Jim Shepard - Zero Meter Diving Team

Wendy and Amy discuss The Maid by Nita Prose, a locked-room mystery with an intriguing cast of characters. We loved Molly, were repulsed by Rodney (one of us, anyway!), and enamored with the fabulous setting. Which characters got a kiss, a ring, or a knife through the heart this time? Pop a cork to one underestimated, but brilliant Maid!
 
Book: The Maid by Nita Prose
Bubbly: Cantine Regie

Hotel Tipping Etiquette

This episode has a SPOILER SUMMARY.

Character Sketches
Wendy: Giselle Black
Amy: Rodney Stiles

Book Club Questions Discussed:
Amy: How do you interpret the quote: "We all are the same in different ways?" & What is your favorite Gran quote?

Wendy: The book is purposefully vague about the city and country where the story takes place. Why do you think the author did that and where do you picture the story and why?

Extra discussion: Uniform as a symbol.

Podcast hostesses styled this season by an independent cabi stylist. 

Wendy and Amy put on their lab coats and dive into Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. They talk characters, resiliency, and just what that #2 pencil (might've) meant for Elizabeth Zott. Pop a cork to women who stand up for other women and themselves!

Book: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Bubbly: Bolla Prosecco

Toxic Pesticide article by Sarah Rainey:  Link

This episode has a SPOILER SUMMARY.

Character Sketches
Amy: Dr Donatti
Wendy: Elizabeth Zott

Book Club Questions Discussed:
Amy: Elizabeth is sometimes depressed by the circumstances in her life. Not coincidentally, her show airs in the “Afternoon Depression Zone.” And yet she’s never a victim. How does she continually pick herself up? What fuels her resilience? And why, after she’s reached stardom, is she more miserable than ever?

Wendy: Do you think author Garmus portrayed Elizabeth only as a strong, self-assured character, avoiding Elizabeth’s weaknesses?

Extra Question because we couldn't help it: Why does Elizabeth always wear a pencil in her hair? Is it a weapon or is it a symbol of strength?

Podcast hostesses styled this season by an independent cabi stylist.

Wendy and Amy are back! It's a whole new year and a whole new season. We've got a few tweaks and changes this season, a stack of great books and plenty of bubbly. Our prologue will get you ready for it all. Pop a cork to Season 6!

Books and Bubbly by Month
* January: Prologue with Hi Prosecco
* February:Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus with Bolla Prosecco
* March: The Maid by Nita Prose with Cantine Regie Prosecco
* April: Black Cake by Charmain Wilkerson with Gancia Prosecco
* May: Book Lover by Emily Henry with Caposaldo Prosecco
* June: The Measure by Nikki Erlick with Guisti Asolo Prosecco
* July: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood with Biagio Prosecco
* August: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins with Villa Prosecco
* September: Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes with Plumeria Prosecco
* October: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz with Torresella Prosecco
* November: Never Never by Colleen Hoover with Zufini Proseco
* December: Epilogue with Epic Run Prosecco

Other Mentions
Amy's cabi Clothing
Wendy's Marathon Challenge

Wendy and Amy recap this season  with one final jello shot, a Fruited Prosecco Jelly Shot. Some short stories and jello shots were clear winners and others were not, in their opinion. Find out which ones ranked and which ones tanked! Pop a cork to shorts and shots!

Today's Prosecco Jello Shot: Fruited Prosecco Jelly Shot from Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

This Season’s Books
1) First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Authors
2) The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike

Summer course that inspired this Season's Episodes - The Great Courses Course: Great American Short Stories | A Guide for Readers and Writers featuring Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black Ph.D. 

Wendy and Amy wrap up the season with tow short stories by Ernest Hemingway, "in our time" and "The Killers," paired with a classic brunch drink as a jello shot, a Mimosa Jello Shot. They talk Hemingway's terse style, recurring themes in his work, and fun facts that shaped his writing. They also find out if a mimosa jello shot is just like the real thing. Pop a cork to an iconic writer!

Today's Prosecco Jello Shot: Mimosa Jello Shotfrom Stress Baking

This Season’s Books
1) First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Authors
2) The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike

Today's Short Stories by Ernest Hemingway
1) "in our time"
2) "The Killers"

Summer course that inspired this Season's Episodes - The Great Courses Course: Great American Short Stories | A Guide for Readers and Writers featuring Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black Ph.D. 

Wendy and Amy discuss two gothic-esque short stories by Canadian author Alice Munro, "A Basket of Strawberries" and "Meneseteung." This week's jello is more dessert than shot, the Strawberry Prosecco Jelly Dessert. They've got an illicit affair, an aborted affair, moral conflicts, memory versus reality, and epiphanies. Pop a cork to some loaded lit!

Today's Prosecco Jello Shot: Strawberry Prosecco Jelly Dessert from The Little Epicurean.

This Season’s Books
1) First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Authors
2) The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike

Today's Short Stories by Alice Munro
1) “A Basket of Strawberries”
2) “Meneseteung"

Summer course that inspired this Season's Episodes - The Great Courses Course: Great American Short Stories | A Guide for Readers and Writers featuring Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black Ph.D. 

Wendy and Amy discuss two creepy short stories by the very prolific Joyce Carol Oates, "In the Old World" and "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?," which they pair with the not-at-all creepy Prosecco Jelly Shot with Pomegranate Bursting Boba. They find elements of psychological realism and a bit of number and hair symbology in these gothic-tinged stories. Pop a cork to a couple of creepy compositions!

Today's Prosecco Jello Shot: Prosecco Jelly Shots with Pomegranate Bursting Boba from Sprinkle Bakes.

This Season’s Books
1) First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Authors
2) The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike

Today's Short Stories by Joyce Carol Oats
1)"In the Old World"
2) "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been"

Cory Daniel Numerology ( 33 and 17) on The Phoenix Enigma
JCO's Twitter Page

Summer course that inspired this Season's Episodes - The Great Courses Course: Great American Short Stories | A Guide for Readers and Writers featuring Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black Ph.D. 

Wendy and Amy discuss two short stories by the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner John Updike, "Friends from Philadelphia" and "Gesturing," and pair it with some fancy looking Prosecco Jelly Flutes. They've got some fun facts about the literary critic, sympathize with a teen unknowingly caught in a class war, and attempt to decipher a befuddling gesture. Pop a cork to relatable writings!

Today's Prosecco Jello Shot:  Prosecco Jelly Flutes  from Food Network.

This Season’s Books
1) First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Authors
2) The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike

Today's Short Stories byJohn Updike
1)"Friends From Philadelphia"
2)  "Gesturing"

Summer course that inspired this Season's Episodes - The Great Courses Course: Great American Short Stories | A Guide for Readers and Writers featuring Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black Ph.D. 

 Wendy and Amy discuss two short stories by Dorothy Parker, "Such a Pretty Little Picture" and "Here We Are," and finally get a taste of prosecco in a Pretty Pink Prosecco Jello Shot. They find the funny and the tragic in an old and new marriage, ponder unhappy endings and roles women - and men! - were/are expected to play. Pop a cork to the Queen of the Quips!

Today's Prosecco Jello Shot:  Pretty Pink Prosecco Jello Shot from Wanda at Entertaining Diva.

This Season’s Books
1) First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Authors
2) The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike

Today's Short Stories by Dorothy Parker
1) "Such a Pretty Little Picture"
2)  "Here We Are"

Summer course that inspired this Season's Episodes - The Great Courses Course: Great American Short Stories | A Guide for Readers and Writers featuring Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black Ph.D. 

Wendy and Amy discuss two short stories by Raymond Carver, "Furious Seasons" and "Where I'm Calling From," and try a 78 Jelly Shot. These stories have mystery and murder,  drinking and detoxing. They talk about Carver's use of imagery, writing from experience, and stories that leave you disoriented and disturbed. Pop a cork to gritty, but great story-telling!

Today's Prosecco Jello Shot:  The 78 Jelly Shot  from The Jelly Shot Test Kitchen

This Season’s Books
1) First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Authors
2) The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike

Today's Short Stories by Raymond Carver
1)"Furious Seasons"
2)  "Where I'm Calling From"

Summer course that inspired this Season's Episodes - The Great Courses Course: Great American Short Stories | A Guide for Readers and Writers  featuring Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black Ph.D.