The Writer and the Critic

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!

Episode 101: The Living Sea of Waking Dreams | The Saint of Bright Doors

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, begin by chatting about cardamon knobs, cygnets and the shenanigans of parkour cats. Seriously. The books up for discussion this month are The Living Sea of Waking Dreams by Richard Flanagan [5:05] and The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera [46:00].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:14:10 for final remarks.

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

• The Broken Shore by Peter Temple
• Slow Horses by Mick Herron

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 100: The Book of Accidents | Conquest

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, ruminate briefly upon head colds, snoring and cats. Very briefly. The books up for discussion this month are The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig [3:30] and Conquest by Nina Allan [31:25].

Listeners may want to check out the following, as mentioned:

• Chuck Wendig's blog: Terrible Minds
• Nina Allan's website: The Spider's House
• Review of Conquest in Locus by Gary K. Wolfe

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 59:25 for final remarks.

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

• The Living Sea of Waking Dreams by Richard Flanagan
• The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 99: The Trees Grew Because I Bled There | Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, discuss such scintillating topics as football, the coronation, bus replacements and overcrowded trains. But not for long, they promise. The books up for discussion this month are The Trees Grew Because I Bled There by Eric LaRocca [7:05] and Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower [36:30].

Listeners may also wish to head over to Cinema Chords to watch the interview with Erica LaRocca mentioned in this episode.

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:01:10 for final remarks.

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

• The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
• Conquest by Nina Allan

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!