The Writer and the Critic

Ah, dear listeners. Due to the increasingly difficult demands of their increasingly busy lives, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond regretfully announce that this will be the final episode of The Writer and the Critic. Forever. Probably. Definitely, yes definitely. Alas.

On this very last episode, your hosts begin with a quick recap of the infamous lost episode of March 2024, wherein they discussed two novels they both very much enjoyed, A Helping Hand by Celia Dale and Monsters by Emerald Fennell. There are no real spoilers in this brief discussion, although there is some moaning and gnashing of teeth in regards to technological mishaps. Not that they bear any grudges. Oh no, not at all.

Your hosts then turn their attention the two novels they unsuspectingly selected as the very last to be discussed on this podcast. Ever. Probably. Definitely! The books up on the slab are The Glutton by A E Blakemore [15:00] and Days of Innocence and Wonder by Lucy Treloar [42:10].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:10:25 for some final - FINAL! -remarks.

Kirstyn and Ian would like to thank all their listeners over the years, both long term fans and those who dropped by from time to time to dip their toes. They would especially like to thank their wonderful Patreon patrons whose generosity covered all the bills - you are beloved! 

The Writer and the Critic will remain archived at Podbean for the foreseeable future, and whenever this changes the details of its new digs will be posted here.

Kirstyn and Ian would also like to recommend a handful of bookish podcasts you might like to check out, if you haven't already come across them:

• Backlisted

If you would like to keep in touch, you can find your miscreant hosts in various places online:

Kirstyn McDermott

• https://kirstynmcdermott.com

Ian Mond

• https://mondyboy.com/

As a far wiser and funnier writer and critic once said, so long and thanks for all the fish!

Sadly, due to a catastrophic technical failure, we have no episode to bring you this month. Please listen to the message to find out more.

Next episode, Kirstyn and Ian will be discussing the following the two books:

• The Glutton by A E Blakemore

There will be an episode. They promise.

Happy new year! On this first episode of The Writer and the Critic for 2024, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, begin by with a very brief discussion of recent reads and whether writing a 'young' or an 'old' voice might be more ... ah ... challenging.

The books up for dissection this month are The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson [5:10] and A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand [39:20].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:02:00 for final remarks - including a surprise anecdote involving Evelyn Waugh!

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

• A Helping Hand by Celia Dale

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

On this last and somewhat longer episode of The Writer and the Critic for 2023, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, begin by discussing the television adaptation of Slow Horses as well as the new Mike Flanagan series, The Fall of the House of Usher. No prizes for guessing which one Kirstyn did not like and which one she adored.

The books up for discussion this month are After the Forest by Kell Woods [13:35] and I am Homeless if This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moor [54:20].

This review by Parul Sehgal of I Am Homeless if This is Not My Home in The New Yorker is highly recommended if you are able to access it.

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:21:55 for final remarks.

Next episode will be February 2024 and the two books on the slab will be:

• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, begin with a brief celebration of Ian winning the William Atheling Jr. Award for his reviews in Locus that meanders into a discussion about the importance of criticism and the dangers of AI. Huzzah for Ian and criticism! Boo hiss for AI!

The books up for discussion this month are The Broken Shore by Peter Temple [7:25] and Slow Horses by Mick Herron [33:30].

Mentioned in dispatches and highly recommended are the following television series:

• Deadloch (2023)

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:04:25 for final remarks.

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

• After the Forest by Kell Woods

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

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

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

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

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

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

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

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

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

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

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

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!