In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth revisit J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, diving into a spoiler-light discussion for new and returning readers. They reflect on personal reading experiences, explore Tolkien’s world building, songs, and maps, and compare the book to the movie adaptations. Join them as they share nostalgia, laugh at the dragon’s antics, and discuss why The Hobbit is the perfect introduction to Middle-earth. Fans of Tolkien, fantasy literature, and epic adventures won’t want to miss this episode!

00:32 Introduction to Middle-earth

01:33 Personal Reading Experiences

07:49 Tolkien's World Building

10:40 Oral Quality of the Tale

13:45 Why Bilbo?

15:44 Dwarven Songs

16:59 Maps!

20:29 The Lord of the Rings in Theaters

21:26 Would you read it again?

22:19 Delightful Moments

24:39 British Influence

26:27 Final Thoughts and Ratings

A brief introduction to JRR Tolkien’s Maps

https://www.tolkienestate.com/painting/maps/

The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition in Theaters January 2026

https://www.fathomentertainment.com/series/the-lord-of-the-rings-trilogy/

Soon May the Wellerman Come History

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellerman

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In this Season Two kickoff episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth look back at their Top 10 books of 2025, spanning sci-fi, fantasy, romantasy, literary fiction, and standout nonfiction that reads like fiction. From epic, immersive reads and thought-provoking classics to surprising favorites and an audiobook honorable mention, they reflect on reading habits, bookish stats, and what makes a story truly memorable. Stick around to the end for the big reveal of the podcast’s 2026 theme.

00:56 Top 10 Books of 2025

02:31 Similar Books in our Top 10

03:59 Long Books and Epic Reads

05:27 Medical Insights in Fiction

06:57 Stephen King's Dark Tower Series

08:00 Romantasy Reads and Sequels

10:28 Book Club Favorites

13:31 More of Elizabeth's Top 10 Books

23:15 Rounding Out the Top 10

25:12 Andrea's Favorite Audiobook of the Year

26:16 Number of Books Read for the Year

27:07 Epic Trilogies for 2026

Books Mentioned

A Psalm for the Wild-Built — Becky Chambers (Andrea & Elizabeth)

The Dispossessed — Ursula K. Le Guin (Andrea & Elizabeth)

Awry with Dandelions — J.S. Fields (Andrea)

The Covenant of Water — Abraham Verghese (Elizabeth)

Wolves of the Calla — Stephen King (Elizabeth)

The Moonday Letters — Emmi Itäranta (Andrea)

Water Moon — Samantha Sotto Yambao (Andrea)

Quicksilver — Callie Hart (Andrea)

When the Moon Hatched — Sarah A. Parker (Andrea)

All the Colors of the Dark — Chris Whitaker (Andrea)

By Any Other Name — Jodi Picoult (Andrea)

Wellness — Nathan Hill (Elizabeth)

Bel Canto — Ann Patchett (Elizabeth)

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland — Patrick Radden Keefe (Elizabeth)

James — Percival Everett (Elizabeth)

Squeeze Me — Carl Hiaasen (Elizabeth)

In the Heart of the Sea — Nathaniel Philbrick (Elizabeth)

Blood Over Bright Haven — M.L. Wang (Andrea)

Honorable Mention: Best Audiobook

You Didn’t Hear This From Me: Mostly True Notes on Gossip — Kelsey McKinney, narrated by the author

Referenced Articles and Media:

New York Times: The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html

The Global Wellness Economy Hits a Record $6.8 Trillion and Is Forecast to Reach $9.8 Trillion by 2029

https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/press-releases/the-global-wellness-economy-hits-a-record-6-8-trillion-and-is-forecast-to-reach-9-8-trillion-by-2029

The Smithsonian Magazine - The Snakes That Ate Florida

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/snakes-ate-florida-180972534/

Freakonomics Podcast - The First Great American Industry

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-first-great-american-industry/

In the Heart of the Sea - IMDB

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1390411/

Andrea and Elizabeth dive into their December book pick, Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao. This listener voted book pick made it to the second round of the Goodreads Choice Awards, is discussed in detail, including its synopsis and thematic elements. The story follows Hana Ishikawa, the new owner of a mystical pawn shop in Tokyo, as she embarks on a journey to find her missing father. The hosts analyze the book's Ghibli-esque charm, poetic writing, romantic subplot, cultural references, and philosophical themes. They conclude with their ratings and comparisons to similar works, recommending it to fans of Japanese cozy fantasy and those intrigued by magical realism.

Spoiler Alert: We do go into spoilers mid-episode!

Content Note: This episode discusses themes of regret, reproductive choice (including implied abortion), and pregnancy/childbirth.

02:35 Meaning of the Title

05:49 Romance Sub-plot

10:15 Fictional Folklore

12:01 Japanese Vocab

14:26 Dreamlike Reflections of the Real World

18:47 Well, What About?

22:49 Spoilers and Interpretations

25:15 Flying Paper Birds

26:44 Folding the Cover

28:34 Ratings

29:53 Other Similar Books

31:16 Closing Remarks

Similar Book Recommendations

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

Similar Movie Recommendations

Spirited Away

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Inception

Other Books with Flying Paper Birds

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker

What is the Super-Kamiokande?

https://www-sk.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/sk/about/outline/

No Face from Spirited Away

https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/No-Face

Kitsune from Japanese folklore

https://www.britannica.com/topic/kitsune

The Art of Japanese Ceramics Repair - Kintsugi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi

Water Moon themed Playlist on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/25kdPSzyM0b9w6v0T7LYEV?si=DqPUE3jaSyefSQVK_PRDzQ

Barnes and Noble Monthly Pick - Guest Post by Samantha Sotto Yambao

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/samantha-sotto-yambao-guest-post/