Welcome to our Fun Friday Roundup!
Welcome back to our Fun Friday Roundup, where we take a peek at the books recommended by our wonderful guests on the Fun Friday episodes of The LitJoy Podcast! We were so excited to chat with Michael and Haley Burson, a pair of well-known cosplayers who draw inspiration from literary worlds. Read on for a look at their favorite books, which have sparked their creative lives!
Michael and Haley's Favorite Books
My Life in France
Julia Child with Alex Prud'Homme
“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook—try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” ~Julia Child
Synopsis Sneak Peek
In her own words, here is the captivating story of Julia Child’s years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found her “true calling.”
From the moment the ship docked in Le Havre, en route to Paris, in the fall of 1948, Julia had an awakening that changed her life. Soon this tall, outspoken gal from Pasadena, California, who didn't speak a word of French and knew nothing about the country, was steeped in the language, chatting with purveyors in the local markets, and enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu.
This memoir is laced with wonderful stories, particularly in the world of food, and the way of life that Julia embraced so wholeheartedly. Here, she reveals the kind of spirit and determination, the sheer love of cooking, and the drive to share that with her fellow Americans that made her the extraordinary success she became.
Game of Thrones: The Costumes
Michele Clapton with Gina McIntyre
Synopsis Sneak Peek
Discover the secrets behind creating the costumes for HBO’s Game of Thrones in this definitive guide.
The official guide to the complete costumes of HBO’s landmark television series Game of Thrones. Discover how BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning costume designer Michele Clapton dressed the heroes and villains of Westeros and beyond, including Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark.
A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1)
Ursula K. Le Guin
“But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them.” ~Ursula K. Le Guin
Synopsis Sneak Peek
Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth.
Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Batman: The Long Halloween
Jeph Loeb
“The town isn't big enough for two homicidal maniacs.” ~Batman, written by Jeph Loeb
Series Synopsis Sneak Peek
Christmas. St. Patrick's Day. Easter. As the calendar's days stack up, so do the bodies littered in the streets of Gotham City. A murderer is loose, killing only on holidays. The only man that can stop this fiend? The Dark Knight. In a mystery taking place during Batman's early days of crime fighting, Batman: The Long Halloween is one of the greatest Dark Knight stories ever told.
The Harry Potter Series
J.K. Rowling
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” ~Professor Albus Dumbledore, written by J.K.Rowling
Book One Synopsis Sneak Peek
Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.
It was such a blast learning about this talented cosplaying couple's favorite books! Do you share the love for any of their choices? Tell us in the comments below, or let us know your own favorite books that have inspired you!
Have you checked out our Fun Friday Book Recommendations on The LitJoy Podcast yet? They're great for when you're short on time and in need of something new to read, and we'll be sharing more throughout the summer as The LitJoy Podcast takes a summer vacation! Kelly and Alix, along with a slew of fascinating guests, talk everything from fantasy to romance to nonfiction books. Need details on the favorite books they mention? Hop back over here, because we'll be sharing roundups of all their book recommendations right here on the LitJoy Lounge each month!
Missed this Fun Friday interview with cosplaying couple Michael and Haley Burson? Want to hear more about the favorite books that inspired them to start cosplaying? Check out the Fun Friday Podcast Episode below!
Topics Discussed
[0:45] My Life in France by Julia Child
[2:50] Game of Thrones: The Costumes by Michele Clapton and Gina McIntyre
[4:22] A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
[5:58] Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb
[8:02] The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Guest Bios
Michael Burson
Michael is a self-taught cosplayer and sewist with 9 years experience in creating costumes and fashion pieces that inspire him. Audience Choice winner of the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, Michael has a passion for education and showing the "behind the seams" process of his builds to help others create their own art. He cosplays from Marvel, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Disney, Star Wars, and much more.
Haley Burson
Hayley Burson is a full-time public librarian and part-time cosplayer. She began cosplaying with her husband, Michael, in 2016, and the two of them have shared many adventures with their love of creating together. Hayley specializes in hand embroidery and beading, wig styling, and creating silly videos. She especially loves cosplaying from Fantasy, Marvel, Disney, and Game of Thrones. When she isn't cosplaying, she enjoys playing the Sims, practicing yoga, thrifting, and playing with her rescued mixed poodles, Bilbo and Basil.
*As a reminder, we at LitJoy care about your emotional well-being, and highly recommend checking for trigger warnings when starting any new book! We hope you'll do so for any and all of our book recommendation roundups. Your mental health comes first!
