The Writer and the Critic

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!

 

Episode 98: The Terraformers | Sing, Nightingale

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, briefly discuss reading slumps and the likelihood that either of them will read the new novel by Bret Easton Ellis. The books up for discussion this month are The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz [5:00] and Sing, Nightingale by Marie Hélène Poitras [45:00].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:13:00 for final remarks.

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

• Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower
• The Trees Grew Because I Bled There by Eric LaRocca

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 97: LOTE | Animal Life

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, get straight down to business with minimal waffle. You're welcome. The books up for discussion this month are LOTE by Shola Von Reinhold [3:25] and Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir [44:38].

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

• The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz
• Sing, Nightingale by Marie Hélène Poitras

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!