Episode 4: 'White Cat' and 'Last Days' (plus 'Death Most Definite')

This month's episode of The Writer and the Critic sees your intrepid hosts, Ian Mond and Kirstyn McDermott, pack up their gear and travel to the gothic Victorian mansionette of their special guest: Melbourne horror writer, Felicity Dowker. The three of them discuss the recent controversy surrounding Bitch Media's list of 100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader and the problematic removal of three books from said list. Ian mentions a blog post Kirstyn previously wrote about the issue. Talk of censorship, feminism and the complicated nature of list-making enues. Ian and Kirstyn then chat with Felicity about her own work, the flavour of horror that she writes, and why, before launching into a review of her chosen book for the month -- Death Most Definite by Brisbane author, Trent Jamieson. For those wishing to avoid spoilers -- and there are many -- the discussion of this novel begins at minute 28:00 of the podcast and ends around 49:00. You're welcome. The official podcast books for March are Last Days by Brian Evenson (recommended by Ian) and White Cat by Holly Black (Kirstyn's pick). For your convenience once again, the starting points are 49:00 for White Cat and 01:08:00 for Last Days. For a final wrap-up and some tasteless, non-book related jokes from Ian, make sure you've tuned back in by the 01:32:30 point. Note to selves: it is possibly not the best idea to imbibe wine while podcasting.

Next month, The Writer and the Critic hits the road again to meet with another special guest: Alexandra Pierce from Galactic Suburbia. Alex has chosen Bold as Love by Gwyneth Jones as her recommended read. Ian has recommended My Name is Will by Jess Winfield, while Kirstyn has chosen Under the Poppy by Kathe Koja. Just a reminder that The Writer and the Critic has now adopted more of a book club approach to its discussion and will assume its listeners have either read the books in question or don't care if they find out that the protagonist falls in love with a hairless ferret only to discover in a shocking last page revelation that said ferret is actually a killer whale in disguise. There will almost certainly be spoilers, so you are encouraged to read the chosen titles ahead of time. It'll be much more fun that way and Ian and Kirstyn won't get near as many death threats!