The Writer and the Critic

Episode 14: 'The Tiger's Wife' and 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'

In their very last Writer and the Critic podcast for 2011, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond ramble only briefly before leaping boldly forth into their discussion of the selected novels, both winners of the Orange Prize for Fiction in their respective years. As usual, there are significant plot spoilers for both books, so take heed of the timestamps if you wish to avoid them. Discussion of The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht begins at 05:15 and includes references to a review by Philip Hensher at The Telegraph as well as this one by Ruth Fowler at the Huffington Post. At the 35:15 mark, the two then move on to We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. Kirstyn quotes from this Guardian article by Lionel Shriver and recommends the newly released film starring Tilda Swinton -- but only if you read the book first! If you've skipped ahead, please come back at for final remarks at 01:21:40. Next month -- next year! -- Ian has picked Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord while Kirstyn has chosen Zoo City by Lauren Beukes. Due to their hectic end of year schedules, neither of them have actually had a chance to read their own recommendations yet so they're each looking forward to finding out what they themselves think . . . Happy New Year!

Episode 13: 'Room' and 'The Secret History' (plus 'Generation X')

This month on The Writer and the Critic, your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, find themselves in the native habitat of fellow podcaster John Richards -- one of the mighty Boxcutters team and co-writer of the soon to be screened ABC comedy series Outland.  The three chat about why television kills your dreams and whether Ian is a better co-podcaster than Josh Kinal. Ian and Kirstyn would also like to congratulate all the recent World Fantasy Award winners announced in San Diego last month. In particular, their warmest wishes go to Nnedi Okorafor, who won Best Novel for Who Fears Death (featured on The Writer and Critic in Episode 11), and friend of the podcast and Galactic Suburbian, Alisa Krasnostein, who received the Special Award Non-Professional in recognition for her fabulous work with Twelve Planet Press. Yay Alisa and Nnedi! The two official books for this month are Room by Emma Donoghue -- Ian's pick -- and The Secret History by Donna Tartt -- chosen by Kirstyn. As usual, there are plenty of spoilers -- including revealed endings! -- so for those of you who wish to skip over a particular book, discussion of Room begins at 22:15 while The Secret History starts at 41:10. John Richards has chosen Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland for this episode and discussion of the book commences at the 1:09:40 mark. The three self-confessed GenXers also talk generally about the 1990's, generation x and the alleged end of history. Appropriately, they seem a little jaded. And old. Wander back at 1:28:35 for some brief but witty final remarks. The books for next month will be We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (chosen by Kirstyn) and The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht (Ian's pick), both recipients of The Orange Prize.  Don't worry, there will be a return to a greater speculative fiction emphasis in 2012 -- that's a promise! P.S. Kirstyn apologises for the sketchy sound quality on Ian's mic this episode. Even if he does deserve it. P.P.S. Kirstyn also apologies for the tardiness of this podcast. She was away for more days than she was home in the past couple of months. She definitely deserved that!