Two Book Nerds Talking

Hello folks! Here's an edited version our LIVE interview with David Levithan and Jennifer Niven on their collaborative book Take Me With You When You Go. It was a really cool interview where we talk about writing, being ambassadors of empathy and what they are reading too. Have a listen to find out about the book which is an epistolary novel where a brother and sister email to each other what they are going through in life.

Some of the big ticket books for the first half of 2022 is here! We probably do another one in May since we've hardly covered anything and still managed to natter for almost an hour. Here are some book highlights and some excerpts so you can figure out if you fancy picking up any of the books in the next few months. Books mentioned in this episode (in order) :To Paradise - Hanya Yanagihara The Maid - Nita Prose Violeta - Isabel AllendePandora - Susan Stokes-ChapmanDaughter of the Moon Goddess - Su Lynn TanThe Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea - Axie OhQueen of the Tiles - Hanna AlkafCold Enough for Snow - Jessica AuAnonymous Sex - edited by Hillary Jordan & Cheryl Lu-Lien TanMidnight in Everwood - M.A. KuzniarCandy House - Jennifer EganTell me an Ending - Jo HarkinSea of Tranquility - Emily St. John MandelPortrait of a Thief - Grace D. LiFiona and Jane - Jean Chen Ho

Yes, we are back to normal TBNT programming! It was a crazy end of year so we could only wrap things up at the beginning of 2022 (the tried to put in anticipated reads and then kinda failed hehe). We had a lot to say about the stuff we did last here. These are some highlights, some of our feelings of doing a podcast for over 3 years and some books we absolutely loved last year.Cheers!

We are back deep diving into one of our favourite reads this year - She Who Became The Sun. Joining us is author Shelley Parker-Chan herself and it felt like the fitting book to end our year with. Firstly because it's such an epic and emotional read and secondly because it totally fits into all our gender discussions of the past week. We talk all sorts from fan-fiction writing to bitchy eunuchs and a protagonist that burns with want and how it fits in the world of Asian historical fantasy.

In our final episode for our Literature for Equality project we look into the suffrage movement in Britain during World War One and talk about the fight for women's rights- the right to vote, the right for an education and the right to have a job. Today these are things a lot of us take for granted but not too long ago, this was not a given. We are where we are today by standing on the shoulders of these plucky women.

We go closer to home in this episode by shinning a light on our own folklores and contemporary tales with a girl at the centre of the story. We had a lot of fun discussing our own love of story-telling as well as why we need #ownvoices tales, more of them starring girls and women finding their own agency, purpose, making mistakes and learning from them.

When Persepolis came out in 2000 it became an instant hit because it gave a human perspective on all that has happened in Iran during the late70s and 80s. Marjane's black and white drawings were charming but also unflinching as it gives voice to children living through those challenging times. We talk about freedom of expression and all how women's bodies have always been the subject of debate and how graphic novels can peel back a tricky subject in an accessible manner.

So many of our fairytales and folklores deal with gender stereotypes. The pretty, poor girl waiting for a prince to save her, the girl who recklessly wears red and gets eaten by a wolf, the brother and sister unable to contain themselves from eating a gingerbread house. All these early stories have seeped into our psyches with bedtime stories and magic. We relook at well known fairytales through Nikita Gills poetry and flash prose and reframe them. After all princesses can save themselves from towers, outwit villains and wake themselves up by their own efforts, right?

Epics are all about heroes especially Greek epics. Odysseus sailing the seas vanquishing monsters and starting wars. Achilles fighting the Trojan war a harbinger of fleet death and divine retribution. And of the women, the witches and fates, goddesses and maidens- nothing much. Enter the new literary era of feminist retellings. There have been many of course but Miller's Circe really exploded and gave a real voice to the witch of Aiaia and not only that but a rich inner life too. Through Circe we will navigating domestic lives of women and motherhood, and asking the question, 'why are women's labour still undervalued in today's world?'Light Thought var 4 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Artist: http://incompetech.com/

In our third episode of our LFE Project, we take you in the life of one Korean Woman. This slim book that made waves when it first came out shone a light on conditioned misogyny and systemic sexism in modern Korean life. So many that is touched upon in this book will make you think about your own social conditioning and accepted norms. Do you face daily gender bias without even recognizing it as such? The takeaways are many and it paves the way for more better conversations about gender inequality- because what is the big deal about it anyway? And why are we still talking about it today.For more info, visit rngdr.com/lfe

In our second episode of our Literature for Equality Project, we tackled the word feminism itself. How did this word get its current reputation? Why do people shy away from the word feminist? Adichie puts forth clear, concise and powerful arguments on why everyone should be a feminist. It not only affects how we bring up girls but also how we treat boys. We delve into the meaning of the word, toxic masculinity and reclaiming back the word for the future.For more info, visit rngdr.com/lfe

This is the first episode of our Literature for Equality Project where we pick 8 books that use them to discuss gender issues. This project is supported by The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. Our first book is Iban Woman by Golda Mowe and this is a thrilling coming-of-age tale of Ratai, an Iban girl at the cusp of womanhood and her struggles in finding her identity and wanting to be more than just what the tribe deems as a perfect woman. The world is rich with Iban gods and mythology and you get immersed into Iban culture from ceremonies to rites within daily life and also if a tribe goes to war. Throughout you will feel the push and pull of Ratai's thoughts as she questions the gender stereotypes around her and eventually forge her own path in the world.

"Ehhh macam Jakun la""Jakun la you""Don't be like one Jakun can or not"Do these phrases sound familiar?What is a playful jibe towards others is actually an Orang Asli (meaning original or first peoples in Malay) tribe name. The Jakun people are the second largest Orang Asli sub-groups in Malaysia.In this episode, we spoke to Sherry Viviey, a half-Jakun youth on the discrimination and challenges faced by the Orang Asli community, and the misuse of her tribe name (usually used as a derogatory term).Tune in to listen to the story title "Macam Jakun", written by our own Honey Ahmad, inspired by Sherry's story, and the amazing discussion we had with this feisty youth.

Having to uproot yourself from a country and the life you've known, and starting all over can be daunting. But it can also mean opening more doors of opportunity for you.In this episode, we spoke to Abeera and Yusra, two amazing youths from Project Stand Up, on their aspirations, their challenges, and their hopes for the well-being and empowerment of refugee youths here in Malaysia.Check out this episode on all podcast platforms to hear their story titled "Freedom", and the discussion we had with these two lovely youths.

“The grievances of the plaintiffs are real … the discrimination is apparent,” Justice Akhtar Tahir said, reading out his ruling in the landmark case against discriminatory citizenship laws back on the 9th of September 2021.In this episode, we spoke to Bina Ramanand who co-founded the Foreign Spouses Support Group Malaysia and is the Lead Coordinator for the "Malaysian Campaign for Equal Citizenship", Melinda Anne Sharlini who is a gender justice advocate and the programme manager for Family Frontiers and, Shamila Unnikrishnan, a Malaysian currently residing in Nairobi, Kenya on their experiences and journey to achieving gender-equal citizenship laws in Malaysia.Listen on for a story written by our very own Diana Yeong and the riveting discussion with Bina, Melinda and Shamila.

Everyone has a universal need to feel accepted, to be accepted for their authentic self. In a country that does not recognize the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, living your truth can be scary and painful.In this special episode, you'll be hearing an excerpt of Julya's unpublished book, Transma and Me, and we had a wonderful conversation with Julya and Faris about their experiences and their individual journeys.Join us as we bring you the stories and voices of marginalized communities in Malaysia in this 4 part series of special edition shows in collaboration with Empower Malaysia.

Hello there folks! This is an edited version of the LIVE conversation we have with Daryl Kho with some extra excerpts and nerd news. Mist Bound is a is a charming tale of a bright little girl, Alexis who is very close to her grandfather. When he was put under a spell by a kenit, his mind starts filling with mist and he soon forgets everything even his own wife and granddaughter. Alexis and her grandmother travels into the Mist to find the ingredients for a Memory Glue before her grandfather looses all his memories. What follows is an adventure into a magical world full of wise-cracking creatures, fairy-folk, mermaids and ogres where Alexis has to employ all she knows and the stories her grandfather tells her to complete the quest.

We sat down with Li Hsian the co-facilitator for art discovery tours at Ilham Gallery and picked her brains on great local children's picture books. They use a lot of picture books at the gallery to introduce children to art and themes that might be tricky to navigate. We went through some great books and waxed nostalgia on some reads from our childhoods.

We are all bereft of nature right now being stuck in our houses so being a book nerd, we picked up some books that we can live vicariously through. From long nature walks to friendships with foxes, there is something in our picks that will be bound to tickle your non-fiction fancy. Try them and smell fresh air and marvel at creatures great and small through the pages of these books. Music : Teddy Bear Waltz by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4466-teddy-bear-waltzLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseAnd other tracks from https://www.bensound.com/

After last week's horror that is way too close to home, we are still in the world of the supernatural albeit a more rollicking one. Welcome to an alternate Cairo at the turn of the 20th century a mash up of steampunk and djinns with a nice dash of police noir. These series of novellas, short story and novel is pure escapism. Diana and I can't get enough of them. Many thanks this week to Dilly who went above and beyond reading our excerpts.Music : Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agendaLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseKrampus's Workshop by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5518-krampus-s-workshopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license