#247

[@Shelby_antaya]

Ariel’s curls look so perfect this episode!

[@covergirlbooks]

Ariel! I couldn’t agree more with the readers who encouraged you to move on to book 3 of the Anne series! I have reread Anne of the Island so many times growing up (physical and audiobook), I feel like I lived with Anne and her schoolmate in their little house with the dearest landladies and their two little china dogs on the hearth, and felt the sun on my face and the gusts of wind while sitting on the porch steps. ☀️

[@kayeatoast]

Yes! Anne of the Island was such a good read!! I've read it only once(almost ten years from now :O) but still have fond memories of reading the book

[@chloeseverson604]

Yessss! I totally agree the second book was my least favourite but the rest of the series was so good!

[@KitKatSam27]

Listening a day late, but just wanted to pause to say KZbin is actually my main way of listening to the pod now! In fact, I will WAIT to listen to the pod until I’m home and can watch the video version!! I love the pod so much and I’m so grateful to it! Seriously, I look forward to Monday every week!! ❤

[@ElenyM]

I haven’t been reading books this year because it’s been a tough one for me but listening to you both talk about books and life encourages me that one day I’ll get out of this rut. Congrats on 10k subscribers! All the work you do to make this community better every year is appreciated 💛

[@DeeDeeCatMom]

I think your waffles were Belgian type waffles with pearlized sugar! Makes them rich and crunchy 😉

[@VanillaEarlGreyinAutumn]

Raeleen!! I’m in college and one of my dining hall hacks is earl grey tea and vanilla ice cream to make a London fog so it will hence be known as a Raeleen ice cream tea float🫖🍨✨

[@haley.canter]

I’m reading Albatross right now and couldn’t help but notice the bookmobile that Adam’s teacher visited as a kid. Maybe now Ariel can say: I started using fountain pens and also started a bookmobile because of a book I read. Which could also be a cool category for the truck: books I’ve read that made me start a new hobby or habit (sourdough, tea drinking without sugar, bookmobiles, swimming, fountain pens.)

[@sandyoppenlander]

I discovered the pod at the beginning of the year and I have now officially listened to ALL 247 episodes!! I even listened to the peach episode while I was in labor at the hospital! Keep up the good work ladies!! 🩷🩷

[@MJ-in-Canada]

I thought I was a big fan of Books Unbound but clearly, Sandy is a superfan.😃 Sandy, did you name your baby after Ariel or Raeleen? If so, you will have achieved yet another level of fandom.😆

[@tiamorton1927]

Omg wow! Congrats on your baby as well!

[@marcellastname6862]

We gotta get Sandy a certified reader pin!!!

[@AnaRodriguez-wn8qq]

Congrats on the baby! I started listening to the pod right after I had my baby last year and it kept me company thru those hard newborn weeks. Kinda how Ariel says she associates audiobooks w whatever she was doing, that’s how I feel about the earlier episodes of the pod, it makes me think of middle of the night pumping and washing pump parts and the lonely nights w tiny bb.

[@LoOnYaSyLum]

I did the same (nothing as dramatic as labor 😂) but I found this podcast in January and caught up with episodes in March 😊.

[@gabbymullins2654]

because of the more poetic and melancholy prose in her novels, i find Toni Morrison’s novels most rich to listen to in audio. Particularly when she narrates them, you get to hear the way she intends the sentences and paragraphs to flow and it really brings the stories to life in my opinion. If you ever want to give her a second chance, I’d try Song of Solomon. It is much more plot-driven than Beloved or The Bluest Eye so I think it would be a bit more engaging while still giving you the distinct Toni flavor. It’s also very much a mood read so best to dig into her when you’re feeling a little blue and want a sad story to break your heart a little…, maybe that’s just me 😅 i just love her to death she is a slow burn tho i will agree ❤

[@alexia4239]

I am SO GLAD you guys launched video for the podcast because I would sporadically listen to the podcast on Spotify but I'm also someone who also watches all of my podcasts on videos and since you guys launched this channel I haven't missed an episode!!! Congrats on 10k!!!

[@vvivacious101]

I have read the entire 'Anne of Green Gables' series twice and it is worth it. In fact the last book in the series, Rilla of Ingleside is one of the only books I have read that focuses on World War I, it is so emotional and literally one of my favourite books in this series along with 'Anne of The Island' and 'House of Dreams'. I also agree that Anne of Avonlea is a little hard to get through but Anne of the Island is so good. Also fun fact, the fourth book in this series, Anne of Windy Poplar is basically an epistolary novel.

[@Nagchampa765]

Laundromats are one of my favorite places I can’t really put my finger on why though. It’s likely just the nostalgia of always going to one with my Grandma. But I love the clean laundry smell, the white noise, sitting and reading a book. Idk it scratches some sort of community experience itch I have

[@SkySpiral8]

I grew up across the lake from Toronto and so I grew up saying it like the locals: (“Tronno” or “Chronno”) too! When I moved away, it was funny hearing people say it the way it’s spelled.

[@kimberly1661]

I appreciate the Anne of Avonlea rant SO MUCH. I was so confused while reading the book, and i hated both of those kids with a burning, burning passion

[@erintrolley3074]

finishing that series is George RR Martin's mashed potato may

[@amandaelizabeth21]

I live in Astoria, Queens which is across the river from Manhattan and we have at least one laundromat on every other block.

[@sonag4191]

I'm studying for the licensing exam to be a lawyer right now, and I've been listening to the pod every morning before I start while making breakfast and having tea. It's been a great way to start the day, especially on days where I'd rather stay in bed! Thank you both for keeping me company and for sharing your joy with me on my mornings ❤

[@miriamconnor8821]

Hello from New Brunswick! I'm so intrigued by this Anne of Avonlea debacle! Very similarly to Ariel, I read Anne of Green Gables and LOVED it, so I decided to continue the series. When I read Anne of Avonlea in 2020, I was surprised to find that it was such a slog sometimes. I agree with Ariel - it pales in comparison to the first book; so much so that I decided to stop there. I had no idea that so many other people feel the same way about it. I'm glad that you shared what you had found on Reddit! Perhaps I'll give book #3 a try afterall. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Thank you both for another fantastic episode! 😊

[@Elizabeth-lv3vh]

Flowers for Algernon is one of my favorite books. I reread it for the first time since I was in middle school. Reading it as an adult really hit different. Shout out to my middle school teacher for advocating for us to read this book though because I think it’s such a good lesson in compassion at any age.

[@shanchannz]

The third Anne of Green Gables novel is much better than the second in my opinion, but still does not compare to the first. It's just lovely to dip back into the world of Anne of Green Gables every once in awhile ☺️

[@leannerae]

I 100% agree with the Beloved description. I tried to read it and just couldn't finish it. It's not to say it's a bad book, it obviously isn't and great for Raeleen for finishing it!

[@katiemichael4577]

I’m so excited to hear your thoughts on Anne of the Island! It was my favorite of the whole series, I think.

[@emilyclark8772]

I had a brunch wedding too! Waffles, bacon, muffins, and yogurt/homemade granola with strawberries. I still think about it 😂

[@kayeatoast]

Hearing Ariel talk about how Anne of Avonlea is universally disliked makes me very happy I was one of those children who would just read the next book in a series if the library didn't have the immediate sequel. SO yeahh, very thankful I skipped over Anne of Avonlea to Anne of the Island, which is definitely just as enjoyable to read as Green Gables. Everyone who laughed at Raeleen's tea-float clearly don't realise how good pairing tea with icecream issss (earl grey, oolong, and matcha are all great tea flavoured icecreams) I'm going to try making her tea-float with the yorkshire biscuit tea over the weekend!!

[@loulelou]

To Ariel: Keep going! Anne of the Island (3rd book) is another favorite of mine in the series. The 4th is the most skippable imo. I read the whole series, but honestly you can just read the first three books and you have a complete story there. Nothing in the series is on par with the first Anne book.

[@RosesHere]

The level of my fear of missing out on this PEI trip is insane, I hope it is magical! ❤

[@RosesHere]

Or was magical, maybe the trips done by the time I write this super late comment?

[@aleamajz]

Hope y’all have a great break. I recently read Pride and Prejudice and love it! Upon Ariel’s recommendation, I bought Persuasion to read next. Since I’m finally free from school, I plan to have a Jane Austen reading summer.

[@kui-is-ghost]

I only read one mashed potato book in May (Momo by Michael Ende), but for June aka pride month I decided to focus on reading queer books on my TBR and so far it is going very well 😊🌈

[@DeeDeeCatMom]

Oh my Ariel, we're tooth twins! I broke my front tooth at 10 in half at the supermarket, and then had it rebuilt with filling material. I broke it again on PIZZA at 16, and at 24 had a crown put on it 👑

[@rosea570]

I love that KZbin posted an ad for Cornish cream tea next to this video for me...

[@kathrynjoy7]

My dog ears in my books are also tiny like Connor’s 😂 I’m gonna call them puppy ears from now on. And a tea float sounds delicious, I’m excited to try it!

[@bialinsbear2681]

i only started listening to books unbound (or better said watching) bc of the videos since im not much of podcast consumer, but when youtube suggested the channel i fell in love with the pod ❤

[@mariayepez493]

Your effort shines through!! 🌞 Congratulations!!!

[@salamalmahi541]

Congrats for 10k 🎉🎉🎉

[@catreadsabunch]

I literally have early access but I wait to watch it with everyone else and the way I clicked on this so fast lol

[@sheridanm3746]

Happy end to mashed potato may! Id been meaning to read A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green for YEARS now, but had put it off because i wanted to re-read An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (which i LOVED) beforehand but had lent it to a friend. Finally accepted im never getting that book back and checked it out from the library! Absolutely flew through it, it was such a fun re-read, and now im almost finished a beautifully foolish endeavor (finally!). Thanks for the push!

[@arobinreads]

Love to see you reading middle grade 😊 it's just so fun

[@daysleeper1989]

Happy 10k!

[@triasha3790]

I'm so excited for you to read Anne of the Island! It's my favorite of the series and gives me the same feeling I got reading The Blue Castle last year. And I agree, Anne of Avonlea isn't as good as the 3rd and 5th book.

[@Trigillia]

When you all are in your 40s and listen back to this episode where you call a 50 year old "old" will make you roll your eyes at yourselves 🤣

[@chooseyourthoughts7692]

So funny to hear/read the thoughts on Anne of Avonlea! I love it, but I also read it young and so I never evaluated it as a literary work. I actually can agree with all of Ariel’s critiques, but…I just love it (and everything LMM wrote) in a pure childhood nostalgia way😊

[@Elizabeth-lv3vh]

I’m also rewatching LOTR these past few weekends because I was also feeling a GOT mood but I didn’t have the energy to reread/watch the GOT series

[@circleofleaves2676]

Anne of Green Gables was a 5-star read for me. I loved it. I borrowed Anne of Avonlea from the library, and I actually DNF'd it which surprised me. It definitely feels like a much younger book, which is strange because Anne is older than she is in the first book.

[@georginachard8604]

I can super relate to Raleens house half nightmare! I had water from the upstairs neighbors shower pouring through the bathroom ceiling light fixture! The water was steaming, and smelled great haha. The landlords took a while to fix upstairs shower seel so we had no light in the bathroom, and were showering in the dark haha

[@Rachel13dw]

I've been watching series 3 of UK Race Across the World and they're racing across Canada - thanks to this podcast I actually know some of the names of the places their going 😂

[@leannerae]

I kinda feel like Yorkshire tea should sponsor you guys!

[@silvercookies]

I agree with Raeleen that you should own physical forms of your favourite media. I'm slowly building my physical DVD library. I did not know you could buy Netflix show though on DVD, I didn't know they existed on DVD?

[@belorama8]

Icy Chapman's sometimes where I live in the US.... But Most people in the US would consider where I live "Basically Canada." Lol

[@theautumnreader327]

Congratulations on the 10K subscribers guys

[@boglarkasmith]

Unpopular opinion: I liked Anne of Avonlea better. Like the first book is really good, but the atmosphere of the second is just enchanting to me, especially Miss Lavendar and her little cottage in the woods. 😊

[@mrscuteas]

I live in an Australian regional coastal city near a suburb named Toronto and we pronounce it Tronno 😂

[@meganellis5220]

Ariel!! I just finished Alphabetical Diaries by Shelia Heti. I have never read anything from this author before and I LOVED it!!!!! When you hauled it on the podcast I thought it sounded dumb (lol) but when you read that initial section out, it turned out I was wrong. Thank you so much and please keep reading samples of the books you're hauling/reading out bc it definitely adds something!!!!!

[@aeolia80]

20:05 if it was a yeasted waffle it almost sounds like a gaufre de liège, which is the other type of Belgian waffle 31:57, hahahahhahah, I had to really strain my brain to know what you were trying to say, hahah, takbaki, hhahahahaha, tteokbokki, hahahhahahhaah, it's pronounced "tuhk-bohki" hahah

[@brendanmchugh473]

If you're still game for more Toni Morrison I'd say read Sula!

[@jorjastonej]

Congrats 🎉1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣🎉💃💃

[@laraaa4]

BELGIAN SUGAR WAFFLES!!! the only waffles that count. (Those are the ones you guys had)

[@lymarisestrada588]

As I listened to Ariel I started remembering the story and then couldn’t stop laughing… I also hated that kid!! Just to summarize, it’s a rollercoaster of a series.

[@Unicosaurus]

Creeped CJ for the first time and can't believe the resemblance between him and Ariel, y'all could be twins! I think I would legitimately have the best time with my brother at a wedding! We've never gone to one together though because every time we take our children out for activities together, everyone always thinks that they are OUR children because we look so different 🤢🙈

[@paigetremblay7380]

I finished “beloved” and honestly felt like it was a bit over written if that makes sense??? It’s beautiful but I found myself getting lost in the sentences and having the hardest time following it fully. I will say that not all of Morrison’s books are like that. I read “Love” by her and it’s like a new favorite. However I read “Jazz” by her and found it to be like “Beloved” writing style wise

[@abitmuch7682]

The Bluest Eye is better than Beloved imo

[@ochoheido]

I was surprised to hear all the hardcore Davy hate in this episode. And now I'm re-reading Anne of Avonlea myself... I still don't get the hate. And I actually find it a bit worrying because I have 3 young sons myself and can absolutely commiserate with Anne and Marilla about Davy's behavior 😅

[@theautumnreader327]

Never clicked on anything so fast

[@bethofwildflowers]

I'm pretty sure George RR Martin just doesn't know how to continue and finish the bookseries.

[@Nagchampa765]

Idk if yall respond to comments (im new here) but im so curious to know what Rayleen’s sun sign is!!

[@Nagchampa765]

Ariel is a Libra (re famous birthdays) I just love making a mental note of besties synastry

[@kyestrella]

Raeleen is a Scorpio!!

[@Nagchampa765]

@@kyestrellaomg that was my best guess haha love that. I’ve noticed a lot of libra x Scorpio connections!

[@salamalmahi541]

Yes, Raeleen is a Scorpio ❤️

[@theautumnreader327]

Finally finally a long episode. I can't with all the 50 minute episodes we have been getting lately 🥲