Series of Unfortunate Events. In more ways than one.

The next episode of the MAD Podcast will be discussing A Series of Unfortunate Events. The plan was to record today, but we've run into some... well, unfortunate events.

Sarita isn't going to be on because she hasn't read the books. Sarah is doing something today and can't record. Marshall, Deborah and I were just going to do the show with the three of us, but now Deborah can't record. Which means it would just be me and Marshall.

Now, we've done two shows in the past with only two hosts on them, and they've been quite successful. In fact, from some of the listener feedback we've been getting, they were two of our most well-liked episodes. But we're hesitant to do it again this time.

This episode will be discussing both the book series by Lemony Snicket and the movie starring Jim Carrey. We're really excited about this episode, because of the four MADers who have both read the books and watched the movie, two of us favor the movie and the other two favor the books. Unfortunately, as it worked out, Marshall and I both like the movie better. So the whole books-vs-movie discussion we had planned is going to be pretty flat if it's just the two of us discussing.

As such, we've decided to postpone recording until next weekend. This means that the episode will be delayed by another week, but we think it'll be worth it if we're able to have some conflicting view points.

Send in your thoughts about the Series of Unfortunate Events book series and/or movie to themadpodcast@gmail.com and we'll include your thoughts and ideas on the show.

Attention BP seekers:

For the Book Challenge, you can get ten bonus points every time you read one of the same books that I read. I've mentioned the books I read for the Challenge on my vlogs, but now that they're down here's a record of what they are, in case anybody wants them:

1. Book by a Hot Author: "Looking for Alaska" by John Green*
2. New Book by an Old Favorite Author: "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green
3. Humorous Novel: "Jingo" by Terry Pratchett
4. Dinosaur Novel: "Anonymous Rex" by Eric Garcia*
5. Winner of a Printz Award: "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak
6. Romance Novel: "Fulk the Reluctant" by Elaine Knighton*
7. Old Favorite: "The Truth" by Terry Pratchett
8. Fantasy Book (Classical Fantasy): "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind
9. Vampire Novel: "Guilty Pleasures" by Laurell K. Hamilton*
10. Movie Book: "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by CS Lewis
11. Horror Novel: "Cell" by Stephen King
12. Title Contains Food: "War and Peas" by Jill Churchill

That takes you through the end of March. Email themadpodcast@gmail.com with any questions about the Challenge--just put "MAD Book Challenge" or my name in the subject line.

*Note concerning novels marked with an asterisk:

I'm just putting a warning label on these for anybody who's concerned. Very mild warning for Looking for Alaska, only because there's been some discussion on banning it from schools and I'm probably obligated to say so. However, please don't let that dissuade you; it is truly a fantastic book and the scene in question is (a) not that bad (you ever read Fulk the Reluctant?) and (b) actually serves a purpose and makes a statement in the novel. You can check out John Green talking about this on his video project (username vlogbrothers on YouTube). I really recommend this book, and if you can read it without crying you have no heart.

Anonymous Rex deserves a warning more than Alaska. It's... ah... very weird. To the immature and those whose parents might disapprove of a book about inter-species...um...procreation, beware of this book. On the other hand, the protagonist is a crime-fighting velociraptor that dresses up in a latex human suit, so if you think you can handle it you should check it out just for the humor.

Fulk the Reluctant is as bad as it sounds. I've read worse fan fiction, but there is still plentiful bath scenes and stallion metaphors, so here is my official warning. Also, I thought it was terrible, so I don't recommend it anyway.

Guilty Pleasures sounds and looks like it would be bad (it has one of those pulp romance covers), but I promise you that it isn't. This warning is more for graphic violence, to any who might not want to read that. However, this is an amazing book (aaaugh I must not spoil it at all, but the ending is freaking EPIC) with really fascinating characters and a well thought out plot. Marshall recommended it to me and I, in turn, recommend it to all of you. It's also the first in a bajillion-book series, so there's plenty more to read for fans.

March Themes

Here are the themes for the MAD Book Challenge this March:

1. (Mar. 2-Mar.8) Vampire Novel
   Defined as a novel where, if the vampires were removed from the plot, it would no longer make sense. Bonus Points for all you creative people who don't read Twilight.
2. (Mar.9-Mar.15) Movie Book
   Meaning a book that has a movie based off of it (not the other way around). Bonus Points if you read the book first and then watch the movie (only applicable if you have not watched the movie before.)
3. (Mar.16-Mar.22) Horror
   No debating this one: you must be able to find it in the horror section of a library. Bonus Points if you read all of it during the nighttime (I'm choosing to define this is after nine o'clock).
4. (Mar. 23-Mar.29) Title Contains Food
   Means exactly what it sounds like. Examples include "Just Desserts" by Mary Daheim and "Just Plain Pickled to Death" by Tamar Myers. (In other words, names of meals and food words used to mean other things--in this case, 'pickled'--work as well). Bonus Points, however, if you read one with an actual food item in the title--an example would be "War and Peas" by Jill Churchill.

By March 29th you're due to have 12 books read (assuming you started the Challenge with us at the beginning of the year). If not, welcome to the Challenge--and for everybody, Good Luck!

Happy reading!