Ordinary Monsters

For October, we read Murderland by Caroline Fraser! And since it's spooky season we had a spooky middle half of having to record another day so apologies there. We talked about our knowledge of the PNW, serial killer profiling, that damn bridge, and what to do with all of this rage. November - Against the Grain by James C. ScottDecember - Stillwell and the American Experience in China by Barbara TuchmanJanuary - An Altar on the Village Green by Nathan Hall

For September, we read Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro! We discuss our favorite characters and moments, what the world lacked and Angela slowly poisoning the well on Jimmy's enjoyment. Upcoming Books - October: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser

For August, we read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein! We discussed our history with Frankenstein's media, the Ao3 connection, we analyze if it truly captured critiqued capitalists or was it about stupid men, and finally the incest. Upcoming Books - September: Ordinary Monsters by J.M. MiroOctober: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser

A very late July episode of Books are Good Actually! We read Blood in the Machine by Brian Merchant. We discuss our history with Luddites (very little), Andrew Yang, parallels to the modern world and who is a modern Ned Ludd. Upcoming Books - August: Frankenstein by Mary ShelleySeptember: Ordinary Monsters by J.M. MiroOctober: Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser

For June, we read How to Sell a Genocide by Adam H. Johnson. We discussed our relationship with mainstream media, surprising facts of the book, how we can counter biased media and how to inform our friends and family about it. July: Blood in the Machine by Brian Merchant

For May, we read Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James. We discussed Toussaint's leadership style and failures, Napoleon is a bastard, Haiti and what we can learn from their revolution. June: How to Sell a Genocide by Adam H. JohnsonJuly: Blood in the Machine by Brian Merchant

For April, we read Up in Arms by John Temple. We discuss the timeline of the Bundy saga, how the FBI went wrong, the Patriot movement and militas and also Ammon Bundy's current status. May: The Black Jacobins by C. L. R. JamesJune: How to Sell a Genocide by Adam H. JohnsonJuly: Blood in the Machine by Brian Merchant

For March, we capped off our 14th Century French tour with Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman! We discuss how much we enjoyed the story, characters and moments. Also Angela missing a major plot point and how it is essentially Dark Souls in book form!April - Up In Arms: How The Bundy Family Hijacked Federal Lands, Outfoxed the Federal Government, and Ignited America's Patriot Militia Movement by John Temple

We finish up A Distant Mirror and the end of Enguerrand de Coucy's bizarre adventure. We discuss France's missteps, the potential if they weren't so bullheaded about their tactics and also if the distant mirror is so distant!March - Between Two Fires by Christopher BuehlmanApril - Up In Arms: How The Bundy Family Hijacked Federal Lands, Outfoxed the Federal Government, and Ignited America's Patriot Militia Movement by John Temple

New year, new two parter! We start off with A Distant Mirror by Barbara W. Tuchman. We discuss our history of 14th century (spoilers: we don't have much), Angela mispronouncing the Enguerrand and surprising facts!February - A Distant Mirror Part Two by Barbara W. TuchmanMarch - Between Two Fires by Christopher BuehlmanApril - Up In Arms: How The Bundy Family Hijacked Federal Lands, Outfoxed the Federal Government, and Ignited America's Patriot Militia Movement by John Temple