That Pretentious Book Club

Just Ella

• Ash O'Rourke • Season 5 • Episode 22

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Welcome to Season 5, Episode 23 of That Pretentious Book Club! 

In this episode (the last episode of Season 5!), hosts Spoons, Wheezy, and Gino dive into the girl-power-inspired world of Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This Cinderella retelling flips the classic tale on its head, exploring the harsh realities and pressures of royal life for our beloved protagonist, Ella. As Ella navigates the treacherous waters of palace protocol and a less-than-charming prince, the club unpacks the book's take on freedom, independence, and true love. Expect passionate debates, side-splitting tangents, and the always-unpredictable antics of the hosts. 

Don't forget to pour yourself a cup of tea, raise a pinky, and join the club for this engaging discussion of Just Ella!

Reserve your spot at the Story Sirens Studio Fall Writing Retreat now! https://storysirensstudio.com/retreats

Support the show

Find this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!

Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.

Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook!


Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I came across this in her Wikipedia entry and it reminds it, this, it makes so much sense after reading just Ella that some of her favorite books growing up apparently included Harriet De Spy and of Green Gables Little Women, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and The Little Princess. Okay. Slay. That makes

Gino:

Yes, it does.

Wheezy & Spoons:

welcome back to that Pretentious Book Club. Welcome.

Gino:

This is your host, Ash Rourke. AKA, Wheezy Wheezy.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I thought you were gonna just keep going into my slogan.

Gino:

oh. You know you're supposed to do yourself

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh, it ain't easy being wheezy and

Gino:

and over here. And over here. Your other host, Kendall Shaw, also known as Dr. Spoons Palermo.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Hi. Howdy. What's up? What if I added what's up to the end of

Gino:

I think you just did.

Wheezy & Spoons:

or? I think you should. I, I guess a permanent fixture. I think everybody should like it, so. Okay. I think

Gino:

It happened.

Wheezy & Spoons:

and

Gino:

End.

Wheezy & Spoons:

board with, it's that whether you like it or not. It's been a minute, clearly you tell, we don't have our semi new green screen background which I know you all loved so much. No one said anything about it, by the way, and I worked really hard on it. I'm just kidding. But no one said anything about it, which is fine, but, and now we're not doing it again anyways'cause I dunno how to do it on this new software we're using, but hopefully our videos will be higher quality and our audio will be higher quality. So that's exciting. So if this looks different, that's why. And if you guys don't wanna hear our nonsense, you can use the

Gino:

You can leave.

Wheezy & Spoons:

notes. You can get outta here into the episode description

Gino:

Yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons:

the skip notes down there. But I think is that said where we are, right? Yeah. The Apprehentious book club. I said it. Yeah, we, yeah, I said it Know where you are. Do any of us really ever know

Gino:

I know where I am in Wisconsin.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Right, right, right, right. Wisconsin. I thought it was Wyoming by then.

Gino:

Oh, maybe it was, I get confused.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Where did they say Quinche wa? Oh my gosh. Also, I know it might be a little bit echoy on our side. This bug has entered, there is a little bitty moth that has entered the scene. fourth host. It's,'cause there's, there's lights everywhere. The moth. Hello? Hello. Okay, now it's like coming at me. Could you just,

Gino:

That its introductions.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, there you go. That was a good introduction. All right. Goodbye. It's a little echoey anyways, and it's back. He might just appear now then.

Gino:

This whole episode is just us talking about a moth,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, her name is Mara. Hello Maha. In honor of Mora. What? The mother of monsters? Yeah, whatever. Whatever. She is Queen of the monsters. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's gonna be distracting hell for me. Oh my God.

Gino:

guys.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Sorry. She is

Gino:

So I'm gonna, uh, you're all here with me listening to the podcast today. While, while those two,

Wheezy & Spoons:

I've lost the other two hosts. They're gone. I dunno where

Gino:

sorry.

Wheezy & Spoons:

saying I have bought like acoustic panels to make this room less echoy because it's awesome and wonderful And I do have an office now. I'm in a new space, which is super exciting. But it's echoy so. Yeah, you'll just have to deal with that. This stuff. Acoustic panels. Incoming. Yeah, incoming. And one of them has flowers on it. So good.

Gino:

just duct tape pillows all around the room. But

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah,

Gino:

that's me.

Wheezy & Spoons:

it. I thought about it. It's like what I've done previously or where I've like been on the ground in my closet surrounded by clothes, and I'm like,

Gino:

You are not the first person I know. That's recorded podcasts that way.

Wheezy & Spoons:

it makes sense. I mean, you have like all that natural, like sound absorbing. Anyways Gino, how has your life been lately?

Gino:

Oh goodness. We're starting with me. Okay. If you are not interested in, um, birds then skip ahead 20 minutes.'cause this is a, this is a ride.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Skip to the end of the episode.

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

the closing credits, spirit and Moth

Gino:

Uh, this whole episode is just about my words, so it's kind of funny because I haven't told you anything because we were gonna record like three weeks ago and things happened and I was like, oh, I'll just talk about it on the pod. And then we didn't record, and then I was like, okay, well I'll just wait. And then I wait. And then just more and more stuff keeps happening and it's, it's just out of control at this point.

Wheezy & Spoons:

So that's a big update.

Gino:

I, yeah, it's like a huge update. So oh, like quick little actual kind of pod thing. Update is, we had our writing retreat,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh yes, we

Gino:

we haven't talked to all since then.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh,

Gino:

No,

Wheezy & Spoons:

It was really good, you guys. It was

Gino:

it was awesome. Uh, everybody loved it so much that some people are coming back for our next one, which is in Pennsylvania October 16th. And if you're interested in that, go ahead to our website and,

Wheezy & Spoons:

private room left. Everybody. One private room. That's it. But also we have loads of space in the bunk rooms,

Gino:

And all the other rooms include us staring at you while you sleep all night. Um, so,

Wheezy & Spoons:

So that sounds fun. Yeah. Didn't mean mm-hmm. Like that, but yeah,

Gino:

so while I was at the retreat I got a phone call'cause my mom was taking care of my birds and she was like yeah, I found your bird dead. And I was like, which bird? And then anyways, I got home and Phil was like, I think. You have half a chicken. Um, I saw it like running down by the road and it looked like it didn't have a butt. And I was like, okay. So I got home counted chickens. I had, I lost two and a half chickens. Um, because one of them literally got its toll behind, ripped off.

Wheezy & Spoons:

no.

Gino:

Like there was just like organs. But I had a chicken before. I had a chicken before that got, its like skull peck open and its brain was just like braining right there. And it was fine. It like healed over. It was fine'cause I was like, ugh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

other people are much.

Wheezy & Spoons:

that got like, its whole back ripped off so you could just look in and see

Gino:

Yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons:

it, it was, she healed and she lived longer than all the other chickens. It was freaking

Gino:

exactly. This butt missing chicken has actually grown back most of its butt at this point. Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

can't believe this. Honestly, I didn't place my money on that. I didn't realize this about chickens.

Gino:

So.

Wheezy & Spoons:

you know? Yeah. Okay. Or lizards or something. Good lord.

Gino:

So then I started losing like almost a bird a day, but it was like middle of the day. So it wasn't even like near morning or night, like I couldn't keep it. And it was to the point where I was like checking out the window like every 10 minutes or like every time I heard any sort of squawk, which I squawk all the time for every and no reason at all. So I was constantly just running to the door, being like, what's going on? I'm, and then the one night I went out and fed them and came back inside and 30 minutes later I went to go do something outside and I was like, I'm missing someone. So here's the tragedy. Gki, my blind duck was taken

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh, no,

Gino:

and

Wheezy & Spoons:

I, I think

Gino:

I, I did not,

Wheezy & Spoons:

you didn't. I

Gino:

No.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my God. I

Gino:

I don't, oh, maybe I did. I don't think I did. Anyways. Yeah, so I, and then I found her, her body, um,'cause I think like it had just happened and I went outside and I knew she hadn't gone, like everyone else was missing and she was missing too, but she also can't walk well. So I was like, I know she's not with everyone else because she can't get around. So she, yeah, it, I'm pretty sure it's a fox that was taking them, Just from like the, what we found of her. And then I feel like I lost a couple more chickens, but I haven't, knock on wood. Oh, that's not true. I haven't lost any of the chickens since then. I say momentarily. Then a couple days later, I, I voice texted, Ash and I was like, so. I'm having a day. I was like, I went out to the store'cause I was sad. I went to the farm store and um, I was just gonna look at the chicks because they make me happy. And then they were on clearance. So then I, I got 40 chicks and then I came home and the minute I walked in the door, I sat them down and I started crying because I was like, oh my God, now I have to take care of 40 chicks. I was distraught.

Wheezy & Spoons:

14.

Gino:

No, 40. 40.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my God. Now I would also be crying a lot of shit. You were

Gino:

got 20.

Wheezy & Spoons:

this grief hole

Gino:

I know,

Wheezy & Spoons:

like,

Gino:

I know. Except for I, um, got home and I immediately started crying.'cause I was like, I'm overwhelmed.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

did I do this? So

Wheezy & Spoons:

my

Gino:

had 20, 20 meat chicks and 20 egg layers. And then here's more tragedy. And I shouldn't admit this to the world, but I am, I killed one of the meat birds on accident. I put their water thing on top of her and didn't see her. And the next morning when I went to pick it up, she was just dead. And I was like, well, that sucks. And

Wheezy & Spoons:

Well, I mean,

Gino:

then,

Wheezy & Spoons:

like they're not very, yeah, for real. Right. Who knows what That one was

Gino:

then I had this, I, I told, uh, Ash, I was like, I'm determined to make one of these a cuddle chicken'cause none of my birds like, like to go near me. And I was like, I'm determined to have a cuddle chicken. So I had this one that I was like, she so like kept petting her and like hands on and everything. And I moved them outside to like their baby coop outside. And then I killed that one. I squished her with the water towel. And I was distraught. I was distraught.

Wheezy & Spoons:

my gosh. No, sorry. That

Gino:

And

Wheezy & Spoons:

sent me over the edge.

Gino:

I

Wheezy & Spoons:

sorry.

Gino:

like, that whole day I was like, I had a good morning beforehand. I was like, oh, doing this, doing that, doing this and being so accomplished and I'm gonna do this, this, this after I take care of the chickens. And I went in there and I couldn't find her and I picked up the water and I was like, oh my God. And then I texted Phil and I was like, are you busy? He was at work and he was like, yes. And I was like, okay. He's like, what do you need? I was like, nothing. And he called like four hours later and he's like, what's up? And I was like, I just needed to cry. And then like, I'd finally like, kind of leveled out and then he was like, what's up? So then I start all over again.

Wheezy & Spoons:

comes

Gino:

I just felt horrible for like the next three days'cause she was so sweet. And then I just murdered her.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Manslaughter. It was an accident. You wouldn't be, it would not be a life without parole. It.

Gino:

And then and then, a couple days later, I feel like I'm forgetting something good that happened in here, but,

Wheezy & Spoons:

the five other kicks.

Gino:

but no,'cause it gets, still gets worse. Oh my God. I got a postcard in the mail like a week after Gki died. That was like G's a vet appointment year, year vet appointment is due today. I was like, way to rub it in.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my gosh. I hate, I still, I got one from my cat when, at like a month after she died and I was like, I'm going to end it

Gino:

I.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I couldn't even handle, so I'm so sorry. Apparently my vet called Hobby and was like, are you guys ever gonna come pick up your cat's ashes? And I was like, what? had this like total false memory of having gone and picked up her ashes, but I hadn't. Horrible. It's so horrible. A really nice rose. Do you have'em now? Okay, I have them now. They're on display in the living room. Okay.

Gino:

Oh Lord.

Wheezy & Spoons:

This is a sad episode. Oh no. Who

Gino:

listen, listen. It gets worse.

Wheezy & Spoons:

No,

Gino:

It gets a, it gets a little worse, but then at the end it gets better. At the very end it gets better. Okay. We're almost there.

Wheezy & Spoons:

need another drink.

Gino:

So I haven't even had a sip of my drink yet. So like four days ago I went out to put, I put all the baby chicks in the meats and the eggs in the one coop. And then during the day they go outside to separate like pens. Because if I feed, I can like leave the feed out for the egg layers. But if you leave the feed out for the meat chickens, they'll just eat and eat and eat until they explode. So they have to go in separate things. But anyways, I went out to do my morning routine and like fed the big chickens and blah, blah, blah. And then I went to go see the little chickens and their, their coop is inside a bigger pen where my Drakes are, my drapes are in permanent Drake jail. And I look over,

Wheezy & Spoons:

for anyone who doesn't know.

Gino:

I look over and all the baby chicks. Well no, all the egg laying chicks are just running around the Drake pen and like they're, they're not supposed to. Their coop door is locked and shut and they can get out of the Drake pen. And also, I don't know if the Drakes would hurt them. They did not hurt them, but

Wheezy & Spoons:

a

Gino:

the door to the coop is wide open and I was like, there's no way I left that open, because they escape the second you leave it open. So I was like, I know. I shut that and I look and the, uh, the wire on the door is bloody. So I start counting chicks. Someone ordered a six piece chicken nugget last night

Wheezy & Spoons:

No.

Gino:

and I lost six more chicks and all the meat chicks had like piled out into the bin that I used to transfer them. So they were all like hiding down there. So I was like, where are living? But they were there. But yeah, so I lost six more chicken nuggets. So Phil and I spent that day reinforcing the door.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my gosh.

Gino:

and I have like, my camera traps up now too, and it's on lockdown. And then. Random info that's not part of the storyline, but I have two broody mom chicks. So they're set chickens, they're sitting in there and, uh, I candle them and I couldn't see a lot of the chicken eggs, but I'm pretty sure I have some duckling eggs that they're hatching. So my, my mama chicks are gonna be duckling moms.

Wheezy & Spoons:

They're adopted children. Aw, I love it so

Gino:

but here's where it gets good. I have also been incubating chicks, ironically, the day I went and picked up 40 chicks, I filled my incubator with 18 eggs, and then I went to the store and bought 40 chicks. And

Wheezy & Spoons:

were like,

Gino:

I know

Wheezy & Spoons:

Hey,

Gino:

I was like, that's a lot of work. I don't know if I want chickens

Wheezy & Spoons:

And now you're like, so I have 275 birds.

Gino:

185 birds later.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Okay.

Gino:

But I'm texting Phil to go put the ducks away right now, actually. So. They were supposed to hatch today the baby chicks. But yesterday I went out into the garage to get something else and I was like, da, da da. And I looked and I was like, holy mother of, and there's like four baby chicks like staring out at me from the incubator. They all had, they hatched. And yesterday they hatched and hatched. We got 14 of them that hatched yesterday. They're so cute. They're just these tiny little fluff balls. I always get'em from the store. I get'em when they're like a week or two old'cause they're cheaper that way. But so they were like the tiniest little fluff balls and they're so cute. And, um,

Wheezy & Spoons:

and you are their mother.

Gino:

yeah, I was like, I am your mother. Um, but now I'm trying to decide whether I'm gonna try and shove them under the Broy moms and be like, these are your babies. Or if I'm gonna just raise them separate from them, but it's.

Wheezy & Spoons:

chicken, this is an ideal time to choose a

Gino:

I know

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

there's at least two of them that like when I go in there, if I put my hand in there, they come up to me as opposed to all other chickens like run away from me. They're like, Hey mom. So yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

So sweet. life. Wow.

Gino:

yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons:

of life.

Gino:

so been crazy. I also have two wild ducks trying to join my flock. Like they come here occasionally and hang out with the ducks. But yeah, it's, my life has been nothing but pure birds for the last three weeks at least.

Wheezy & Spoons:

birds. Birds, birds, birds. That is so much birds. Oh my goodness.

Gino:

So

Wheezy & Spoons:

Like I, the emotional highs and lows I just experienced. Really, dude, for real. Wow.

Gino:

it's funny'cause like I kept wanting to tell, I have no one to tell these things to, so I kept wanting to text you, but I was like, but I can't just text her in the middle of this. It has to start from the beginning. I'm just gonna save it, go through it all.

Wheezy & Spoons:

she needs to have the context. I am still thinking about, I really thought you said 14 chickens.

Gino:

No, 40, 40 chickens.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was like 14 chickens. And you were like, no, I'm home on a, an overwhelmed. And I'm like, honestly, that's reasonable. 14 chicks. Like that's all 40 chicks. Oh my God. You're wild. It's a good thing she

Gino:

He,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Like

Gino:

I just hatched 14 babies.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes. There you go. my. Oh my God. Oh my God. That is

Gino:

So what's everyone whose life doesn't revolve around birds Up to.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Spoons on how, how was any bird stories? Any bird stories? I don't know. Oh, well, I did I mention we had a, I do have bird stories. Woo. It's bird had birds. they were like swallows or something. Mm-hmm. That mama laid at her nest in our wreath on our front door. Oh my God. And morning Dove did that at Maddie's house. Oh, really? Every time that you go over there, you scared the morning dove and she flies over to the neighbor's driveway. You guys, that's what she would fly. Our mama would fly to like our tree in the front yard. But like it, they was so weird because every time you open the door, like for a little second, like there are just. and chicks in your house. You know what I mean? It's really weird. It's so weird. You're

Gino:

I didn't think about that.

Wheezy & Spoons:

it's really weird. And I was like, if Juicy ever found out about this, like, gosh, so thankfully she's stupid. She didn't know. But they were so cute. And they did hatch and they flew away and no casualties. Wow. I'm always like nervous about that. That's very impressive. But, um, Maddie has two bird nests, one in the back and the one on her wreath. And I'm very just frightened for her. I'm like, statistically I'm always scared. Oh, and then, oh, that's the other bird thing. You have two bird things. Yes. I forgot about, I was dog

Gino:

better have something there.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Ash, get ready. take my sister's bird story? Yeah. Yeah. You can. Tell us about Maddie's brain. I was over at, um, my aunt and uncle's like, this is several weeks ago now, but I don't think I told it on the pod. And I was dog sitting for them and my aunt had showed me. when she was just showing me around the house, like earlier that week that there was a nest in the backyard. Mm-hmm. And I was like, oh, cute. You know, didn't really think about it. And then the second night I'm there at their house, I outside and I see like a little baby bird hopping around in the grass. And it whole thing was so crazy. I'm just gonna like not tell the whole story. But the there ended up being like many little tiny birds hopping around this backyard where there are two dogs. And I did not realize that like. This is the birds were out there. So like I let the dogs out to like, you know, and one of the birds kept like flying into the fence. Like, she was they were like trying to fly, you know? They're tiny. Yeah. They had just had like, I don't know, recently. Oh my gosh. But she was like hitting the fence and I was like, ah, I don't know what to do. But like, I was like, you're gonna hurt yourself here. So I kinda like went over to her and I was trying to like guide her away, you know? Yeah. And she flew onto my hand. And so then I'm holding this tiny baby bird. Oh my gosh. And I Disney princess

Gino:

I was like, this is why we have bird stories. It's Ella, just Ella.

Wheezy & Spoons:

exactly what it is. Oh yeah. I did feel like her. And so I'm holding this bird. And then another one, oh, like there were several in this area. And so then I'm holding two baby birds. Maybe I'll post a picture on the, you should absolutely Instagram, post the picture, because they were so like, ugly, cute, you know, like, oh my gosh. Yes. then I'm like, this is the craziest thing ever. I'm like, I am loving this. But in the back of my mind I'm like, am I like. Killing these birds right now. Like, you know, this is like really bad that I'm holding these birds, but I was like, okay, well they were hurting themselves, so I just, I actually helped themselves. Yeah. I'm like, oh, I'm doing my best here. So I like put them on like this area that I thought would be better for them, and they like were fine. But then I turned around and. There is something happening, on the grass, and it is another baby bird that is soaking wet and the dog is right next to her. Oh God. And I'm like, no. And so I like am freaking out because this bird is completely soaked in like saliva. Yeah. And Annie, the black lab is sitting there just looking at her and I'm like, Annie, go inside. And I'm like, freaking out. And so I grabbed this little bird. Oh my gosh. And she is like trembling tiny, like in complete shock. But I was like, oh my God. Like she was acting like she couldn't really like get up. She kept like trying to get up and then she'd fall uhhuh. And I'm like fully sobbing, you know? I'm like, this bird is die in my hands. And I killed her because I let the dog out and I'm like losing it. my God. And I couldn't really tell, like she seemed injured to me because she couldn't really like move very well. And so I was like, I don't know what to do. So I kind of like. I holding her for a while, just like hoping, like, you know, I don't know. It should be like, yeah, like be okay. Snap outta it. Fly away. so I'm just sitting

Gino:

She was probably stunned from being in a dog's mouth.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I know. Poor thing. Yeah. And so I'm just sitting there like outside like sobbing, holding this bird who's like trembling and like falling over. And then I like am looking up like bird, like what do I do? I have an injured bird. Like, And so then I ended up even calling like this like, nature rehab place in Austin. like. They like closed, but it was like, just put it in a box and take it tomorrow anyway. And so I was like, okay, I just wanted to, but I didn't wanna bring the bird inside'cause it's my aunt and uncle's house and also the dogs are inside and I'm like, the dogs are what did this? So I'm freaking out. Oh gosh. So then I'm like, okay, maybe I'll just put her back in the nest. Like I know where the nest is. Maybe that would be good. Uhhuh. And she's kind of like calmed down a little bit. Uhhuh, but she's still not really moving great. But she's like at least dry and like not trembling as much. So I'm like, yay. So I put her back in the nest and she's just kind of sitting there and I keep coming back out like every like 30 minutes or so to check on her. Im just like a mess about this bird. Anyway, I am fully like. How it was like 1:00 AM The last time I checked, I went outside and the other birds had been coming into the nest and leaving and stuff. And so I was like, okay, at least she has friends. But then she was gone and I was like looking all around because all the other birds are so stupid and they keep, I couldn't let the dogs out because the birds were kidding me.

Gino:

Oh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

stupid. I was so upset. Anyway, she ended up, I guess, flying away somehow I checked around and like did not see a dead bird anywhere. So I was like, I assume she was just in shock and needed a minute, but it was very, very stressful. And then my aunt was like I was like, Hey the ex hatch or whatever. And she was like, oh, I great. And I was like, there's no way in hell I am telling her that her dog almost ate one. Like she would have been a mess. It was so, oh my God. I was like, I'm not gonna ever convey to her how deeply this guard this event. So anyway, but I think they're all fine. But it was crazy that they were like, I felt so Snow White or Cinderella, I guess, and mm-hmm. I, I'll show you all the picture. Yeah. Either way, you've, you're very snow white often. I feel like your vibes, you're literally like, oh, thank you. A little yellow dress in your dark hair. Thank you so much. Very snow white.

Gino:

She is wearing her dark hair today.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I, dark hair, hair. Thanks. I grew it myself. God, I appreciate that. Okay, now your bird story. Oh, my bird story. Yeah. My

Gino:

We don't wanna hear about anything else.

Wheezy & Spoons:

yeah. Is there anything, this is a bird update. Yeah, we don't wanna hear anything else. We just wanna hear about birds. I mean, I can tell you guys that I, I moved recently and my personal life is in chaos, but that's just, you know, I'm honestly par for the course, but to a bird story, which is much more interesting, I think, which is, we're already 25 minutes in. We might as well stick to it. We got a theme

Gino:

I told them to skip 20 minutes ahead if they didn't wanna hear about birds. So I was.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Well there's the, the, I'm just gonna steal from a couple different bird stories that have happened to me in the last year. There's the morning dab at my sister's house, which you would think that I would remember.'cause it's actually kind of startling to every time you open the door, a bird flies out at your face. Yes. I never remember whether I'm inside the house or outside the house. And I stayed a few days over there even. And you would think at some point that I would like remember that there's a dove nesting on the wreath. Never once have I remembered, I'll probably shock every time. It's a shock. It's like, oh my,

Gino:

I was gonna say, I mean this to the effect that you have realizations about what's happening in books. It, it tracks like

Wheezy & Spoons:

it's really

Gino:

what?

Wheezy & Spoons:

What I, Yep. Oh, here's like a fun from the, at our retreat actually, there was a Lacey, one of our attendees and a fabulous author who's also gonna be at the upcoming retreats. You guys should meet her. She actually wrote a poem about a mama bird with her babies that she and I saw at the retreat. Aw. And she actually like published it for Mother's Day, which was really cool. And it's like a, it's a really beautiful like poem about motherhood and it's very sweet. Um, but it's because there was this mama bird and we kept watching her just like bring back these massive spiders to feed her babies just like, it would be just dead silence. Then all of a sudden you see like the, and like the little like naked heads and the giant beaks, like coming out for the food. It was crazy. It was so

Gino:

That's awesome. I didn't know that. See when you said actually at the retreat, I thought you were gonna say actually at the retreat, uh, Gino told me, yeah, whatever. Uh,

Wheezy & Spoons:

She did. Y'all, something happened. Something weird happened at the, see, this is why so spoons is, I assume coming. Tell me because you almost have to see it to believe it. You know how I'm like super productive? Like zoom, zoom girl. Yes. Right. And Gina's like, I'm having fun. I dunno how my camera works. You know?

Gino:

I dunno why you're talking about rude.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Then we get there and this like crazy thing happened. It's like the day before. Like we were prepping. It's like on the drive. All of a sudden it's like we just like Freaky Friday. And she was like, I am large and in charge. I have a schedule. I know exactly what needs to happen, when and where. And I was like, A great time. I loved this. It was insane.

Gino:

was hilarious.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was just like, I'm having fun. What do you need? You know, I'm having a great time. You know, was like she just started and I never once took it personally, but it was like the funniest thing because she would just all of a sudden be like, no, don't do that. I'd be like, Hey, do you need me to cut this up? And you're like, if you want anyone to eat soon, I'm just like happy chatting to basically just myself. And I'm like cutting up garlic bread. And I was like, I. I can't, way it sounds so stupid in my head when I, in my head, I understand why you reacted the way's butt of the bread. Like purely just like chattering away, just babbling, total like nonsense to just entertain myself, I guess. And I'm like, you know what? Get through it. I was crying. I'm so sorry you guys. I swear I can do this. I dunno why it's so funny. It's not even that funny's. I have actual tears coming down my face, which you guys can probably see'cause the video quality. So what

Gino:

Except your head's not in the video. Your head's not in the video.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I'll be sure to cry closer to the camera next time. Anyway, so I'm cutting up the bread and I'm just like, you can do it.

Gino:

I wish I could tell this part of the story for you, but I even can't, and then I'll explain it once you get it out. Why I can't tell this part of the story?

Wheezy & Spoons:

I am just getting up the

Gino:

'cause it's,

Wheezy & Spoons:

I cut off like the butts of the bread and I'm like, you know what? A lot of people don't.

Gino:

I think she said a lot of people don't like the butts of the bread, but I really like the butts of the bread. Okay. But I can tell you that I, we broke spoons too.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Funny.

Gino:

Worst

Wheezy & Spoons:

I couldn't get it out.

Gino:

She

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was like, I don't want, like, a lot of people don't like the butts of the bread, but I dunno why really? Like, but of the bread, I actually really like them. So

Gino:

and I.

Wheezy & Spoons:

a conversation with myself, oh my

Gino:

But I, apparently she says this and I go, yeah, whatever, Ash.

Wheezy & Spoons:

she

Gino:

But I don't, I didn't know I said it. I didn't even know I said it because I was like, in my brain, I wasn't listening to a word she said, I didn't know. She said that. I like vaguely heard her chattering and apparently those words came out of my mouth because I was like, okay, this is happening next, then I'm doing this, this is going on. Like that's where my brain was. And she said, I was like, yeah, whatever, Ash. And she was like, I have your reaction to It was like, ha, okay. And I was like, what? You were like, you just said, yeah, whatever, Ash. I was like, did I, I

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes.

Gino:

did not know I even said it.

Wheezy & Spoons:

But

Gino:

was like, yeah, whatever Ash.

Wheezy & Spoons:

like I was chattering about like bread butts, so I'm like, I understand why she would disregard this. Yeah. I actually really like them, but a lot of people don't. Yeah. Whatever. Ash. Yeah, whatever. Ash. And then she just like, she didn't even look at me. It was just, yeah, whatever Ash, and then just kept like going,

Gino:

I literally didn't even know I said it until she, she repeated it back to me.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I

Gino:

I was like, no. Really? No.

Wheezy & Spoons:

anyone else? Like the butts of the bread. I really liked you. Like, okay. Well anyway, anyways about the bread butts. I'll save you a butt. save you. You want a butt? I'll save you a butt. I don't know why that was so hard. It was so funny. But that was the dynamic, like the whole retreat until the last day. And then the last day everybody left and then well like it was right before everyone left, like we started packing up and everything and then I basically, we like freaky Friday back into our bodies again and I was like,

Gino:

She was sitting there on her laptop like, okay, I'm doing this paperwork and this and this and this, and I was like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

you're like,

Gino:

boring. It's like, that sounds boring.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I'm

Gino:

She's like, can you get

Wheezy & Spoons:

Wow. Okay.

Gino:

you get me this receipt and this and that? I was like, do you need it now or like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

pull the file for me?

Gino:

yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

was and she was like and like all that was like that. We were just like back It was crazy. That is so weird. I love that. It was super crazy. It was super, super funny. We literally freaky Friday. We so

Gino:

But to be fair, to be fair, I know that's where my talent lies. Like my talent is not in like the prep, my talent is the like directing and here we go. This is it.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

So I wasn't shocked. That's, that's what I was doing. I was a little shocked that Ash regressed to a 10-year-old, but

Wheezy & Spoons:

became a total 10-year-old. I like, love that. Keep things lively. I, I'm actually super glad to hear that because I was a little bit like Ash is not gonna get any writing done, Mr. Queen, like,

Gino:

Oh yeah, no,

Wheezy & Spoons:

does.

Gino:

that was part of my goal. I was like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was

Gino:

that was part of my goal. I told her I would, yeah. I told her I would duct tape or with nuclear grade duct tape to a chair

Wheezy & Spoons:

very

Gino:

and I have, I have a lot of that. So. It's,

Wheezy & Spoons:

So don't mess with me.

Gino:

I have 96 rolls of nuclear grade duct tape. Not like other girls, I have 96 rolls of duct tape. I have 40 chickens and 96 rolls of nuclear grade duct tape.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my goodness. that was 50. Had a starter pack. A starter pack. Okay. That was better than a bird story. I'm glad that you brought that up. So if you guys wanna enjoy that dynamic in person, you should apply for the fall retreat.

Gino:

Yeah. I don't worry. I won't. Whatever. You just ash. So

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, she doesn't, it's only

Gino:

I'm nice to everyone else.

Wheezy & Spoons:

worry. She was and fully nobody knew your actual name anywhere because I forgot to write your name on anything. I'll put Gino on

Gino:

I didn't know how to introduce myself to be fair. Like people were walking in the door. I was like, hi, this is Ash. Just wouldn't say my name because I thought, I assumed most of the people were from the pod, but it turned out most of the people weren't from the pod. So I was like, do they know me as Gino? Do they know me as Marissa do? I was like, I don't know what to say. So they just, I was just there.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Gino.

Gino:

just there.

Wheezy & Spoons:

funny'cause like by

Gino:

But

Wheezy & Spoons:

end of day two, everyone was like, Gino, where's Gino? So, so Gino. And I was like, I'm so happy. Right. I did that. like how your son and like at the Maddie's children also only know me as Spoons. Yes. Like that is my name. So I was

Gino:

I was

Wheezy & Spoons:

Spoon, auntie is coming over. And he was like, S Spoo. And I was like,

Gino:

Aw.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Like Grayson has no idea what my name is. No. You know, it's fine. I love it like that. It should, that's the way it should be.

Gino:

I was talking to the girls about the podcast'cause I'm recording in Ridley's room right now. And uh, so they were asking all these questions and I was like, yeah, it's my friend Whiskey and my friend Spoons, but I was like, their real names and they were like, I was like, I actually don't know why her name is Spoons, so.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Our Newsies, what was, what's your Newsies name? And it Yeah, mine was, we went to or improv musical. Yeah.

Gino:

Okay.

Wheezy & Spoons:

And yeah, your nurse's name was Spoons Palermo. And it was just really good. It was really funny. We were like, well, we're keeping that. And mine was like something stupid like Colin or something, and I was like, it wasn't as good. That's not a good name. And then you were like, well, how about wheezy because asthma. like, it's genius.

Gino:

Listen, you're a little bit handicapped. How about we name it after that?

Wheezy & Spoons:

You know how you have a disability. I think we should make that your whole identity illness. How about this? I love it.

Gino:

about the ad? Also I run, I, I don't know, that's if it's not ironic, but when they were talking about it, they were like, where is your podcast? Like, where can I listen to it? And so I told them, and then Ridley was I guess looking through Spotify and she's like, wait, I already listened to this. She already listens to it. She listened to the Lightning Thief episode because

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes,

Gino:

so

Wheezy & Spoons:

weird. That's hilarious. That's

Gino:

I know I was like, woo.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh, I saw that our lots of people downloaded the Hunger Games episode last week. That's not surprising. I think people are Hunger Games ready right now. Yeah, I

Gino:

Hunger Games hungry?

Wheezy & Spoons:

they are, they're hungry for it. Well, should we talk about this week's might as well now that

Gino:

No, I think more birds. I think More birds.

Wheezy & Spoons:

More birds. More birds. I, I just have to say quickly,'cause this was my sad bird story. I'm gonna bring it back to a sad bird story and then can Oh, agree.

Gino:

no. Where's the end of a Happy Bird story?

Wheezy & Spoons:

fine. I'll tell you two very quick ones. One is, I actually did have a baby bird die in my hands, and it was really, oh

Gino:

Oh,

Wheezy & Spoons:

It was one of my sick Guinea chicks, which, I mean, they all

Gino:

oh, yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

but it was very sad because I tried to nurse her back to life for like hours and before she finally just died in my hands. Mm-hmm. And it was very, very sad. And my other one where I felt like a Disney princess is that repeatedly in the last year. doves keep getting stuck in the chicken coop. And so I've had to go in there and like, I don't know how they're getting, like getting under like a loose piece of wire to get at the grain and then they're stuck and they can't get out. So they get to like reach and be like, hello, my little beauty, release

Gino:

away. Fly away.

Wheezy & Spoons:

and it's like a little

Gino:

Did,

Wheezy & Spoons:

It's amazing.

Gino:

did you watch the Hunchback of Notre Dame? The Disney movie?

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes.

Gino:

The, the old gargoyle when she's like, fly. So the, all the doves ever.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. That was Diana. That's you. Whenever you, this probably you like No, I, no. You like the little garco? Oh my gosh, no. Okay. Okay. So with that, yes, we can get into today's book now. This was a geno wreck, I believe. Yeah.

Gino:

Yes, because we did spoons is, Cinderella. So this was my Cinderella.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, we're doing all Cinderellas lately. we'll do the one that I wrote. Yay. It not done yet.

Gino:

So this is just Ella by Margaret Peterson, Haddix my very beat up copy because it was my favorite. And also real quick before we actually get into the book, but um, our drink for this week, spoons came up with, so we're reading just Ella. So this is just Gino and we have just spoons and just whis or wheezy over there. We all just,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Well,

Gino:

I know

Wheezy & Spoons:

yeah,

Gino:

and just whiskey there.

Wheezy & Spoons:

is, I drink it already. An empty glass.

Gino:

So we all just made our own drinks.

Wheezy & Spoons:

That's a lot of sparkle in there. Yes. It's just whatever, uh, we want. I love it. Just insert whatever you have in your fridge or liquor cabinet. I mean, that looks like multiple, just your name here way too much. You guys can probably

Gino:

Yes. Oh. Oh my gosh. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

kind

Gino:

That looks like a lava lamp.

Wheezy & Spoons:

It

Gino:

That looks like a lava lamp.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I first, at first I just put a little sprinkle of luster dust in and it wasn't enough and then I spilled some in. That was more than enough. Even enough. Anyways. Yes, so that's the

Gino:

Our author,

Wheezy & Spoons:

And our author is Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Gino:

Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Do you like the way that I said old Good Maggie? she's so cute. Look at her. She kinda looks like a snow white. She's got that blob going. She does. She's got a blo in this picture. Oh

Gino:

She

Wheezy & Spoons:

we usually do

Gino:

was born.

Wheezy & Spoons:

first or do we do the author bio first?

Gino:

Oh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

do author first. Okay. Go for it. I don't know what I'm talking about.

Gino:

Uh, okay. She, um, I'm actually just gonna talk about her from what I know is because I read so many of her books when I was a kid. Like I started seeking her out actively, she wrote this series, it's called like the Shadow Children Series, and it was all about the kids, like the one child rule in China. And, but it was like a dystopian version of that. So it would be like if a kid had, or if a parent had more than one kid, then it was like the kid that wasn't the one child was like on the run from being murdered and all this sort of stuff. And it was like six or seven books in that series. I love that series. Just Ella. Yeah, she's wrote a ton of books. She actually does a ton of community work too. She, I think she grew up in, I think she's from, I might be wrong, uh, Columbus, Ohio. But she does all sorts of, she goes, she goes to schools all the time, like middle schools and just like, talks about her books and answers kids' questions about being an author and stuff, like constantly. Um, I see, like I follow her on a couple socials and stuff, so,

Wheezy & Spoons:

has 40 books for children and teenagers,

Gino:

yeah, she's got a,

Wheezy & Spoons:

according to the Wikipedia.

Gino:

she's got a big collection. Um, but I don't know, as a kid I loved all her books so that I read through.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I think I remember the Shadow Children books. Like I think I might have read the first one or something because I was just telling Wheezy before we started recording, I was like, yeah, Margaret Peterson had, it's like she's such a like recognizable name to me that I was like, oh, I'm sure I've read like a lot of her books. And then I was looking through and I was like, I don't think I've read any of these. I think I just was like very aware of her as like an author. Yeah. But I might have read one or two of those,

Gino:

Like I said, she does a lot and she like answers all sorts of kids fan mail all the time. Like writes them back. If you write her, she'll like write you back. At least as a kid, I don't know about as adults, but

Wheezy & Spoons:

sense. There's a picture of her literally speaking at what looks like an elementary school on her

Gino:

yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Cute.

Gino:

she she's very involved. She's very involved. So I think she's,

Wheezy & Spoons:

sign is?

Gino:

I, I know when her birthday is, but I'm trying. That's not it.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Okay. Is it what

Gino:

Pisces?

Wheezy & Spoons:

no. No. Okay. I don't know.

Gino:

It's April.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh,

Gino:

Oh, okay. Aries.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. Aries. Okay. She's an early April. One of the sisters. I know. One of my Aries uh, kin, here's a fun fact not to take over your part of the author section, but

Gino:

Take it.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I came across this in her Wikipedia entry and it reminds it, this, it makes so much sense after reading just Ella that some of her favorite books growing up apparently included Harriet De Spy and of Green Gables Little Women, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and The Little Princess. Okay. Slay. That makes

Gino:

Yes, it does.

Wheezy & Spoons:

It really does. Let's see. And she worked on a school newspaper, and this is from Wikipedia, so who knows if it's a hundred percent correct or not, but it says that Haddock chose to pursue fiction writing after her husband became a news reporter and she did not wanna be his employee. I think that's a

Gino:

That sounds accurate.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. I'll

Gino:

I would buy that. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. That's a really funny, and it seems she has two children Terrance of two grandchildren, Meredith and Connor. Aw, those sound like, like the names of her children.

Gino:

Mm-hmm.

Wheezy & Spoons:

those are their names of her children. I don't believe she named her children

Gino:

I believe these things.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I believe these things. Good for Margaret. Yeah. Anything else you wanna say about Aino?

Gino:

Uh, nope, that's all I got.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Okay. Slay solid. Yay. Do people still stay slay or do you just me. Don't ever, no one ever repeat anything I say.'cause I'm. Repeat

Gino:

like, are you so cool or No?

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh no. I lay like still I don't think I've ever been called. Said

Gino:

That is true.

Wheezy & Spoons:

slay,

Gino:

repeats everything you say.

Wheezy & Spoons:

So I know, but I'm telling you, it's like I already like six months behind. So the time you start singing it, you're like a year. That's okay. Honestly, a year is nothing for me. That's actually really good. That's

Gino:

She is like groovy y.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Groovy. I was saying oh, what is it? What is it? It's not gag me, but it's something from like

Gino:

Oh my gosh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I did start saying recently and I was like, why do I feel like that's not what people say anymore? I used to say

Gino:

We should bring it all back.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I think we should bring it all back. I'll bring it

Gino:

That's hot.

Wheezy & Spoons:

That's odd. Anyways so first impressions of this book. First impressions. I like the cover. And the cover I had was the one you have Marissa it Interesting. It's like, is it the one where she's kind of torn?

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, it's like half Ella, half Princess. Oh, look at that. Yeah. That's interesting. Yeah. But, but cover reminds me of like a Ga Gayle, Carson Levine book a little bit. Oh, I had the, the newer one. The, um, the one that looks like, not the super new one that has like a real person's face on it, but like the one that's like a silhouette like a princess making up a staircase. Yeah, I like that too. Yeah. Well I was super into like, princess books when I was, I. A kid, so I was like, I'm all in. You know, my first impression was this, this'll be good. definitely felt like this was like a definitely a you and Gino book. I was not super into princess books ever. So mermaid books sure. Count me in princess books. Never really was. So I was like, we'll see about this. I just read one of these and now I'm reading another one. You read one I didn't even like, and now I gotta read another one. I just, like, I had, it has like a lot of middle grade vibes, even though she's not a middle grader, but its reads like a middle grade book because I think it, it kind of, I have a lot of thoughts about, audience and tone and content for

Gino:

a young adult book.

Wheezy & Spoons:

What? I, well, that's

Gino:

it got a, it got a, it got an award Best, an Allah best book for young adults. Award

Wheezy & Spoons:

It's, it was very much straddling a line for me

Gino:

ages 11 to 14.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was like, interested. That's middle grade. To me, 11 to

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

feels like middle grade.

Gino:

Yeah. I did not think it was a young adult book. I fully was like, this is

Wheezy & Spoons:

I could see

Gino:

middle grade,

Wheezy & Spoons:

but for me it leans more middle grade. I also,

Gino:

you know?

Wheezy & Spoons:

were right with middle grade things where credit. That's crazy. My first impression was another princess book. It's a new take on it. It's probably gonna be very girl power because it's just Ella. Also, it came out in like 1999, which is like girl power. Height of girl power. Yes.

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was like, this is girl power milk with like big flowers and stuff. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Gag me. Am I right? Gag me. Just kidding. Anyways, that was mostly my impression of it.

Gino:

I definitely read this. No, Because I read it as very young. And then I read it again, and then I can remember taking it off my bookshelf and like opening a random page and reading it. Like, and just keep reading it. And so I started again. And I don't reread, I don't reread books often. Like

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

Harry Potter about once a year. And this year I've been rereading more books than I've ever in my life probably. But the fact that I reread this one so much, I was like, oh, I'm, I really like that book. It was like, like my favorite book as a child. I have interesting opinions rereading it now, but

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh, okay.

Gino:

we'll get into that.

Wheezy & Spoons:

that's always fun. I love it. All right, cool. Well. we get into the summary? Yes. Solid.

Gino:

Shout

Wheezy & Spoons:

gonna take the lead'cause I read this a month and a half ago. I've lived, I feel like I've lived four, 400 years since

Gino:

400 bird Lives.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Our lives later. I don't remember what this book was about. Who knows? I So it's very fresh for me.

Gino:

well I'm in the middle of this, it was like two weeks ago. So it's about Ella, who is Ci Ella. So, but it starts after the story of Cinderella, so like after the ball and all that and everything. And she is, they came and got her with the slippers

Wheezy & Spoons:

of a.

Gino:

and she's at the palace now and she's like, oh my gosh, this is crazy. I was just thrown to the palace and all this stuff happened so quick. I don't know what's going on, but that prince, he's cute.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Ugh. Unfortunately, it's so, I was so mad. I was like, he sounds really hot. And I was like, God dang it. I know it's not gonna be anything. I was, this is a spoons character. This is a spoon. Well, not when you get to know him. No, I know, but it was, I was like, this is probably disappointing for her. I'm so suey. I wouldn't say no to the handsome blonde prince. Like, okay, like whatever. You know? It's disappointing for her. I knew it was gonna be disappointing for you. I was like, I feel bad for her.

Gino:

It was disappointing for me too, and I already knew that it, that was what happened. It's like, dang.

Wheezy & Spoons:

went in full of hatred. I was just like, I know I'm gonna hate him. And so I just went and I was like, I hate him. Immediately. I was really like, he's tall, blonde, and perfect. I was like, hate him even more. Gag me. Gag me. I was hoping he'd come around, like maybe he'd have some kind of like, I did have a few moments where I was like, he feels like out and out from the beginning. A total tool. Yeah. So I was like, maybe there's gonna be a twist. There wasn't, or like, yeah, I don't know. Like maybe I'm so disappointed. Maybe he'll have some sort of character growth. Yeah, yeah. No, he has no, he's a straight line. There's no arc. He's like, I feel trapped in my life too. Let's go be cool together. You know? Something. Something now. But now he ended up just getting worse. Yeah, pretty much. Sorry, spoilers for the prince, but

Gino:

So it basically starts

Wheezy & Spoons:

spoons.

Gino:

laughing. I'm reading to make sure I know what's going on. I was like reading the beginning of the chapters. So excuse me. It kind of starts where Ella is like waking up. I mean, it doesn't exactly start there, but really quickly that she's waking up in her bedroom and she's cold and no one has made the fire. And so she's like, well, I guess I'll make the fire. And then later on they're like, when everyone in in the castle's awake, they're like, how come there's a fire in your fireplace? But the maid who does it is still asleep. She must have sat in and, oh my gosh, I can't believe she did her own fire. Whisper, whisper, whisper.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

And she's like, I don't know what I did wrong. And then Madam Beset is, uh, her, her manners watcher, I dunno.

Wheezy & Spoons:

coach Andrews, coach her queen of Genovia.

Gino:

she, she is not at all. Julie Andrews.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes. Did say that about Julie. She's, yeah. No, she's really rap. She's more like the, uh, the matchmaker in Mulan. Oh yeah. Here we go. There we go. You're

Gino:

So she is like, don't you,

Wheezy & Spoons:

her.

Gino:

you ever make your fire again? We don't do that. That's what servants are for. If they don't have something to do, then they'll be sad. And she and hell's like, um, I don't think this lady knows anything about being a servant.'cause I was a servant and if I didn't have anything to do, I would not be sad. Like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, for

Gino:

what is wrong with this lady?

Wheezy & Spoons:

I also can do it myself. Like it's not a big deal. I've done it a million times. She's just laying there cold instead of just like doing it.

Gino:

Just like my name is.

Wheezy & Spoons:

just do it. Just do it. Just do it. Yeah. I love that for her though. She is like, I'm just gonna do it. Yeah. She's like, I literally was sleeping in the senders like one week ago, so I think

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

to, yeah. Yeah. I think I can handle this myself. I think I'll be okay.

Gino:

So then she goes to her lessons throughout the day, which are like, how to eat properly and manners and this, and she has this other lesson, which she's not really sure what it is, but it's this old dude that just rambles on and, she,

Wheezy & Spoons:

oh my

Gino:

it's funny'cause later on she's like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

was.

Gino:

Later on she's like, that's what he was trying to teach me.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I don't know. It's a required pre-req. I have no idea. She's like, uh, just getting outta the way, so

Gino:

But this teacher has like a heart attack

Wheezy & Spoons:

yeah.

Gino:

Her lesson.

Wheezy & Spoons:

like convulsing.

Gino:

I,

Wheezy & Spoons:

was like,

Gino:

yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons:

right now? And then I was like, maybe it's poison. Maybe there's intrigue. No, he's just

Gino:

no.

Wheezy & Spoons:

older. Unhealthy. Yeah. Yeah.

Gino:

So she like, runs and gets a maid and is like, go get help. And then she comes back and she like rips his shirt open to like, help him breathe. And then of course Madam Bessette comes in and she is like, oh my gosh, a naked man and you are leaning on his chest and she's like, I was saving his life. And she's like, it doesn't matter. We do not save lives if it ruins Purity propriety.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my They're all just like, oh, this is so like inconvenient and like,

Gino:

yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

won't talk about the fact that he's dying. Yeah. It was really weird hanging lady. She's like, so is he okay? And they're like, what are you talking about? Super weird, but it's very rude to ask.

Gino:

Well, they're literally at some point, at some point, the ladies in waiting and Madam Bessette and them say something about how like women's, women's job is to like, women aren't supposed to be, I don't remember exactly what they say, like, bad things. They're not supposed to know about bad things or feel bad things or like they're just here to like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

to unpleasantness

Gino:

yeah, yeah. They're not supposed to be exposed to

Wheezy & Spoons:

a little bit of like a caricature Like a super proper setting. I mean, I don't know. It's not like I've ever lived in a palace, but I felt

Gino:

speak for yourself.

Wheezy & Spoons:

It was very extreme even for like, it felt extreme. It felt like we're almost like crossing territory in a dystopian with the

Gino:

Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

that this is.

Gino:

I agree.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was a little, I was a little confused. It was excessive. Yeah. Yeah.

Gino:

I agree.'cause

Wheezy & Spoons:

I am like, I don't know. That's like the middle grade part of it to me. Yeah. Very like things are exaggerated both for like kind of comedy. It's black, everybody's black and white for like, yeah, you're 11 and you're reading a book and you was right who was wrong a little bit. Yeah. So like in that way in, in several ways it was like, this is very middle grade to me. But then in other ways I'm like, this is intense. Like the one, like the servant who like forgot to get, uh, get up and make Ella's fire whatever, got like beaten almost to death and like sent out. And I was like, oh, okay. And

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

a war going on. Yeah. And also this guy's a rapist. And I

Gino:

Yeah. But like, he raped like 30 women and like

Wheezy & Spoons:

was

Gino:

children like.

Wheezy & Spoons:

a kids book. know. It was very weird. And then they're like, are you a kin or not bitch? And I was like, oh my, what is happening? Because the rest of it feels like middle grade and that stuff feels like a really intense white, it was kind of like, it was a weird, um, but, and then also, but his name is still Prince Charming. I was like, why? That was my biggest

Gino:

The whole family is the charming.

Wheezy & Spoons:

yes. And I enjoyed the book, but my one biggest critique was that was dumb. They should have given him a new name. I was like, the Charmings really we're having a war. And they're the charmings. I don't think so. Come on. She was like up all this whim, this more for this like world. It felt like she was trying to keep it whimsical. Yeah. But I'm like, but it's not whimsical, girl. I know. It wasn't, I'm stressed for Ella's life. Okay. I don't want him to be Prince Charming. I know. It's not funny. I know. Anyway, that was my biggest beef. That's totally fair. I thought I was gonna save that, and then I just went out and said it. Absolutely.

Gino:

happens passion.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I have to get us off my chest

Gino:

My

Wheezy & Spoons:

this.

Gino:

Myla, when we were talking about the podcast, she's like, what happens if someone just goes off on like a 45 minute long tangent? And I was like, they just do it.

Wheezy & Spoons:

We just do it. Yeah.

Gino:

I was like, wait, just let I know. I was like, that's mostly what it is. Anyway.

Wheezy & Spoons:

kind of Of our bread and butter actually. Yeah. If we don't do that, it's a little weirder. You know? It's a little weird. It's weird for us. That would be, yeah.

Gino:

All right. What are your three sentences about the plot?

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my God. So,

Gino:

yeah, he, he is

Wheezy & Spoons:

Sorry.

Gino:

dead. Go ahead,

Wheezy & Spoons:

No.

Gino:

God.

Wheezy & Spoons:

he's, I was just remembering where we were. I was like, where

Gino:

Oh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

he's not

Gino:

then

Wheezy & Spoons:

going

Gino:

it's like cuts to later that night and she gets her visitation with the prince, which is, they get to like sit, they get to sit in a room together with a chaperone and um, do nothing.

Wheezy & Spoons:

like this. You look lovely tonight, princess. It's actually, we don't have a chaperones. This is actually more intimate for us.

Gino:

Oh,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Excuse us, Kendall. I told you we'll test that part of like the

Gino:

it's a, it's really difficult to chaperone from Italy, I can tell you that. So.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yep. Yeah. But that was so funny to me. They were just sitting there like, she's like, I was like immediately like, oh girl, run. This is not so bad. It was bad every time he opened his mouth. I wanted him to save it a little bit. And he just didn't, know. I was really like, there's gotta be something here, you know? But then I think I also wanted like, at least like a little bit of like ambiguity. I like, not he's, that he's as bad as I thought he would be. Well, I was still holding onto hope. I was like, maybe he is just awkward and weird, you know? Like, I don't know he had, because the first meeting he didn't say anything so heinous I felt no. Then later he was like, women's with women with thoughts and I was like, come on dude, come on man. Oh. And then he was like, yeah, you're getting fat. I was like, okay. Unbelievable. Skipping ahead. But the yeah, I was unfortunate that this chaperone meeting, I think I also wanted more of the foil.'cause what's his name? So the guy replaces the teacher who's not dead, who had a heart attack, is I've, is

Gino:

Mm-hmm.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Jed. he is like. He's a cutie. He's a cutie. Cutie. He's cute. He's her teacher now, so there's a little bit of that hot for teacher thing going on. I'm just kidding. is inappropriate. Well, I mean, t she, but he's basically like her age, so like Yeah, like it's a lot more kosher. Yeah, it's totally kosher. Yeah, totally kosher. And he's like, you know, more engaged in the subject and like teaching her sort of like the

Gino:

Which is religion, by the way.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

Religion. She was like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

He's like, this is,

Gino:

she was like, oh, that's what he was teaching me. She was like, why are you teaching me religion? He is like, that's that's what you've been learning, isn't it? She's like, oh, is that what that was?

Wheezy & Spoons:

it's like, I had no idea. Gotta look at my rubric. I'm pretty sure finally got the sub folder, but I think,

Gino:

I thought,

Wheezy & Spoons:

God.

Gino:

I thought this was Cal 1 0 1.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. So they kind of bond a little bit and he seems to, he seems to be the foil for charming and he's like, like much more down to earth and they seem to hit it off and it seems like, oh, well maybe she has a little bit of a crush, or he has a little bit of a crush, maybe. But then I felt like that was it. Like we didn't really delve farther into it. Am I crazy?

Gino:

No, that is it. I, but I feel like, I remember from childhood there being a lot more, so maybe it was like as an adult with more established emotions and everything, I was like, oh, there's not much there. But as a kid I was like, oh my God, they're totally so

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. I thought they were cute, but they didn't like, she was very much not acknowledging or noticing she was into him at the beginning. Yeah. It's not until like the end that we get a lot more of that. Yeah.

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I thought they were super cute at the end, but yeah, the ending was nice. At the beginning I was like. He's, I mean, at least he's got like thoughts and ambitions, you know? No. And he's like, he's better than charming. Noble in a lot of ways. Yeah. He's like, I want to help refugees. And I was like, well, that I'll take anything, you know? That's great. That's above and beyond, buddy. Thank you. Alternative much. Well, the alternative is charming and he is awful. So yeah, it's like, well, you look really good. But that's what it felt like. It felt like on his own, he wouldn't have looked that good. It felt like it was only in comparison to this horrible option. Well, I don't know. He was a nice guy. Yeah, the refugee thing, okay. But he was a nice guy, is almost always, it's never an insult, but it's never like it's true like romantic level concept. He wasn't like the most charismatic guy in the world, but he was like a perfectly. Acceptable suitor. I felt if I met him also, we, he was, I'm sure he was cute, which makes up for a lot of lack of personality. But he, I just, off everything that you've said about him just now, I'm imagining wedding vows being said, he was perfectly respectable. He was a nice guy, but they were getting to know each other. the end, everything, I was like, yes, I see this. I could also see it. There was just like no spark there to begin with, which, I mean, maybe there was, yeah, I feel like she was dealing with a lot. She was dealing with a

Gino:

I mean, she was still like fully into Prince Charming at this point. Like when they meet,

Wheezy & Spoons:

He thought he wasn't into him, so

Gino:

she's like, he makes my heart flutter.

Wheezy & Spoons:

him, even if she didn't have a spark. Yeah. I would've liked, I would've liked to see more of him. I, I, I agree. Instead of him as just the alternative to a horrible, an alternative who does, didn't really seem to have that many faults either. It was like, yeah, he's got good stuff going. Yeah, but I wasn't, there wasn't like a lot, a ton of complexity, I guess. No, there wasn't.'cause we just didn't get to see him that much. Yeah. I wish she had been in it more. I liked Mary the servant. Oh, I liked her too. Yeah. I think right now, I mean, I think she's my favorite. She was cute. I remember thinking she was my favorite. Yeah. Okay. Well, I will admit, when Jed showed up, I was like, okay, now we're cooking. Like, okay. Thank God. Because I was really nervous that it was just gonna be. Terrible Prince. And then I was like, I mean, is there not gonna be a love interest in this? And I was like, I guess that's fine. I was like, but I kind of like it if there was a love interest. This is Cinderella after all. Yeah. Then he showed up and I was like, yeah, okay. I see where Wanted it like I wanted it all or nothing. I wanted like, we are in love or there's no romance whatsoever. And I wanted like one or the other. This felt very wishy-washy.

Gino:

Oh, the romance was

Wheezy & Spoons:

I think

Gino:

very like

Wheezy & Spoons:

it's

Gino:

young. Yeah. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. And she's like, what, 15? is teeny. She's a

Gino:

It was written more accurately for like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Worse.

Gino:

yeah. But he is.

Wheezy & Spoons:

worse because of the other things of In this book. Yeah. It's really, that's what I'm saying. I was like, how is this middle grade? Oh my god. Yeah. And I guess it's not, but I would rewrite it and make it longer and add more detail and either add romance or take away

Gino:

The,

Wheezy & Spoons:

then make it a firm young adult. Yeah. Because I think that the, like the world building was like there was something going there. Yeah. I liked the I kinda like it when it's like scary a little bit. Yeah. You know, I liked the main character too. I liked Ella and her character Arc was really interesting and the way that she came to conclusions. Mm-hmm. But, uh, oh, I might have made a mistake. We're very like relatable. Yeah. And very human. Yeah.

Gino:

she also like you can very much see the naive girl in her too.'cause she is like, she's like, oh no, I made a mistake. I'll just tell him like, it's okay. It's not for me. Thanks. Bye.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I know. It's like, oh honey, oh sweetheart, girl, you are 15 years old. You're gonna die. You're gonna die. That's right. Yep. Okay. It's bad things. Oh. But there's, I guess, background.

Gino:

Becca. So Jed, oh, they, the Prince and her have their chaperone thing. Then she meets Jed, who's her new tutor, who's actually the son of the guy that was tutoring her, who was like the priest or something like the royal priest. So he's like supposed to become the next royal PE priest. Um, and he wants to, he wants to save the refugees from this, uh, war that's going on this needless war. And she's like, well, why don't you do it? And he's like because they won't give me money to do that. So I just can't. And then there's a tournament and she's like, thank goodness I get to like, go outside and do something. And so she's like all excited to go to this tournament. They put her in this newest fashion corset and she's like, this thing is horrible. It's like a box. They describe it as like a box.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Terrible. And then she,

Gino:

yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

like, yeah, the queen and the prince wanted you to wear it.

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

And she was like, oh, I'm so sorry that I'm like not emaciated anymore. I was so mad. I was about to fight somebody and his name was Prince Charming. Yeah. I don't like these Charmings

Gino:

Which is crazy because at that point, didn't they like their women plump anyway, like, I dunno,

Wheezy & Spoons:

historically, but this is like an alternate history. His kingdom is terrible. Like something is going on here's

Gino:

something.

Wheezy & Spoons:

bad in this kingdom. It's like an alternate worse, they worse history. In some ways they're like, the sicker you look, the better darling. Like let's just throw you in the dungeon real quick for a couple weeks you'll look

Gino:

Yeah. Pale and thin and it's great.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. There's no way. Yeah. Which is why Oh, and during this time is when also we get the big flashback with the, like her going to the ball.

Gino:

Oh yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

And basically we kind of find out that the ball was sort of like a beauty pageant,

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

the hottest was going to when like when she goes to the ball, they like kind of separate her off with all the hotties and all. And all theos are in this other ball's like,

Gino:

Like her stepsisters.

Wheezy & Spoons:

you know, like, I'm like, there's no way I'd be in the hot ball room. You know? It's so disappointing. And then the her stepsisters went to the Hugo Ballroom and also there was, there's like no magic, always all the front dumps in

Gino:

yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

All the, there's like no magic

Gino:

Everyone's like, oh, did you have a, did you have a fairy godmother? She's like, ha ha, what are you even talking about?

Wheezy & Spoons:

She's like, what Sherry Gamo are you talking about? And then, and

Gino:

She's like, I conned these glass slippers off of a guy on my own.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I did kinda like that bit. She basically like, yeah, con her way into getting the glass slippers. And then also like, uh, just like gets a ride from this guy who has a carriage. And the reason she has to leave at midnight is because he has to go pick up his real clients, like later.

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

only had, he's like, if you come back at midnight, I'll take you back real quick. Mm-hmm. Like, that's it. I was like, that's kind of funny. That's kind of clever. Yeah. I like that. So it's, she's just like so normal. And then the rest of the, like the next day she was just like, oh man, what a great day. Well, anyway, and then she became suddenly the princess. Yeah. Like really not even realizing. Yeah. Like that is crazy. That would be so nuts. But yeah, so basically she was, oh, all about to say, I guess already being pale and sickly from her surf hood was

Gino:

why she got picked.

Wheezy & Spoons:

to them. Yeah. And now that she is like a healthy weight and Yeah. Normal. They're like you're gonna need to shed a few pounds fatty. And she's like, I, but they're like, don't do any manual labor.'cause that's disgusting. Disgusting. And you're not allowed to go outside. Oh my God. Even during the tournament, like she's not allowed to watch the

Gino:

Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

she'll, like, the sun will be there and people

Gino:

the

Wheezy & Spoons:

at

Gino:

And like what?

Wheezy & Spoons:

by her beauty.

Gino:

Oh yeah. Yep. Yep.

Wheezy & Spoons:

What were

Gino:

Plus like they don't wanna see the violence of that. They don't wanna see the violence.

Wheezy & Spoons:

the unpleasantness. It's so bad there's gonna be blood and stuff. I was so mad about that. She like stood up and was fully like, worked herself into a frenzy enough that she like passed out. She was like, girl, me too. I'd be like, lifted. And then she's confined to her bed all day and she's just like so upset. Oh my God, I

Gino:

That's basically the turning point. That's where she's like, I have to get outta here. I'm not, this isn't my deal. So she goes to, she tells the Prince first right. She's like, in their chaperone meeting, she's like, Hey. So, she's like, I wanna do this nicely. She's like, I kind of just wanna be like, bye and then leave. But I should be like, nice about this. So she's like, Hey, so I don't think you really like me and I don't really like you, so let's just part ways like amicably. And he's like, what? No, hold on. Stay here, hold on. I need, I need someone else to tell me what to do in this situation.

Wheezy & Spoons:

He like

Gino:

And he goes,

Wheezy & Spoons:

even make it remotely like any kind of decision for himself.

Gino:

Mary, the servant says at one point something about like, like he wouldn't know how to put on his shoes if the servants didn't do it for him.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. I got the ick really bad. Oh, it was so good. He was like, he like malfunctioned.

Gino:

yes. Fully.

Wheezy & Spoons:

are not allowed to do that. I

Gino:

It's like

Wheezy & Spoons:

do

Gino:

this isn't in the program. I don't know what to, I don't know how to respond. This is, I wasn't programmed for this response.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. Like her. And when

Gino:

Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

up, she's in the

Gino:

The dungeon

Wheezy & Spoons:

Horrible, terrible. I was like,

Gino:

in the dun drum,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Let's see what, and then I felt like, but we were like three quarters of the way through the story at that point. Yeah, she,

Gino:

she is in the dungeon. And, uh, they send the prince down to be like, Hey, I know you went crazy for a moment, but if you just come back up and marry me, it'll be fine because you have to have my babies. And

Wheezy & Spoons:

Gross.

Gino:

she's like, she's like trying to find a way to escape and she knows if she goes back up and gets locked in a room, she'll never be able to escape. So she's like, oh, actually I don't deserve your forgiveness. Leave me down here for three more days, please. I don't deserve it. And he's like makes sense. Okay.

Wheezy & Spoons:

He has kind of like another moment of like, doesn't.

Gino:

Yeah. He is like, dunno what to do to this situation. They told me she would say this and I, now, I don't know, that's not what she said. So, like, I don't, I don't know what to respond.

Wheezy & Spoons:

she, I guess she can, sure. Yes you can. Yes. Do your penance. I love the description of it sounded like he was like reading off of like, cue cards. Yes.

Gino:

Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

oh no, I did not know you were down here. Come up with me and all will be well. And she is like, he's a terrible actor. Well, he's really bad. It was so funny watching them him. It was, was totally like badly rehearsed. The only good thing about that was that then he killed that the guy who was like her jailer, who was a literal rapist

Gino:

Oh yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons:

I'm going to, uh.

Gino:

yeah. Madam Bessette brought him down and was like, he is gonna watch you now. And I might give him the keys later. Ha ha ha. And he's very much like, like an Lenny from of Mice and Men, but a rapist, like an actual like, yeah, malicious. Like he's very like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

malicious. Yeah.

Gino:

but like I'm also going to be just horrible. Um,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. He was disgusting. And I was like, this is so crazy, dude. I was like, I thought this was a middle grade. I know. I'm so

Gino:

yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

And then the charming comes down and kills him, and I'm like, oh, he was just a pawn. Wait. Yeah. What is happening? Wait, but also now, like, we can just kill people. Yeah. Yeah. We just stabbed him. I, I honestly gasped so loud when he stabbed him, and then Ellen was like, okay, well now I'm even more traumatized. Just watch a guy get murdered. Yeah. And then, and so basically her plan is like, she's tunneling out through like the crap hole, which is Yeah. So it's like a hole in the ground where she's do her business. Yeah.

Gino:

like people for years and years and years have gone to the bathroom there. Like I was like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

So. Oh so bad. She is braver than me. She is.

Gino:

yes,

Wheezy & Spoons:

gonna die. It's

Gino:

no, that's okay. I'll have your baby. It's fine.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, fine. Honestly, you know

Gino:

What's one baby?

Wheezy & Spoons:

a fire for myself. Sounds okay. I guess. Oh my God. But she makes it out.

Gino:

And then she runs.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. After like several days. Yeah. Yeah. She

Gino:

She runs to her stepmom's house because she's like trying to get new clothes or something. I don't know. I was like, that was a weird decision on your part there.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I guess. Yeah. It felt odd. It felt like a strange decision. She like steals some stuff. Oh, she gets some of her dad's books. I think she

Gino:

Okay. Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Right.'cause wasn't there sort of thing like she learned like the religion and history class sort of that like am, am I mashing different books up or is there's. Like, didn't she find out something weird about the kingdom? No. No. I'm mashing up the different

Gino:

There's no, there's no evil plots there.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Ah, other ones. I, she just, uh, I think she just was like wanting something from her dad's. And so then, so she got dad's stuff and then she like got food and stuff like that before she left. Yeah. But then stepmother intercepted her like, oh, great, you're back. Like,

Gino:

She is like, I knew you wouldn't make it at the castle.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

She, she is like, actually I ran away. They didn't kick me out. And she's like, yeah, sure. Mm-hmm. Start sweeping my floors

Wheezy & Spoons:

Ash. Yeah. Like yeah, she starts sweeping. Yeah, whatever,

Gino:

rash.

Wheezy & Spoons:

whatever, Ella, then Ella's like, oh my God, she's not even a little bit curious. Like, and I was like, that is crazy. If it was me, I'd be like, okay, well I'm so mad, but tell me everything, you know, like, I do need to know. And then she's like, okay, bye. And like, just

Gino:

And the stepmother's like thief, thief, thief. And all the neighbors are like, we don't really care. We don't like you. Anyways,

Wheezy & Spoons:

They're like, eh, serves are right. They're like, oh, no, I'm asleep. Did you hear something? Not me. hear anything, sorry.

Gino:

and then.

Wheezy & Spoons:

But he like goes on like this whole odyssey, you know? Yes. Yeah.

Gino:

She trucks all the way to the border of the war, to the refugee camp that Jed has gone away to. Like, hi, excuse me. Can I see Jed? And the lady's like, it's okay. You don't have to see him. We'll help you out.'cause she's so like, ragged looking. They're like, she's for sure a refugee. And she's like, oh no, I'm, I'm not a refugee.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I'm

Gino:

And Jed is like, yeah, I'm actually the princess.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Shut that down.

Gino:

oh yeah, we forgot to say like, I mean it's not a huge thing, but they actually never said that she was a servant. Um, when she got like chosen to be the princess, they said she was a princess from this far off land.'cause they didn't want, like, they wanted everyone to think she was royal blood and stuff. Of this far off land of people that were ugly too, was like the thing.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. like, this seems like propaganda. I don't trust the kingdom at all, like propaganda. And also, yeah, Jed wasn't there because he actually did end up obviously getting his money,

Gino:

Yeah,

Wheezy & Spoons:

and we found it was because Madame was like.

Gino:

get him out of here. I think you like, sir,

Wheezy & Spoons:

we gotta get right. He likes he's gonna interfere if

Gino:

because there's like the princess advisor, so she was like, we can't have him whispering things.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. So then Jed is like, oh my God. And she's like, Hey,

Gino:

And he is like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

few things.

Gino:

he is like, it's so great that you're here. Will you marry me?

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. And she's like,

Gino:

I kind of just got out of a marriage.

Wheezy & Spoons:

like buddy read the road. Like a really intense relationship and I actually needed to do some work on me. Right. Oh my

Gino:

A,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Like

Gino:

really intense relationship where he like put me in the dungeon.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Like a literal dungeon that killed a guy in front of me. It was a lot. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm just kind of like really working on me right now. I was like, did he really just propose. Like he was sweet about it, but I was like, buddy, like maybe wait a day at least like couldn't go on it. I was like, I like it. Save it

Gino:

We half an hour,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. And then he have a bath first. I don't know. Let's like maybe hang out first and he was like, got it. Totally. That's what I was gonna say. He was so cool about. He's like, you know what? Yes. That's bad. That was what I meant to say. What I was thinking I didn't, is not what I said. But the me too. Yeah, me too. Me too. That totally. Also me. Yeah. Was thinking, I think,

Gino:

I was just tying my shoe. Sorry. It was just my shoe lace came untied, so I was.

Wheezy & Spoons:

it was untied. I am, yeah. No, yeah. Your ideas great. Let's totally, let's totally do that. But then I thought it was so sweet because he like pretty ime obviously. Then after she's like, uh, no, not yet. She's kind of like, oh God, am I gonna be able to stay here or should I leave? Like, this is awkward. And he immediately is like, so she's gonna be in charge of such and such. Like he like found a place for her immediately. Immediately. I was like, and it wasn't dependent upon her response to him. Yeah. Which is wonderful. Which was like, I know your strengths and I think you'd be great at this. And he just did it. I was like, wow, that's very sweet. That was really good. I liked that a lot. I liked that ending. And then, yeah, and so then they like work at the refugee camp together for like many months and they're like, I would love to see like a book. I mean, and maybe there is because isn't this a series?

Gino:

I don't think so. I don't

Wheezy & Spoons:

I thought,

Gino:

think so.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I

Gino:

Oh, you know what? I do think it is, but I never read the other one.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh my

Gino:

I do think I saw that.

Wheezy & Spoons:

the other ones'cause I wanna know yeah. And so then Jed has to go back to the palace though because his dad dies and so he's gotta now do his job. Mm-hmm. So he leaves and then Ella is like, oh, I miss him. And then she's like, oh, I think I'm in love with him. And then he like sends her a nice letter and they're like writing letters and stuff and I was like, wait, this is cute. Yeah.

Gino:

Yeah, it's a trilogy. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

and Palace of Lies. Is it

Gino:

Yeah

Wheezy & Spoons:

I don't, at Book two Looks like it's about someone else. No. Yeah, it is. Let me see pals of Mirrors is about someone else. Yes. So each one is a different fairytale

Gino:

princess.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I think Pals of

Gino:

Oh, okay.

Wheezy & Spoons:

might be I think it might be a Snow White and Palace of Lies I think is 12 dancing princesses.

Gino:

That is one of my favorite stories. 12 dancing

Wheezy & Spoons:

about to

Gino:

princesses.

Wheezy & Spoons:

might be interested in that 12 dancing princess.

Gino:

Yay spoons.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Maybe we should read it, Sheena. Well, I would like a follow up to just Ella that it's like about them in the refugee camp. I want em to come back and then to. Have a nice wedding and then like run it together. Oh. Because when he leaves, she starts running it on her own. Yes. Which I thought was so cool. And then I want'em to get the refugees to band together and take down the charmings. Yes. Oh, oh. Also,

Gino:

write it Whiskey. Oh,

Wheezy & Spoons:

her Yeah. Do it, her stepsister ends up being like the replacement princess.

Gino:

oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

so

Gino:

One of the ugly stepsisters. They're like,

Wheezy & Spoons:

and switch.

Gino:

yeah. They're what did they say happened to Ella? Because they do say something I thought, or no? No, they don't say anything.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. I think they're just pretending that it's

Gino:

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

which is weird, but,

Gino:

Oh yeah. And'cause they say something about. They say something about how she was so fat that, um, they're like, they just had to change the fashion. So they made like all the ladies maids and everyone gained weight and like, that's the thing now they're like, they, they're like, they could never shrink the ugly subsist. So they just decided

Wheezy & Spoons:

like, it's got it. The, I was like, mm-hmm. This is ringing a lot of like, I don't know, early thousands. Like

Gino:

I was just, yes. Nineties, it's nineties.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Nineties. Oh my gosh. It's like, whatever, you know, it's fine. But then it made me think of do you guys remember, this might be a fun one as well. Farris the book Farris? No, but I've heard of that one. It's so good. And it's, um, set in the same world as Ella Enchanted, but it's not a lot of the characters are the same, but the Princess, or she's not the princess yet, but the main character kind of like bigger and like, feels awkward and like, thinks she's ugly and stuff. Mm-hmm. But, the cheese fairest of them all. Yeah, there's a lot. I actually, I was about to spoil the whole thing, but I won't. But anyway, it reminded me of Ferris a little bit. Maybe we can, but season is this the last episode of this season?

Gino:

Yes.

Wheezy & Spoons:

yeah. Right, because we had, yep. Yes, indeed. Wow. Well, I

Gino:

What a bang till I go out.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I enjoyed it. Yeah. This whole season or just this book? All of it. of it. All of

Gino:

There were ups and downs.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Favorite and least favorite characters. I liked Mary. I know she wasn't like a big character. I liked her too. guess my favorite character is probably Ella or Jed. And then my least favorite was honestly Mad Basse about to say.

Gino:

same,

Wheezy & Spoons:

also had him to say like the prince was at least brainwashed, you know? Yeah. She fully was like, I was a peasant too, and I like fought my way into this. She was like, I fully know better and have chosen evil. Yeah. I was like,

Gino:

same.

Wheezy & Spoons:

know, you're a bitch. Like, I was so mad at her. Yeah.

Gino:

Yeah. My favorite is Ella too, and especially'cause I remember really connecting with her when I first read it. I was like, oh, but um, and yeah, Madam Maise the horrible, horrible woman.

Wheezy & Spoons:

What about favorite and least favorite parts? Refugee camp is my favorite part. Yeah. I liked that. Least favorite part is like the first half of the book. Oh, dang. Pick you a minute to get into it. It took me a minute to get into it because I was just, I was like, this is a middle grade. No, this is really serious. No, this is a middle grade. No, this is really serious, and I just was confused.

Gino:

The book in two hours.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah. Yeah. It's a quick read. It is. I think I read it in like two days, a month and a half ago. Yeah. I, for me, that's so long ago. I'm trying to, I don't

Gino:

My,

Wheezy & Spoons:

also really liked the ending, the whole

Gino:

my favorite part was her tricking the, the guy into making her glass slippers.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes. That's really cool. That was really cool. Yeah. I like the whole flashback too.

Gino:

and then my least favorite part was the guy getting killed in the dungeon. Not'cause I didn't like him, but it was just like, uh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

yeah. Yeah. It was like, oh, this is

Gino:

It is all kinds of ick. It was like, first of all, he's ick. Second of all, the prince is ick. Second, third of all thinking that killing him was gonna make her like you better is ick. Like it's just ick.

Wheezy & Spoons:

yeah, it's a triple ick. It's

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

bad. Yeah,

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

it was cute. obviously it's a terrible situation, but at the end she was like,

Gino:

So I thought that's good.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Jen about it and he was like, man, and they really thought that would work. They don't know you at all. And I was like, ah, he knows so well. Oh my gosh. Nice guy.

Gino:

knows her specifically so well because so many other women would've been like, ah, dreamy.

Wheezy & Spoons:

loved it. Yeah.

Gino:

Ah, my heart is s flattering.

Wheezy & Spoons:

classic, classic female fantasy to have someone killed in front of you. Yeah. Okay. Fair point. God. Too funny. But then I was like, that is so sucky. He was like, I've been in love with you since I first saw you. And she's like, so number one, I'm not big on love at first sight at the moment because of my situation, but thank you so much. Second of all where the hell did you go loca? And he was like, okay, well go. I have no idea you're gonna get trapped in a dungeon. How was I to know? Of course I feel terrible. And she is like, okay, yeah, that's fine. Glad you're doing your life's work. Yeah. I guess it's all fine. Water, the bridge. I was like, I did think that was weird too. Like I know that, like that madam, I can't say her name. Yeah. Whatever. That she sent him away and I understood that, but I felt like, did he just give up that easily? If he liked her enough that then he proposed on site. I'm

Gino:

Yeah, but he was like, she's fully marrying the prince. Like there's nothing I can do about it. And I'd rather not be like, heartbroken here.

Wheezy & Spoons:

so, so, so he's a coward, is

Gino:

So he knows the charming side will just run you through with a sword or locking the dungeon.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Right, they'll run you through with a sword. And also like, he had no in inclination that she liked him back.

Gino:

He also didn't have lots of guts to be real. He was a little bit of a like

Wheezy & Spoons:

How old is he? Like 17. I was

Gino:

Yeah, 17.

Wheezy & Spoons:

yeah. Also baby. Yeah. That's fair. He did pretty well for a 17-year-old, for an 18-year-old. He did great for an 18-year-old. about what did we learn? We learn from just Ella. did we learn? I feel like we learned what has become very, it's not like news to us about power girl. Power girl power. Yeah. Yeah.

Gino:

I mean, I feel like.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I could see myself really liking that aspect of it as a, like an 11-year-old, you know?

Gino:

Don't trust men on the first date, it was like, it's like, Hey, I know we've only met once, but like Never marry someone after the first date.

Wheezy & Spoons:

suspicious when someone that you actually, anyone that you know, whether it's like romantic or otherwise, when they feel the need to like lie about you or your origins, that is highly suspicious. suspicious and ask why. Be like, so why did you say this thing about me? That's not true. Very weird. That is weird. I did not like that. And then also

Gino:

one time this guy I knew said that I was from California and I was like, why are you telling people that, you know?

Wheezy & Spoons:

when you're clearly from Lithuania. Yeah, obviously. So what an idiot. I don't know that. Oh my gosh. Oh. That's all I learned. I've never, I didn't learn anything. I know like kind of thing where she was like, it's not that she wasn't getting her happy ever after, but she was like, I need figure some stuff out first, you

Gino:

Yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes. I was like, good for you girl. And she was really finding herself because she wasn't time to like find herself yet, because she had been so like 15 years old. Always. Right? She's 15, first of all. Second of all, she had been like basically enslaved to someone for a long time, and then she was like

Gino:

Enslaved to the prince.

Wheezy & Spoons:

and enslaved to someone else. So she had no time for like, figuring anything out. Yeah, that's true. So knowing like, instead of just being like, well, this is better than what I had, she was like, i'm gonna do me, you know? Yeah. But he was never like putting away like the idea like, well maybe I do like him, you know? Yeah. It was, I liked that for her a lot. Yeah. I like his response. I think we can all learn a lot and I, by we, I do mainly mean boys, but girls as well can learn a lot from how he responds. A graceful rejection and very graceful rejection. And it wasn't like a forever rejection. Yeah. Sometimes it is. And that's also, you have to be graceful about that. Right? Right. But like, he didn't take it as like, oh, it's about me. Yeah. I, it's'cause I'm not good enough. He was like, oh, she says she's got some things going on. I'm just gonna take her her word and assume she's got some things going on and I want good things for her. Yeah. But he was so supportive too. So supportive. He's like, you go work that stuff out, girl. Yeah. You go. Be the queen of the refugee camp. Yeah. good doing it too. What said that me? That so that would not be respectful of women would be bad of me. But you do look. Go great. Oh my God. You work in that bonnet. Girl. Gino, did you learn anything or you've already, you've learned everything you could possibly learn from this already.

Gino:

Yeah, I've studied it like extensively for, so

Wheezy & Spoons:

You're like your hobbies filled with notes and highlights. You're like, it's

Gino:

it's,

Wheezy & Spoons:

my whole personality dissertation.

Gino:

mean, you're not wrong there. To be fair,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Aw,

Gino:

I pretty much base my whole personality off of Cinderella, I think, in my life. So

Wheezy & Spoons:

that's so sweet. Well, should we do pinkies up? Yeah, let's do pinkies up. I am giving it 3.5 pinkies up. Oh, very nice,

Gino:

me,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Gino.

Gino:

I think I'm gonna go with it's, it's a little, I mean, yeah. I am still gonna go with high. I'm gonna go with like 4.3. Think he's up.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Aw, lovely. So sweet. I'm going to go with two pinkies up. Whoa.

Gino:

That's, that's fine.

Wheezy & Spoons:

You like it? That's totally fine. And I don't even care.

Gino:

It's fine.

Wheezy & Spoons:

dunno, man.

Gino:

guys. I have to go. I have to go.

Wheezy & Spoons:

no, I liked it. That's not a bad rating for me. I don't

Gino:

No, that's okay.

Wheezy & Spoons:

what my problem is. I don't think I would've liked

Gino:

I get it. But,

Wheezy & Spoons:

the target audience anyways.

Gino:

Hmm. Now that I may have a problem with, it's like, it's okay. You're old. Uh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

has. You're like, I would've understood if it was just because you're old. No. Don't really have, like, I just didn't, like, I had a lot of like questions. I had so many questions. I felt like this is for middle grade, but

Gino:

Well, listen, I said she answers fan mail, so just write her and ask the questions.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Margaret a letter. Oh my God. Margaret, I have a question for you, Margaret. This is a craft question. You know, the book just Ella, that you wrote in 1999? You know that 25 6-year-old book that you wrote? Well, I was two years old at the time. I have a lot of questions. Gosh. Well, um, I am kind of like, I would like to see more of it, now it's like, oh, it's hopeless. She's never coming back to it, you know? It's been almost 30 years. Do you think she'd ever write a sneak?

Gino:

Listen, you don't know the what's his face? Christopher Palini just wrote that Ttag book, you know.

Wheezy & Spoons:

He did. Yeah. I'm gonna, I'm going email her. You know, I have pretty good track record with the writer or author, fan mail. Sometimes I've gotten people who have sent me like full extra scenes before. They're like, that's amazing. How about

Gino:

Ooh.

Wheezy & Spoons:

And I'm like, thank you so much. I love this. Okay, so you should book writer. I'm gonna write Margaret. I'll sign up from all of us. Margaret, please send extra scenes of Ella and Jed making out. Thank you so much. Love spoons. Honestly, I think I might like it more. I think I could, I would really vibe with that. I wanna see it. I wanna see He comes back, she says. I think I do wanna marry you. They make out. Then there I would read a whole thing about like this war. That's what I'm saying. Yes. Maybe more of that. I'm interested in this. I think also it's just like not my kind of story as much like it follows like one character so closely. There's not a, and I want like as much plot for you. I want. Yes. That's what it is. That's, that is what it is. That's what it is. I am very much a plot girl. has never been my speed. I always struggle with character driven. I'm so plot driven. Yeah.

Gino:

Listen,

Wheezy & Spoons:

rare exception. I see that for you for this because there is not a ton of plot until the end. Yes.

Gino:

we tweak your letter to her and instead of saying, please send more scenes, we say We would like your permission to continue writing the story, and the three of us will.'cause she took Cinderella and then wrote continued Cinderella. And then we'll take just, and we'll write the plot driven, war torn thing with

Wheezy & Spoons:

not just Ella. There's more to Ella. And I'll throw a bunch of plot in there.

Gino:

exactly.

Wheezy & Spoons:

this and espionage and we, we'll all combine and we can all have what we want for this sequel.

Gino:

Listen, I already, I already had a, um, a proposal for all four of us, uh, Carissa included to, uh, write something together. So this will just, we'll start. We should do

Wheezy & Spoons:

This. It could be, my gosh, cast around novel. Oh, Billy Friday chapter. Oh, not just, or something like that. Can you imagine though the chaos of like Art Felix, like, I mean, we can't even do the like sentence the chain

Gino:

stories. The ended stories.

Wheezy & Spoons:

we can't even do

Gino:

No, I sent you guys,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Your stories are amazing.

Gino:

I sent you that book and I never finished my thought about it. The Cecilia and the Chocolate Pot or whatever it was, the Enchanted Chocolate Pot. That's how that story was written. It was two like best friends or something, and they wrote, they. Literally mailed like chapters back and forth from their character's point of view. And the book is letters to each other. And it's a, I loved the book, so I was like, Hmm, you guys, you guys,

Wheezy & Spoons:

That's so cute. can do poor dead queens, but like totally not dead. Four alive queens.

Gino:

listen, we're we're, this is okay. It's happening. Just we, we, we gotta tweak the, tweak the ideas here, but

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah, yeah. We'll refine it. I'm so psyched. That'll be awesome. Honestly, that sounds like such a blast. That sounds so fun. Oh, man. See, is there anything else about this book that we wanna say? I'm good.

Gino:

no, we're done. It's right away.

Wheezy & Spoons:

a great same. Already done. Just kidding. I'm glad we read two Cinderella. Yes. Retellings that we,

Gino:

Now we just have to wait for Whis or for Wheezys

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yeah.

Gino:

out. And then we'll read hers.'cause Yeah, yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Like mine will be much darker. When is it coming out? I don't know. I have to finish writing it y'all.

Gino:

Oh my gosh. Finish it. What are you even doing anyways?

Wheezy & Spoons:

I know like not much God, it felt like you're busy.

Gino:

just sit around

Wheezy & Spoons:

I was actually somebody at my job who is absolutely intolerable and I'd case people

Gino:

the way. I wanna curse that name.

Wheezy & Spoons:

but like I know if you've ever heard me tell a story about him, you can probably think of his name and it's spoken like a curse word. In my home. But where was I going with this? It's not like you're

Gino:

Nothing to do.

Wheezy & Spoons:

He literally, I hadn't replied to an email in like four hours maybe. Oh, heaven forbid. I know. He, by the way, has never replied to an email ever in my entire time working with him. Okay. But he literally said, apparently someone that he was working with, who also worked with me, I know this because she told me, he said, what is she doing anyways? It's not like she has anything else to do. And I was like, for reference, we are very much over capacity.

Gino:

She, jeez, Louis,

Wheezy & Spoons:

and at that time especially, I was like just kind of helping out here and there with stuff he was doing. So I was like, yeah, I have nothing else to do. That is, you know, that it Wendy Williams or so, but she's like death to all of them. That's what I feel about that. Yes. Clap. If you ever wanted to kill somebody

Gino:

what?

Wheezy & Spoons:

clapping my feet as well. You like that up? It's so funny. Death to all of them and they go, oh, anyway. But yeah. Anyways, yes. That was my whole thing. Thing's just, I was gonna go into messed Well, I don't even know how I went off on

Gino:

So that's Gisella. Hope you all loved it. Um, come to the retreat in Pennsylvania and you'll get to see all of us in person October 16th

Wheezy & Spoons:

16th through 19th.

Gino:

19th. You'll see all the pretty fall colors.

Wheezy & Spoons:

studio.com and you can look at our retreats. You can see pictures from past retreats and testimonials. So, you know, like we're not a scam. We're real people and people were concerned last time. I understand. But we're real now. There's proof. Now there's proof.

Gino:

Oh yeah.

Wheezy & Spoons:

We're

Gino:

And make sure.

Wheezy & Spoons:

People are coming locally and people are driving and flying across the country for this, so

Gino:

Yeah, yeah. And make sure you check out our Instagram for bird pictures of spoons holding her birds. And I will put my baby hatchlings on there too.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Oh, I'll be, would love the bird. I'm just kidding. I won't do that. Well no, I won't do that. That would be funny. Slide to the last slide. The last one. Actually we should do it. Let's do it. It send, it just says censored and me giving the bird. That's really funny.

Gino:

Oh goodness.

Wheezy & Spoons:

I like clever.

Gino:

Give us five stars.

Wheezy & Spoons:

five stars only. Love the comments. Follow us on social media. We're that pretentious book club if we

Gino:

Send us, send us messages and emails.

Wheezy & Spoons:

me, TPC. Yeah, send us messages, emails. You can email us at contact@storysirenstudio.com. There are all kinds of links. You can join our writing group on Facebook. It's actually growing quite a bit. Hello Kat? There's a cat behind Gino. It had to be acknowledged. Uh, so you guys can use those links. Join us. Captain Levi was back there earlier too. And I took everything in me not to acknowledge him when he walked by. Look, it's lith

Gino:

Lilith mother of demons,

Wheezy & Spoons:

Aw, she's perfect and has no flaws at all.

Gino:

She jumped in the bin with the baby chicks. She jumped in the bin, but because she wanted under the heat lamp, she didn't want the chick she wanted under the heat lamp.

Wheezy & Spoons:

She was like, get out of the way. F

Gino:

She really was.

Wheezy & Spoons:

that's really cute. my gosh. I feel like there's something else. Oh yes, we do. We have a couple new merch items. One, which is a direct quote from Spoons. I love items. So Sumie, for all of those out here who are anti minimalists. Yeah. Join us. Join me. Join us. Yeah. Right now it's only'cause I've not fully moved in that it looks minimalistic in here.'cause that is not the case. This is not indicative of our whole lives, our feelings. No.

Gino:

And you get

Wheezy & Spoons:

so sue me.

Gino:

you get special merch if you go to the retreat too.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Yes you do. You get exclusive merch that only retreat attendees get and you also get exclusive discounts on stuff that only retreat attendees get. So lots of cool stuff. And I'll also be offering discounted consulting and editing stuff, so that's cool. People can take advantage of if they want while they're there. Yeah, lots of super cool stuff. I think Gino said that she's gonna maybe put together sort of like a what's in the area if anybody wants to come out earlier, later'cause it's gonna be gorgeous out there. And Oh yes, we do have one other merch item that just came out that says, ask me about my TBR on the back at your own risk in parentheses. And it has a really pretty bookcase on the front and I'm incredibly proud of it. Very

Gino:

Oh, ooh,

Wheezy & Spoons:

check it out and rep it. I think it's good. if you guys have ideas for merch that you guys wanna see, let us know. So, and if you have book recs because we're starting season Oh yeah. Book rec.

Gino:

yay.

Wheezy & Spoons:

all the book racks. We've not done a lot of classics. We could use some more classics. I can't believe that I just said that, but we could use some more classics in the mix. Anyone have any of the school favorites? Your your favorite fairytale retelling. Tell us what that one is. This is just a fairytale retelling podcast now, honestly, that's fine with me. It's my favorite genre perhaps. Oh, you know what I wanna read. Some more science fiction. Why? Send us your sci-fi Rex. Yeah. Sci-fi rex. Dystopia Rex. I already have our Halloween book picked out. Oh, I'm actually reading it currently, so I will be rereading it. Okay, great. Awesome, Alyssa. So, okay. I was about to do it and then I was like, oh, I never do it. Don't do it,

Gino:

oh no, that's it.

Wheezy & Spoons:

So next time, keep your teac cups full, your pinkies high

Gino:

And your book club Pretentious.

Wheezy & Spoons:

Excellent,

Gino:

do the last line.