The Writer and the Critic

Episode 105: The Glutton | Days of Innocence and Wonder

Ah, dear listeners. Due to the increasingly difficult demands of their increasingly busy lives, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond regretfully announce that this will be the final episode of The Writer and the Critic. Forever. Probably. Definitely, yes definitely. Alas.

On this very last episode, your hosts begin with a quick recap of the infamous lost episode of March 2024, wherein they discussed two novels they both very much enjoyed, A Helping Hand by Celia Dale and Monsters by Emerald Fennell. There are no real spoilers in this brief discussion, although there is some moaning and gnashing of teeth in regards to technological mishaps. Not that they bear any grudges. Oh no, not at all.

Your hosts then turn their attention the two novels they unsuspectingly selected as the very last to be discussed on this podcast. Ever. Probably. Definitely! The books up on the slab are The Glutton by A E Blakemore [15:00] and Days of Innocence and Wonder by Lucy Treloar [42:10].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:10:25 for some final - FINAL! -remarks.

Kirstyn and Ian would like to thank all their listeners over the years, both long term fans and those who dropped by from time to time to dip their toes. They would especially like to thank their wonderful Patreon patrons whose generosity covered all the bills - you are beloved! 

The Writer and the Critic will remain archived at Podbean for the foreseeable future, and whenever this changes the details of its new digs will be posted here.

Kirstyn and Ian would also like to recommend a handful of bookish podcasts you might like to check out, if you haven't already come across them:

• Backlisted
• The Garret
• Let the Cat In
• Bohemiana
• The Coode Street Podcast

If you would like to keep in touch, you can find your miscreant hosts in various places online:

Kirstyn McDermott

• https://kirstynmcdermott.com
• BlueSky: @fearofemeralds.bsky.social

Ian Mond

• https://mondyboy.com/
• BlueSky: @mondyboy74.bsky.social

As a far wiser and funnier writer and critic once said, so long and thanks for all the fish!

A short and somewhat sad message to our listeners

Sadly, due to a catastrophic technical failure, we have no episode to bring you this month. Please listen to the message to find out more.

Next episode, Kirstyn and Ian will be discussing the following the two books:

• The Glutton by A E Blakemore
• Days of Innocence and Wonder by Lucy Treloar 

There will be an episode. They promise.

Episode 104: The Haunting of Hill House | A Haunting on the Hill

Happy new year! On this first episode of The Writer and the Critic for 2024, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, begin by with a very brief discussion of recent reads and whether writing a 'young' or an 'old' voice might be more ... ah ... challenging.

The books up for dissection this month are The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson [5:10] and A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand [39:20].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:02:00 for final remarks - including a surprise anecdote involving Evelyn Waugh!

Next episode, the two books on the slab will be:

• A Helping Hand by Celia Dale
• Monsters by Emerald Fennell

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 103: After the Forest | I Am Homeless if This is Not My Home

On this last and somewhat longer episode of The Writer and the Critic for 2023, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, begin by discussing the television adaptation of Slow Horses as well as the new Mike Flanagan series, The Fall of the House of Usher. No prizes for guessing which one Kirstyn did not like and which one she adored.

The books up for discussion this month are After the Forest by Kell Woods [13:35] and I am Homeless if This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moor [54:20].

This review by Parul Sehgal of I Am Homeless if This is Not My Home in The New Yorker is highly recommended if you are able to access it.

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:21:55 for final remarks.

Next episode will be February 2024 and the two books on the slab will be:

• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
• A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 102: The Broken Shore | Slow Horses

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, begin with a brief celebration of Ian winning the William Atheling Jr. Award for his reviews in Locus that meanders into a discussion about the importance of criticism and the dangers of AI. Huzzah for Ian and criticism! Boo hiss for AI!

The books up for discussion this month are The Broken Shore by Peter Temple [7:25] and Slow Horses by Mick Herron [33:30].

Mentioned in dispatches and highly recommended are the following television series:

• Deadloch (2023)
• The Sandbaggers (1978-1980)

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:04:25 for final remarks.

Next month, the two books on the slab will be:

• After the Forest by Kell Woods
• I am Homeless if This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!