The Book and The Vibe. A Mostly Historical Fiction Podcast

Helen Gabay
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Books

The Book and The Vibe is a weekly half-hour escape for mood readers who want to build their TBR list and feed their history habit, all in one podcast. Expect spoiler-free reviews of historical fiction books, plus real history tidbits that enrich each book without giving away its plot twists.  Gen X host Helen Gabay serves up historical gossip and insight into the kind of world you'll inhabit when you pick up your next read, focusing on vibe and atmosphere over plot. Recommending everything from World War II spy thrillers and Tudor books to mysteries, medieval stories, cozy murder mysteries, biographical historical fiction, myth retellings, warlord sagas, legends, historical fantasy, and more. Favoring books written for both men and women that are filled with adventure, intrigue, mystery, and something big to say. Ultimately, this show is for readers of (mostly) historical fiction who yearn to inhabit and explore the places and times they read about.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Spoiler-Free Reviews of 3 NOT-YOUR-DAD’S DAD BOOKS for your TBR. Should you read The Unfinished Work, by Jeff Shaara? Agrippa by Robert Harris? Hornet Flight by Robert Harris?

    Three spoiler-free historical fiction book reviews for your AND that guy in your life to read. We also talk about some real history surrounding the books to enhance - never spoil - your reading experience. Support the show by reviewing, following, and sharing the podcast with other historical fiction fans! (00:00) Welcome to the book and the vibe (02:05) Spoiler-free review of The Unfinished Work: A Novel of Lincoln, by Jeff Shaara (10:35) Unearthed:  What we didn’t know about Lincoln  (11:46) Spoiler-free review of Agrippa by Robert Harris (20:26) Unearthed: Agrippa’s ancient harbor, modern day Baia, that you can scuba or snorkel today (23:30) Spoiler-free review of Hornet Flight by Robert Harris (27:25) Bestselling author Jeff Shaara’s recommendation of The Great Santini, by Pat Conroy Order The Unfinished Work: A Novel of Lincoln by Jeff Shaara Order Agrippa by Robert Harris Order Hornet Flight by Robert Harris Order The Great Santini, by Pat Conroy Listen to the Fall Vibe Books episode here. Support the show Support the podcast here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619689/support Shop the HIGHLY CURATED BOOKSHOP HERE or below.   https://bookshop.org/lists/the-book-and-the-vibe-a-mostly-historical-fiction-podcast The below bio.site link will take you to all socials, website, curated bookshop and more.  bio.site/Thebookandthevibe

    Spoiler-Free Reviews of 3 NOT-YOUR-DAD’S DAD BOOKS for your TBR. Should you read The Unfinished Work, by Jeff Shaara? Agrippa by Robert Harris? Hornet Flight by Robert Harris?

  2. Oct 27

    Should You Read The Berlin Exchange? Joseph Kanon's Cold War Spy Novel + How to Read More Books

    Our spoiler-free review for mood readers is of The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon, a literary Cold War spy novel set in East Berlin in 1963. Kanon is one of the elite authors in the genre, and this book is good enough that it can alter your bookish tastebuds, leaving you craving more high quality books in your life. Helen explains why it earns an 11 out of 10 for atmosphere, as well as who will love it and who might want the audiobook instead. Helen also counts down three surprising facts about real Cold War spy swaps: you'll hear about the real Bridge of Spies and the Rudolf Abel–Francis Gary Powers exchange, the lopsided 1985 prisoner swap, and the fears both sides had of imposters posing as real prisoners. She closes with one brave man’s small act of defiance in a 1986 swap. In The Tavern, Helen shares three under-the-radar but highly effective strategies to read more books every day, despite our modern, overloaded lives. Helen closes the show with Chartwell Booksellers in Manhattan, a shop devoted to Winston Churchill, and remembers her recent private tour of Churchill's Chartwell home in Kent, England. Time stamped for convenience and links to order the books below!  (00:00) Welcome mood readers! (1:40) Spoiler-free review of The Berlin Exchange (4:23) The bottom line + how fast I was hooked (10:38) The Stats + audio versus physical reading experience for this book (12:12) Unearthed - 3 real historical Cold War Spy Swap insights + one really brave prisoner (16:42) Strategies to read more books - period (24:45) Buying The Splendid and The Vile signed first edition at Chartwell Booksellers, NYC + my tour of Churchill’s family home  in Kent, England ORDER: The Berlin Exchange, by Joseph Kanon ORDER: The Splendid and the Vile, by Erik Larson Send us a note and sign up for email updates: thebookandthevibe.com/contact/ Support the show Support the podcast here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619689/support Shop the HIGHLY CURATED BOOKSHOP HERE or below.   https://bookshop.org/lists/the-book-and-the-vibe-a-mostly-historical-fiction-podcast The below bio.site link will take you to all socials, website, curated bookshop and more.  bio.site/Thebookandthevibe

    Should You Read The Berlin Exchange? Joseph Kanon's Cold War Spy Novel + How to Read More Books

  3. Oct 20

    3 Spoiler-Free Reviews of Fall Vibe Books for your TBR. The Devil and The Dark Water, Hamlet, and Heresy

    Three spoiler-free reviews for the mood reader, covering three atmospheric historical fiction book options for your fall TBR list: Hamlet: Prince of Denmark by A.J. Hartley and David Hewson, The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton, and Heresy by S.J. Parris. In our first Stacked episode, Helen gives Autumn-vibed spoiler-free reviews of a gothic Hamlet retelling set in Denmark's Kronborg Castle, a locked-room murder mystery aboard a 1634 Dutch East India ship, and a Tudor spy mystery that brings dark academia to Elizabethan Oxford. Along the way, we dig up a real human skull that took the stage in Hamlet, the far darker Norse legend behind Shakespeare's prince, and the "soul-stealers" who filled the crews of the deadly Dutch East India voyages. Plus, Helen plants a flag for the show and explains why she's done with lazy historical fiction book covers that try and signal “just for men” or “just for women.” Grab a mulled wine and settle in. (00:00) Welcome mood readers (01:15) Spoiler-free review of HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK, A NOVELIZATION (09:45) Weird occurrences in real stage performances of Hamlet (11:07) The dark legends that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet (12:50) Spoiler-free review of THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER (20:32) Three Unsettling elements surrounding Dutch East India voyages of the 17th century (23:40) Spoiler-free review of HERESY, combined with unearthed segment surrounding Giordano Bruno (29:48) Note from the Road - Rant about book covers + books with women’s backs turned _____________________________________________ ORDER: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, by A J Hartley and David Hewson ORDER: The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton ORDER: Heresy by S J Parris  Send us an email and sign up for podcast updates here: thebookandthevibe.com/contact/ Support the show Support the podcast here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619689/support Shop the HIGHLY CURATED BOOKSHOP HERE or below.   https://bookshop.org/lists/the-book-and-the-vibe-a-mostly-historical-fiction-podcast The below bio.site link will take you to all socials, website, curated bookshop and more.  bio.site/Thebookandthevibe

    3 Spoiler-Free Reviews of Fall Vibe Books for your TBR. The Devil and The Dark Water, Hamlet, and Heresy

  4. Oct 20

    Should you read The Final Problem by Arturo Perez-Reverte? | Why spy fans will love Moscow X

    In this episode, first we have a spoiler-free review for mood readers of The Final Problem by Arturo Pérez-Reverte — a Golden Age locked-room murder mystery set on a Greek island in 1960. We have an aging actor forever shadowed by his most famous role: playing Sherlock Holmes on the silver screen. From there, we head into Unearthed, where we look at the real man behind that shadow — actor Basil Rathbone, and his true story of heroism as a WWI intelligence officer. Then it's over to The Tavern for a bonus review of David McCloskey's CIA spy thriller, Moscow X — vibing heavily in Moscow, Langley, London, and a Mexican horse ranch (the third in this series, London House, dropped recently). We close things out on Notes from the Road with a trip to Costa Rica including a hillside Airbnb overlooking the sea, a jungle stay near Arenal Volcano, and the strangest bird call you'll ever hear. Time stamped for convenience and links to order the books below!  (00:00) Welcome readers  (1:44) Spoiler-Free review of The Final Problem (4:38) Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN (8:02) Why this book is deeper than your typical mystery (12:11) Stats & the bottom line (13:33) Real life inspiration for the book, Basil Rathbone, who played Sherlock Holmes and what that has to do with James Bond (17:38) The Tavern - Spoiler-free review of Moscow X, by David McCloskey  (24:40) Costa Rica and advice if you’re travelling there (27:15) The weirdest bird call I’ve ever heard How to support the show? Follow, review, share, shop! ORDER: The Final Problem, by Arturo Perez Reverte  ORDER: Moscox X, 1st in the series, by David McCloskey  ORDER: London Station, 3rd in the series  Link to the place we stayed near Arenal Volcano below, with the weird birds: https://www.villadecary.com/ Link to hear birdcall of the Montezuma Oropendolaon youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FQKfukpV4X8 Sign up for email updates or send us a note: thebookandthevibe.com/contact/ Support the show Support the podcast here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619689/support Shop the HIGHLY CURATED BOOKSHOP HERE or below.   https://bookshop.org/lists/the-book-and-the-vibe-a-mostly-historical-fiction-podcast The below bio.site link will take you to all socials, website, curated bookshop and more.  bio.site/Thebookandthevibe

    Should you read The Final Problem by Arturo Perez-Reverte? | Why spy fans will love Moscow X

  5. Oct 20

    Should you read Lancelot, a King Arthur Retelling by Giles Kristian? 5-Star Books I’ll Re-Read

    Dark Age Britain is the BEST setting for an Arthurian retelling, and we have a spoiler-free review for mood readers of Lancelot by Giles Kristian, a gritty yet lyrical historical fiction retelling set around the fifth century. It’s shield walls, vanished Rome, Lancelot like you’ve never seen him - more like The Last Kingdom TV show -  and less like a polished knight of Camelot. Then we go through several 5-star books, some of which I’m considering re-reading and then reviewing for the show. We also talk about the funny ways television and travel can merge into vacation core memories. Time stamped for convenience and links to order the books below!  (00:00) Welcome to The Book and The Vibe (01:30) Spoiler Free Review of Lancelot, by Giles Kristian (08:05) Men and Women can enjoy this book (9:05) Giles’ writing Style and a short passage from Lancelot (11:18) Stats, rating and the bottom line (11:59) Unearthed - Evolution of the Arthur and Lancelot legends, and what it tells us about the societies that wrote about them (18:23) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and why I recently reread it (19:10) The Secret History by Donna Tart and why you may want to read it (19:32) The Splendid and the Vile by Eric Larson, and why it’s my all time favorite nonfiction book. (20:40) North Woods by Daniel Mason, my favorite read of 2024 (21:50) An Instance of the Fingerpost, by Iain Pears, currently my favorite historical fiction book of all time. (23:57) Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield reads like folklore  (24:50) Imperium by Robert Harris, about Cicero, the greatest Orator to ever live (26:20) In The Garden of Beasts by Eric Larson. Dread the rise of the Third Reich through the eyes of the American Ambassador (27:22) Note from the Road - how TV and Travel combine to form new core memories for everyone EMAIL US AT thebookandthevibe@gmail.com or send us a note via the below link to cast your re-read vote below: thebookandthevibe.com/contact/ ORDER: The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield ORDER: The Secret History, by Donna Tartt ORDER: The Splendid and the Vile, by Erik Larson ORDER: North Woods, by Daniel Mason ORDER: Once Upon a River, by Diane Setterfield ORDER: Imperium, by Robert Harris ORDER: In The Garden of Beasts, by Erik Larson Support the show Support the podcast here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619689/support Shop the HIGHLY CURATED BOOKSHOP HERE or below.   https://bookshop.org/lists/the-book-and-the-vibe-a-mostly-historical-fiction-podcast The below bio.site link will take you to all socials, website, curated bookshop and more.  bio.site/Thebookandthevibe

    Should you read Lancelot, a King Arthur Retelling by Giles Kristian? 5-Star Books I’ll Re-Read

  6. Oct 20

    Should you read NERO by Conn Iggulden? Why Unhinged Roman Emperors Fascinate Us

    We kick off our first show with the spoiler-free historical fiction recommendation of Nero by Con Iggulden, where the vibe for the mood reader is all imperial politics surrounding the rise of Nero's mother, Agrippina the Younger, in the face of the ruthless Julio-Claudian dynasty. We’ll dig up some real life unhinged behavior of Nero’s uncle, the infamous Emperor Caligula. Then we’ll help you decide if a mystery series from Anthony Horowitz is a fit for your TBR list.  Time stamped for convenience and links to order the books below!  Join the email list for updates here: https://www.thebookandthevibe.com/contact/ (00:00) Welcome, mood reader! (01:35) Spoiler-Free Review of NERO, by Conn Iggulden (06:16) Why we find ancient Romans so fascinating (08:20) Why you need to go book shopping in London if you love historical fiction (11:50) NERO’s book Stats (12:49) Unearthed - Nero’s Uncle Caligula, and his unhinged behaviors (17:35) The Tavern - Spoiler-Free Review of A Deadly Episode + the entire Horowitz and Hawthorne Series by Anthony Horowitz.  (25:06) Note from The Road - Florence (Italy) Door Knockers and their meanings How to support the show? Follow, review, share, shop: ORDER: NERO, by Conn Iggulden ORDER: A Deadly Episode (6th in the series) by Anthony Horowitz ORDER: The Word is Murder (1st in the series) by Anthony Horowitz Send us a message and sign up for podcast updates through our website link here: thebookandthevibe.com/contact/ Support the show Support the podcast here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619689/support Shop the HIGHLY CURATED BOOKSHOP HERE or below.   https://bookshop.org/lists/the-book-and-the-vibe-a-mostly-historical-fiction-podcast The below bio.site link will take you to all socials, website, curated bookshop and more.  bio.site/Thebookandthevibe

    Should you read NERO by Conn Iggulden? Why Unhinged Roman Emperors Fascinate Us

  7. Trailer

    TRAILER for The Book and the Vibe, A Mostly Historical Fiction Podcast

    Welcome to The Book & The Vibe, a historical fiction podcast and book review show for readers who long to inhabit the places and times they read about. I'm your host, Helen Gabay, and each week I pair a spoiler-free historical fiction book review with juicy, real-life historical tidbits designed to enhance your reading experience. Expect dashes of travel, book-adjacent deep dives, and bonus reviews of mystery, thriller, spy, and narrative nonfiction alongside our historical fiction picks. Rather than plot summaries, I focus on the propulsiveness, vibe, and atmosphere of each story — so you know exactly what kind of world you're about to inhabit. Each episode is designed as a great escape for your precious me-time. The books we review are filled with adventure, intrigue, mystery, spies, and heroes — and they usually have something bigger to say about the world. Think medieval fiction, ancient Rome, WWII novels, 20th-century historical fiction, gaslit London mysteries, Parisian dramas, Tudor novels, and retellings of legends and myths. Follow along for weekly historical fiction reviews and book recommendations perfect for your next TBR pick or book club read. I also post vibe-centric summaries on Facebook and Instagram, with a newsletter coming soon featuring deeper book club discussion guides. Support the show Support the podcast here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2619689/support Shop the HIGHLY CURATED BOOKSHOP HERE or below.   https://bookshop.org/lists/the-book-and-the-vibe-a-mostly-historical-fiction-podcast The below bio.site link will take you to all socials, website, curated bookshop and more.  bio.site/Thebookandthevibe

  • 1 Trailer
    6 Episodes

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Book and The Vibe is a weekly half-hour escape for mood readers who want to build their TBR list and feed their history habit, all in one podcast. Expect spoiler-free reviews of historical fiction books, plus real history tidbits that enrich each book without giving away its plot twists.  Gen X host Helen Gabay serves up historical gossip and insight into the kind of world you'll inhabit when you pick up your next read, focusing on vibe and atmosphere over plot. Recommending everything from World War II spy thrillers and Tudor books to mysteries, medieval stories, cozy murder mysteries, biographical historical fiction, myth retellings, warlord sagas, legends, historical fantasy, and more. Favoring books written for both men and women that are filled with adventure, intrigue, mystery, and something big to say. Ultimately, this show is for readers of (mostly) historical fiction who yearn to inhabit and explore the places and times they read about.

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