Don't Come After Us

Don't Come After Us

di Ishmael and Tristan
Anne of Green Gables
Trish and Ish are surprised. But they shouldn't be, because what better book is there to celebrate Canada Day with than L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables? Well now, I dunno. Take a stroll with us along the Lake of Shining Waters (AKA Barry's Pond) as we take comfort in the novel's slice of life coziness, fail to suppress a smile at its wry humour, and are charmed by the whimsy of Avonlea's favourite orphan. With us as your kindred spirits, you'll find endless scope for imagination in our discussion of Prince Edward Island's natural beauty and our thoughts on Gil- I mean, all the other characters' glacially paced arcs. If that doesn't sound more fun than sharing a raspberry cordial with a bosom friend, well, fiddlesticks! This podcast will pull you out of the depths of despair, even if you're a redhead.
Greenwood
2026 Trish and Ish record an episode on Greenwood, written by Tristan's fellow UBC alum Michael Christie. They pay homage to the novel's intricate tree ring structure, the extended tree/forest/family analogy, and many long-winded descriptions of tree varieties. Seriously, this man really loves trees. 2023 Trish has the idea to start a book podcast. It's not as lucrative as Harris Greenwood's lumber empire, but it's better than being a hobo riding the rails. 1999 Your hosts are born. Neither of them were found hanging off a maple tree. 2023 We record our first episode on Canada Day, as Michael would appreciate. 2026 You listen to our Greenwood episode. It leaves you feeling better than an opium-laced cigar.
Wuthering Heights
2026.- I have just returned from a visit to the cinema, the Emerald Fennel adaptation that I shall be troubled with. Disturbed by what I had seen, I asked my domestic podcast hosts to explain to me what I had witnessed, and this is what they told me: "It would be an act of pure idiotcy not to listen to this episode, because we're discussing one of the great literary classics, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Listen to us ramble across the book's proverbial moors as we cover the characters' inscrutable names, Nelly's debatable reliability, and whether this book is indeed 'the greatest love story of all time'. Also listen in for noted James Joyce fan Jacob Elordi, yet another regrettable Twilight reference, and a brief but horrifying rendition of the Kate Bush song. Don't be saucy. Let us in (through your headphones), or we'll haunt you." After having listened, I know my slumber will be unquiet.
Books We Read in 2025
2026 is upon us! If you need some consolation for failing your New Year's resolutions, look no further than this episode, where Trish and Ish look back on 2025 through discussing some of the books they read that weren't featured on the pod. Whether you like women turning into plants, excessive references to Edgar Allan Poe, or modern plagues (literal and metaphorical), there's a little something here for everyone.
A Christmas Carol
A book podcast, you say? Bah, humbug! Is there no BookTok? In our final episode of the year, Trish and Ish will try to warm your squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old heart as they discuss the Christmassiest book of all time, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. You will be haunted by two hosts as they reference Episodes of Podcast Past, Pop Culture of Podcast Present, and Books of Podcast Yet to Come. Along the way, we visit the novella's influence on the Christmas genre, Scrooge's transformation from heartless miser to jolly old gent, and a rare sincere moment where your hosts view each other as fellow passengers to the grave. If you needed a sign to go fetch that prize turkey in the window (the one as big as you), this is it. If you listen to this episode on the way, we'll give you half a crown.
The Dead
If you're feeling literally run off your feet by the holidays, wipe the snow off your goloshes and join us at the table as we give a toast to James Joyce's story "The Dead". Described as "one of the most powerful evocations of human loss and longing that the English language possesses", this crown jewel of the Dubliners collection might just be too sophisticated for our humble hosts. Nevertheless, like Gabriel Conroy, they talk at great length to an indifferent audience about Joycean jargon, stylistic sentences, ire-inducing Irishness, and the drifting descent of the dead. After listening, you'll rate the show 5 stars as if you enjoyed this episode.
The Call of Cthulhu
It's Halloween again, and you know what that means: we're covering a horror story. Specifically, a cosmic horror story. And what better author to feature than Providence, Rhode Island's own H.P. Lovecraft and his seminal short story, "The Call of Cthulhu"? Search through our proverbial great-uncle's research notes with us as we uncover the hallmarks of Lovecraftian horror, debate the pronunciation of the titular character, and throw shade on the narrator for his literary snobbery. Hear us attempt to describe the indescribable in everyone's favourite tentacle-faced monstrosity, Big C. After listening, prepare for vivid nightmares where the geometry is "loathsomely redolent of spheres and dimensions apart from ours". And remember, with strange aeons even podcasts may die.
This Is How You Lose the Time War
Dear Pursuers (that's what we decided our fans are called), In today's episode we cover what Wikipedia describes as a "science fiction fantasy LGBT epistolary novel". You guessed it - it is, of course: This Is How You Lose the Time War. Written by everyone's favourite iconic duo, equine accident survivor Max Gladstone and Canadian Content certified Ottawan Amal El-Mohtar, this is as Ish Majeed calls it our first "collabo book". Travel upthread with us as we discuss the novel's epistolary format, the impressionistic worldbuilding, and grand themes of love and war. Many thanks to bigolas dickolas wolfwood, without whom this episode would not exist. Burn after listening. Yours in podcasting perpetuity, Trish and Ish PS Tristan sends her condolences for the unhinged dinosaur rant.
Rebecca
Last night I dreamt... you listened to Don't Come After Us again. It seemed to me that episode was the one where we covered Daphne du Maurier's 1938 classic: Rebecca. Trish and Ish discuss the book's skillful use of literary devices, the psychological and Freudian themes, and enduring cultural impact (even influencing such pop girlies as Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo). Also included: hot takes from the afterword of Tristan's edition and excessive details about du Maurier's grandfather. Tune in for a "ripping time".
Good Material
Reasons why it's good to listen to this episode: It could help you through a breakup. It may or may not be popular on BookTok. Almost every millennial woman knows the name Dolly Alderton, according to mamamia.com at least. So obviously we had to cover one of her books. The book in question is none other than her 2023 novel about breakups and heartache: Good Material. Come for the relatable characters and modern setting; stay for the shockingly prescient predictions about a certain global pandemic and to find out the correct usage of the word "nonplussed". Finally, tune in till the end to determine whether this book is in fact good material.
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