that fade out music, go ahead and hit that five star rating. Yep. Write us a one or two sentence review. If you've got an extra moment, we would deeply, deeply, deeply appreciate it. And then of course. Mm-hmm. Spread the word right? Tell your friends. Heck yeah.

Family, coworkers, neighbors. Yeah. People on the bus about this amazing podcast. People on the bus. Well, because, you know, people are listening to podcasts while they're commuting. You know, like they can just like pull out their, pull out their earbud and be like, you wouldn't believe, 

[00:50:38] Kelsey: are you into books?

Let me tell you about this podcast. So, thank you guys so much, so funny for tuning in and listening to us chatter away about books today. Mm-hmm. And we will see y'all next Monday. 

[00:50:51] Kelsey: See ya. Bye bye. [00:51:00]