Bookish Ambitions: A Books and Adaptation Podcast

Caroline and Catherine
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

It takes ambition to write a novel. It takes ambition to adapt it. And honestly? It takes ambition to keep adding books to a TBR that already has a waitlist. Bookish Ambitions is a books and adaptation podcast for readers who also watch. Every week cousins Catherine and Caroline dig into what they're reading, the latest book-to-screen adaptations, and the ambitious world of storytelling. Wit, sharp takes, and zero apologies. Join our community on Patreon. New episodes weekly.

  1. 5d ago

    Practical Magic, 90s Nostalgia & the Power of Witchy Women

    Practical Magic 2 is coming out, and do we wish we were the Owens Sisters? Yes, we do. The first movie brought us so much nostalgia and reminds us how much we love witchcraft in the 90's. Naturally, we had to read the book, and of course, we have thoughts. This week we are talking through our August Book Club Pick, Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, and the cult classic adaptation that captured all of our hearts and made us want to move into a Victorian home with our aunts and start casting spells. We loved the movie, but had a lot of thoughts around the book. We also talk about the importance of the movie and its message about women and how it relates to other cult classics from the time. And yes, we are basing our Autumn wardrobes around Gillian and Sally. No notes. Book vs. movie: Why we struggled with Practical Magic the novel despite loving the movie, and how dramatically different Sally, Gillian, their daughters, and the overall story feel between the two.The adaptation: How the filmmakers transformed a book heavy on exposition into a movie that feels warm, charming, and full of personality.90s witchy nostalgia: We talk The Craft, Buffy, The X-Files, Clueless, and the particular magic of '90s movies about women and girls.Witches and female power: Why Practical Magic feels different from so many portrayals of witches and why the movie's message about women supporting women still resonates.The Owens house: Victorian architecture, mismatched treasures, gardens, candles, and why we would both very much like to move in.The Owens sisters' style: Grunge, cardigans, vests, layers, and our plans to steal their entire autumn wardrobes.The aunts: Perhaps the real stars of the story. We talk about whimsy, breaking the rules, and why everyone needs a few "just because" moments in their lives.A little practical magic: We talk about the everyday rituals that make life feel more magical, from baking and candles to our own little traditions.What's next: Our next Book Club pick is The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, just in time for the upcoming movie adaptation.The Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu MandannaThe Summer Between Us by Jennifer ProbstClearly Charmed by Amie TrueFirst Time Caller by B.K. BorisonPractical Magic by Alice Hoffman📖 Practical Magic • The Rules of Magic • Magic Lessons • The Book of Magic • Waking the Witch 📺 Buffy the Vampire Slayer • The X-Files 🎬 The Craft • Clueless • Practical Magic • Aquamarine • The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 📚 The entire book list: https://bookshop.org/lists/018-practical-magic-90s-nostalgia-the-power-of-witchy-women Our next Book Club pick is The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood! We've both read it before, but it's been a few years, and we're very excited to revisit it before the movie comes out. And yes, we're hoping to get everyone together for another Zoom book club conversation. If you want to read along with us, come join our Bookish Ambitions community on Substack. And in the meantime, tell us: What's one "just because" thing you do that makes your life feel a little more magical? We're taking notes. ✨ Want more Bookish Ambitions? 📖 Join us on Substack for bonus content, Book Club, reading and adaptation rabbit holes, and all the bookish things we don't have room for here. 👉  https://bookishambitions.substack.com And follow us on Instagram for more bookish recommendations, behind-the-scenes fun, and everything we're currently reading and watching. 📚🎬 👉 http://instagram.com/bookishambitionspodcast Come hang out with us!

    Practical Magic, 90s Nostalgia & the Power of Witchy Women

  2. Aug 25

    Seeking Persephone, Regency Romance & Crowdfunded Ambition

    What happens when you take a Regency romance, give it a tiny budget, a crowdfunding campaign, a set in Utah, and a whole lot of ambition? You get Seeking Persephone, and we're surprisingly into it. This week we're talking about Sarah M. Eden's Seeking Persephone and its screen adaptation, including the marriage-of-convenience romance, Beauty and the Beast vibes, our favorite characters, and why this might be one of the most faithful book-to-screen adaptations we've covered. We also get into the fascinating story behind the show's production, from crowdfunding to a 20-day shoot split between Utah and England. And yes, we have notes about the wigs. And the costumes. And those wolves. 📖 What we're readingWe're talking The Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Practical Magic, Dead Romantics, The Happy Ever After Playlist, and the Lancaster family series. 🏰 Why we loved Seeking PersephoneMarriage of convenience, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, Beauty and the Beast, and a heroine suddenly dropped into the world of a very grumpy duke. 🎬 Book vs. adaptationWe talk about what the show changed, what it kept almost exactly the same, and why Sarah M. Eden's involvement as a screenwriter seems to have made such a difference. 💰 The story behind the showThe series was crowdfunded and filmed in just 20 days, with production split between Utah and England. We talk about what makes the show's independent production story so exciting. 💚 Harry appreciation societyWe're already emotionally invested in Harry and Athena, and Catherine has some knowledge from Courting Miss Lancaster that has Caroline very ready for what's coming next. 👗 Our Season 2 wish listBetter costumes. Better wigs. Maybe some less terrifying wolves. We have notes. 📖 The Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna📖 Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman📖 Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston📖 The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez📖 Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden📖 The entire book list: https://bookshop.org/lists/017-seeking-persephone-regency-romance-crowdfunded-ambition 📺 Bridgerton • Emma • Downton Abbey • Heated Rivalry • In Good Spirits 🎬 The Black Dagger Brotherhood • Beach Read • Happy Place • Funny Story • Practical Magic We've officially moved Bookish Ambitions to Substack, and we're building it into our bookish home beyond the podcast. Come join us for our monthly Book Club, extra bookish content, reading conversations, adaptation rabbit holes, and whatever we're currently obsessing over. 📱 Follow us on Instagram & Threads: @bookishambitionspodcast 🎧 Listen to Bookish Ambitions wherever you get your podcasts. 💛 Join our Bookish Ambitions community on Substack and come read with us. And if you watch Seeking Persephone, come tell us what you thought. Especially if you have strong opinions about Harry. We clearly do.

    Seeking Persephone, Regency Romance & Crowdfunded Ambition

  3. Aug 11

    The Seven Year Slip, Book Club & Practical Magic

    We decided to let you sit in on book club this week. 📖 We're talking all things The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston, our July Patreon Book Club pick, including the time-travel structure that somehow converted Caroline from a time-hop skeptic, the characters we fell completely in love with, the relationships that made us want a Fiona and Drew of our own, and the very important role of lemon pie. We also get into grief, change, rediscovering who you are, food as a storytelling device, and why this book made both of us want to book a flight to New York. And yes, we both gave it five stars. Then we're announcing our August Patreon Book Club pick, and we're heading into spooky season early with Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. With Practical Magic 2 coming to theaters in September, we're feeling extremely ready for midnight margaritas, witches, and fall. This episode is essentially a little taste of what happens inside our Patreon book club. If you like getting analytical about books, gushing over characters, swapping recipes, and occasionally having a completely unhinged conversation, come join us. For a full list of every book, show, and movie we mention this episode, head to our Patreon: http://patreon.com/bookishambitions

  4. Aug 4

    New Moon, Team Edward vs. Team Jacob & Toxic Romance

    Bella is the red flag. Edward is the red flag. Jacob is... also a red flag. Honestly? Everyone needs therapy. This week we're heading back to Forks to revisit New Moon by Stephenie Meyer and the 2009 film adaptation. With Robert Pattinson once again roasting Twilight during The Odyssey press tour, it felt like the perfect excuse to ask the question: did this story age terribly... or did we just grow up? We dive into Bella's impossible choices, Edward's controlling behavior, Jacob's boundary issues, why the supporting cast carries the entire movie, and how the Volturi somehow become the best part of the franchise. We also talk about the gorgeous cinematography, unforgettable soundtrack, and whether the adaptation made the story even more toxic than the book. Plus, Catherine shares her unexpected Jane Austen summer, and Caroline gives a writing update from the query trenches, including early agent responses and what's next for Book Two. For a full list of every book, show, and movie we mention this episode, head to our Patreon: http://patreon.com/bookishambitions

  5. Jul 7

    The Other Bennet Sister, Two Men in a Lake & Mary's Redemption

    Mary Bennet finally gets her story and we are not calm about it. This week we're doing a full breakdown of The Other Bennet Sister — Janice Hadlow's novel and the BBC/BritBox adaptation that we have been waiting to talk about for what feels like an entire year. We cover the book, the show, the casting that made us gasp (Richard E. Grant! The woman who played Mary Bennet in the Colin Firth adaptation!), the two men in a lake scene that rewrote history, and why the Gardiners are the real heroes of this entire story. Also: Our July book club pick is The Seven Year Slip — with Catherine's famous lemon pie recipe included. Come join us on Patreon! For a full list of every book, show, and movie we mention this episode, head to our Patreon: http://patreon.com/bookishambitions

  6. Jun 23

    Remarkably Bright Creatures, Bill Pullman's Son & Octopus Movies

    We read it. We watched it. We cried at an octopus. We are not okay. This week we're doing a full book versus movie breakdown of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt and the new Netflix adaptation starring Sally Field and — yes — Bill Pullman's son. We talk about what the book does beautifully, why Caroline thinks the movie actually improves on it, Marcellus the giant Pacific octopus and why his chapters are the best thing in both versions, the themes of grief and kindness that hit harder than either of us expected, and the Nitwit Crew's dating rules, which we are adopting immediately. Also: Caroline is officially going the traditional publishing route, Book 2 is already started, and our Patreon book club is reading Every Summer After this month — come join us! For a full list of every book, show, and movie we mention this episode, head to our Patreon: http://patreon.com/bookishambitions

  7. Jun 16

    Wishbone, The Documentary & Where Our Love of Books Began

    We have wanted to do this episode since day one! This week, we're talking Wishbone — the PBS live-action children's series that aired from 1995 to 1997, the new documentary What's the Story, Wishbone? that just dropped, and why we genuinely believe we wouldn't have this podcast if we hadn't grown up watching a Jack Russell Terrier in a Renaissance costume act out Romeo & Juliet. Also: Caroline's novel is in beta-reader hands, Catherine is reading it and had to stop herself to come record, and we have a new Patreon perk where you can submit TBR recommendations and get a shoutout on the show. Bonus Patreon episode this week with our favorite Wishbone episodes. Become a member today after you listen! For a full list of every book, show, and movie we mention this episode, head to our Patreon: http://patreon.com/bookishambitions

  8. Jun 9

    Summer Reads, Summer Adaptations & Lobster Rolls

    We recorded in person, we kept it short, and we are extremely proud of ourselves. This week we're talking summer — the adaptations we're most excited about, the books we're adding to our TBRs, and the trips we're absolutely planning around our favorite books. We cover Interview with the Vampire Season 3, Every Year After on Prime, Heartstopper Forever, and Five Star Weekend on Peacock. Plus: Caroline is on draft three of her novel and is sending it to beta readers; Catherine is starting a summer thriller for book club; and someone may be planning a book-recipe series for Patreon. Also, we spent a solid five minutes talking about lobster rolls and how Maine is where Catherine's soul belongs. It's that kind of episode. For a full list of every book, show, and movie we mention in this episode — plus links to find them — visit our Patreon: http://patreon.com/bookishambitions

See All (19)

Trailer

About

It takes ambition to write a novel. It takes ambition to adapt it. And honestly? It takes ambition to keep adding books to a TBR that already has a waitlist. Bookish Ambitions is a books and adaptation podcast for readers who also watch. Every week cousins Catherine and Caroline dig into what they're reading, the latest book-to-screen adaptations, and the ambitious world of storytelling. Wit, sharp takes, and zero apologies. Join our community on Patreon. New episodes weekly.

Information

You Might Also Like