Reading Between Deadlines Podcast

• Natasha Lester makes us read THE BLIND ASSASSIN...and we have no regrets.

  This book contains a content warning for loss of a child.Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines, the podcast where we read with the kind of unhinged energy usually reserved for deadline week meltdowns. In this episode, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson attempt to unpack the cult favourite Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido—a book that’s been praised by literary giants and passionately pushed into readers’ hands since 1982.And yet... we didn’t love it. In fact, we might get cancelled.In this episode, we cover:📚 Is this a feminist classic… or just a snobby book with a confusing cast of J-names?👶 That baby loss twist: gut-wrenching shock or tonal whiplash?🧼 The Goldman family—lovably eccentric or absolutely exhausting?😳 Roger, Jonathan, John, Jake, Jane—why does everyone in this book have the same name?😤 Catherine: hot mess, sad snob, or just aggressively beige?🍷 Plus: how many wines does it take to realise you’ve skipped 40 pages?And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps00:30 – This week’s pick: Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido03:00 – Rachael loses her place and 40 pages in New Zealand (relatable content)08:00 – The literary world LOVES this book. Do we…?11:00 – The rules: no influencing, just instincts (and the kiss, marry, kill rating)14:00 – Catherine Brown: the protagonist we didn’t need and still don’t understand19:30 – Is this book feminist? (Spoiler: probably not)23:00 – Snobbery, elitism, and emotional detachment—are we just not clever enough to get it?28:10 – Confusing names, weird family dynamics, and public cervix announcements33:00 – Have we evolved since 1982? (Yes. But also… maybe not.)35:00 – Reading regret and the weight of literary expectations👉 Listen now, subscribe, and tell us—do you believe in the hype, or are you secretly glad someone else finally said “meh”? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com

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  38:41
• 🫣 Literary Hype or Literary Huh? We read Brother of the More Famous Jack.

  This book contains a content warning for loss of a child.Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines, the podcast where we read with the kind of unhinged energy usually reserved for deadline week meltdowns. In this episode, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson attempt to unpack the cult favourite Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido—a book that’s been praised by literary giants and passionately pushed into readers’ hands since 1982.And yet... we didn’t love it. In fact, we might get cancelled.In this episode, we cover:📚 Is this a feminist classic… or just a snobby book with a confusing cast of J-names?👶 That baby loss twist: gut-wrenching shock or tonal whiplash?🧼 The Goldman family—lovably eccentric or absolutely exhausting?😳 Roger, Jonathan, John, Jake, Jane—why does everyone in this book have the same name?😤 Catherine: hot mess, sad snob, or just aggressively beige?🍷 Plus: how many wines does it take to realise you’ve skipped 40 pages?And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps00:30 – This week’s pick: Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido03:00 – Rachael loses her place and 40 pages in New Zealand (relatable content)08:00 – The literary world LOVES this book. Do we…?11:00 – The rules: no influencing, just instincts (and the kiss, marry, kill rating)14:00 – Catherine Brown: the protagonist we didn’t need and still don’t understand19:30 – Is this book feminist? (Spoiler: probably not)23:00 – Snobbery, elitism, and emotional detachment—are we just not clever enough to get it?28:10 – Confusing names, weird family dynamics, and public cervix announcements33:00 – Have we evolved since 1982? (Yes. But also… maybe not.)35:00 – Reading regret and the weight of literary expectations👉 Listen now, subscribe, and tell us—do you believe in the hype, or are you secretly glad someone else finally said “meh”? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com

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  41:02
• The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus: Come for the Castle, Stay for the Emotional Damage

  Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines, the podcast where we devour books with the same chaotic energy we bring to deadline week. This week, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson dive tentacle-first into The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus—a debut novel full of moody university students, Scottish castles, emotionally unavailable parents, and yes... actual octopus metaphors.Written by Emma Knight (co-founder of a fancy Canadian juice company and mysterious woman of few bios), this book swept us away with its atmosphere, aching honesty, and a twist that actually delivered.In this episode, we cover:🏰 Old houses and young women—why that combo will always get a “marry” from Anthea🧬 Is this a book about secrets, or a dissertation on emotionally constipated boomers🪞 The Octopus Metaphor™: profound, heartbreaking, or too slimy to think about?💌 Alice, the sidekick: necessary subplot or just a lice-fuelled distraction?💘 Fergus, the awkward love interest with great banter and deeply average timing🧠 Trauma, parenthood, and why sometimes a Scottish university is the best place to confront your origin storyAnd, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps03:10 – This week’s book: The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight08:30 – The “young woman + ancient castle” trope gets us every time11:42 – The family mystery that actually pays off (for once!)15:03 – Fergus: Hot mess, lovable larrikin, or octopus bait?19:55 – Motherhood, sacrifice, and whether we’re all secretly cephalopods27:20 – The octopus metaphor: beautiful or slightly haunting?33:50 – Is Alice’s storyline needed? Plus: the most awkward lice scene in fiction38:18 – White shadowing, university nostalgia, and other tangents you didn’t ask for41:40 – Final verdict: KISS, KILL, or MARRY?👉 Listen now, subscribe, and tell us—would you go to Scotland to solve a family mystery, or just for the castles and drama students? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com

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  45:01
• The Bridges of Madison County: Kiss, Cry, or Call a Therapist?

  Welcome back to Reading Between Deadlines, where we devour books with the same unhinged enthusiasm as we write them. This week, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson take on The Bridges of Madison County—the love story that convinced an entire generation that cheating is fine as long as it’s poetic.Yes, it’s that 90s classic about a lonely farm wife, a broody photographer, and an affair so powerful it makes Francesca ditch all common sense and pine for decades. Romance? Tragedy? A cautionary tale for every book club member who’s ever fantasised about their barista? Let’s discuss.In this episode, we cover:🌉 Bridges: Functional or metaphors for forbidden love?📖 Was this book actually good, or did Meryl Streep trick us all?💔 The moral dilemma: Soulmates or a midlife crisis with better lighting?🔥 Sex scenes: Passionate or just forbidden?And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry?⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome! Rach and Anthea introduce the book & reveal that they are, in fact, not math geniuses.01:19 – Is Bridges of Madison County a romance, or just a Nicholas Sparks fever dream?06:42 – The “forbidden love” trope: Timeless or just an excuse for bad decisions?09:06 – Rating time: Kiss, Kill, or Marry? (Or a sneaky cigarette after?)21:13 – The big question: Was Francesca’s affair actually worth it?32:17 – He literally wouldn’t shut up about being the last cowboy!36:54 – It’s like an ice cube melting on a hot skin…42:45 – Next up: The Bridges of Madison County sequel! (Kidding, we’d rather stare at a wall.)👉 Listen now, subscribe, and tell us—would you have run off with the hot photographer or stayed home and baked lasagna? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com

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  41:28
• Intermezzo? I Killed It the Way an Irish Book Would Want—Gently, and With Whiskey 🥃

  🚨 Book rants & wildly fluctuating opinions incoming! 🚨This week, Rachael Johns and Anthea Hodgson take on Sally Rooney’s latest, where two brothers navigate grief, romance, and existential dread—all while occasionally playing chess.Along the way, we discuss:♟️ The many, many chess metaphors—how far is too far?📖 Why this book is giving Ulysses energy (but make it Rooney)💔 A love triangle that had us screaming “just pick someone already!”🎭 The existential crisis of two brothers navigating grief, relationships, and DublinAnd, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry? (Spoiler: it’s a tough call.)⏰ Timestamps00.00 Intro1.19 Sally Rooney is very young and very famous – like Rachael!2.04 The more famous you are – the shorter your biography3.47 Rachael has reasons for reading Rooney – Anthea’s just here for the accents5.42 The blurb – not bad – but does it over promise?6.42 Sibling drama and its role in literature and in life9.06 Rating Intermezzo – Kiss, Kill and Cigarettes10.22 Are long books the enemy? Does size really matter?12.47 Goodreads ratings – Sally Rooney is more popular than Guinness15.25 Meet Peter and Ivan, and the women they love, mostly21.13 Reviews – the good, the bad and the ugly22.01 Autism and disability in fiction25.06 James Joyce – what are you doing here?32.17 Crisis! Every time we meet a new character35.17 Killing Intermezzo, with love36.54 Rachael susses Anthea out for a throuple. Anthea is not keen.39.42 Hat puzzle confusion (no green hats were harmed in the making of thisconversation)41.47 What does Intermezzo mean, anyway?42.45 The Bridges of Madison County next time! Surely it’s a marry???👉 Listen now, subscribe, and tell us—did Intermezzo hit or miss for you? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readingbetweendeadlines.substack.com

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  44:30

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