Books We Discuss in this week’s episode
Hannah Reads:
Send Nudes – Saba Sams
We explore Saba Sams’s age when she wrote these stories, their honesty and the refreshing new wave of women’s voices in contemporary fiction. We discuss how female writers are challenging taboos, opening up conversations about the female body and presenting women’s experiences with unapologetic honesty. We also consider the short story as a literary form.
Hannah picks out two standout stories: Blue4Eva, which explores family tensions and adolescence, and Bread, about a woman who turns to making the perfect sourdough loaf in the days following an abortion. These stories lead us into a wider conversation about female identity, bodily autonomy, agency and body confidence, and how a new generation of writers is pushing boundaries.
The Artist – Lucy Steed
Hannah is still early in The Artist, but we discuss its similarities to Rachel Joyce’s The Homemade God. We also delve into the familiar trope of the tortured artist. When does an artist’s difficult personality feel convincing, and when does it become a cliché? We consider how authors can make these characters earn their reputation on the page rather than relying on a well-worn literary stereotype.
Nikki Reads:
The Mermaid of Black Conch – Monique Roffey
Nikki loved Monique Roffey’s alternative take on the traditional Western mermaid myth, particularly the mermaid’s power and striking physical depiction. We discuss Roffey’s vivid use of the senses, the distinctive voice of the central character and the novel’s portrayal of violence and aggression between women.
We also explore the Disney-fication of folklore and how familiar mythical creatures have been softened and reshaped for modern audiences. The Mermaid of Black Conch offers a very different, more visceral interpretation of mermaid folklore, challenging our expectations of these mythical beings.
The Turn of the Screw – Henry James
Following our recent buddy read of You Did Nothing Wrong, Nikki picked up this Gothic classic hoping to discover something new and haunting. Unfortunately, she struggled to connect with it, finding Henry James’s dense writing difficult to navigate and the language so elaborate that the story itself became obscured.
We discuss the characters’ shortcomings, James’s portrayal of children and whether the novella successfully builds atmosphere, suspense and psychological tension. We also consider the challenges of reading classic literature when its writing style creates more distance than intrigue.
In This Episode
- Contemporary fiction and the changing voices of women writers
- Send Nudes by Saba Sams and the modern female experience
- Short stories, female identity and breaking taboos
- The Artist by Lucy Steed and the tortured artist trope
- The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey and the reimagining of mermaid folklore
- The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: Gothic horror, unreliable perspectives and psychological suspense
- The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum
- Honest book reviews, reading experiences and book club discussion
Join Hannah and Nikki for another episode of books, thoughtful literary chat and honest opinions on what they’re reading — from contemporary short stories to classic Gothic horror
