Two Book Nerds Talking
We are Honey and Diana, two Malaysian gals who really love diving into books of all kinds. Welcome to 2 Book Nerds Talking where we discuss books we love or those hot on the read list. We get to share reading insights, bookish topics, pick the minds of occasional bookworm guests and other general book nerdery. If you love books as much as we do, this is the podcast for you!
Episodes
March 25, 2024 • 67 mins
Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi, or life force, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .
Hello booknerds!
We're so excited to share our interview with the fabulous Yangsze Choo on her new book The Fox Wife! It has a bit of everything; spirits, mystery, vengence, longing, all the good stuff!
We really enjoyed...
Hello booknerds!
We're so excited to share our interview with the fabulous Yangsze Choo on her new book The Fox Wife! It has a bit of everything; spirits, mystery, vengence, longing, all the good stuff!
We really enjoyed...
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February 24, 2024 • 71 mins
Hello book nerds!
We're back with a whole new season and we're kicking it off with our anticipated reads for the first quarter of 2024!
It's an eclectic list filled with family drama, witches, crime, tea, and all sorts. It's going to be an interesting reading year and we hope you'll join us.
Books mentioned:
- You Only Call Me When You're In Trouble by Stephen McCauley
- You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrique, translated by Natash...
We're back with a whole new season and we're kicking it off with our anticipated reads for the first quarter of 2024!
It's an eclectic list filled with family drama, witches, crime, tea, and all sorts. It's going to be an interesting reading year and we hope you'll join us.
Books mentioned:
- You Only Call Me When You're In Trouble by Stephen McCauley
- You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrique, translated by Natash...
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December 15, 2023 • 66 mins
Hello booknerds!
It has been some time but we're back from the ether to bring you our last episode of the year.
Publishers usually hold out till the end of the year to release the good stuff and in this episode, we're talking about some anticipated reads that came out during the autumn season and year end.
We would like to take this time to thank all our listeners for sticking with us and for all the support and love we have receive...
It has been some time but we're back from the ether to bring you our last episode of the year.
Publishers usually hold out till the end of the year to release the good stuff and in this episode, we're talking about some anticipated reads that came out during the autumn season and year end.
We would like to take this time to thank all our listeners for sticking with us and for all the support and love we have receive...
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November 17, 2023 • 93 mins
Spooky greeting booknerds.
We know we're late but better late than never right? In this episode, we got to talk to the mysterious Kopi Soh, author of Looking After the Ashes. The book is a semi-biographical fiction of Kopi Soh’s childhood stories from growing up in a Peranakan family filled with "wisdom".
We talked about strange taboos (pantang larang), spirits, ghosts, and everything in between. We definitely learnt some new ones a...
We know we're late but better late than never right? In this episode, we got to talk to the mysterious Kopi Soh, author of Looking After the Ashes. The book is a semi-biographical fiction of Kopi Soh’s childhood stories from growing up in a Peranakan family filled with "wisdom".
We talked about strange taboos (pantang larang), spirits, ghosts, and everything in between. We definitely learnt some new ones a...
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September 20, 2023 • 72 mins
Hello booknerds!
We're talking to Tokyo-based Malaysian writer Florentyna Leow in this episode about her debut book How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart. The book is tender time capsule of her time working as a tour guide in Kyoto and the heartbreak that followed the end of a friendship.
We absolutely loved reading her book and we obviously had to talk to her about it. She's a kindred spirit and we hope you'll enjoy this episode (and pick u...
We're talking to Tokyo-based Malaysian writer Florentyna Leow in this episode about her debut book How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart. The book is tender time capsule of her time working as a tour guide in Kyoto and the heartbreak that followed the end of a friendship.
We absolutely loved reading her book and we obviously had to talk to her about it. She's a kindred spirit and we hope you'll enjoy this episode (and pick u...
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August 30, 2023 • 53 mins
We know it's rather late in the day to release this episode but we've came across some titles that are just too good not to share.
The promt for our August #tbntbookchallenge2023 is to read a book set in an ancient city or about an ancient civilisation. Eventhough these are some recommendations for our August challenge, we do hope some of these titles have piqued your interest and that you'll pick it up in your own time.
We had so ...
The promt for our August #tbntbookchallenge2023 is to read a book set in an ancient city or about an ancient civilisation. Eventhough these are some recommendations for our August challenge, we do hope some of these titles have piqued your interest and that you'll pick it up in your own time.
We had so ...
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August 16, 2023 • 49 mins
Hello booknerds!
We got to talk to award-winning short story writer Saras Manickam back on 15 July 2023 live at our favourite indie bookshop Lit Books, PJ. We get into her short story collection My Mother Pattu and it was such a lovely conversation.
Saras writes with much empathy and understanding of human complexities, tackling difficult issues like racism, mistreatment of migrant workers, and domestic abuse. Her short story colle...
We got to talk to award-winning short story writer Saras Manickam back on 15 July 2023 live at our favourite indie bookshop Lit Books, PJ. We get into her short story collection My Mother Pattu and it was such a lovely conversation.
Saras writes with much empathy and understanding of human complexities, tackling difficult issues like racism, mistreatment of migrant workers, and domestic abuse. Her short story colle...
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“We're here to make magic with words”
― R.F. Kuang, Babel: An Arcane History
Step into the world of dark academia with us in this book chaser episode. We talk about Babel by R.F. Kuang and I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai; both set in institutions of learning and all the dark stuff that happens behind the scenes.
Murder, colonism, dark secrets, word nerdery: all the good stuff can be found in these books and of course,...
― R.F. Kuang, Babel: An Arcane History
Step into the world of dark academia with us in this book chaser episode. We talk about Babel by R.F. Kuang and I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai; both set in institutions of learning and all the dark stuff that happens behind the scenes.
Murder, colonism, dark secrets, word nerdery: all the good stuff can be found in these books and of course,...
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July 3, 2023 • 77 mins
Hello booknerds!
We took a short break after all the Aesop Women's Library excitement and we're back!
We got to speak to THE Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree, about her latest book, A Day of Fallen Night.
A Day of Fallen Night is the prequel to Priory and it’s set just shy of five centuries before Priory and covers the period known as the Great Sorrow, or Grief of Ages. We had such a great time talking to Sa...
We took a short break after all the Aesop Women's Library excitement and we're back!
We got to speak to THE Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree, about her latest book, A Day of Fallen Night.
A Day of Fallen Night is the prequel to Priory and it’s set just shy of five centuries before Priory and covers the period known as the Great Sorrow, or Grief of Ages. We had such a great time talking to Sa...
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May 23, 2023 • 49 mins
This is the third special episode brought to you by Aesop Malaysia in conjunction with the Aesop Women's Library: Malaysia Edition.
In this episode, we got Hanna Alkaf, Viji Krishnamoorthy, Alina Rastam, Qurratul ‘Ain, and 梁靖芬 Leong Ching Foon aboard to talk to us about being a woman writer in Malaysia. It is such an illuminating episode and we think we can confidently say that our women writers are forces to be reckoned with.
—
The...
In this episode, we got Hanna Alkaf, Viji Krishnamoorthy, Alina Rastam, Qurratul ‘Ain, and 梁靖芬 Leong Ching Foon aboard to talk to us about being a woman writer in Malaysia. It is such an illuminating episode and we think we can confidently say that our women writers are forces to be reckoned with.
—
The...
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Cheers booknerds!
This is the second episode of our Aesop Women's Library special. In this episode, Honey and Diana will be talking about some of their picks for the fiction and poetry collections that will be availble at the selected Aesop stores soon.
You will be spoilt for choice and we're here to help highlight some titles that might interest you.
Enjoy!
—
Over the course of three days, the shelves of Aesop Pavilion Kuala Lumpur...
This is the second episode of our Aesop Women's Library special. In this episode, Honey and Diana will be talking about some of their picks for the fiction and poetry collections that will be availble at the selected Aesop stores soon.
You will be spoilt for choice and we're here to help highlight some titles that might interest you.
Enjoy!
—
Over the course of three days, the shelves of Aesop Pavilion Kuala Lumpur...
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May 10, 2023 • 30 mins
Introducing The Aesop Women's Library!
During this time, the shelves of Aesop Pavilion, Aesop Gardens, and Aesop Gurney Plaza will be cleared of products to make way for significant works of literature by Malayisan women authors.The selection is sprawling in genre and spirit: from emerging voices to seasoned authors, and short stories to novels and poetry. To find out more, listen to this episode!
You'd be spoilt for choice as there ...
During this time, the shelves of Aesop Pavilion, Aesop Gardens, and Aesop Gurney Plaza will be cleared of products to make way for significant works of literature by Malayisan women authors.The selection is sprawling in genre and spirit: from emerging voices to seasoned authors, and short stories to novels and poetry. To find out more, listen to this episode!
You'd be spoilt for choice as there ...
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April 26, 2023 • 52 mins
Who knows you better than your best friend? Who knows your secrets, your fears, your desires, your strange imperfect self?
Get ready to be all in your feels with We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman.
Edi and Ash have been best friends for over forty years, and when Edi is diagnosed with terminal cancer and put into hospice care, Ash's life is reshaped.
Catherine Newman has managed to write a book that is both sad and fu...
Get ready to be all in your feels with We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman.
Edi and Ash have been best friends for over forty years, and when Edi is diagnosed with terminal cancer and put into hospice care, Ash's life is reshaped.
Catherine Newman has managed to write a book that is both sad and fu...
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March 16, 2023 • 66 mins
We're talking to Malaysian author Shivani Sivagurunathan on her book, What Has Happened to Harry Pillai? in this episode.
Shivani Sivagurunathan has been writing and publishing fiction and poetry for twenty years. She is an English professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia and fun fact, she was Diana's professor when she was persuing her Masters!
What Has Happened to Harry Pillai? consists of two novellas and we got the opp...
Shivani Sivagurunathan has been writing and publishing fiction and poetry for twenty years. She is an English professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia and fun fact, she was Diana's professor when she was persuing her Masters!
What Has Happened to Harry Pillai? consists of two novellas and we got the opp...
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February 17, 2023 • 46 mins
What do you do if you're a murder-magnet? Everywhere you go, someone dies. Mallory Veridian's solution is to blast off to space, to a space station called Eternity.
Greetings booknerds!
In this episode, Honey and DIana talk about a sci-fi cozy mystery called Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty. Sentient spaceships, all forms and manners of aliens, symbiotic alien relationships, a shuttle full of humans from space - what can go wrong?
Greetings booknerds!
In this episode, Honey and DIana talk about a sci-fi cozy mystery called Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty. Sentient spaceships, all forms and manners of aliens, symbiotic alien relationships, a shuttle full of humans from space - what can go wrong?
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January 25, 2023 • 70 mins
Cheers booknerds!
It's been a hot minute since you've heard our dulcet voices. Life certainly got crazy towards the end of 2022 but we've finally sat ourselves down in the studio to bring you some of our anticipated reads of the first half of 2023!
Ranging from fantasy to non-fiction, a dash of a VERY much talked about 'memoir', dreadful and hopeful reads about climate change, we've come up with a mixed bag of titles and genres to ...
It's been a hot minute since you've heard our dulcet voices. Life certainly got crazy towards the end of 2022 but we've finally sat ourselves down in the studio to bring you some of our anticipated reads of the first half of 2023!
Ranging from fantasy to non-fiction, a dash of a VERY much talked about 'memoir', dreadful and hopeful reads about climate change, we've come up with a mixed bag of titles and genres to ...
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September 14, 2022 • 65 mins
On the 2nd of September 2022, we sat down with the incredible Karina Robles Bahrin to talk about her debut Epigram Fiction Prize 2022 winning book, The Accidental Malay at Lit Books.
We had such a great time talking to Karina and she's a hoot, as you'll find out yourself in this episode. This recording was done in front of a live audience so do take note of the sound.
Do pick up a copy of Karina's book and we hope you'll enjoy it a...
We had such a great time talking to Karina and she's a hoot, as you'll find out yourself in this episode. This recording was done in front of a live audience so do take note of the sound.
Do pick up a copy of Karina's book and we hope you'll enjoy it a...
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August 24, 2022 • 49 mins
Cheers book nerds!
We're back and fair warning, we're GUSHING about Gabreille Zevin's new book, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. This book helped Honey out of her reading slump and Diana loved it. It's described as "a love story, but it is not one you have read before", it's one of love between creative individuals and the sense of being able to understand and click with one another. The book is beautifully nuanced and it's su...
We're back and fair warning, we're GUSHING about Gabreille Zevin's new book, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. This book helped Honey out of her reading slump and Diana loved it. It's described as "a love story, but it is not one you have read before", it's one of love between creative individuals and the sense of being able to understand and click with one another. The book is beautifully nuanced and it's su...
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August 6, 2022 • 36 mins
Man, it's August already and that means a new reading prompt for our #tbntbookchallenge2022!
This month, we're challenging you to read a diverse or a classic YA book and we're back with some recommendations. Honey tackles some diverse and recent YA books while Diana is giving us some classic YA titles that you may or may not have heard of. Whatever you pick up, we hope it's an enjoyable read for you. Cheers!
This month, we're challenging you to read a diverse or a classic YA book and we're back with some recommendations. Honey tackles some diverse and recent YA books while Diana is giving us some classic YA titles that you may or may not have heard of. Whatever you pick up, we hope it's an enjoyable read for you. Cheers!
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July 27, 2022 • 43 mins
As promised, we both read some books that gives you a feel-good feeling. They range from intelligent animals to benevolent ghosts, a holiday in an Italian town and figuring out your place in the world. As usual feel-good reads often have a vein of coping, grieving, figuring out where one fits (among other things) and all of the books we discuss today have some of that. Come meet a highly intelligent octopus, a woman who has a heali...
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