The Buddies celebrate their 100th episode by fulfilling their promise and starting on a Harry Potter reading (and movie) marathon. The J. K. Rowling series has been a favorite of the Buddies (they’ve only referenced the books multiple times in all of their other 99 episodes) and they were eager to re-read. Strap in because the Buddies had a lot to discuss, this is a long one. The Buddies went in depth and even added a few new categories just for this series. So, pick up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone today and join us for a summer Harry Potter marathon.

Intro (0:00-2:40)
Stock Up/Down (2:41-39:04)
Favorite Scene/Character/Magical Elements (39:05-55:13)
Love/Hate (55:14-1:06:24)
Listener Email (1:06:25-1:10:19)
Lingering Questions & Fun Facts (1:10:20-1:19:11)
Conclusion/Awarding the House Cup (1:19:12-1:23:33)

NEXT EPISODE: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - MOVIE

NEXT BOOK: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

After reading 1,000+ pages, and dedicating 3 episodes to the Shōgun book, the Buddies finally got a chance to complete the new Shōgun FX series. They didn’t want to be the people that say “the book is better than the show”, but they spend most of the pod (hopefully not too pretentiously) saying the book was better than the show. They got to talking about the positives of subtitles, swimming naked, and seppuku. So join us as we discuss and watch Mariko, Anjin, Toranaga, and all of our other friends from Shōgun.

Intro (0:00-2:06)
Stock Up/Down & Love/Hate (2:07-30:17)
Book vs Show (30:18-33:50)
Characters & TV Show Notes (33:51-41:21)
Recapping Series & Conclusion (41:22-45:12)

NEXT BOOK: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

The Buddies close out Pierce Brown’s, Red Rising trilogy, with book 3: Morning Star. It was sad to see one of the Buddies favorite trilogies come to an end, but luckily in five years they’ll completely forget the series and be able to do it all over again! The Buddies got to chatting about: yearbooks, the prisoner's dilemma, and the drawbacks of filming everything (especially violent massacres). So equip your SlingBlade and wolf cloaks for one last ride (in this trilogy at least) as we finish book 3 in the Red Rising Series.

Intro (0:00-1:21)
Stock Up/Down (1:22-28:29)
Favorite Scene/Character (28:30-38:30)
Love/Hate (38:31-46:20)
Recapping Series & Conclusion (46:21-50:08)

NEXT EPISODE: Shōgun (2024 TV series)

NEXT BOOK: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

The Buddies we’re so happy to see their friends, Darrow, Sevro, and Mustang again as they read Golden Son, book 2 of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Series. The Buddies have talked about how this is one of the only series to come close to Harry Potter, and book 1 currently sits on top of their favorite books read on the podcast. So how did this one turn out? Well, you’ll just have to listen to find out! And maybe give us a bloody damn review if you have the chance.

Intro (0:00-3:38)
Stock Up/Down (3:39-29:55)
Favorite Scene/Character (29:56-37:29)
Love/Hate (37:30-51:15)
Casting the Movie (51:16-53:39)
Conclusion (53:40-55:25)

NEXT BOOK: Morning Star (Red Rising Series, Book 3) by Pierce Brown

The Buddies take their first foray into criminal enterprises, in City on Fire by Don Winslow. The book follows the Irish and Italian mobs as they fight for control of Providence, Rhode Island in the 1980s. Unfortunately, City on Fire did create some tension between the Buddies who have Irish and Italian ancestry, respectively. They got into arguing/chatting about, the negatives of loyal friends, nepotism, and having the name Pam. So pick up this crime/mob-thriller and join us for this weeks episode. And remember, ‘don't ever take sides with anyone against the family/Buddies’.

Intro (0:00-2:41)
Stock Up/Down (2:42-21:26)
Favorite Scene/Character (21:27-26:00)
Love/Hate (26:01-33:35)
Listener Email (33:36-35:02)
Casting the Movie (35:03-36:47)
Conclusion (36:48-39:44)

NEXT BOOK: Golden Son (Red Rising Book 2) by Pierce Brown

The Buddies were lucky enough to sit down with Don Silver, author of the newly released coming-of-age thriller, Scorched. The book follows 15-year old Jonas Shore and the many ups-and-downs he experiences as a youth and the impacts it has later in his life. The Buddies chatted with Don about stepping into the shoes of a high schooler again, music influences, and how he possibly manages to write a book of this caliber without an outline. This book is hot off the presses (just released on May 7th), it’s so hot you may get… Scorched. So go pick it up now and join for an interview and discussion about the book!

Intro (0:00-2:19)
Interview with Author Don Silver (2:20-29:44)
Stock Up/Down (29:45-53:43)
Love/Hate (53:44-59:55)
Conclusion (59:56-1:01:37)

NEXT BOOK: City on Fire by Don Winslow

A listener recommended Columbus Day by Craig Alanson to the Buddies, because it follows around a joke-telling, cheeseburger-eating, lower-iq-having, protagonist. Figured we’d relate. They were absolutely right. The Buddies took on book #1 of the Expeditionary Force series and fit right in. They got to talking about chivalry, the duck test, and the negatives of having AI always around. So put on your best down east accent, prepare to defend the world, and join us as we blast into Columbus Day.

Intro/Book Report (0:00-2:40)
Stock Up/Down (02:41-23:54)
Favorite Scene (23:55-26:08)
Favorite Character (26:09-27:47)
About the Author (27:48-29:39)
Love/Hate (29:40-41:01)
Lingering Questions/Casting the Movie (41:02-42:59
Conclusion (43:00-46:09)

NEXT BOOK: Scorched by Don Silver

The Buddy Book Club podcast was extra intelligent this week. That’s because the Buddies sat down with former U.S. intelligence officer and award-winning author Brian J. Morra to discuss his new book, The Righteous Arrows. The second book in the Able Archers series takes place in war-torn Afghanistan in the 1980s and once again follows characters Kevin Cattani and Ivan Levchenko. The Buddies got to ask questions about Brian’s writing style, the ripple effects of the conflicts discussed in the book, his thoughts on the OSI, and they even got a sneak peak of the upcoming books. So, join us and pick up the newly released The Righteous Arrows now!

Intro (0:00-1:46)
Interview w/Author Brian J. Morra (1:47-40:01)
Stock Up/Down (40:02-53:42)
Favorite Scene (53:43-55:32)
Love/Hate (55:33-1:01:27)
Conclusion (1:01:29-1:03:51)

NEXT BOOK: Columbus Day by Craig Alanson