Pop Fiction Women

In this episode we are discussing Sally Rooney’s 2017 debut novel, Conversations With Friends, a story about two college students and the strange, unexpected connection they forge with a married couple. Like all Sally Rooney novels, we have so many questions: What is a friend? What is a conversation? Can you love more than one person? Is second choice love really love? What is a relationship? What does it mean for a relationship to work out? How do we heal ourselves? How do we find ourselves through love? There is one thing Sally Rooney engenders for us...and that is lots and lots of conversation! ** We start by discussing Frances and Nick and let’s just say - there is A LOT to talk about with these two and their affair. (03:42) ** We discuss the “twist” and contemplate whether Bobbi ultimately drives this entire story. (51:08) ** We debate Bobbi and Frances’ relationship and whether this is the real love story of the novel. (56:04). ** What She Said. How is it possible that we STILL have more Sally Rooney first person quotes to discuss after all the times we covered her and her novels on this podcast? Well, we do. (76:47) ** We’re rabid Sally Rooney fans so clearly we need to take some time to draw connections between all of her novels. (84:42) ** Who won the book? Kate goes very literal and Carinn manages to bring it all back to Taylor Swift! (90:28) ** We discuss our takeaways and homework assignments. We’ve covered so much, but it’s never enough. So stay tuned for our follow-up conversation on this book and our recaps of the upcoming Hulu adaptation! (95:00) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Debut Discussions we’re chatting with Sarah Crouch about her debut novel, Middletide, a gripping and intensely atmospheric literary thriller about the suspicious death of a beautiful young doctor in a small town and the prime suspect, a reclusive young man who abandoned the community in chase of big city dreams but returned for the first love he left behind.

Sarah shares the challenges of her path to publication and how she and Carinn have personally bonded over it; writing flawed and complex characters; the importance of accurate representation of indigenous culture in fiction; the meta book within a book concept of her novel; how she trusted herself to fight for this title; and how she’s juggling the launch of her debut novel while on submission for her second.

Listen now to Sarah’s story wherever you get your podcasts. Middletide is out now and it’s a Book of the Month and Indie Next Pick -- buy it, read it, and share it (in other words, make a debut author’s dreams come true!).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Complicated Female Friendship, Murder and Mommy Issues *** What took us so long to cover Season Two of one of our favorite shows? Turns out, the timing was perfect for us! (01:36) *** Complicated Woman Rating. Jen Harding and Judy Hale, two of our most complicated female leads, show us even more dimensions this season. We didn’t think it was possible, but Jen gets softer and Judy shows a darker side. They both grow and evolve in such surprising ways! (05:55) *** Scenes. In Episode 2 Jen realizes that Henry’s bird is a mom, which gets us talking about all the moms and mothering this season (19:32); Jen goes all Walter White and gives us a Breaking Bad moment (22:40); scenes with Jen’s body and how much of her pain and love is tied up with her physical body really get to us (24:09); the scene where Judy and Jen’s relationship comes to a head is a total show-stopper and makes the season (28:56); these scenes get us discussing toxic friendships (35:05). *** The Ending. All the twists and turns this season culminate in a final surprising finale that has us talking about what it really means to be a criminal and guessing what will come in Season Three. There is SO much to unpack in this last episode. (38:59) *** Crystal Ball. Our predictions are sprinkled all over the place, but we tick off a few of our ideas here. (52:00) *** That Cliffhanger. Shocking or inevitable? We say both. (55:05) *** What’s Your Damage, Heather? Mommy issues have become a real theme on this podcast lately, and in this season of Dead to Me that damage is on full display for Jen and Judy. (63:48) *** What She Said -- Liz Feldman. Carinn discusses our tweets with Liz Feldman herself and Kate cites a quote about the intimacy of female friendship, which reminds them of their own novel! Carinn hopes they don’t “Thelma and Louise” the end of this series! (68:00) *** Who Won the Show? For Carinn the answer is dancing and for Kate it’s astrology. Confused? Listen and hear why. (79:14) *** Takeaways. Kate lays on the couch, citing another Liz Feldman quote, and shares how she hopes to keep evolving and facing her issues. Carinn reluctantly hops on the couch next to Kate, and roots around for that wound she feels when she watches Judy. (86:32) Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @popfictionwomen and on Twitter @pop_women. To do a full deep dive, check out our website at www.popfictionwomen.com. Stay Complicated! We’ve launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @carinn-jade. Thank you for your support and enjoy the show!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss the first three episodes of Pachinko, the Apple show written by Soo Hugh based on the novel by Min Jin Lee. Carinn and Kate found different ways into this show, but suffice it to say, by the end of episode three, we are both ALL IN.