Ever slept for days? How thirsty were you when you woke up? And why does middle of the night water taste so dang good? On this episode of Bibliophage, Tori Phantom (author to be) gets to discuss their favorite books. From wall flowering to how good things hurt to the life-altering consumption of Andrea Gibson poetry, we discuss whether happy endings are realistic or if their surreality is the whole point.

Why are butter knives so dang useless? They aren't sharp enough to cut anything and they aren't even that good at spreading butter. How did we end up with an *almost* pointless (literally and figuratively) weapon on the dinner table? Bee Wilson knows. (Mostly the answer is...men.) In her book Consider the Fork, she explains the origins of the butter knife, addresses why French cooking is the way it is, and explores the ways our culture is shaped by our kitchens. Not just the food that's made in them, but what the food is made with, the tools and technology of feeding ourselves.

This book is one of Gwenna's favorites for a lot of reasons. She doesn't have any fancy awards to give but she gives some anyway. (There's even medals, y'all.) Tori and Gwenna also take a bit of time to discuss reading formats, veiny things, pasta water, narrative non-fiction, and how Tori is running out of Wood books.

NEW! Bibliophage Merch is now available. Every purchase of Bibliophage Products supports the podcast and literacy rates as a portion of every sale goes directly to Reading is Fundamental, helping get books in children's hands and instilling a love of reading across the nation. Get your Bibliophage merch here!

https://www.bonfire.com/store/momma-cusses/

If you'd like to pick up your copy of Consider the Fork or get ahead of the podcast and check out next episode's book, M*rd*r Your Employer by Rupert Holmes, here's a handy-dandy link to my online bookstore. Yes, I get commission if you buy from this link. Thanks for your support!

https://bookshop.org/shop/gwennalaithland

And finally, you can pre-order my newest book, Thinky Thoughts: All Grown Up & Still Just As Confused. It's an essay book that wanders through the millennial wasteland that is my youth, the confusing period of figuring out how to be a parent without being the reason my kid needs therapy. Well, without being MOST of the reason my kid needs therapy.

https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/thinky-thoughts-9781250390028/

Do you judge books by their covers? Don't lie. That's what covers are for. We judge books by their covers and sometimes we judge poorly. I avoided Emily Henry for so long because her covers didn't appeal to me. I'm super glad I got over it though because Emily Henry does great work with dialogue and interiority. On this episode of Bibliophage we discuss not just covers and Book Lovers but also how readers are like Pokemon and how orcs births make small town romances are perfectly acceptable even if unrealistic. Yes, context is provided. In the episode.

Next time on Bibliophage we are discussing Consider the Fork by Bee Wilson. If you'd like to read before we chat, please consider using my links below to purchase your copy. Every purchase from Bookshop.org supports a small, independent bookstore. (And yes, I earn a little commission too.)

Bookshop.org

https://bookshop.org/lists/bibliophage-on-the-menu

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/shop/gwennalaithland/list/2FD8HGB3IRNQZ?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_ZS4TP7392C7SGMK5SYN5_1

And our Book Nook series continues. This week we are celebrating the plant parents who bring the outside to the inside so they have have green stuff and books.

Enjoy!

https://www.amazon.com/shop/gwennalaithland/list/10AM94X81T517?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_RVP8TA49KKXQ6B4DTJ5R