No Improvement Podcast 👯 Episode 84



No Improvement is a sort-of-funny talk show that explores the vast, untapped potential of TV shows, books, films, and more. Quill & Slate blog runners Thelonia and Tia review—and then reimagine—the stories you know and love until you can barely recognize them anymore. Hopefully in a good way. And if not, well, we hope you are still entertained.

In the 84th episode of No Improvement, we watch, discuss, and review the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's "A Midwinter's Tale," which is based on the (Archie) comics of the same name, and aired on December 14.

In two weeks, we will be watching, talking about, and reviewing Bird Box, the 2018 Netflix apocalyptic drama/thriller/horror, based on the book of the same name.

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All in Good Storytime 📚 Episode 51

All in Good Storytime is an interactive, bookish, book club podcast hosted by Alanna, Katya, and Tia. To join the club, make sure you're following us on Twitter to get updates on what book we're reading and to what chapter we are reading through (or what anime we're watching and what episode we are watching through), and listen to the podcast here or on iTunes (see link below) to join in on the discussion. And don't forget to read along!

In the 51st episode of All in Good Storytime, we discuss chapters 13 through 20 (the end) of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. In these final chapters we are stunned by the big reveal of who set fire to the Richardson house, get the full story behind how and why Mia ran off with her surrogate baby back in art school, learn why Mia and Pearl end up fleeing Shaker Heights, and learn the decision of the court case surrounding baby May Ling Mirabelle as well as what becomes of her.

In this episode, we focus on the conflicting message of the story. Mia shares with Izzy that sometimes you have to burn everything down and start anew but when it comes to Lexie and her abortion she tells her that this is something she will always be sad about and will have to carry with her (unlike the fetus).

While this book is clearly endeavoring to be a thoughtful examination of race and privilege influenced by Ng's personal experiences in Shaker we question what alternative and more effective means she could have used to express her message. Instead of being a reflection on generational trauma and institutional racism the story is more focused on constantly critiquing women who don't live up to the ideal of motherhood and holds biology to be more important above all. This is evident in how the book passes judgment on Lexie for her abortion, forgives Mia and Bebe for kidnapping their biological daughters, and forces couples which are unable to conceive "naturally" to suffer. The one example which counters this is Izzy's tumultuous relationship with her own mother which stands in stark contrast to her close friendship with Mia.

Additionally, we discuss how symbolically Mia represents the virgin Mary, Joseph Ryan is Saint Joseph, Madeleine Ryan is Magdalene, and Pearl is Jesus. And finally, we express dissatisfaction with the ending and how this book could have shown how starting over requires learning from, and not simply running away from, your mistakes.

In two weeks, we'll talk about chapters 1 through 5 of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.

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No Improvement Podcast 👯 Episode 83



No Improvement is a sort-of-funny talk show that explores the vast, untapped potential of TV shows, books, films, and more. Quill & Slate blog runners Thelonia and Tia review—and then reimagine—the stories you know and love until you can barely recognize them anymore. Hopefully in a good way. And if not, well, we hope you are still entertained.

In the 83rd episode of No Improvement, we watch, discuss, and review the Shay Mitchell horror film The Possession Of Hannah Grace, a new release that came out on November 30.

In two weeks, we will be watching, talking about, and reviewing Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's "A Midwinter's Tale," which is based on the (Archie) comics of the same name, and airs on December 14.

Subscribe on iTunes!

All in Good Storytime 📚 Episode 50


All in Good Storytime is an interactive, bookish, book club podcast hosted by Alanna, Katya, and Tia. To join the club, make sure you're following us on Twitter to get updates on what book we're reading and to what chapter we are reading through (or what anime we're watching and what episode we are watching through), and listen to the podcast here or on iTunes (see link below) to join in on the discussion. And don't forget to read along!

In the 50th episode of All in Good Storytime, we discuss chapters 7 through 12 of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. In these chapters we see a connection develop between Mia and Izzy, watch as absolute chaos unfolds in the local high school, see the confrontation between Bebe Chow and the McCulloughs over Mirabelle McCullough/May Ling Chow, and learn about Mia's past as a surrogate.

We begin by discussing the futility of Izzy, Moody, and Pearl's prank on the high school. Instead of rising to the challenge of Mia's question asking Izzy what she was going to do regarding a racist teacher in high school she decided to pull a useless prank, sticking toothpicks in all of the locks and jamming the doors, which caused more harm for the janitor and only unintentionally caused the racist teacher to suffer.

We continue by addressing the finally revealed main plot of Bebe Chow, a poor and young single mother who left her daughter at a fire station, and her struggle to get her daughter back from the rich, white McCulloughs who have raised her for the past 10 months and who are currently in the process of adopting her. We find it exceedingly difficult to focus on the issues the author raises of cultural differences and the question of whether it is better to live with a financially stable family as we are focused on the problem that Bebe willingly left her child at a safe haven location and none of those lofty arguments matter as much as the fact of no take backs.

Additionally, we question why this story isn't being told from the perspective of the McCulloughs and Bebe, but instead is being told from the perspective of Mia and Mrs. Richardson who are using this difficult custody case to work out their own personal issues. Finally, we see that Katya was right all along. We question the legality and morality behind Mia running away with Pearl, a child she was carrying as a surrogate.

In two weeks, we'll talk about chapters 13 through 20 (the end) of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

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