Episode 534 || Off the Shelf with Annie and Ashley: Summer 2025
This week on From the Front Porch, it's an episode of Off the Shelf with Annie & Ashley, formerly known as Kids' Table! It's the same banter and book talk you love with a fresh new name. Annie is joined by friend, cousin, and former colleague, Ashley Sherlock, to chat about what they’re reading – but also what they’re watching, listening to, and buying.
To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 534) or download and shop on The Bookshelf’s official app:
Annie's books:
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner
Nine Lives by Dan Baum (unavailable to order)
Ashley's books:
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found below.
Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
This week, Annie is reading The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. Ashley is reading Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.
If you liked what you heard in today’s episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch.
We’re so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week.
Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.
Transcript:
[squeaky porch swing] Welcome to From the Front Porch, a conversational podcast about books, small business, and life in the South. [music plays out] What's the point of being able to sing like you can if no one hears you? What's the point of a gift if you don't share it? ― Jennifer Weiner, The Grin Sisters’ Greatest Hits
[as music fades out] I’m Annie Jones, owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in beautiful downtown Thomasville, Georgia, and this week, I’m chatting about “off the shelf” topics with my cousin Ashley Sherlock. Summer is finally here. If you’re a new or newish listener, you might not realize that From the Front Porch is a production of The Bookshelf, a small, independently-owned bookstore in rural South Georgia. By listening to our show and recommending it to your friends, you’re helping to keep our indie bookstore in business, and if you like what you hear, one way you can financially support us is through Patreon. Last year, as you probably know by now, we read the classic American novel Lonesome Dove with over 1,000 Patreon supporters, and back in January, we kicked off our decidedly more challenging 2025 reading of Don Quixote. For $5 a month, you can access those monthly Conquer a Classic recaps, as well as our Porch Visits, which are live Q&As where we talk about everything from pop culture to nail polish to what books you should take on your next vacation. To learn more about our Patreon tiers and benefits, visit patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. Now, back to the show. Hi, Ashley.
Ashley [00:02:01] Hello, hello. Happy summer!
Annie Jones [00:02:03] Welcome, happy summer! It's hot, it's humid, it's here. If you are a new listener, we do these episodes-- although I realized we didn't do one for spring. Did you know that?
Ashley [00:02:14] I thought this was the spring, to be honest with you.
Annie Jones [00:02:17] Well, that's because we are on the cusp, technically. As of this recording, we are technically on the cusp. But this is our summer drop. We try to do these seasonally, where we go off the shelf to talk about books, but also about articles, TV shows, pop culture, how we're handling life in this given season. Ashley is a former Bookshelf staffer, my literal family member and friend. And before we dive in to our summer things that we're reading, watching, listening, buying, let's talk about book tour.
Ashley [00:02:54] Let's do, please. I feel like it was so glam for me and the face you're giving me right now is like, oh, I'm so happy that's true for you.
Annie Jones [00:03:04] I am so happy it's true for you.
Ashley [00:03:05] Although you do not quite feel the same way. I had a fantastic time, but how are you feeling?
Annie Jones [00:03:09] I think by that last stop, if it weren't for the cold, I think I would have been fine. So Ashley went with me on my Ordinary Time book tour. If you are a Patreon supporter, there is a bonus episode all about the book tour, so you can listen to the details there. But basically things kicked off in Thomasville, then we went to Tallahassee, but then Birmingham, New Orleans, and Greenville. And so Ashley became my designated driver because I would blame my parents, but I think I'm also going to blame Jordan Jones. No one wanted me to drive myself anywhere.
Ashley [00:03:48] Which is fair. Well, I'll tell them how long, how many hours I spent driving in a minute.
Annie Jones [00:03:55] It is fair because by the time I left for Birmingham, I was like 34, 35 weeks pregnant. And that's kind of far along. I wasn't worried. The doctor had given me the go ahead. I would never have done anything that was risky or even remotely dangerous. I do think at some point my mother became very concerned and I know this because of the number of people who messaged me that my mother had told them how nervous she was about me giving birth in the back roads of Mississippi. Like Patreon supporters were like, oh my gosh, your mom was so worried for you. And I was like, wow, mom must have been real worried she was confiding in everyone. It was like her small talk topic of choice. I did not give birth on the backroads of Mississippi, something about that stretch between Birmingham and New Orleans made my mom nervous. But actually one of the prettiest drives we saw, in my opinion.
Ashley [00:04:53] It was so beautiful. And I was questioning that nervousness just a little bit because it was interstate the whole way. And then we got on the interstate and there was literally nothing. There was a love gas station.
Annie Jones [00:05:08] Yeah, truly, I think this is correct. Between New Orleans and Birmingham, the only place to stop really is Laurel, Mississippi. There might be places you could drive off and I guess stop in, but right off the interstate, the only place was Laurel. So we did do lunch in Laurel which feels like a dream, but we did that.
Ashley [00:05:31] It does feel like a dream. You could have given birth there and I'm sure people probably would have helped you in the street because of that small town vibe.
Annie Jones [00:05:38] Yeah, I would have been fine. I'm glad I didn't. I am glad you didn't have to help me give birth; although, I think we could have done it.
Ashley [00:05:44] Listen, I might have lost my lunch during it, but I would have stepped up to the challenge.
Annie Jones [00:05:51] You would be like Joey in Friends. You would want to be the one to pee on me, but you might not be able to.
Ashley [00:05:59] That's so true!
Annie Jones [00:06:01] Okay, so we went to Little Professor, a bookstore in Birmingham. We went to Garden District Bookshop in New Orleans, and we went M. Judson in Greenville. Had you prior to this trip been to any of those stores?
Ashley [00:06:16] I think I've only been to M. Judson.
Annie Jones [00:06:22] Were you on that SIBA trip where we did Garden District or no?
Ashley [00:06:28] Yeah, I've been to Garden District, too.
Annie Jones [00:06:31] Okay, because that was the one. I had been to Garden District and I had to Little Professor. I'd even been to their Pepper Place location. I had not been to their new Homewood location. But M. Judson was really the only store that felt new to me, like I had never been there. And it was super cool. Jordan got to join for that trip. It's in an old courthouse, so Jordan Jones was like it was like the perfect combination of my interests and Jordan's interests in one bookstore. I don't want to put you on the spot, but did you have any favorite moments, favorite stores, favorite purchases, favorite memories, anything that's going to stick out to you years from now?
Ashley [00:07:17] Okay. Good question. Is it bad for me to say this? No stop is ever going to top your release day event in Thomasville. That was very special.
Annie Jones [00:07:30] It's true. It was very special.
Ashley [00:07:32] All the people who were semi hometown. And it was just the sweetest, most fun thing and Jamie Golden was so much fun. That's the event I had the hardest time maintaining composure just because it was so meaningful. Everybody was so proud. But I think M. Judson might have been the biggest surprise for me. Not that I was surprised, it's just that's the place, aside from Garden District, I didn't know really anybody there already, but I was very impressed with the amount of people that came, the amount support that came out of Greenville, South Carolina, because why Greenville, South Carolina?
Annie Jones [00:08:15] Yes. So the publisher was really who helped identify different spots. I had sent them a bunch of bookstores and of course plans began to change when we found out how far along we would be with this baby. But they picked stops and I was nervous about New Orleans because I know podcast stats and bookshelf shopping stats. And so we just don't have a ton of customers out of New Orleans or that area. We do have some, but it's not a huge amount. And so that stop made me nervous. And Greenville, I also just wasn't sure. Birmingham isn't my hometown or anything, but I definitely have family connections there, both through our family and then through Jordan's family. And I lived there for a little bit. And so Birmingham felt like a known entity, but the other two were definitely more surprising.
Ashley [00:09:16] No, New Orleans was memorable. It was a fun event, but I'll remember the parking in New Orleans because--
Annie Jones [00:09:22] I was going to ask, was that your most stressful moment?
Ashley [00:09:27] I think so. Yeah. Because I was genuinely having a great time the whole time, except for when I had to park the car. I ended up dropping you off, driving around I don't know where in New Orleans until finally I think I stopped at a stop sign in a neighborhood and was like, "Where can I park my car?" And I found a paid parking lot. I don't know where it was. It was like a 10-minute walk from the bookstore. It would probably make a finance person uncomfortable the amount of money that I'd be willing to spend on parking just so I don't have to keep looking for a parking space or so I don't have to parallel park in New Orleans. But I did it and we walked back to the car. We're on a podcast, but don't tell anyone that Annie walked back to the car with me after the event.
Annie Jones [00:10:17] Listen, I could tell you were stressed when you got back and it took you a long time. I started to get nervous. I was like, where is she?
Ashley [00:10:26] Well, yeah, I didn't want to leave you alone to start the event.
Annie Jones [00:10:30] Yeah. I was like, "Where is she? Why isn't she back yet?" But when it was all said and done, I will tell you it was very gratifying because I am eight years older than you and there have been other road trips that I have been responsible for just by nature of my age. Meaning driving you to look at colleges, or even though I'm not responsible, feeling responsible because you're a grown up, but feeling responsible on that first trip to New York, or when we went to Cheer Her On weekend. Part of it is a responsibility of like, oh my gosh, I'm the older one, I need to be responsible. And part of it is my personality and then part of it is just wanting you to have a good time, especially like the New York trip, because that was your first visit or whatever. But when you travel together, you just learn a lot about each other. I remember traveling with a friend somewhere and realizing we weren't good travel buddies. You can't travel with just anybody, I don't think. I think it takes a certain kind of person to be able to mesh well and travel well together. So you and I, I do think, generally speaking, travel very well together. But when we went to Boston for Cheer Her On, there was a moment where I could not find parking in this tiny little-- I can't even remember. Do you remember which Massachusetts town that was? It was where the proposal was filmed, whatever town that it was in.
Ashley [00:11:54] No, I don't remember this story you're about to tell.
Annie Jones [00:11:57] Well, there was no parking. And we were caravanning with the rest of the Cheer Her On group and it was this beautiful quaint little town but parking was a nightmare and I could not find parking. And I very much like to be on time. I like to on time even if it means I'm sitting in my car waiting so that I can be fashionably late. I prefer to be one time. And we're trying to meet up with the rest of our group and I couldn't find a parking space. I think this also happens to you, but I was sweaty and I could feel myself devolving into rage and you're trying to keep it together because you're like I don't want to get ragey. You and I have known each other our whole lives and so it's not a big deal to rage in front of each other, but I was trying to keep my cool and I couldn't. I was supposed to use my version of language on this podcast. I was mad and I was so frustrated, like genuinely frustrated. And I remember thinking, this isn't fun. Like to be the person who like feels a little bit of responsibility or in charge. And, man, there is something about parking. And so when you got back from parking the car in New Orleans, and I think I asked how was it and you basically said some equivalent of don't ask. I thought, "Oh, she knows now."
Ashley [00:13:27] I said, "I'll tell you after the event."
Annie Jones [00:13:29] That's what you said, yeah. I'll tell you after the event. And of course, then after the event, it was fine. And right, you know, really.
Ashley [00:13:35] Right. It really wasn't that big of a deal. It's just you're late, and I left you alone, and then I'm alone.
Annie Jones [00:13:43] Yes. There is something sweat inducing about it. I don't know another word for it. And so, anyway, I'm sorry that that happened to you. And also I like that we each have our own stories from our various cities.
Ashley [00:13:53] Okay, I will say, though, we're good travel partners and I think a lot of that is because you are the more responsible of the two of us, more organized, more type A. We're good travel partners partly because you plan, and I'm just happy to come along and pay for things.
Annie Jones [00:14:13] Yes.
Ashley [00:14:15] But I would like to say for future trips, if you plan, I'll drive. Like driving can be my contribution. You're better booking a reservation and deciding things to go see, but I'll drive us there.
Annie Jones [00:14:30] I will also give you credit. Typically, I'm making all the dinner reservations. I think you sent me an Instagram real or a TikTok. It was very funny. It was like that friend. Was it friends or sisters where somebody was like--
Ashley [00:14:47] It must have been friends and the Type A friend was like, "I'm Annie and I made the dinner reservations." And it cuts to the other friend and it goes, "I'm Ashley." And then cuts off or something like that. "I'm Annie. I booked the hotel." "I'm Ashley." Nothing. And that it so accurate.
Annie Jones [00:15:03] But I want to give you credit because like when we go to market we knew book tour was going to be busy and a little bit stressful. Just because I was-- honestly the pregnancy part.
Ashley [00:15:20] The pregnancy and the cold.
Annie Jones [00:15:21] Yeah, the pregnancy and then the cold from Hades. And so when we go to Atlanta, my dad makes all dinner plans and we just get to show up. And the reason that is important is because none of us has the brain power at the end of a day at market to figure out where we're going to go eat. And I will say you were very Johnny-on-the-spot with making sure I got fed. I helped make those decisions, but really you were making those decisions and that was impressive.
Ashley [00:15:54] Listen, I feel like I can step up when I need to. And I knew the last thing I wanted you to be was hungry.
Annie Jones [00:16:01] Yeah, listen, you don't want me hungry in a non-pregnant state. So you really don't want it in a pregnant state. I believe my therapist one time commented-- I wish there was some pithy thing she said, but basically this idea that if you're typically Type A embrace when you can be in relationships that make you otherwise. Like she applauded me one time because I was talking about a friendship that I was in and I was like I'm the laid back friend in that relationship. Like I just show up. And she was proud of me because in other aspects of my life, I have to be in charge because of my work or my role as an older sibling or what have you. And so, congratulations. How healthy of you to really step up and be so responsible.
Ashley [00:16:56] Thank you for noticing. Plus also the eight year difference doesn't super matter now. But never forget the time you were 16, just got your driver's license, and I was eight and my little sister I guess was five. And so you were driving us around town and to keep people from kidnapping us, you made us call you mom.
Annie Jones [00:17:19] A legitimate fear.
Ashley [00:17:19] Yeah, we all looked like we were eight-year-olds.
Annie Jones [00:17:21] That's right. I didn't look much older than you, honestly. But I was like "Call me mom," just because then I thought people-- I don't know. I felt like moms had a power.
Ashley [00:17:29] It's me trying to make up for my mom. The least I can do is keep you fed and find parking.
Annie Jones [00:17:38] We had a great time, honestly. I think in the moment it was so much, so much was happening that it would probably do me well to sit down and journal or something or make a list because so much happened. Like I forgot we stopped in Fairhope.
Ashley [00:17:54] Right, it's the definition of a whirlwind.
Annie Jones [00:17:57] I'll also say that stretch from New Orleans to Tallahassee, that was not my favorite drive.
Ashley [00:18:03] No, that was rough.
Annie Jones [00:18:04] That was rough. Okay, last question before we move on. What was your favorite purchase you made at any of the stops or just overall? Did you buy a book that you really wanted? Lots of stores had great merch; did you buy anything you liked?
Ashley [00:18:19] Okay, now you are putting me on the spot. Because I think I only bought things from M. Judson, right? Let me think for a second.
Annie Jones [00:18:35] That's true. Yeah. I think that's true.
Ashley [00:18:38] I bought two classics from M. Judson and a sticker that said hot dogs for you.
Annie Jones [00:18:46] Which I do appreciate.
Ashley [00:18:49] Is it bad if the hot dog sticker is my favorite purchase?
Annie Jones [00:18:54] It's a great sticker. Okay, so if you want to find out more about book tour and the different stops, you can listen to that Patreon episode. Let's move on. We're going to go back and forth and talk about what we've been reading, watching, listening to and buying this summer or in preparation for summer. I'll kick us off because I do think you would really like this book. So I listened, actually while we were on our road trip, to The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner. I listened to this because Dakota Fanning was the narrator.
Ashley [00:19:24] Yeah, you told me about this.
Annie Jones [00:19:26] Yeah, and it is a longer audiobook than I generally listen to. So I did wind up buying a copy while we were at one of the bookstores. That way I can read faster than I can listen. And so I was able to finish it in physical format. But Dakota Fanning is a great audiobook narrator. She did Margot's Got Money Troubles. And I think you'd like this. It's about two women, Cassie and Zoe. They are sisters who performed in a indie rock kind of band in the early 2000s. And then all we know as readers is that they split up, they don't speak to each other anymore. The band doesn't exist anymore. And now Zoe's daughter, Cherry, is trying to make it big in the music industry. She's like going on this American Idol kind of show. And I liked it. It wasn't like my favorite book I've ever read, but it was really enjoyable. And I think would make a great beach read. And I think you'd like it because of the music aspect of it.
Ashley [00:20:26] Yeah, nice. I don't know why I haven't heard of it before, but it does sound up my alley.
Annie Jones [00:20:30] Yeah, I think you'd like it.
Ashley [00:20:32] Okay. I'll start with the one that I read the longest ago. What's that proper sentence?
Annie Jones [00:20:40] That was right. That sounded right.
Ashley [00:20:45] It's Sandwich by C atherine Newman. Did you read this one?
Annie Jones [00:20:54] Yes, I loved this book.
Ashley [00:20:55] Okay, my book club read it and I was one of, I think, two people in my whole book club who was like I didn't not like it. Like other people really did not like this book.
Annie Jones [00:21:09] Oh, my gosh, I loved it. I wonder if you have to be a certain age or life stage. I read it last summer. It deals with, as I recall, some pregnancy loss. And so I remember reading it and feeling very seen. Also, I love a messy family stuck in a beach house over a week. I love that kind of stuff. Give it to me. I love it.
Ashley [00:21:36] Yeah, it's beachy and it's like heavy on like menopause talk. I don't know, maybe you and I are just used to having older people in our lives and that's just kind of how it goes. Because everybody that I talk to about it felt like the main character was just complaining the whole time. And I was like, no, I think she's just observing her body and her life right now. And it's a dysfunctional family, but if I recall, I think, they all like each other.
Annie Jones [00:22:08] Yes, they all really like each other. Maybe it has to do with you and I definitely grew up-- now we did not grow up like with a beach house where our family returned to the same beach house every year. But we did grow up going to the beach every summer for much of our lives and multiple people sharing a house, like multiple family units sharing a space. And so all of that felt very familiar to me.
Ashley [00:22:37] Maybe that's it. Maybe that's why I love it so much, because those beach trips are some of my fondest childhood memories.
Annie Jones [00:22:45] Yeah, I would reread this one. I read it on my Kindle as an ARC, and I would read it again because I thought it was great. She's got a new one, a follow-up coming this fall. It's going to follow the same family. I want to say it's called Wreck.
Ashley [00:23:04] I was hoping for another lunch food.
Annie Jones [00:23:08] Aren't we always?
Ashley [00:23:10] But now I remember Sandwich is the name of a town, right?
Annie Jones [00:23:13] Yeah, well, and her life stage, right? Because maybe that's it, too. You grew up in a multi-generational house. And so her grappling with having adult children and then also taking care of her aging parents, I mean, that's very familiar.
Ashley [00:23:31] Very familiar. I wish I had been able to say all of this at book club, but I'm thinking about it now.
Annie Jones [00:23:39] This is why we do this. I'm so glad you liked it. I loved that book. Did you listen to it or read it?
Ashley [00:23:45] Yeah, I meant to preface everything I'm about to talk about is audiobook because apparently that's all I can do right now.
Annie Jones [00:23:52] Was the narrator of Sandwich good?
Ashley [00:23:55] I think so. This was months ago now, but it was good. She sounded exactly like what I would have pictured.
Annie Jones [00:24:07] Okay, the next book I'm still reading it actually I picked up in New Orleans, a book called Nine Lives by Dan Baum. This is a backlist title that I picked up because we were in New Orlando and a friend of mine-- actually this internet friend who I've known her forever. We share the same anniversary and it's like we may never talk except on November 22nd and we wish each other happy anniversary. It's delightful. But anyway, she and her husband were at the New Orleans event and they recommended this book. Which is the history of New Orleans, but it's told in an oral history format with nine different people after a hurricane in the-- I'm going to get it wrong-- maybe at the turn of the 19th century, and then nine people during and after Hurricane Katrina. And so it basically tells the history of the city through the lens of the people who survived these two hurricanes. I'm loving it so far. I really like the format. I like non-fiction in the summer. I don't know if that's like please assign Annie summer reading vibes. I don't know what that is, but I'm really liking it. And I think also as a bookseller and a bookstore owner and a book buyer, it's hard to find a book that I've not at least heard of. And it's such a fun surprise when somebody hands me a book and I've never heard of it. I've never heard of this and I'm loving it. Nine Lives by Dan Baum.
Ashley [00:25:41] I can't remember which late night show does this, but it's like stump the band, but stump the band the Annie bookstore owner.
Annie Jones [00:25:51] Yeah!
Ashley [00:25:52] Okay, next thing, I finished this on my way to Greenville, and that is Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green.
Annie Jones [00:25:59] You finished!
Ashley [00:26:01] I finished. Listen, I read this because it's John Green, not because it is tuberculosis. But I'm so proud of myself for making it through. At first, I was like, there's no way this is actually about tuberculosis; it's John Green, right?
Annie Jones [00:26:17] It's going to be a metaphor.
Ashley [00:26:18] There's actually going to be no medical talk whatsoever. I was incorrect. It's very much a tuberculosis. I do not handle medical things well at all, but it was worth getting through all of the medical jargon and all of the-- I don't want to say gross, but you know what I mean.
Annie Jones [00:26:41] Yeah, the medical details and stuff.
Ashley [00:26:44] Yeah, it was worth getting through all of that for his message. And honestly, I just think he writes beautifully and has beautiful thoughts.
Annie Jones [00:26:52] Yeah, I think he is very much proof that I would read anything he writes.
Ashley [00:26:57] Nice. Wait, can I ask a side question?
Annie Jones [00:27:02] Yeah.
Ashley [00:27:04] Okay, if John Green writes a book, it's maybe a given that you're reading it. I guess he's like your free pass?
Annie Jones [00:27:11] Yeah.
Ashley [00:27:13] Who's another free pass author?
Annie Jones [00:27:15] Who writes as diversely as John Green? Because I think that's the thing, right? Is he actually is willing to do that. Like make the jump from YA to non-fiction.
Ashley [00:27:24] Is John Green the Taylor Swift of books?
Annie Jones [00:27:27] Yeah, he's willing to like cross the genres. I'd have to think about that. That'd be a good podcast episode actually. There are certain writers where you'd follow them anywhere. Like you would trust them. And listen, this is what else I'll say. Everything is tuberculosis. Now, once I finished that book, tuberculosis is everywhere. I see tuberculosis everywhere. Every TV show I watch, every book I read, tuberculosis popped up in that New Orleans book and I notice it now all the time.
Ashley [00:28:00] That's so weird. My mom weirdly mentioned tuberculosis the other day. And it's just like when you learn a new word and then you hear that new word everywhere, even though we know about tuberculosis. But tuberculosis really is everything.
Annie Jones [00:28:16] Okay, my last reading is not a book. I just wanted to put in a plug that I have had the occasional-- and I'm very grateful because throughout my pregnancy, I really did fine. The heartburn was really bad, but the insomnia was not terrible. But I have a handful of sleepless nights. It depends on the night as to what works or soothes me back to sleep or if it's 4:30 in the morning, is it worth trying to go back to sleep? Like that kind of thing. So one of the things that I did during this pregnancy is I bought subscriptions. I already had a subscription to the New York Times, but I bought a subscription to the The New Yorker and The Atlantic so that I could read whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. So one night I couldn't sleep, so I read this great piece about Mary Magdalene in The Atlantic. I also read-- oh, it was so good. I read the deep dive into these nuns who work on death row in Texas, like a women's capital punishment center. I feel like I've learned so much and it's so nice to not get a-- like how many times have you tried to read an article and it says you are not subscribed? And nothing makes me madder. Like I just want to be able to read whatever I want to read. And anyway, thanks to some impulse buying probably at like three in the morning, I have subscriptions to the Atlantic and the New Yorker. I'll gift you articles if you want, just tell me what you're looking for.
Ashley [00:29:49] That is where our Venn diagrams don't overlap because you could have stopped it at how many times have you tried to read an article?
Annie Jones [00:29:59] Not a common problem for you,.
Ashley [00:30:02] But it's where we're at. But I'm so happy for you that you can read without the paywall anymore.
Annie Jones [00:30:11] Thank you. If somebody were to ask me like what are your pregnancy hacks? I would say renting your maternity clothes from Nuuly and subscribing to every news outlet you can.
Ashley [00:30:23] In the time when people are trying to not watch or read the news, subscribe, pay money to as many outlets as possible.
Annie Jones [00:30:32] Look, long-form journalism is really important and I'm happy to support it.
Ashley [00:30:38] Good for you.
Annie Jones [00:30:40] Any other readings for you?
Ashley [00:30:42] One more and I'm in the middle of The Wedding People.
Annie Jones [00:30:50] Do you like it?
Ashley [00:30:50] So far, yes. Again, listen, every single one of these books, and I know I've said this before, but I walk into it not knowing anything about it. I just remembered a watching that I have to write down. Hold on.
Annie Jones [00:31:06] Real time this is how Ashley's brain works in case you wondered.
Ashley [00:31:11] ADHD, baby. Okay, no, I like The Wedding People. I think I'm just in a depressing part unless the whole thing is depressing right now. It's been out long enough. I don't think I can spoil it. Plus it's only the beginning. I can say things. Well, I guess this isn't a spoiler. She's at the hotel and is basically becoming best friends with the bride. And she was like, wait a second, I'm laughing so hard right now and taking a bath feels amazing. Like having a body feels great. So I have genuinely no idea where this is about to go, but I'm enjoying wondering where it's going to go.
Annie Jones [00:31:53] That was one of my favorite books I read last year. I loved it so much. I think it's a very hopeful book about why life is worth living. I loved and I thought it was really funny, too. To me, it gets so funny. And just the moment, cause we've all been there. You were there recently, but like where you go, where you show up at a place and you look around and you're like, oh, everybody here's here for a wedding. And like wedding people are a certain kind of people. Like it's a certain kind mood. It's a certain kind of atmosphere. And I think Allison Espach paints that picture so vividly. I loved it. Okay. What are we watching? I am rewatching so much ER. I know you just said you don't like medical things and so this is not for you in any way, shape or form.
[00:32:42] But Jordan and I loved The Pit. I would also like to say that we were early adopters of The Pit. I watched the premiere of The Pit the night it came out and I do feel like I want credit for that. But when the pit ended, which it's a medical drama on HBO starring Noah Wiley. I was devastated and I needed something to fill the void. And so is it a good idea to watch ER or The Pit while pregnant and about to endure the most medically invasive thing you've ever endured in your life? Well, I don't know. Part of me is like maybe this is exposure therapy. I've always liked medical dramas. The stress is so different from the stress I have in my regular life. And maybe it's familiarizing me with what a hospital's like. I don't know. We'll see. But I love re-watching ER and it's been a fun thing to take naps to in the afternoon.
Ashley [00:33:38] Listen, in Greenville I came back to the hotel room, you had fallen asleep, ER was on the TV. It was so loud and medical talk. They were in a hospital doing disgusting things and I could not find the remote and it just kept on, it was just on a loop episode after episode. And I was like I got to get out of here. So I just left the hotel room while you were sleeping soundly to your hospital show. But I'm happy you're happy.
Annie Jones [00:34:09] I think it's funny what also brings me some joy is that what you're kindly not saying is that Jordan also was there napping and we were all three sharing a hotel room.
Ashley [00:34:21] I was leaving that bit out.
Annie Jones [00:34:22] And I appreciate that I have found a person who also will fall asleep to loudly playing medical drama because we both were calmed out.
Ashley [00:34:32] I did walk into the room, I was like, wow, she really has found her person. I've thought that several times, but that may be the most recent.
Annie Jones [00:34:45] Alright, what else are you watching?
Ashley [00:34:47] Okay, the one I just wrote down is Sinners, the movie.
Annie Jones [00:34:50] Did you go see it?
Ashley [00:34:52] I went and saw it by myself.
Annie Jones [00:34:54] I'm so proud of you! Buy yourself a movie!
Ashley [00:34:56] Okay, listen. It was so much fun. I think this was my very first time going to see a movie by myself.
Annie Jones [00:35:02] Oh, yay!
Ashley [00:35:02] Big fan, will be doing again. This is an example of not knowing anything about what I'm about to experience came to bite me. Because if I had known anything about this movie, I probably would not have seen it. I just heard that it was really good and it was a rainy day and I was like I got to do something. So I'm going to go watch a movie. But I will say even though I had to cover my eyes several times, it was a very good movie. Have you seen it yet?
Annie Jones [00:35:33] Okay, I'm really hoping that we're going this weekend, and it's one of our last pre-baby things to do. It's what I'm really hoping.
Ashley [00:35:41] So normally my favorite thing is humor with heart. This is horror with heart, but it's the with heart part because I also teared up at a few moments. It was so terrifying, but so beautiful. And there's this one scene where they're essentially playing music in a barn. You can just see a lot of music and dancing through the years in that particular scene and basically how all of music came from the blues and this particular group of people. It was just so beautiful. I loved it so much.
Annie Jones [00:36:26] Oh my gosh, I can't wait.
Ashley [00:36:28] You're going to love it.
Annie Jones [00:36:29] I have not been able to be to the theater much in this season and that has been really hard. I know it's probably not popular when you're living a really great season in your life to lament about the things that you're missing, but I feel like it's been a good season, but it's a really chaotic season and I've not been to the movies and I love going to the movie theater. So I'm really hoping this is going to be our movie that we go see before life is upended even further.
Ashley [00:36:57] Please tell me if you do.
Annie Jones [00:36:58] Okay. And then the other thing I watched, which we partially watched together, is The Four Seasons on Netflix. And partly, I was going to watch this because you and I on one of our road trips listened to the new Amy Poehler podcast. And so it felt like we heard multiple Tina Fey interviews. I don't know why. Well, I made us watch the Seth Meyers one, that's why. I was like, why? Anyways, so we had seen Tina Fey interviewed. We'd heard her interviewed. And then I think you asked me if I had started watching it yet. And I said, no. And so the three of us watched in the hotel room in Greenville. And, listen, one thing about Jordan and Annie is we love our TV and it was only eight episodes. And so in a couple of days, I texted Ashley and was like are you done yet? Because I wanted to talk about it. Maybe this is like Sandwich. Do you and I just like middle-aged shows? Because this has not gotten a ton of friendly buzz on the internet and I love it.
Ashley [00:38:02] Me too. Is that the kicker? Is that we're Millennials who love boomer content?
Annie Jones [00:38:09] Right, Boomer or Xer content. I don't know. Because no qualms from me. I loved this. I think Coleman Domingo is fantastic. It's wild to me to see him in a comedic role. I think you were talking about how good Steve Carell looks, and then there was an episode that we watched without you, and Steve Carell took off his shirt, and I was like, what did they make Steve Carell do?
Ashley [00:38:35] No, I thought the same thing. But my goodness.
Annie Jones [00:38:38] I was like, Steve, jeez! But, anyway, I adored it. I thought it was great. I would rewatch it. It's very much-- what did Jordan say? Like St. Elmo's fire, the big chill. Listen, you could sell me anything that has to do with a group of people, family or friends convening on a locale.
Ashley [00:38:59] That's what I was about to say. People on vacation, give me that. All day.
Annie Jones [00:39:01] Yes, like a summer house. A country house, an Italian villa, a boat. It doesn't matter. I love it. I love it so much. So glad you suggested that because it was really great. And I think a creative setup of like four seasons, two episodes a season, you know what I mean? Like spring, summer, fall, winter. I thought it was very clever.
Ashley [00:39:25] Yeah, me too. Even down to the opening credits with the little details.
Annie Jones [00:39:33] Yes. It made me not skip the opening credits. I watched them every time.
Ashley [00:39:36] And I had to know what season I was in.
Annie Jones [00:39:40] Yeah. Loved it.
Ashley [00:39:41] Same. That's my other watching. I'm glad to hear you validate my taste, basically.
Annie Jones [00:39:49] Without spoiling for anyone, can I just ask you, did you need a second season? Like, do you think we're going to get a second season, I honestly don't know, and do you need one?
Ashley [00:39:57] Now that’s what happened, I don't think I need a second season because the thing I thought was going to happen didn't happen.
Annie Jones [00:40:09] Yeah, I didn't need it. Listen, if there were to be a second season, I'd watch it, of course I would.
Ashley [00:40:16] Yeah, I'd watch it, but I'm not going to ask for it.
Annie Jones [00:40:18] Correct. I don't need, I'm not asking for it. The movie that it's based on is on Netflix now too and I think I'm going to watch it.
Ashley [00:40:25] I saw that. I think I'm going to watch, too.
Annie Jones [00:40:28] Any other things you're watching?
Ashley [00:40:31] Reruns of Gilmore Girls and Younger. That's it.
Annie Jones [00:40:35] Younger I think I will do this summer. I like it. I'll rewatch some of that this summer.
Ashley [00:40:41] Despite the French, it's worth it I think.
Annie Jones [00:40:42] Is it different for you now that Sutton actually did have an affair and is--
Ashley [00:40:50] We don't know. That's not my business.
Annie Jones [00:40:54] I just wondered if it's any different for you now?
Ashley [00:40:56] Sutton Foster forever. I just think she's a great performer.
Annie Jones [00:41:00] She is a great performer.
Ashley [00:41:01] It's fine. That's what I care about.
Annie Jones [00:41:04] Personal life got a little messy.
Ashley [00:41:06] We'll care if we become peers one day.
Annie Jones [00:41:12] Okay, I'm not watching anything else. Here is what I'm listening to. When Jordan and I were driving together to Greenville, we listened to two episodes of the Ezra Klein show. I don't know if you ever listened to him. I like him because it's the kind of podcast where you can pick and choose what episodes you want. During one of my bouts of insomnia, I had read an entire transcript of Ezra Klein's interview with New York Times columnist Ross. And I looked up how to pronounce his name and now I forget. Ross Douthat. I read the whole transcript. I thought, oh my gosh, this is such a good conversation. This is a great books level conversation. And so when Jordan and I were in the car together, which we hadn't been in a very long time because of session, I made us listen to this podcast episode and was so validated because Jordan just kept going over and over again, "This is so good. This is good." And I was like, "I know this is so good." Because essentially Ross Douthat is maybe a more center-right voice, he is deeply Catholic, and then Ezra Klein is a little more left-- I don't even know where Ezra would identify himself, but he's probably most associated with the left politically, and then I believe he's an agnostic religiously. And the two them have the most lovely open-ended, open-handed, generous conversation about religion, politics, AI. At one point, they're talking about fairies and demons. I loved it. I loved so much. And then we also listened to the episode with Jonathan Haidt, who is, I think, most recently known for his book called The Anxious Generation. And I loved it because when I listened to stuff like that with Jordan, then we have the best conversations. It's great, love it.
Ashley [00:43:06] Again, so happy you found your person.
Annie Jones [00:43:13] That's the first thing I listened to. What about you?
Ashley [00:43:15] I have a bunch of songs for you. First up, two from one artist named Ziggy Alberts. He's Australian. I think these songs are actually really nice for summer, too. So one is called Learn Yourself and one is Called Lapse Around the Sun. Learn Your Self is my personal favorite. Very positive, upbeat, good maybe indie folk. Maybe not folk, just some kind of indie something. Heavy on guitar. This is a great review.
Annie Jones [00:43:47] No, I'm looking it up. You're going to put in the show notes, right? Are you're going to put it in the PDF?
Ashley [00:43:51] Yes.
Annie Jones [00:43:51] Okay. Because I'm always looking for new music. And I do want peppy, that's what summer is all about.
Ashley [00:43:57] Yeah, I think you would actually like these.
Annie Jones [00:43:59] I found a playlist called Written by Emily Henry playlist. I'll put it in the show notes. It's fantastic. I think somebody must have taken the time and put a playlist together of every song she's mentioned in her book.
Ashley [00:44:12] Woah!
Annie Jones [00:44:14] Which that's quite the feat. But she'll mention a lot of what I would call yacht rock songs. And so I love that kind of stuff. So that has been a fun start to summer playlist. And then I have a song for you.
Ashley [00:44:30] Okay, let's go.
Annie Jones [00:44:31] I never have songs for you, but maybe you've already heard of it, but it is called Letting Go by Angie McMahon. Have you heard of this?
Ashley [00:44:38] I don't think I know that.
Annie Jones [00:44:40] They play it in my yoga class. And I think you would love it.
Ashley [00:44:44] Angie McMahon.
Annie Jones [00:44:49] I'll put a link in the pdf too, in the show notes.
Ashley [00:44:54] Have you listened to the new Mumford and Sons album?
Annie Jones [00:44:57] No, is it good?
Ashley [00:44:59] Okay, I can't speak for the rest of the album, but the song Rushmore is fantastic. Beautiful harmony, beautiful words. Probably, that's the song that has kept me from listening to the rest the album.
Annie Jones [00:45:15] Okay, all right
Ashley [00:45:16] Because I can't get past it.
Annie Jones [00:45:18] Okay. I'm excited. I think I knew they had a new one, but I've not listened to it at all.
Ashley [00:45:25] At least that song is worth your time.
Annie Jones [00:45:28] Anything else listening?
Ashley [00:45:29] Yeah, one more. I'm not sure how into this one you're going to be, but it's another song that has kept me from listening to the rest of the album. And that is How Bad Do You Want Me by Lady Gaga. Have you heard it before?
Annie Jones [00:45:41] No, I've not.
Ashley [00:45:42] It's new in the last couple months and it's for sure going to show up on my Spotify wrapped because that's a windows down summer song, in my opinion.
Annie Jones [00:45:52] Well, good. Because aren't we all just looking for the next like Sabrina Carpenter summer album? That's what we're looking for, right?
Ashley [00:45:59] Yeah, totally.
Annie Jones [00:46:00] That's the vibe.
Ashley [00:46:02] Again, I don't know about any other songs on this album, but How Bad Do You Want Me is a fantastic song.
Annie Jones [00:46:09] Okay, good. Make sure to write those so I don't forget the names. I'm excited. I'm starting to work on my summer playlist. Okay, and then what are we buying?
Ashley [00:46:19] I feel like you probably have more than me. Do you want to go first?
Annie Jones [00:46:22] Yeah, listen, I'm just buying last minute baby stuff. And I would, if I could and had time, I want to diatribe a monolog about capitalism and baby products and how much I have tried desperately to stay off the algorithm and to trick the algorithm into not knowing I was pregnant. Probably in the last couple of months, that has gone by the wayside. But there's just so much stuff people say that you need or really it's even helpful people and it's just everybody has different opinions because everybody's kids are different. And so what worked for some kids doesn't work for others. So you really don't know what kind of bottles, what kind pacifiers, what kind diapers, what kind wipes? And as someone who really-- I know I'm an enneagram five, but the kind of research I like, I just told you. I like to listen to the Ezra Klein podcast about fairies, demons, and religion. I really don't want to spend my time, my one wild and precious life, looking up stroller details, I really do. I want to know here are my specifications, what stroller? Please nobody DM me because by the time this episode comes out, I will have a stroller.
Ashley [00:47:28] Yeah, she's done. She is good.
Annie Jones [00:47:30] Yeah we're good. But some baby buying stuff has been fun. Like the occasional cute outfit, the lovies, the books, that stuff has been fun. And look, I loved planning the nursery. That's the kind of Enneagram five labor I like to do. What I don't want to do, what I really don't want to do is like spreadsheet out different bottles, diaper, like I don't care. I can't stress to you enough how I don't care. And so, anyway, I've been buying a lot of last minute baby stuff. And then the only other thing I've been buying is I did buy books at every bookstore we went to. And by the time I came home, I had a giant stack and it filled me with so much joy.
Ashley [00:48:20] You guys, every store we went into, she would walk in--she never had like a bad time, but her attitude just elevated so much. If you ever question whether or not this woman is in the right job, no need, because I would turn around and she would just be admiring all the books. And then to no one in particular, I just happened to be standing there, she would say out loud multiple times, "I love books." Just the sincerest, happiest I love books.
Annie Jones [00:48:57] I did. Everywhere we went, I would walk in, I think we were at Fairhope, we were at Page and Palette and I just looked around and I was like, "I love books." And I literally bought at least two or three at every store we went to.
Ashley [00:49:15] Again, so happy for you.
Annie Jones [00:49:17] Yeah, it was great. I loved it. Listen, that was a business expense, baby. Not a Bookshelf business expense, but an Annie B. Jones LLC business expense.
Ashley [00:49:27] Let's go. Make it work for you!
Annie Jones [00:49:29] Yeah. Okay. What have you been buying?
Ashley [00:49:31] Okay, two things I'll tell you about. Number one is plantain chips.
Annie Jones [00:49:38] I like a plantain chip. What brand are you getting?
Ashley [00:49:40] Okay, I found Barnana. My only complaint is the bags are small and you can get a much cheaper bag, like the same size bag for much cheaper. But Barnana's just so good, they're so crispy and I get the Himalayan pink salt kind. They also have a lime kind that I haven't tried. But I really wish they had like a family sized bag because I would eat the entire thing, not an [inaudible].
Annie Jones [00:50:08] You and your, I would say, bougie healthy snacks, they're good. You know what you're talking about.
Ashley [00:50:15] Listen, I'm not going to tell you something bad.
Annie Jones [00:50:15] I love those little peanut butter things.
Ashley [00:50:18] And if I do tell you something bad, I'll tell you it's bad. Like I also drink apple cider vinegar. Do I recommend it? No. But is it healthy? Yes.
Annie Jones [00:50:27] Yeah, you'll at least give it to me straight. What else?
Ashley [00:50:31] The other thing I just want to tell you about, this isn't specific and I haven't bought it yet, but I am planning for when I am home after the baby's born and I come to your house, I'm going to have some fun non-alcoholic drinks to make you.
Annie Jones [00:50:48] Oh, great.
Ashley [00:50:50] I have some several recipes that I think you would enjoy.
Annie Jones [00:50:52] That is one thing I did tell Jordan. This is hilarious. So I don't drink. It's not a belief thing. It's a I think alcohol tastes gross thing. But during this pregnancy, I told Jordan, I was like, "I want to drink a beer when this is all done.".
Ashley [00:51:08] You'll probably hate it. What if it's changed your taste buds, though?
Annie Jones [00:51:11] That's what I wonder. But I think I saw like a woman on the internet who like just gave birth. I really like her. She seems like a low-key mom. And she was drinking wine in her backyard and looked so chill. And I was like I want that to be me.
Ashley [00:51:28] It can be. Listen, there's like a blueberry lemon slushy situation.
Annie Jones [00:51:32] Okay. I would do that.
Ashley [00:51:34] There is an alcoholic version of, which I'm happy to make.
Annie Jones [00:51:38] I'm excited.
Ashley [00:51:40] I have a full non-alcoholic menu for you to try. He's probably going to be too young to sit by the pool, but I envision us sitting by the pool.
Annie Jones [00:51:50] We have a patio and he'll nap some. Don't anybody message me about babies napping. Don't do it.
Ashley [00:51:58] No, we're talking to you. There's a reason you can't talk back to us.
Annie Jones [00:52:03] Resist the urge to tell us what happens when to babies. [Inaudible] Resist it.
Ashley [00:52:06] Say it out loud in your car and nowhere else.
Annie Jones [00:52:08] That's right. Yell how naive I am somewhere else. But I do think we'll get to sit by the pool some. The baby might not-- although we did get him a cute little sun hat.
Ashley [00:52:24] Jordan could take the baby. I almost said his name. But him in a sun hat by the pool? Sign me up. I'm so excited.
Annie Jones [00:52:33] Yeah. We got him a sun hat and some baby sunglasses.
Ashley [00:52:36] Help.
Annie Jones [00:52:37] Yeah, I'm pretty excited about that part. Okay, everybody. These are our summer things. This is what we've been reading, watching, listening to and buying. You can find links when necessary in the show notes. Ashley, thank you so much for being here. We're doing it. It's summertime, baby.
Ashley [00:52:54] Summertime, baby!
Annie Jones [00:52:58] This week I'm reading The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. Ashley, what are you reading?
Ashley [00:53:05] I'm Reading Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.
[00:53:06] Annie Jones: From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf’s daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today’s episode can be purchased online through our store website: bookshelfthomasville.com
A full transcript of today’s episode can be found at:
Special thanks to Studio D Podcast Production for production of From the Front Porch and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.
Our Executive Producers of today’s episode are…
Cammy Tidwell, Linda Lee Drozt, Martha, Stephanie Dean, Ashley Ferrell, Gene Queens, Beth, Jammie Treadwell…
Executive Producers (Read Their Own Names): Nicole Marsee, Wendi Jenkins
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