The Writer and the Critic

Episode 82: The Animals in That Country | Sorrowland

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond waste no time in diving straight into their discussion of The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay [3:20] and Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon [47:50].

Also recommended is the novella The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes, which Ian reviewed for Locus.

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:23:10 for final remarks.

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

• All the Fabulous Beasts by Priya Sharma

• You Know You Want This: Cat Person and other stories by Kristen Roupenian

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 81: The Space Between Worlds | Mrs Death Misses Death

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond indulge briefly in some COVID commiseration before beginning into their discussion of The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson [4:30] and Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden [39:10].

 

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:17:00 for final remarks.

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

• The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay

• Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 80: Memorial | The Mermaid of Black Conch

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond spend some time on brief tangents regarding awards (good) and coffee (not so much) before launching into their discussion of Memorial by Bryan Washington [7:30] and The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey [40:00].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:18:15 for final remarks - including the exciting conclusion to last episode's exciting cliffhanger: Has Ian Finished All the Murmuring Bones and Did He Like it?

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

• The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

• Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

P.S. Our apologies for the poor sound quality on this episode. Due to unnoticed mic issues, for once Ian sounds better than Kirstyn - a fact about which he is undoubtedly delighted.

Episode 79: All the Murmuring Bones | Smart Ovens for Lonely People

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, discuss All the Murmuring Bones by Angela Slatter [10:40] and Smart Ovens for Lonely People by Elizabeth Tan [47:05].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:12:15 for brief final remarks. Next month, the two books up on the slab will be:

• Memorial by Bryan Washington

• The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 78: Mammoth | Boy Swallows Universe

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, discuss Mammoth by Chris Flynn [3:05] and Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton [29:00].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:07:50 for brief final remarks. Next month, the two books up on the slab will be:

• All the Murmuring Bones by Angela Slatter

• Smart Ovens for Lonely People by Elizabeth Tan

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!