Yak Babies is a weekly book podcast that brings a mix of reviews, discussions, games, and read-a-longs to fellow readers who are sick of the same old stodgy book podcasts. We focus on literature, and regularly discuss comics, video games, and other media as well.
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The pals share out their favorite comics and graphic novels.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals sift between to ersatz and the echt when it comes to reasons for authors dropping foreign words in their writing.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals discuss how they keep track of what they read, and it turns out each has a very different process.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals discuss buying books and if they read books the buy right away (or at all). Nico asks the pals what they do with books after they read them.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The personal pals share their favorite fantasy novels, and try to tease out the differnece between high and low fantasy.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals ditch Dave to talk about Noah Baumbach's 2022 Netflix adaptation of DeLillo's novel.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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253- Genderqueer; Road of Bones; Years of Rice and Salt; Homegoing; Maame; Kindred; Ink Blood Sister Scribe; Marlena; Counterfeit; Wide Sargasso Sea; The Spy Who Loved Me
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Books touched on: Genderqueer, by Maia Kobabe; Road of Bones, by Christopher Golden, Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson; Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi; Maame, by Jessica George; Kindred, by Ocatavia Butler and Damian Duffy; Ink Blood Sister Scribe, by Emma Torzs; Marlena, by Julie Buntin; Counterfeit, by Kirstin Chen; Comedy Bang Bang The Po…
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Aaron asks the pals what they think of writers intentionally omitting personal hang-ups (like drinking or smoking) from their writing.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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251- What Happened to the Hugos?
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The pals discuss the recent controversy with the Hugo awards, as well as the challenge of self-censorship in the modern era.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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250- Ryka Aoki's Light from Uncommon Stars - Canon or Cannon 2.0
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The pals did a group read of Ryka Aoki's sci-fi novel Light from Uncommon Stars. Will it stand the test of time or be shot into the ocean of forgotten books?Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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249- The Heart of It All; Kavalier & Clay; Small Mercies; Remarkably Bright Creatures; Wild Ones; Foster; The Mysteries; Last Ronin Lost Years; Doppelgänger
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Books this month: The Heart of It All, by Christian Keefer; The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon; Small Mercies, by Dennis Lehane; Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt; The Wild Ones, by John Mooallem; Foster, by Claire Keegan; The Mysteries, by Bill Watterson and John Kascht; The Last Ronin- The Lost Years, by …
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248- Response to 18 Tips for Reading
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Who is Tyler Cowan and does he do cocaine?Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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247- Reading Resolutions for 2024
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The pals close the book on 2023 and chat about what they are looking forward to in the new year.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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246- 2023 Year in Reading Review
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The pals share their best (and worst) reading experiences of 2023.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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245- Don DeLillo’s White Noise - Canon or Cannon 2.0
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The pals all read Don DeLillo's 1985 novel, White Noise. Should it be enshrined int he canon or blasted into the sea by cannon?Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals follow up the episode on horror novels with an episode sharing their favorite horror movies and shows, including their individual Mt. Horrormores.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals share their favorite horror novels.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals discuss books with forwards and afterwards. Do you read them or skip those parts? What about supplementary matter in comics and other media?Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals discuss their favorite mystery and thriller novels.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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241- Questions About Book Reviewing
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Nico asks his pals if friends are owed an automatic 5 stars on Goodreads. Is giving 4 stars and asshole move? Also, do people still read professional book reviews?Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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Brick is increasingly vexed by his phone's grip on his time and wonders if phones are making us dumber. Bonus Bro2Bro included!Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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239- Yak Picks: Science Fiction
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The pals discuss their favorite sci-fi novels.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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238- Kaya; Mouse Guard; Moonshadow; Marlfox; Kitchens of the Great Midwest; Wool; Demolition Angel; The Hunter; The Great Transition; ”Mall of America”; 33 1/3; It Never Ends; Endzone
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Books this month: Kaya, by Craig Wes; Mouse Guard, by David Petersen; The Compleat Moonshadow, by Jean Marc DeMatteis; Marlfox, by Brian Jacques; Kitchens of the Great Midwest, by J. Ryan Stradal; Wool, by Hugh Howey; Demolition Angel, by Robert Crais; The Hunter, by Jennifer Herrera; The Great Transition, by Nick Fuller Googins; "Mall of America" …
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237- Toni Morrison’s Beloved - Canon or Cannon 2.0
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The pals read and review Toni Morrison' brutal and haunting novel 1987 Beloved. It's generally recognized as a masterpiece, will the Yaks keep it in the canon or shoot it into the sea? The deliberation may not be as clear cut as you thing. NOTE: our Patreon has not reached the level at which we can afford an on-staff factchecker. Some interpretatio…
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236- Yak Picks: Short Story Collections
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The pals share their favorite short story collections as well as a list of runners up they enjoy.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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235- AI Writing Part 2: Sudo Elf Trap
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The pals enlist the AI chatbot Sudo to write the first draft of the long promised Elf Trap novella. Nico commits to proving he's smarter than a robot.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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234- Reading Books in Translation
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The plebeian pals discuss reading books written in languages other than English.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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233- Yak Picks: 21st Century Literature
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The pals share their favorite titles of the last 23 years, and a surprise Canon or Cannon decision is made.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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232- Memorable Short Stories Assigned in Schools
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The pals recount stories they read in grade school that stuck with them.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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Aaron shares some comics first issues he thinks his pals will enjoy.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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230- Yak Picks: 20th Century Lit
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The pals share their favorite novels from the 20th century.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals discuss antagonists that have stuck in their minds.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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228- Euphoria; Writers and Lovers; Lessons in Chemisty The Last Housewife; I Have Some Questions for You; You Only Live Twice; Astro City Vol 2; All the Marvels; 33 1/3 Unknown Pleasures
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Books this time: Euphoria, by Lily King; Writers and Lovers, by Lily King; Lessons in Chemisty, by Bonnie Garmus; The Last Housewife, by Ashley Winstead; I Have Some Questions for You, by Rebecca Makkai; You Only Live Twice, by Ian Fleming; Astro City Vol 2, by Kurt Busiak; All the Marvels, by Douglas Wolk; 33 1/3 Unknown Pleasures, by Chris Ott.r…
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The pals discuss some great authors that don't seem to ge the love and attention they deserve.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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226- Yak Picks: 19th Century Lit
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The pals share their favorite reads from the 19th century (and earlier).Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals discuss plot twists as a narrative device and examples of when it has worked well or not.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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224- Reaction to ”How to make students hate English”
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The pals react to Pamela Paul's NYTimes op-ed "How to make students hate English"Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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223- Books That Made Us Uncomfortable
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The pals share some reading experiences that were difficult, whether by making them feel unease or revulsion, or because it challenged their thinking.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals talk about the implications of ChatGPT and "creative" AI technology on writing and teaching.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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221- The Song of Pentecost; Anger; Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone; The Writing Retreat; I’m Glad My Mom Died; A Heart that Works; The Candy House; The Human Target
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Books this time: The Song of Pentecost, by W.J. Corbett; Anger, by Thicht Naht Hahn; One Story; Boulevard; Boston Review; Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, by Benjamin Stephenson; The Writing Retreat, by Julia Bartz; I'm Glad My Mom Died, by Jennette McCurdy; A Heart that Works, by Rob Delaney; The Candy House, by Jennifer Egan; 33 1/3: Hig…
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220- Nico’s Masterclass Hot Takes Vol. 2
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Nico brings a fresh batch of spicy literary takes to share with the pals.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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219- Dana Spiotta’s Stone Arabia
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Next in our recommendation roulette of Secret Santa books, Aaron read Stone Arabia by Dana Spiotta upon Dave's recommendation.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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218- Who is the Most Overrated Author?
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The pals each share the name of the author they think is most overrated in reputation.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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That is the role of responsibility of fact in historical fiction? Is there a distinction between historical fiction and fiction in an historical setting?Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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216- Tommy Orange’s There There - Canon or Cannon 2.0
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The pals read Tommy Orange's acclaimed 2018 novel There There and consider whether it should be canonized or launched into the sea.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The pals share the names and features of their favorite bookstores.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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214- Books Everyone Should Read
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The pals each share three books they think everyone in the world would benefit from reading.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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213- What Makes a Story Compelling?
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The pals discuss what about a story hooks them and makes them want to read more.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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The next assignment in the pals' Secret Santa / Reading Roulette. Aaron assigns Nico to read Alan Moore's historical fiction Jack the Ripper comic opus From Hell. Bricks joins as well.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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211- Reading Resolutions for 2023
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The pals share their reading goals for the coming year as well as introduce their new meta game: Brag Points.Oleh Aaron Block, David Duhr, Brick Road
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