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Books & Nachos

Venganza Media Inc.booksandnachos.com
Book reviews from science fiction to horror to nonfiction, all with a modern pop-culture aesthetic.
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Episodes

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Books & Nachos is merging with Now Playing Podcast. This Books & Nachos feed will no longer be updated as of September 1st. If you want to continue to get Books & Nachos shows, please subscribe to Now Playing Podcast at NowPlayingPodcast.com

Jul 21, 202234 minEp. 158

Book Review: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Books & Nachos is merging with Now Playing Podcast. This Books & Nachos feed will no longer be updated as of September 1st. If you want to continue to get Books & Nachos shows, please subscribe to Now Playing Podcast at NowPlayingPodcast.com

Jul 08, 202237 minEp. 157

Book Review: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Books & Nachos is merging with Now Playing Podcast. This Books & Nachos feed will no longer be updated as of September 1st. If you want to continue to get Books & Nachos shows, please subscribe to Now Playing Podcast at NowPlayingPodcast.com

Jun 30, 202230 minEp. 156

Now Playing Book Review: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Books & Nachos is merging with Now Playing Podcast. This Books & Nachos feed will no longer be updated as of September 1st. If you want to continue to get Books & Nachos shows, please subscribe to Now Playing Podcast at NowPlayingPodcast.com

Jun 23, 202235 minEp. 155

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production

JK Rowling collaborates with a pair of theater veterans to tell her eighth Hogwarts adventure Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as a stage play. And while Brock, Stuart, and Arnie couldn’t score tickets, they are ready to review the published script. What happens when Harry’s son goes Slytherin, and travels back in time to change the outcome of the Triwizard Tournament? Listen to find out if fans throw the author into a Goblet of Fire for messing with a classic tale.

May 05, 202254 minEp. 151

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

This week Brock, Stuart, and Arnie graduate from Hogwarts as they complete JK Rowling’s seventh and final Harry Potter novel, The Deathly Hallows. Is the boy wizard ready to lead the fight against a Ministry of Magic overtaken by Death Eaters? Where exactly has Dark Lord Voldemort hidden the last piece of his soul? And what is the real reason Professor Snape hates Harry so much? Find out if your predictions for the conclusion come true. Listen Now!

Apr 01, 202243 minEp. 150

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter was “the Chosen One” for readers around the world even before his sixth adventure became a global best-seller in summer 2005. Now the skeptics rally around the boy wizard too, in the hopes he’ll be able to stop the return of dreaded sorcerer Voldemort. Did a mysterious Half-Blood Prince provide answers for defeating evil in the margins of Harry’s potions book? Brock, Stuart, and Arnie piece this Tom Riddle together on the latest podcast.

Mar 17, 202239 minEp. 154

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Readers around the globe celebrated the 2003 release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. So why are so many terrible things being printed in newspapers about the boy wizard on his fifteenth birthday? Is it all in Harry’s head that Voldemort has infiltrated the Ministry of Magic, and changed Hogwarts curriculum so that students are left defenseless against his rise? Listen now as Brock, Stuart, and Arnie remember what it was like to be an angry teenager.

Mar 10, 202251 minEp. 153

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Brock, Stuart, and Arnie are cheering in the stands for Harry Potter as he finally gets into the ring with nemesis Voldemort for his massive fourth novel The Goblet of Fire. Can Dumbledore and gruff new Defense Against Dark Arts professor Mad Eye Moody prepare the boy wizard for the fight of his life? And will the hormonal teenager have a harder time finding a date for the Yule Ball than competing in the Triwizard Tournament? Find out when you Listen Now!

Mar 04, 202239 minEp. 152

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Wizard studies might be going well for Harry Potter in third adventure Prisoner of Azkaban, but what he really needs is a law degree so he can keep homicidal maniac Sirius Black locked in jail. Will the man responsible for making the wizard boy an orphan return to Hogwarts and finish off the family tree? And can Harry negotiate a stay of execution for Hagrid’s pet hippogriff after it bites Draco Malfoy? The time for Brock, Stuart, and Arnie to put the next book on trial is now!

Feb 24, 202239 minEp. 151

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Brock, Arnie, and Stuart invite you into their flying car as they head back to Hogwarts, and pry open the cover of The Chamber of Secrets. This second Harry Potter novel finds the boy wizard trying to unmask the Slytherin heir who threatens to commit genocide on Muggle-born classmates. Was house elf Dobby right to warn children away from a school year that might petrify them? Have a seat on the toilet and listen to the hosts moan about it all. Listen Now!

Feb 17, 202233 minEp. 150

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone

Brock, Arnie, and Stuart use their combined podcasting magic to revive Books & Nachos so that the literary adventures of Harry Potter can finally be discussed! How did this orphaned boy wizard enchant so many millions of readers from all around the world? And are philosophers or sorcerers responsible for the stone at the center of this first installment? You won’t need a wand to conjure the answers. Just strap on a pair of headphones and Listen Now!

Feb 10, 202245 minEp. 144

Big Trouble in Little China/Escape from New York by Greg Pak, Daniel Bayliss, and Triona Farrell

Snake Plissken is back, but which Snake Plissken is the real Snake Plissken? After reviewing four BOOM! Studios Escape from New York graphic novels, Jakob and Jason shake the pillars of heaven to see John Carpenter’s antihero go head-to-head with an alter ego from Little China. That’s right, Jack Burton is back, and he’s teaming with Snake to take on villains of the past, and present. Join us once more for the final episode in our Books & Nachos Escape from New York series.

Jul 23, 202033 minEp. 149

Escape from Cleveland Christopher by Sebela and Maxim Simic

Fun times in Cleveland again! Snake Plissken’s been retired for more than a decade, but when the government comes for his land, he’s going to lead a revolution against the one percent! The final volume in BOOM! Studios’ Escape from New York series leads directly into the events of John Carpenter’s Escape from L.A., but does the creative team know that? Jakob and Jason have some questions, and a whole lot of fun, saying goodbye to Snake in the penultimate episode of our Books & Nachos Snake P...

Jul 16, 202056 minEp. 148

Escape from New York Vol. 3: Escape to New York by Christopher Sebela and Maxim Simic

Snake Plissken just wants to get away, but first, he’s got a bone to pick with his former president. In the third volume of BOOM! Studios’ Escape from New York series, the hero of John Carpenter’s iconic action film returns to his roots, breaking into the world’s largest prison to take down an arch nemesis. It’s the showdown this series has been building toward, and hosts Jakob and Jason are here to break it down. Could it overcome the campiness of Escape from Florida and the unneeded detour tha...

Jun 16, 202035 minEp. 147

Escape from Siberia by Christopher Sebela, Diego Barreto, Mike Henderson

Snake Plissken leaves the Sunshine State for Siberia in the second volume of "Escape from New York" by BOOM! Studios. John Carpenter's eyepatch-wearing outlaw is sent to a frozen warzone by a vengeful president, but before he can face down his enemy, Snake must outwit bears, soldiers, a man from his past, and a cult of comet worshippers. It's as crazy as it sounds, but is it any good? Jakob and Jason follow Snake's journey in our ongoing Books & Nachos series, which ties into our Escape from...

Jun 08, 202031 minEp. 146

Escape from Florida by Christopher Sebela, Diego Barreto, Tim Bradstreet

In 2014, comic book publisher BOOM! Studios acquired the rights to produce new stories based on John Carpenter’s “Escape from New York” and its hero Snake Plissken. Their first story picks up seconds after the finale of Carpenter’s 1981 film, with Plissken on the run from the United States Police Force and seeking refuge in the “free” state of Florida. But Snake’s in for a helluva fight at every turn. Does “Escape from Florida” live up to the legacy of Carpenter’s creation? It’s hard to say when...

May 31, 202031 minEp. 29

Escape from New York by Mike McQuay

Filmmaker John Carpenter scored a hit when his “Escape from New York” hit theaters in 1981, introducing the world to Kurt Russell’s eyepatch-wearing antihero Snake Plissken. But there’s more to the story than what audiences saw on the screen. This week Jakob and Jason (making his Books and Nachos debut) break down author Mike McQuay’s adaptation of Carpenter’s film, including the deleted scenes and backstory that add new dimension to the Plissken character and the authority figures that force hi...

May 26, 202042 minEp. 28

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Before it became one of the most beloved movies of all time, The Godfather was a blockbuster novel with characters and plot points that never made it to the screen. Join long lost podcaster Stuart as he comes home to his Books & Nachos family and parses out all the changes made to Mario Puzo’s classic.

Aug 30, 201841 minEp. 27

Bad Man by Dathan Auerbach

Ben's three-year-old brother Eric disappeared five years ago, but Ben continues to search. When Ben takes a job at the store where Eric vanished things are not all that they seem. Join Brock for his spoiler-free review of Bad Man to see if this is the perfect thriller to cap off your summer reading list!

Aug 23, 201815 minEp. 26

Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier by Mark Frost

SPOILER ALERT: This podcast contains detailed information about the 2017 Showtime Twin Peaks series as well as all previous Twin Peaks books, movies, and episodes. This year's Twin Peaks: The Return revival polarized audiences and seemed to ask as many questions as it answered. With that series complete, series writer Mark Frost is free to discuss it all in Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier -- the intended final book based on Twin Peaks. Join Stuart and Arnie now to find out if Peaks goes out on a h...

Dec 31, 20171 hrEp. 25

The Hellraiser Chronicles Edited by Stephen Jones (and a look at Damnation Games by Phil and Sarah Stokes_

Continuing his look at nonfiction Hellraiser books, Arnie is back with a review of The Hellraiser Chronicles--a 1992 behind-the-scenes look at the first three Hellraiser films. But seeking even more pleasures Arnie continues on to look at Damnation Games which also gets under the skin of those first three films. Are either or both of these worth a read? Join Arnie to find out!

Nov 16, 201725 minEp. 24

Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II by Christian Sellers and Gary Smart

Clive Barker's Hellraiser and it's immediate follow-up Hellbound: Hellraiser II were low-budget productions, shot in the UK. Despite their small beginnings their impact was global, skyrocketing Clive Barker to fame and fortune and terrifying a generation. How did that happen? The book Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II details the making of these first two Hellraiser films. What insights does it provide, and is it worth a read? Join Arnie on this review to find out!...

Nov 07, 201727 minEp. 23

The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker

In 1987 Clive Barker took the world by storm with his film Hellraiser, but his first draft of that movie wasn't in screenplay form--it was a short story. Written with the express intent of being a low-budget movie, Barker explores the concepts of love, deceit, murder, and damnation. It became his defining work, but how good is it? And how does the prose differ from the film? Open the box, unchain this podcast, join Arnie in Hell, and find out! Then join Arnie, Stuart, and Jakob for all their Hel...

Oct 30, 201751 minEp. 22

The Dark Tower: The Art of the Film by Daniel Wallace

Gunslinger Roland Deschain had a long quest in his search for The Dark Tower. So too did filmmakers toil long to transform Stephen King's eight-novel series to the big screen. This journey is chronicled in pictures and prose in the book The Dark Tower: The Art of the Film.Join Arnie on this episode of Books & Nachos as he reviews this work. Then he is joined by Daniel Wallace, author of The Art of the Film, to discuss the process of producing this type of book!

Aug 17, 201754 minEp. 21

Twin Peaks: The Secret History of Twin Peaks by Mark Frost

Before the new season of Twin Peaks started on Showtime, series co-creator Mark Frost wrote a book to tide over anxious fans. That book was The Secret History of Twin Peaks. An in-universe history of this fictional town finds its citizens have ties to Lewis & Clarke, the Masons, the Illuminati, and events at Rosewell and Area 51. Wait...isn't this a book about Twin Peaks? Maybe. Arnie and Stuart are here with a review to try and make sense of it all! Listen to this book review, then hear rev...

May 20, 201741 min

Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch

As Inland Empire hit theaters Lynch was also prepping a big release...for the bookstores. Catching the Big Fish is Lynch's combination of autobiography and advertisement for his Transcendental Medication. Join Arnie and Stuart to find out what insights Lynch's writing may provide into the man, his works, and his meditations. Listen to this book review, then hear reviews of EVERY Twin Peaks episode at NowPeakingPodcast.com

May 18, 201725 min

Welcome to Twin Peaks: Access Guide to the Town

By the time Welcome to Twin Peaks was released ABC was already telling that town "Goodbye." The series' cancellation had been announced but the tie-in merchandising continued with this pamphlet that is a guidebook to the sights, places, flora, and fauna of Twin Peaks. What does this book add to the mythology of the series? And does its fictitious maps and places match up with any of the real filming locations? Join Arnie and Stuart for this review for those answers! Listen to this book review, t...

May 03, 201727 min

Twin Peaks: The Autobiography of FBI Agent Dale Cooper -- My Life, My Tapes by Scott Frost

Twin Peaks' cancellation was all but certain in May, 1991. Yet that is also when series writer Scott Frost's Agent Cooper book My Life, My Tapes was released. Unlike The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer , Cooper's backstory was mostly unready by a waning fan base. Now the book commands top dollar on the secondary market. Is it worth the price? Listen to this book review, then hear reviews of EVERY Twin Peaks episode at NowPeakingPodcast.com...

Mar 30, 201741 min

Twin Peaks: Diane - Twin Peaks Tapes of Agent Cooper by Scott Frost

As Twin Peaks' second season began the merchandise machine was gaining speed. First came Jennifer Lynch's Secret Diary of Laura Palmer. Hot on its heels came "Diane..." - The Twin Peaks Tapes of Agent Cooper. Combining TV-show audio with newly recorded bits this audiobook catches you up on the mystery, but are there new clues revealed in the tapes not seen on TV? Listen to this book review, then hear reviews of EVERY Twin Peaks episode at NowPeakingPodcast.com...

Mar 14, 201725 min
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