Welcome to Pod Meets World, where we usually rewatch Boy Meets World episodes and talk about what it was like making the show, But today we're trying something new. We spent a lot of time on here. We're visiting the past, the nineties, our television show and our memories of making it, and so a lot of this podcast is about us as hosts and you as listeners, figuring out who we were back then, But what about who we are now? What stories are we engaging with and how are they helping us meet the world. So today we launch Pod Meets World book Club Edition. We're going to pick a book, read it, come together and talk about it. No scripts, no lessons from Feenie, just the real I wrote, oh okay, please, I didn't read the book. I watched the movie. No scripts, some scripts, I guess maybe, no lessons from Feenie. Just a real conversation about storytelling, literature, and whatever weird tangents we end up on. Welcome to Podmeet's World. I'm Writer Strong, I'm Danielle Fischel, and I'm will Fredell. Wow different order. Love it was going to follow me love it all?

Welcome to Pod Meets World, where we usually rewatch Boy Meets World episodes and talk about what it was like making the show, But today we're trying something new. We spent a lot of time on here. We're visiting the past, the nineties, our television show and our memories of making it, and so a lot of this podcast is about us as hosts and you as listeners, figuring out who we were back then, But what about who we are now? What stories are we engaging with and how are they helping us meet the world. So today we launch Pod Meets World book Club Edition. We're going to pick a book, read it, come together and talk about it. No scripts, no lessons from Feenie, just the real I wrote, oh okay, please, I didn't read the book. I watched the movie. No scripts, some scripts, I guess maybe, no lessons from Feenie. Just a real conversation about storytelling, literature, and whatever weird tangents we end up on. Welcome to Podmeet's World. I'm Writer Strong, I'm Danielle Fischel, and I'm will Fredell. Wow different order. Love it was going to follow me love it all?

Right?

Right?

So how is this going to work? Well? We are not completely sure, but here's what I'm thinking. Since I picked the book today, I will introduce it and give a brief synopsis of its plot, and then explain why I picked it. And then uh, let's run this book club like we are going back to the classroom. We'll start with roll call, which is our initial overall thoughts of the book. Then we'll move into put it on the Board, which is where we can talk about the themes or the big ideas that we found while we were reading it. Then show your work, which is where we'll talk about the writing itself on a sentence by sentence level, characters, those kinds of things. Then we'll have a pop quiz, we'll get to play a game or ask a fun question about the book. And then finally report card. We'll give our big takeaways and we will give a rating that is based on awarding the book either Feenie's or Turners. So I'll explain, okay, wow. For our first book club pick, we are diving into Blob, a love story by Maggie Sue. And before I get into it, I think I should clarify a few things about book selection, because you know, this is a little different I realized than other book clubs that are out there, like Oprah's or I think Reese Witherspoon has one where they people listen to those and people trust what they trust what they say. Well, you know, the difference is, I think they select a book that they've already read or that they are sort of giving editorial approval to before they have the discussion. So it's usually like, if that book has been selected, it's because they already knew it was going to be good. Where's you know, and we could probably move into that if we want to down the line where each of us could pick a favorite book or something that's you know, impacted us in some way. But in this case, I really felt like exploring something, you know, trying something that maybe will push us out of our comfort zone because I guess fundamentally, I am a literary omnivore. I tend to read about six books at a time, and I'll read anything that somebody recommends to me, but especially if it sounds different than something that I've read before. You know, I like to just try things out, which doesn't mean that I don't have strong opinions. If that anybody's listening to this podcast knows. I'm definitely interested in, you know, deciding whether I like or don't like something and sharing those opinions and debating them, changing them. And I think that my goal is that by having those conversations, we make literature better, we make culture better, right, and that we're not landing on whether the book is ultimately good or bad, or that we have the right or the wrong opinion. I just like keeping the conversation going. But I'm going to probably come down pretty passionately. Okay, So I.

So how is this going to work? Well? We are not completely sure, but here's what I'm thinking. Since I picked the book today, I will introduce it and give a brief synopsis of its plot, and then explain why I picked it. And then uh, let's run this book club like we are going back to the classroom. We'll start with roll call, which is our initial overall thoughts of the book. Then we'll move into put it on the Board, which is where we can talk about the themes or the big ideas that we found while we were reading it. Then show your work, which is where we'll talk about the writing itself on a sentence by sentence level, characters, those kinds of things. Then we'll have a pop quiz, we'll get to play a game or ask a fun question about the book. And then finally report card. We'll give our big takeaways and we will give a rating that is based on awarding the book either Feenie's or Turners. So I'll explain, okay, wow. For our first book club pick, we are diving into Blob, a love story by Maggie Sue. And before I get into it, I think I should clarify a few things about book selection, because you know, this is a little different I realized than other book clubs that are out there, like Oprah's or I think Reese Witherspoon has one where they people listen to those and people trust what they trust what they say. Well, you know, the difference is, I think they select a book that they've already read or that they are sort of giving editorial approval to before they have the discussion. So it's usually like, if that book has been selected, it's because they already knew it was going to be good. Where's you know, and we could probably move into that if we want to down the line where each of us could pick a favorite book or something that's you know, impacted us in some way. But in this case, I really felt like exploring something, you know, trying something that maybe will push us out of our comfort zone because I guess fundamentally, I am a literary omnivore. I tend to read about six books at a time, and I'll read anything that somebody recommends to me, but especially if it sounds different than something that I've read before. You know, I like to just try things out, which doesn't mean that I don't have strong opinions. If that anybody's listening to this podcast knows. I'm definitely interested in, you know, deciding whether I like or don't like something and sharing those opinions and debating them, changing them. And I think that my goal is that by having those conversations, we make literature better, we make culture better, right, and that we're not landing on whether the book is ultimately good or bad, or that we have the right or the wrong opinion. I just like keeping the conversation going. But I'm going to probably come down pretty passionately. Okay, So I.

Don't know what you're talking about.

Don't know what you're talking about.

Well, here's the thing, because I you know, I think when we're assessing Boy Meets World, it's one thing, right, We're talking about a show that we're part of the creation. I think people give us permission to have our opinions. But we're talking about someone else's work, it might feel a little different. So I just wanted to, you know, clarify we're just exploring. Okay. So I picked this book Blob because I think it it just was an excellent hook for a novel. It's something that the second I heard what it was about, I wanted to read it and I wanted to see where it went. I think a lot of books are written and published and bought because you know they fall in line with existing genres, things that you've already read and you want to read more like that, right, So that's where you get romance and fantasy and mystery, and so that's the way. A lot of books that are out there fall into those categories, and I like a lot of them. But then I like to read books that just mashup genres or try to break from precedent. Blob a Love Story is just that, a contemporary romance, maybe coming of age, with a level of realism when it comes to the setting and the characters, and yet we get a magical, mysterious, maybe alien blob PLoP down in the middle, and that becomes the main engine of its plot. Blob a Love Story is written by Maggie Sue. She's a writer whose work has appeared in New England Review, Four Wave Review, tri Quarterly Review, and many more. She received her PhD in fiction from the University of Cincinnati and has an MFA from Indiana University. This is her debut novel. It was published in January of this year, twenty twenty five, and it quickly got a lot of attention for its unique premise. The synopsis V Lou has always felt like an outsider in her Midwestern college town, caught between her Taiwanese father's heritage and her white mother's world. After dropping out of college and still recovering from a recent breakup, she's stuck between her job working at the front desk of a hotel, where she greets guests and dodges the relentless cheer of her coworker, Rachel. The story begins when V, in a rare moment of extraversion, decides to join Rachel for a night out. They attend a drag show, where, stepping into an alley behind the bar, V stumbles upon a peculiar, squishy creature with tiny black eyes on a whim. Equal parts drunk and lonely, she takes the blob home. But this mysterious blob isn't just a stray pet. It begins to grow, take shape, and even follow V's commands. Seeing an opportunity, she decides to mold it into the perfect companion. Fueled by sugary cereals and a steady diet of pop culture, the blob transforms into a strikingly attractive white man seemingly designed to love her without question. All right, let's get into roll call our initial overall thoughts. Guys, who wants to start? What was your initial reaction to this book?

Well, here's the thing, because I you know, I think when we're assessing Boy Meets World, it's one thing, right, We're talking about a show that we're part of the creation. I think people give us permission to have our opinions. But we're talking about someone else's work, it might feel a little different. So I just wanted to, you know, clarify we're just exploring. Okay. So I picked this book Blob because I think it it just was an excellent hook for a novel. It's something that the second I heard what it was about, I wanted to read it and I wanted to see where it went. I think a lot of books are written and published and bought because you know they fall in line with existing genres, things that you've already read and you want to read more like that, right, So that's where you get romance and fantasy and mystery, and so that's the way. A lot of books that are out there fall into those categories, and I like a lot of them. But then I like to read books that just mashup genres or try to break from precedent. Blob a Love Story is just that, a contemporary romance, maybe coming of age, with a level of realism when it comes to the setting and the characters, and yet we get a magical, mysterious, maybe alien blob PLoP down in the middle, and that becomes the main engine of its plot. Blob a Love Story is written by Maggie Sue. She's a writer whose work has appeared in New England Review, Four Wave Review, tri Quarterly Review, and many more. She received her PhD in fiction from the University of Cincinnati and has an MFA from Indiana University. This is her debut novel. It was published in January of this year, twenty twenty five, and it quickly got a lot of attention for its unique premise. The synopsis V Lou has always felt like an outsider in her Midwestern college town, caught between her Taiwanese father's heritage and her white mother's world. After dropping out of college and still recovering from a recent breakup, she's stuck between her job working at the front desk of a hotel, where she greets guests and dodges the relentless cheer of her coworker, Rachel. The story begins when V, in a rare moment of extraversion, decides to join Rachel for a night out. They attend a drag show, where, stepping into an alley behind the bar, V stumbles upon a peculiar, squishy creature with tiny black eyes on a whim. Equal parts drunk and lonely, she takes the blob home. But this mysterious blob isn't just a stray pet. It begins to grow, take shape, and even follow V's commands. Seeing an opportunity, she decides to mold it into the perfect companion. Fueled by sugary cereals and a steady diet of pop culture, the blob transforms into a strikingly attractive white man seemingly designed to love her without question. All right, let's get into roll call our initial overall thoughts. Guys, who wants to start? What was your initial reaction to this book?

You want to go first? Well, or you want me to go first?

You want to go first? Well, or you want me to go first?

You go first?

You go first?

Okay, So like you, I love a book that has a real realistic setting but something about it is just fantastical or totally mysterious. I also love a book where, because of that, you would imagine it's the type of feeling where you put it down because you have to go to sleep or because you have to go do something else, and then you just you keep thinking about, like what is going to happen next.

Okay, So like you, I love a book that has a real realistic setting but something about it is just fantastical or totally mysterious. I also love a book where, because of that, you would imagine it's the type of feeling where you put it down because you have to go to sleep or because you have to go do something else, and then you just you keep thinking about, like what is going to happen next.

It kind of has you on the edge of.

It kind of has you on the edge of.

Your seat, like I can't because anything could happen, and I can't really envision where it's going. And I was thinking I was going to feel that way about this book. What I will say, although I overall thoughts, I thought.

Your seat, like I can't because anything could happen, and I can't really envision where it's going. And I was thinking I was going to feel that way about this book. What I will say, although I overall thoughts, I thought.

There were very interesting elements.

There were very interesting elements.

There were very funny elements, although in a very dry, kind of understated way. It's it's not beating you over the head with its humor, but the humor is there, uh. And I loved some of the characters. There's like several things I really liked about it. I will say about halfway through the book, I put it down because I had to go pick up the kids from school, and I didn't get to it later that night and like a couple days past, and I thought, I'm not sure if I didn't have to finish this for book club, I would even care whether or not I finished the book. I'm okay not necessarily knowing what ends up happening with the Blob env So in that sense, it didn't necessarily hook me the way I wanted it to.

There were very funny elements, although in a very dry, kind of understated way. It's it's not beating you over the head with its humor, but the humor is there, uh. And I loved some of the characters. There's like several things I really liked about it. I will say about halfway through the book, I put it down because I had to go pick up the kids from school, and I didn't get to it later that night and like a couple days past, and I thought, I'm not sure if I didn't have to finish this for book club, I would even care whether or not I finished the book. I'm okay not necessarily knowing what ends up happening with the Blob env So in that sense, it didn't necessarily hook me the way I wanted it to.

I also.

I also.

Am a very like I envision things when you know when when a writer writes something and they give it in detail, and like, definitely the blob is a man. Is something Maggie Sue wants you to envision. She gives you reference points, you know, famous Hollywood men, and she's describing this like hot dude, and like, all right, I'll picture a hot dude. I had a hard time picturing anything other than the water shape man from the movie Elemental.

Am a very like I envision things when you know when when a writer writes something and they give it in detail, and like, definitely the blob is a man. Is something Maggie Sue wants you to envision. She gives you reference points, you know, famous Hollywood men, and she's describing this like hot dude, and like, all right, I'll picture a hot dude. I had a hard time picturing anything other than the water shape man from the movie Elemental.

Oh interesting because I haven't seen it, but I.

Oh interesting because I haven't seen it, but I.

Could so easily picture the gelatinous blob. I could in no way get my imagination to go to a place where that gelatinous blob actually.

Could so easily picture the gelatinous blob. I could in no way get my imagination to go to a place where that gelatinous blob actually.

Became human skin, man and human shape.

Became human skin, man and human shape.

I thought of him still as kind of a gelatinous man, right, and so that always kept I kept bumping up against that, like, wait, he's he's passable at all as a as a as a man. So that those are I would say, those are kind of my overall thoughts.

I thought of him still as kind of a gelatinous man, right, and so that always kept I kept bumping up against that, like, wait, he's he's passable at all as a as a as a man. So that those are I would say, those are kind of my overall thoughts.

Yeah good. I also was wondering, like, if I was going to make a movie of this, what would it actually look like? And it was hard. It was hard to pin down, which maybe a strength and you know I'm not a weakness, but I'm not sure. Will How did it compare with your expectations? I had none.

Yeah good. I also was wondering, like, if I was going to make a movie of this, what would it actually look like? And it was hard. It was hard to pin down, which maybe a strength and you know I'm not a weakness, but I'm not sure. Will How did it compare with your expectations? I had none.

I truly had no expectations going in. You know the kind of books I left to read. So if you're gonna have some sort of a magical element, I'm one of those people where I need an explanation of some sort of magical element, the idea of like it can be anything.

I truly had no expectations going in. You know the kind of books I left to read. So if you're gonna have some sort of a magical element, I'm one of those people where I need an explanation of some sort of magical element, the idea of like it can be anything.

Just use your imagination. I don't want to use my imagination.

Just use your imagination. I don't want to use my imagination.

I want you to use yours and tell me more about what's going on.

I want you to use yours and tell me more about what's going on.

Interesting.

Interesting.

My favorite fantasy novels are novels where the worlds are so built out that the intricacy is I mean again, the first series of books that I ever found are called the Belgariad series, And after he wrote these fourteen books, he wrote something called the Riven Codex, which was a breakdown of the entire world down to the weights and measures of every country that's involved in this world.

My favorite fantasy novels are novels where the worlds are so built out that the intricacy is I mean again, the first series of books that I ever found are called the Belgariad series, And after he wrote these fourteen books, he wrote something called the Riven Codex, which was a breakdown of the entire world down to the weights and measures of every country that's involved in this world.

Wow.

Wow.

So that's the kind of intricacy I like when you're doing anything fantastical.

So that's the kind of intricacy I like when you're doing anything fantastical.

It was an easy read, very quick.

It was an easy read, very quick.

Again, I felt exactly like Danielle, where if I didn't, I'm a completist, so will the second I read one word, I have to finish it. But I wasn't excited to finish it. It wasn't like I can't wait to see what happens next. I had a little trouble connecting with the lead character just because it's you know, it's an Asian woman who's dealing with depression and alcoholism, so seeing anything from her point of view is obviously something that's a very difficult thing for me to do. But I thought at times she described it well. But I also agree with Danielle where a lot of the descriptions and again I'm very used to fourteen hundred page books where there will be five pages on the rug you're standing on, So it gets to be a lot.

Again, I felt exactly like Danielle, where if I didn't, I'm a completist, so will the second I read one word, I have to finish it. But I wasn't excited to finish it. It wasn't like I can't wait to see what happens next. I had a little trouble connecting with the lead character just because it's you know, it's an Asian woman who's dealing with depression and alcoholism, so seeing anything from her point of view is obviously something that's a very difficult thing for me to do. But I thought at times she described it well. But I also agree with Danielle where a lot of the descriptions and again I'm very used to fourteen hundred page books where there will be five pages on the rug you're standing on, So it gets to be a lot.

But you know exactly what the rug look.

But you know exactly what the rug look.

Likes when you turn the page, if you had had a chapter about or not even a chapter even lines of every time the blob does do a shift, what does it sound like?

Likes when you turn the page, if you had had a chapter about or not even a chapter even lines of every time the blob does do a shift, what does it sound like?

What is you know? What does the skin feel like? What is it look like?

What is you know? What does the skin feel like? What is it look like?

What does the transformation taking place feel like it? I thought she could have gone into more depth with that. I loved the pop culture references. I loved how she used the pop culture references. There's a lot of pop culture references. I'm guessing most readers, including the two of you, probably did not pick up. There are direct lines in here from Seinfeld, direct lines in here from friends.

What does the transformation taking place feel like it? I thought she could have gone into more depth with that. I loved the pop culture references. I loved how she used the pop culture references. There's a lot of pop culture references. I'm guessing most readers, including the two of you, probably did not pick up. There are direct lines in here from Seinfeld, direct lines in here from friends.

She named her best friends named is Rachel. I'm telling you, with.

She named her best friends named is Rachel. I'm telling you, with.

All her pop culture stuff, that is a take off of Rachel from Friends. And her building manager is Jerry, and I'm guessing that's Jerry Seinfeld. I mean, she loves the pop culture stuff so much, so I like that stuff. I also love an occasional good cringey moment. And there were a couple in here that were so cringing that you want to drop the book, which again I dig that.

All her pop culture stuff, that is a take off of Rachel from Friends. And her building manager is Jerry, and I'm guessing that's Jerry Seinfeld. I mean, she loves the pop culture stuff so much, so I like that stuff. I also love an occasional good cringey moment. And there were a couple in here that were so cringing that you want to drop the book, which again I dig that.

I kind of like that.

I kind of like that.

So yeah, with no expectations going in, I finished and I was like, Okay, I read it.

So yeah, with no expectations going in, I finished and I was like, Okay, I read it.

You're right.

You're right.

Well, there are definitely references I did not pick up on. But so much of the the book could very easily fall into a category that would be like op culture commentary.

Well, there are definitely references I did not pick up on. But so much of the the book could very easily fall into a category that would be like op culture commentary.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So much of it is commenting on who we are because of the media or because of the things we consume.

So much of it is commenting on who we are because of the media or because of the things we consume.

Yep.

Yep.

Yeah, like what is our output because of what we input?

Yeah, like what is our output because of what we input?

Ye?

Ye?

A lot of it is also I think a lot of it has to do with Maggie Sue, the author, trying to She makes so many references to America and Americana. It's almost like she grew up in her life as a Taiwanese American in the Midwest having to prove she was an American. So in this book, it's like I wrote down the names that she used for the characters Rachel, Walter, Luke, Alex, Mary, Bob, Stephanie, Doug, Matt, Paul Tony. These are all like the easiest American names. She's constantly talking about eating I got my chicken sandwich at McDonald.

A lot of it is also I think a lot of it has to do with Maggie Sue, the author, trying to She makes so many references to America and Americana. It's almost like she grew up in her life as a Taiwanese American in the Midwest having to prove she was an American. So in this book, it's like I wrote down the names that she used for the characters Rachel, Walter, Luke, Alex, Mary, Bob, Stephanie, Doug, Matt, Paul Tony. These are all like the easiest American names. She's constantly talking about eating I got my chicken sandwich at McDonald.

She's like, I'm an American. I'm an American. It's almost seemed like the restaurants, it's.

She's like, I'm an American. I'm an American. It's almost seemed like the restaurants, it's.

Had to constantly prove to herself because she was a Taiwanese American that she was as American as everybody else. And I don't know if that was deliberate or that's led into her writing because she's I want everyone I'm an American.

Had to constantly prove to herself because she was a Taiwanese American that she was as American as everybody else. And I don't know if that was deliberate or that's led into her writing because she's I want everyone I'm an American.

No, I think that's that's very much what this book is, right, Let's put it on the board because I think I think, yeah, like, let's get into the big themes or the ideas that we can really pull out from from this book. And I let's start with exactly what you're saying. It seems like a lot of this book is about identity, right like how we beforem who we are and in these case that it has to do with race, gender, and job. So do you guys, could you isolate? Could you say one theme that you think that this book is definitely about.

No, I think that's that's very much what this book is, right, Let's put it on the board because I think I think, yeah, like, let's get into the big themes or the ideas that we can really pull out from from this book. And I let's start with exactly what you're saying. It seems like a lot of this book is about identity, right like how we beforem who we are and in these case that it has to do with race, gender, and job. So do you guys, could you isolate? Could you say one theme that you think that this book is definitely about.

It would be hard, but I think if I were to pick one thing, I would think I would say it is about these realization that she is capable.

It would be hard, but I think if I were to pick one thing, I would think I would say it is about these realization that she is capable.

Of self determination.

Of self determination.

Well, yes, in deciding who she is without needing external validation or external like a sounding board. She's like, who do you think I am? And then that's maybe that will to help me define myself. She can define herself without input from an external source. If I had those, if I had to say one sentence, it would be that.

Well, yes, in deciding who she is without needing external validation or external like a sounding board. She's like, who do you think I am? And then that's maybe that will to help me define myself. She can define herself without input from an external source. If I had those, if I had to say one sentence, it would be that.

I felt the same way. It's like almost like she finds a blob, and then we get these chapters describing her, like basically memoir chapters, going back into her history and time and time again, it seems like, oh, she's the blob, right, she has let herself be amorphous and let herself be determined by her classmates, her crushes, whatever. And so by the process of making taking this blob and making it into her perfect boyfriend, she's actually discovering that she has been allowed herself to be molded by her job, by her family, family friends.

I felt the same way. It's like almost like she finds a blob, and then we get these chapters describing her, like basically memoir chapters, going back into her history and time and time again, it seems like, oh, she's the blob, right, she has let herself be amorphous and let herself be determined by her classmates, her crushes, whatever. And so by the process of making taking this blob and making it into her perfect boyfriend, she's actually discovering that she has been allowed herself to be molded by her job, by her family, family friends.

And also that her perfect boyfriend she thinks is a white man, the same people she's been getting a lot of feedback from her entire life, right, right.

And also that her perfect boyfriend she thinks is a white man, the same people she's been getting a lot of feedback from her entire life, right, right.

So where do you think that lands?

So where do you think that lands?

Then?

Then?

When she doesn't end up with Bob.

When she doesn't end up with Bob.

But that's the thing, is I think that that's the the the also a theme of the it's it's an idealism. It's the idea that perfection is unattainable, even if you're the one creating it. Yes, So it's like, oh, I've got the perfect idea if I just get this is this is.

But that's the thing, is I think that that's the the the also a theme of the it's it's an idealism. It's the idea that perfection is unattainable, even if you're the one creating it. Yes, So it's like, oh, I've got the perfect idea if I just get this is this is.

Unfortunately, what the American dream is becoming.

Unfortunately, what the American dream is becoming.

And when you you mix that with the mass amounts of anxiety and depression that are going on in our culture right now, the idea of if I just get this, I'll then be happy, right, And then when you attain that and you're still not happy, you're like, well, then what the hell do I do? So I think in her mind, she's building the perfect man, and then when he eventually up and leaves her for her perfect white toothed best friend, it's like, oh, I can't even build my ideal person right.

And when you you mix that with the mass amounts of anxiety and depression that are going on in our culture right now, the idea of if I just get this, I'll then be happy, right, And then when you attain that and you're still not happy, you're like, well, then what the hell do I do? So I think in her mind, she's building the perfect man, and then when he eventually up and leaves her for her perfect white toothed best friend, it's like, oh, I can't even build my ideal person right.

Because she figured out he's person right exactly.

Because she figured out he's person right exactly.

I just wish she didn't. I wish the author didn't spell that out. And there is a specific line there where she's like, and that's when I realized I had become the blob. And it's like, Okay, you didn't need to write like let us figure that out.

I just wish she didn't. I wish the author didn't spell that out. And there is a specific line there where she's like, and that's when I realized I had become the blob. And it's like, Okay, you didn't need to write like let us figure that out.

You don't.

You don't.

You don't need to put that in there. It's like, I got where you were going with that. I didn't need it thrown thrown at me.

You don't need to put that in there. It's like, I got where you were going with that. I didn't need it thrown thrown at me.

Well, but I think I think the bigger, the bigger thought that I like jotted down. I think we tend to think as a culture and as individuals, we tend to think of our identity as as something that is self contained, that it's ours, right, Like I am this type of person, I come from this type of family, and if I'm going to change my identity, I have to change me. I have to work on myself, right. But it seems to me, actually, so much of the notion of identity gets broken down. So it's more about how other people perceive you, so that when you change your identity, it changes everyone around you. So when she's pretending to be Elliott's boy girlfriend for a night right, that destabilizes her and everybody around It's like, whatever choices you make about yourself, they don't just determine who you are, they also determine who everybody else is. Right, everybody else has to potentially change their pronouns based on your gender. Everybody else is affected, and so it's like this sort of interconnectedness of identity. Ultimately, more where the book lands, which I thought was pretty cool and kind of revolutionary. Like, you know a lot of these sort of coming of age stories that I would put this in, you know, they tend to land where somebody's like and then I changed who I am and I became my true self. This book kind of ends with her just saying I'm going to keep trying. I'm gonna photography might be my thing, but yeah, but she's gonna She's going to look at the people around her and engage with them in a new way.

Well, but I think I think the bigger, the bigger thought that I like jotted down. I think we tend to think as a culture and as individuals, we tend to think of our identity as as something that is self contained, that it's ours, right, Like I am this type of person, I come from this type of family, and if I'm going to change my identity, I have to change me. I have to work on myself, right. But it seems to me, actually, so much of the notion of identity gets broken down. So it's more about how other people perceive you, so that when you change your identity, it changes everyone around you. So when she's pretending to be Elliott's boy girlfriend for a night right, that destabilizes her and everybody around It's like, whatever choices you make about yourself, they don't just determine who you are, they also determine who everybody else is. Right, everybody else has to potentially change their pronouns based on your gender. Everybody else is affected, and so it's like this sort of interconnectedness of identity. Ultimately, more where the book lands, which I thought was pretty cool and kind of revolutionary. Like, you know a lot of these sort of coming of age stories that I would put this in, you know, they tend to land where somebody's like and then I changed who I am and I became my true self. This book kind of ends with her just saying I'm going to keep trying. I'm gonna photography might be my thing, but yeah, but she's gonna She's going to look at the people around her and engage with them in a new way.

The king that's also interesting, and they have a couple a couple of the characters literally do this is everybody at one point or another is playing a role, right, So it's like her parents are playing the role of looking like the perfect American family, her friend is playing the role of being the good friend, but is also actually an actor. Elliott is playing the role of being straight. The blob is trying to play a role of then what is his role?

The king that's also interesting, and they have a couple a couple of the characters literally do this is everybody at one point or another is playing a role, right, So it's like her parents are playing the role of looking like the perfect American family, her friend is playing the role of being the good friend, but is also actually an actor. Elliott is playing the role of being straight. The blob is trying to play a role of then what is his role?

And it's a human being?

And it's a human being?

And he literally becomes an actor at the end because he's absorbed so much. He's me in a way in that he just sat there absorbing so much TV that now he's got to go be TV.

And he literally becomes an actor at the end because he's absorbed so much. He's me in a way in that he just sat there absorbing so much TV that now he's got to go be TV.

So there's you know there, but everybody was playing a role.

So there's you know there, but everybody was playing a role.

And I think at the end she realized she was like, I'm just not going to play anymore, and I'm just going to kind of try to figure out what the hell my next steps are.

And I think at the end she realized she was like, I'm just not going to play anymore, and I'm just going to kind of try to figure out what the hell my next steps are.

Right well, to combine the things you two said, it's really she comes to terms with realizing like, oh, I have played a role in society. I've played a role in my family and the way they react to me, the way she often describes the way her mom tenses up when she says or does something, and she knows like they're so used to me being reactionary or they are so used to me being this way that it affects the way they talk about me, It affects where we go, it affects and like, instead of just putting that on them, she goes, I also am contributing to this.

Right well, to combine the things you two said, it's really she comes to terms with realizing like, oh, I have played a role in society. I've played a role in my family and the way they react to me, the way she often describes the way her mom tenses up when she says or does something, and she knows like they're so used to me being reactionary or they are so used to me being this way that it affects the way they talk about me, It affects where we go, it affects and like, instead of just putting that on them, she goes, I also am contributing to this.

We're all feeding off of each other.

We're all feeding off of each other.

Yeah, yeah, that's part of what I love. When she brings the blob home for Bob as a man home is when she finally starts noticing things about her family but she's never noticed did my mom always cook this? Well? Not always. It's like she's finally able to see her relationships or see other people because she's brought through Bob's eyes and it helps her be like, oh, I've also I've also been an asshole. Like that's what's so funny that the book begins from a kind of defensive place of like, I'm just a wallflower. Everybody else has so strong opinions and I just sort of am passive. Like that's the way she kind of introduces herself. And then throughout the course of the book, you're like, she's a drunk, she's kind of a she's mean to people, she's terrible, and you know, it's like it's like the slow realization that she is actually affecting everybody around her house and that she's kind of made her own bed, like she's put herself in this position. I thought that was really effective, you know.

Yeah, yeah, that's part of what I love. When she brings the blob home for Bob as a man home is when she finally starts noticing things about her family but she's never noticed did my mom always cook this? Well? Not always. It's like she's finally able to see her relationships or see other people because she's brought through Bob's eyes and it helps her be like, oh, I've also I've also been an asshole. Like that's what's so funny that the book begins from a kind of defensive place of like, I'm just a wallflower. Everybody else has so strong opinions and I just sort of am passive. Like that's the way she kind of introduces herself. And then throughout the course of the book, you're like, she's a drunk, she's kind of a she's mean to people, she's terrible, and you know, it's like it's like the slow realization that she is actually affecting everybody around her house and that she's kind of made her own bed, like she's put herself in this position. I thought that was really effective, you know.

Did you also notice that her journey as a character mimicked Bob growing meaning, meaning when Bob was just eyes, she started to see everything around. When Bob began a hand, she started to get out and actually physically touch people. She had her doing that. When Bob grew legs, she was going out more. So it was like everything that happened with Bob was almost mirrored in kind of her journey as a person, which I thought was again and then that's again her first reaction when he grew legs was like, Okay, do I chain him up? How do I keep him here to? I mean, it's just yeah, it's really kind of amazing. And again, that's one of the first tropes you talked about her parents them selling the house right out from under her.

Did you also notice that her journey as a character mimicked Bob growing meaning, meaning when Bob was just eyes, she started to see everything around. When Bob began a hand, she started to get out and actually physically touch people. She had her doing that. When Bob grew legs, she was going out more. So it was like everything that happened with Bob was almost mirrored in kind of her journey as a person, which I thought was again and then that's again her first reaction when he grew legs was like, Okay, do I chain him up? How do I keep him here to? I mean, it's just yeah, it's really kind of amazing. And again, that's one of the first tropes you talked about her parents them selling the house right out from under her.

That's a storyline in Friends.

That's a storyline in Friends.

That's what That's what Monica's parents do, is they sell her house out from So there's a couple things that happen here that are straight from pop culture.

That's what That's what Monica's parents do, is they sell her house out from So there's a couple things that happen here that are straight from pop culture.

Okay, well, let's let's move into the next section, which I'm calling show your work and get into the writing itself, her voice as a character and as a narrator. What did you guys think of it? How would you describe it?

Okay, well, let's let's move into the next section, which I'm calling show your work and get into the writing itself, her voice as a character and as a narrator. What did you guys think of it? How would you describe it?

I would say it is dead pan comedy. Yes, it's ry y, Yes, it's ry. It's self deprecating. It's also yeah, she's right hard on herself, hard on herself constantly. Yeah, yeah, incriminating, deprecating, uh, and also casual. There's nothing there's nothing pretentious or formal.

I would say it is dead pan comedy. Yes, it's ry y, Yes, it's ry. It's self deprecating. It's also yeah, she's right hard on herself, hard on herself constantly. Yeah, yeah, incriminating, deprecating, uh, and also casual. There's nothing there's nothing pretentious or formal.

Read it is very easy.

Read it is very easy.

This this to me, and you know, we always do this. We do this all the episodes of Boying th World.

This this to me, and you know, we always do this. We do this all the episodes of Boying th World.

Here's what I would have done.

Here's what I would have done.

And it's like, it's like, oh yeah, when I write my novel, but this to me seem like what would have been cool?

And it's like, it's like, oh yeah, when I write my novel, but this to me seem like what would have been cool?

I would love to have seen this. And again, it's just the way my mind works.

I would love to have seen this. And again, it's just the way my mind works.

If say I was fourteen and it was a while and she finds the blob and the first half of the book she's raising the blob. In the second half of the book, it joins her in high school. Like, that's kind of where the tone of this was for me, which then thrown in kind of it threw me then because then you turn the page and she'd be talking about masturbating and it was like, oh, oh that came Okay.

If say I was fourteen and it was a while and she finds the blob and the first half of the book she's raising the blob. In the second half of the book, it joins her in high school. Like, that's kind of where the tone of this was for me, which then thrown in kind of it threw me then because then you turn the page and she'd be talking about masturbating and it was like, oh, oh that came Okay.

That's right. It's not a young not like it's you know what I mean, it's right. Well, I do think that the book, you know, it makes this transition I would say, what fifty or sixty pages in where we get our first sort of flashback sequence. Yeah, and it does. The book ends up spending a lot of time in her youth. And I found those transitions a little hard. I was every time I was like, wait, why are we getting this this flashback of this scene. I could have almost done without them entirely. I because when we were in the present tense, when we were with with V, are we going with V or V? Which was I thought it was V? I thought it was very like I thought V I. I thought it was short for violet or something I was. I would say, you.

That's right. It's not a young not like it's you know what I mean, it's right. Well, I do think that the book, you know, it makes this transition I would say, what fifty or sixty pages in where we get our first sort of flashback sequence. Yeah, and it does. The book ends up spending a lot of time in her youth. And I found those transitions a little hard. I was every time I was like, wait, why are we getting this this flashback of this scene. I could have almost done without them entirely. I because when we were in the present tense, when we were with with V, are we going with V or V? Which was I thought it was V? I thought it was very like I thought V I. I thought it was short for violet or something I was. I would say, you.

Say, we're saying the but you said that.

Say, we're saying the but you said that.

That's what you say Potatoe else in the world.

That's what you say Potatoe else in the world.

Yeah, I found those flashbacks. I think that they they helped develop some of the conflicts that you know, we've already talked about, you know, cultural conflicts and racial and gender identity and all that, but they were not nearly as entertaining and and I'm not sure that they contributed much to the current story. And you know, my experience going back to Danielle's first overall impression was where you had to put you put the book down and you were like, do I want to go back? I definitely went on a similar journey. And I think this is why is because I think that middle section of the book, once we get the plot of Bob Blob, anytime that we take a pause, go back to being eleven years old, I'm like, where's this that doesn't I don't know if I need that. But then when the book picked back up again with the current plot of Bob getting out, Bob leaving her, her being Elliott's date, and that so much energy, and then then I really tore through the rest of the book because that picked it back up.

Yeah, I found those flashbacks. I think that they they helped develop some of the conflicts that you know, we've already talked about, you know, cultural conflicts and racial and gender identity and all that, but they were not nearly as entertaining and and I'm not sure that they contributed much to the current story. And you know, my experience going back to Danielle's first overall impression was where you had to put you put the book down and you were like, do I want to go back? I definitely went on a similar journey. And I think this is why is because I think that middle section of the book, once we get the plot of Bob Blob, anytime that we take a pause, go back to being eleven years old, I'm like, where's this that doesn't I don't know if I need that. But then when the book picked back up again with the current plot of Bob getting out, Bob leaving her, her being Elliott's date, and that so much energy, and then then I really tore through the rest of the book because that picked it back up.

You're exactly right. I felt exactly the same way.

You're exactly right. I felt exactly the same way.

There was like a midway point before we got into all of that where I was like, I don't know that I would normally finish this, But once I got back into it, I was like.

There was like a midway point before we got into all of that where I was like, I don't know that I would normally finish this, But once I got back into it, I was like.

Oh, I'm so glad I did.

Oh, I'm so glad I did.

Yeah, no, I literally I I yelled at one point where with the whole party scene where where she was everyone looks over and everyone's watching or kiss. The guy was like, oh, you want to drop the book at that point. So, I mean there were moments in it that were absolutely chef's kiss.

Yeah, no, I literally I I yelled at one point where with the whole party scene where where she was everyone looks over and everyone's watching or kiss. The guy was like, oh, you want to drop the book at that point. So, I mean there were moments in it that were absolutely chef's kiss.

And I think that that's you know, that's an accomplishment, you know, like that that we we we did lose she lost us a little bit, you know, it slowed down a little bit, but the fact that it picks back up, and I do think that, you know, and the book is short we're not talking too long. So even when we're talking about like it's slowing down, we're really only talking about twenty Yeah. So I but I do think that the writing, you know, an editorial like slicing, it could have been shorter, It could have been a little just just a little bit. All right, let's pop quiz. This is the section where we're gonna ask a question or play get a buzzer or there's We're not gonna play a game with this one. This is a question that Jensen carp Our, lovely producer, came up with podcast.

And I think that that's you know, that's an accomplishment, you know, like that that we we we did lose she lost us a little bit, you know, it slowed down a little bit, but the fact that it picks back up, and I do think that, you know, and the book is short we're not talking too long. So even when we're talking about like it's slowing down, we're really only talking about twenty Yeah. So I but I do think that the writing, you know, an editorial like slicing, it could have been shorter, It could have been a little just just a little bit. All right, let's pop quiz. This is the section where we're gonna ask a question or play get a buzzer or there's We're not gonna play a game with this one. This is a question that Jensen carp Our, lovely producer, came up with podcast.

Oh god, I bet you I know what the question is going to be. Really yeah, it's gonna be something like if you had a blob of your.

Oh god, I bet you I know what the question is going to be. Really yeah, it's gonna be something like if you had a blob of your.

Own, your own blob? There you go? Which body part from a Boy Meets World character? Are you picking? First?

Own, your own blob? There you go? Which body part from a Boy Meets World character? Are you picking? First?

Wait? Am I supposed to want to have sex with this blob?

Wait? Am I supposed to want to have sex with this blob?

It's your ultimate or your ultimate partner?

It's your ultimate or your ultimate partner?

Oh gosh, is like Mary f kill my god.

Oh gosh, is like Mary f kill my god.

This is tough. Let's see you do you give do you give it? Phoene's brain do you give it? Writer Strong's hair? Do you give it? I don't want to bang Daniel.

This is tough. Let's see you do you give do you give it? Phoene's brain do you give it? Writer Strong's hair? Do you give it? I don't want to bang Daniel.

Okay, not to sound creepy, but Daniel Fisher lips is not a bad place to start.

Okay, not to sound creepy, but Daniel Fisher lips is not a bad place to start.

But I don't want to start with the lips.

But I don't want to start with the lips.

I might go Ben Savage washboard apps.

I might go Ben Savage washboard apps.

Okay, I might go Amy Matthew's Compassion.

Okay, I might go Amy Matthew's Compassion.

Oh well, it's true.

Oh well, it's true.

I mean if you start there, right, did you love a mommy?

I mean if you start there, right, did you love a mommy?

Yeah, that's so creepy.

Yeah, that's so creepy.

That is so creepy. No, I would go the girl like Tushy danced with No right, right right? I don't know what about you writer? You have one? I don't actually, yeah, I'm trying to think, Uh, there was with such with such good hair in general, and boy, it's kind of hard to avoid that.

That is so creepy. No, I would go the girl like Tushy danced with No right, right right? I don't know what about you writer? You have one? I don't actually, yeah, I'm trying to think, Uh, there was with such with such good hair in general, and boy, it's kind of hard to avoid that.

We also don't have We only have like two real girls, our own idea to pick from.

We also don't have We only have like two real girls, our own idea to pick from.

So it's like I want Danielle Like, that's not gonna as a word, right, you can't do that. I watched that, which I hadn't even thought about was Phoene's brain, right, Like brain's a good one. It's like, really if you can, Yeah, I don't know how I would get the blob to form that way? I can question? Can I switch up the question? Please? If each of us could pick.

So it's like I want Danielle Like, that's not gonna as a word, right, you can't do that. I watched that, which I hadn't even thought about was Phoene's brain, right, Like brain's a good one. It's like, really if you can, Yeah, I don't know how I would get the blob to form that way? I can question? Can I switch up the question? Please? If each of us could pick.

One body part for another person, like writer, if you had to build the perfect partner for Danielle, what's the first body part from a Boy Meets World cast member you would put on Danielle's partner.

One body part for another person, like writer, if you had to build the perfect partner for Danielle, what's the first body part from a Boy Meets World cast member you would put on Danielle's partner.

Just Matt Lawrence. When we talked about him coming to the set, she was like, Wow, we had some good looking guys on the show, but now we have.

Just Matt Lawrence. When we talked about him coming to the set, she was like, Wow, we had some good looking guys on the show, but now we have.

You guys were good looking.

You guys were good looking.

Your liver lab Matt Lawrence became blobs. Matt Lawrence took over.

Your liver lab Matt Lawrence became blobs. Matt Lawrence took over.

That's pretty funny.

That's pretty funny.

I just would like to point out that YouTube picked compassion and Brains and I picked.

I just would like to point out that YouTube picked compassion and Brains and I picked.

So you're more like the we take it nice, very sweet, all right, report card? Okay, any of the sort of or any other coming of age or maybe Redemption story books? Is there another book that you would compare this to.

So you're more like the we take it nice, very sweet, all right, report card? Okay, any of the sort of or any other coming of age or maybe Redemption story books? Is there another book that you would compare this to.

You know, for me, I have a very hard time relating to this modern a modern coming of age?

You know, for me, I have a very hard time relating to this modern a modern coming of age?

Me too, I found it. That's for me. That was the problem, the pop cultural references that I was like, I am so old. This is your pop culture.

Me too, I found it. That's for me. That was the problem, the pop cultural references that I was like, I am so old. This is your pop culture.

No, your pop culture alliterate because the references that she's using are references from when we were She did a ton of ninety stuff. I mean, it was friends and Seinfeld I will.

No, your pop culture alliterate because the references that she's using are references from when we were She did a ton of ninety stuff. I mean, it was friends and Seinfeld I will.

Say it didn't make me feel old. I didn't feel old reading it.

Say it didn't make me feel old. I didn't feel old reading it.

What I felt was coming of age for millennials or gen X.

What I felt was coming of age for millennials or gen X.

There's a lot more.

There's a lot more.

Commitment to work ethic rat Race like six, like classic success in the sense of like I had to go to college. My school is very important to my family. I don't want to let them down. I finished school. I have to get a job. And then finding yourself going, oh my gosh, I'm exhausted and how did I get here? And I don't know that this is the life I would have chosen for myself. But look at what I've built. It seems like a lot of modern coming of age is like I don't want to get out of bed today.

Commitment to work ethic rat Race like six, like classic success in the sense of like I had to go to college. My school is very important to my family. I don't want to let them down. I finished school. I have to get a job. And then finding yourself going, oh my gosh, I'm exhausted and how did I get here? And I don't know that this is the life I would have chosen for myself. But look at what I've built. It seems like a lot of modern coming of age is like I don't want to get out of bed today.

I'm just going to show up late.

I'm just going to show up late.

To my job on a Tuesday. Yeah, I get I.

To my job on a Tuesday. Yeah, I get I.

Get drunk every night.

Get drunk every night.

I'm like, and I was just like, I can't I do. I don't hide. This is giving me edge, aed like I've never heard of anybody be worse.

I'm like, and I was just like, I can't I do. I don't hide. This is giving me edge, aed like I've never heard of anybody be worse.

At their job.

At their job.

Yeah, this is I know that this is what gen Z experiences and I just have you know, like Will saying he's not Asian, and so he does he doesn't pretend to be able to know what it feels like.

Yeah, this is I know that this is what gen Z experiences and I just have you know, like Will saying he's not Asian, and so he does he doesn't pretend to be able to know what it feels like.

Similarly, I don't.

Similarly, I don't.

I cannot relate to that feeling, and so I I just know it's not for me.

I cannot relate to that feeling, and so I I just know it's not for me.

It doesn't mean it's bad. It's just I'm not the demo.

It doesn't mean it's bad. It's just I'm not the demo.

I'm not the I'm not the person who's supposed to go got it relate?

I'm not the I'm not the person who's supposed to go got it relate?

You're speaking my language, right.

You're speaking my language, right.

So if she's was gonna do flashbacks flashing back to right before the breakup, yeah, even more than we did, because we we see.

So if she's was gonna do flashbacks flashing back to right before the breakup, yeah, even more than we did, because we we see.

What she's like.

What she's like.

I mean, we're coming up on this, this in mid depression where she cannot get over this break even though it's this breakup, even though it happened I think she said eight months ago, it's been very rough on her. If we saw a couple of flashbacks from before that where she was actually very good at her job, she was attentive, she was not maybe not climbing the ladder, but was cleaning up her apartment, was doing you know, and it's the breakup that made her like this, I think I would have had more compassion for the character than I do, where it's just kind of like, oh, you are the blob, which I get was kind of what it was supposed to be, but it's like you don't care about your job. You're rude to your friends a lot of the times, if you even have any, You're very selfish at times, you're a raging alcoholic.

I mean, we're coming up on this, this in mid depression where she cannot get over this break even though it's this breakup, even though it happened I think she said eight months ago, it's been very rough on her. If we saw a couple of flashbacks from before that where she was actually very good at her job, she was attentive, she was not maybe not climbing the ladder, but was cleaning up her apartment, was doing you know, and it's the breakup that made her like this, I think I would have had more compassion for the character than I do, where it's just kind of like, oh, you are the blob, which I get was kind of what it was supposed to be, but it's like you don't care about your job. You're rude to your friends a lot of the times, if you even have any, You're very selfish at times, you're a raging alcoholic.

I mean, it's like, did all of that.

I mean, it's like, did all of that.

Happen because of the breakup, because then that's one character, and I would think about the character a certain way, or was she like that?

Happen because of the breakup, because then that's one character, and I would think about the character a certain way, or was she like that?

And just it's been exacerbated by the break I think she was like that. I think. So that's the takeaway. And so I think you guys are both kind of saying the same thing differently, which is that this is really a specifically an eel on we this sort of like we have all the opportunities, right, Like we have all the avenues open to us. I could be a doctor like my brother, I could be, you know, married at this age like my parents were. I could be everybody else seems to have like content with their paths, and yet she just shuts down and has never been able. And I think that is specifically something you know, like at this age for me, like I was just so driven in too many directions right. If anything, it was like I didn't take enough time to just relax and enjoy, and I think that that speaks to something that the younger general, the younger generation for whom I think this book is written. You know, I think this book is clearly aimed at people thirty five and under or maybe forty and under, and we're just on the other side of that. I think part of the problem generationally is that they do have so much comfort. They can just sit at home and get everything on their screen. They can't have entirely developed social life without leaving their computer. You know that that is that's new. That's not something we We had to get out of the house. We had to have jobs just to have a life. That's not true anymore. And so why work? Why why go to college? Why do you any you know, just so you can get more money, you know, like to sit at home and flip through Instagram anyway.

And just it's been exacerbated by the break I think she was like that. I think. So that's the takeaway. And so I think you guys are both kind of saying the same thing differently, which is that this is really a specifically an eel on we this sort of like we have all the opportunities, right, Like we have all the avenues open to us. I could be a doctor like my brother, I could be, you know, married at this age like my parents were. I could be everybody else seems to have like content with their paths, and yet she just shuts down and has never been able. And I think that is specifically something you know, like at this age for me, like I was just so driven in too many directions right. If anything, it was like I didn't take enough time to just relax and enjoy, and I think that that speaks to something that the younger general, the younger generation for whom I think this book is written. You know, I think this book is clearly aimed at people thirty five and under or maybe forty and under, and we're just on the other side of that. I think part of the problem generationally is that they do have so much comfort. They can just sit at home and get everything on their screen. They can't have entirely developed social life without leaving their computer. You know that that is that's new. That's not something we We had to get out of the house. We had to have jobs just to have a life. That's not true anymore. And so why work? Why why go to college? Why do you any you know, just so you can get more money, you know, like to sit at home and flip through Instagram anyway.

And think that's a very right problem anyone else's life as being so good, Like it's not like she looked at her brother. Her brother was also super stressed and always and her parents didn't seem like they were thrilled with their lives either, So she kind of was looking around, like all these paths lead to me.

And think that's a very right problem anyone else's life as being so good, Like it's not like she looked at her brother. Her brother was also super stressed and always and her parents didn't seem like they were thrilled with their lives either, So she kind of was looking around, like all these paths lead to me.

The only the only one. I think it was truly happy in the entire book. Was her boss walters like, I'm pathetic in her eyes exactly because it assaults her when she points that out. Yeah, so I think that that's what we're meant to feel, that everybody's kind of a sucker if they pick a path, right, Like, no matter what path you choose, you're kind of either you're falling for somebody else's narrative that's not going to make you happy. So it's Ethan Hawk again in reality bites.

The only the only one. I think it was truly happy in the entire book. Was her boss walters like, I'm pathetic in her eyes exactly because it assaults her when she points that out. Yeah, so I think that that's what we're meant to feel, that everybody's kind of a sucker if they pick a path, right, Like, no matter what path you choose, you're kind of either you're falling for somebody else's narrative that's not going to make you happy. So it's Ethan Hawk again in reality bites.

It's the kind of you pick a path, you're a sellout, or where it's not even sellout, because.

It's the kind of you pick a path, you're a sellout, or where it's not even sellout, because.

I think I think this book is smarter than that. I think it's describing the problem. And also, you know it's not it's certainly not celebrating v like it's you know, it's not saying that she's doing the right things by succumbing to this perfect man her exactly.

I think I think this book is smarter than that. I think it's describing the problem. And also, you know it's not it's certainly not celebrating v like it's you know, it's not saying that she's doing the right things by succumbing to this perfect man her exactly.

So I mean, yeah, that's the whole point is that she is this is you know, well it's not supposed to be.

So I mean, yeah, that's the whole point is that she is this is you know, well it's not supposed to be.

Well, what what do you think about the end? Then? What does the ending give you? Is there hope? Is this a is this ultimately a hope filled novel about she does find a path or does it? What do you guys think of?

Well, what what do you think about the end? Then? What does the ending give you? Is there hope? Is this a is this ultimately a hope filled novel about she does find a path or does it? What do you guys think of?

Where do you think it landed and ended very hopefully.

Where do you think it landed and ended very hopefully.

I thought it landed in a place that I really did think there was enough of a realization, enough of a self awareness that came to her throughout the course of this experience, and men all the experiences that this experience brought into her life that did actually make her decide that she needed to be an active participant in her life and that decisions needed to be made, and that she couldn't just keep like letting life passer by. So whether or not she's going to get it all right, there's no real right. I didn't feel like she's now going to have a great life, but I felt hopeful that there was going to be a change, a positive change, that she was at least going to start in acting, And so I felt very hopeful at the end.

I thought it landed in a place that I really did think there was enough of a realization, enough of a self awareness that came to her throughout the course of this experience, and men all the experiences that this experience brought into her life that did actually make her decide that she needed to be an active participant in her life and that decisions needed to be made, and that she couldn't just keep like letting life passer by. So whether or not she's going to get it all right, there's no real right. I didn't feel like she's now going to have a great life, but I felt hopeful that there was going to be a change, a positive change, that she was at least going to start in acting, And so I felt very hopeful at the end.

Yeah, me too, will I felt kind of the same way I felt her life was.

Yeah, me too, will I felt kind of the same way I felt her life was.

It's weird. I had a strange combination.

It's weird. I had a strange combination.

I felt her life was definitely on the upswing, and there is certainly hope, and I don't need to check back on.

I felt her life was definitely on the upswing, and there is certainly hope, and I don't need to check back on.

Her to make sure her life is doing okay. It's interesting because I think story wise, plot wise, there's this potential boyfriend, the new guy that she hands up with, and there's the photography and going back to school. But it didn't feel like either one of those things is the definite solution. It just felt like those were sort of the engines too for her to realize, I get to pick my own path and I no longer need to succumb to somebody else's pressure of who I should be, nor just sit around and think it's gonna happen. I'm going to have to just do it, and whatever I do, I should be happy with, you know, just you know, kind of a weird paradoxical zen you know, maybe nonsensical, but it's true, right, Like by just making a decision, she's going to feel better, and then that decision is going to give her meaning and a sense of purpose.

Her to make sure her life is doing okay. It's interesting because I think story wise, plot wise, there's this potential boyfriend, the new guy that she hands up with, and there's the photography and going back to school. But it didn't feel like either one of those things is the definite solution. It just felt like those were sort of the engines too for her to realize, I get to pick my own path and I no longer need to succumb to somebody else's pressure of who I should be, nor just sit around and think it's gonna happen. I'm going to have to just do it, and whatever I do, I should be happy with, you know, just you know, kind of a weird paradoxical zen you know, maybe nonsensical, but it's true, right, Like by just making a decision, she's going to feel better, and then that decision is going to give her meaning and a sense of purpose.

It reminds me of a friend of mine who once said, all right, I've decided I am going to join online dating and I.

It reminds me of a friend of mine who once said, all right, I've decided I am going to join online dating and I.

Was like, wow, really you're going to do it?

Was like, wow, really you're going to do it?

And he was like yeah, but only because I realized girls don't just knock into your apartment door and we're to go out with you, right, you have you've realized that if a relationship is something you want, you cannot sit on your couch every single day and wait for that.

And he was like yeah, but only because I realized girls don't just knock into your apartment door and we're to go out with you, right, you have you've realized that if a relationship is something you want, you cannot sit on your couch every single day and wait for that.

But you can't tell somebody that they got to kind of discover it themselves, right, Yeah, we all have to live through it.

But you can't tell somebody that they got to kind of discover it themselves, right, Yeah, we all have to live through it.

Yeah, And I love how she was standing right next to Rachel behind this counter because essentially you have two people in exactly the same place in their life, literally exactly in the same place in your life. You have one who can fake it when she needs to and one who can't. And sometimes you need to fake happiness until you can actually find happiness.