• What Vic Read Instead of World War Z - Part 2
    Jun 15 2026

    Hello Readers!


    Welcome back to the second half of the Girly Swot reading World War Z by Max Brooks. Let's see what the Chris has found for Vic to read and watch instead :) along with a bit of a debate to wrap up the show.


    Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com,


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    To Read Instead

    The Classic Horror Stories by H P Lovecraft

    The Rats by James Herbert

    Handling The Undead by John Ajvide Linqvist

    The Enemy by Charlie Higson


    To Watch Instead

    Night of the Living Dead (1968)

    Dawn of The Dead (1978)

    28 Days Later (2002)

    28 Years Later (2025)

    Attack on Titan (2013)

    Shaun of the Dead (2004)

    Dawn of the Dead (2004)


    Other Honourable Mentions


    We will see you after our summer break for our next episode where Vic will be challenging Chris to read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and in the meantime we will be keeping you in content over on our instagram and substack while we take a small beer garden based break :)


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    55 mins
  • What Vic Read Instead of World War Z - Part 1
    May 25 2026
    Hello Readers.Here we are again with a brand new episode, and this month the Girly Swot has been challenged to read World War Z by Max Brooks sit down with a brew and listen to how she got on and what she read instead. Feel free to read along and prepare for the second half in a couple of weeks. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. Like, subscribe, email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com, and follow us on Instagram.Here’s a list of the books, movies and shows mentioned in the podcast.That Time I Got Drunk And Yeeted a Love Potion at Werewolf by Kimberly LemmingThe Reading Cure by Laura FreemanBox Office Poison by Tim RobeyOther Honourable MentionsOther Honourable MentionsReady or Not 2: Here I Come - 2026 Ready or Not - 2019Wuthering Heights - 2026The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 197530 Days of Night - 2007Castlevania (Netflix Animated Series)Castlevania: Nocturne (Netflix Animated Series)Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontëThe War of the Worlds by H.G. WellsDracula by Bram StokerMake sure you are subscribed for part two when the War Bore will give you his recommendations for what you could read and watch instead :)All music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    42 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of Erotic Vagrancy - Part 2
    Apr 22 2026

    Hello Readers!


    Welcome back to the second half of the War Bore's challenge to read Erotic Vagrancy by Roger Lewis. Let's see what the Girly Swot has found for Chris and you lovely lot to read and watch instead :) along with the traditional trivial argument (patent pending)


    Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com,


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    To Read Instead

    Furious Love by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger

    Hellraisers by Robert Sellers

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid


    To Watch Instead

    Cleopatra (1963)

    Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)

    1984 (1984)


    Other Honourable Mentions

    Love Actually (2003)

    Wuthering Heights (2026)

    Carry On Cleo (1964)


    We will see you in a couple of weeks for our next episode about the War Bore's pick of World War Z by Max Brooks and you can find out what the Girly Swot made of the zombies and what she decided to read instead :)



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    34 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of Erotic Vagrancy - Part 1
    Apr 6 2026

    Hello Lovely Readers!


    Welcome to the latest episode of our Third season of Things We Read Instead! This month the Girly Swot challenged the War Bore to read Erotic Vagrancy - Everything about Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor by Roger Lewis. Let's see what our Bore of War thinks and in a couple of weeks Vic will be back with what you could have read instead :)


    Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com,


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    What Chris Read Instead

    Fortress Malta by James Holland

    Assyria by Eckhart Frahm

    The Lost and The Damned by Guy Haley


    Other Honourable Mentions

    The Lost and the Damned by Guy Haley

    Dominion by Tom Holland

    A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman

    Becket (1964)

    The Simpsons

    Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds

    British Museum - Samurai Exhibit



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    47 mins
  • What Vic Read Instead of Brothers In Arms - Part 2
    Mar 23 2026

    Merry Monday Readers!

    We're back with the War Bore's alternative reads and what you could watch instead of Brothers in Arms by James Holland. All finished up with something a little different instead of the usual trivial argument :)


    Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    To Read Instead

    Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose

    Flame Thrower by Andrew Wilson

    Rifles by Mark Urban


    To Watch Instead

    Band of Brothers (2001)

    Fury (2014)

    Our World War (2014)


    An Honourable Tanky Mention

    The Tank Museum YouTube



    We will see you in a couple of weeks for our next episode about the Girly Swot's pick of Erotic Vagrancy by Roger Lewis and you can find out what the War Bore thought about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's knock down drag out relationship and the fallout and what he decided to read instead :)


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    57 mins
  • What Vic Read Instead of Brothers In Arms - Part 1
    Mar 9 2026


    Hello Readers.


    Here is what Vic made of Brothers In Arms by James Holland and what she read instead. Feel free to read along and prepare for the second half in a couple of weeks. Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. Like, subscribe, email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com, and follow us on Instagram.


    Here’s a list of the books, movies and shows mentioned in the podcast.


    You’re on an Airplane by Parker Posey

    Don’t Burn Anyone at the Stake Today by Naomi Alderman

    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir


    Other Honourable Mentions

    The Crucible of Hell by Saul David

    Mary Poppins 1964

    Mary Poppins Returns 2018

    Inside No. 9 BBC TV Series

    Sunshine 2007


    Make sure you are subscribed for part two when the War Bore will give you his recommendations for what you could read and watch instead :)


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    46 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of 'Salem's Lot - Part 2
    Feb 23 2026

    Merry Monday Readers!


    Welcome to the second part of our episode about 'Salem's Lot! Here are Vic's deep dive recommendations for what other Stephen King alternatives you could read or watch instead along with a few glowing recommendations to work by the fabulous late Rob Reiner.


    Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com


    Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.


    Rob Reiner Tributes

    Misery 1990

    Stand By Me 1986


    To Read Instead

    Needful Things by Stephen King

    It by Stephen King

    From by Buick 8 by Stephen King


    To Watch Instead

    The Monkey (2025)

    The Long Walk (2025)

    The Running Man (2025)


    We will see you in a couple of weeks for our next episode about the War Bore's pick of Brothers in Arms by James Holland and you can find out what the Girly Swot thought about the WW2 Tanks and Yeomanry and what she decided to read instead :)


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    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    53 mins
  • What Chris Read Instead of 'Salem's Lot - Part 1
    Feb 13 2026
    Hello Lovely Readers!Welcome to the second episode of our Third season of Things We Read Instead! We're carrying on our run of big hitters kicking things off this season with one of Vic's top books of all time, Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot! Lots of pressure riding on this one readers! Let's see what our Bore of War thinks and in a couple of weeks Vic will be back with what other awesomeness written by Stephen King that you could read instead :)Don't forget to get in touch with your praise or arguments, you never know you may get a mention. Thanks for your support. To follow our adventures like and subscribe, follow us on Instagram. and get in touch via email at thingswereadinstead@gmail.com,Here’s a list of the books, movies, shows and podcasts mentioned in the podcast.'Salem’s Lot by Stephen King 'Salem’s Lot 2004Other Honourable MentionsThe Color Purple by Alice WalkerThe Passenger of the U-977 by Rodolfo Santullo & Carlos BaricelliI, Claudius by Robert GravesEmma by Jane AustenDracula by Bram StokerThe Midwich Cuckoos by John WyndhamEmpire of Pain by Patrick Radden KeefeThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley JacksonAct of Oblivion by Robert HarrisCarrie by Stephen KingThe Shining by Stephen KingAll music and sound effects by www.pixabay.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    51 mins