Hello! We're back with another of our 30 Dirty episodes and we're talking retellings and books about historical figures for our June #tbntbookchallenge2022. As usual, we got carried away talking about books so we've decided to make this episode a two-parter. Don't say we're not a podcast that keeps giving. Cheers!
We're back! We have been away for some time but it's all to recharge and regroup our wits for a whole new season of TBNT! We're kicking off Season 6 with one of our favourite episodes to make, a TBR episode. We're covering some books that are to be released in June till September 2022 that have piqued our interest and we hope it does you too. Fair warning, there's A LOT of books. Stay tuned for more updates from us because things are opening up again and we have so many plans lined up. Cheers!...
Hello booknerds! This is a special episode in collaboration with the launch of BookXcess's new website! We were invited to have a talk at The Powder Room with some lovely friends and we had a blast talking about all things bookish and being a booknerd. Sit in with us for this laidback session. Cheers!
Hello booknerds! We're on a short break but we thought of coming back on air to give you some recommendations for our TBNT May Challenge; the main character is an antihero or a book with an unreliable narrator. We thought of combining the two and came up with a list of interesting unreliable femme fatale reads for your consideration. Read well!
We've finally reached the end of a very.. interesting season. We thought of highlighting some middle grade reads and if you've never thought of picking up a middle grade book, you're kinda missing out! Honey comes in clutch with some interesting horror reads (don't worry, nothing too traumatizing), while Diana strikes a more hopeful and wholesome tune with her reads. Enjoy!
For April's challenge we urge you to pick up a read that has an element of nature in the title OR explores a world beyond earth. Honey picked a whole bunch of cool graphic novels, all sci-fi of course, while Diana has a mix bag from YA fantasy to murder mystery, essays to romance, this is a really fun #tbntbookchallenge2022 Books mentioned (in order): The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh Invisible Kingdom by G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward These Precious Days by Ann Patchett Descende...
We are back after a sudden two week break (it has been balls to walls busy for Honey) but huzzah! It's a book chaser where we discuss Emily Itami's sparking debut Fault Lines and Jessica Au's contemplative Cold Enough For Snow. There is honesty here with strong female voices, introspection of where you are in life, meditation, travel and a sense of place. You'd want to visit Tokyo and Kyoto after this because both books bring you on a journey, not only of a physical one but an internal one too. ...
Alrighty for March #tbntbookchallenge2022, we urge you to pick up a medical read (i.e. doctor's memoir, stuff set in clinics, hospitals all that jazz) OR a book about mental health. And we found a lot that we want to dive into as well. Will these reads make you feel better? Listen on! We have a bunch of recommendations ranging from non-fiction to fiction reads.
We are still in murder mysteries because well, there are so many good ones out there. This time we are going into 'cozies' - whodunnits usually with a lovable protagonist and set in small towns. There are suspects. There is usually pets. There might be a crumpet or two. Cozies are delightful because at the end of the day, the bad guy/girl gets caught and all is right with the world today. Join us as we go deep into 'cozies with the most-ies' (ugh that's bad) with Richard Osman's second novel The...
Here are books! With animals in them, some giving you their very honest opinions, some told by the people who love them. We've found a whole lot of interesting books from a memoir of a famous chimp to a demonic goat the lives in a monastery. You'll meet a lofty tortoise and a fox who doesn't think himself sly. There are some sausage dogs! Because how can there not be? Whatever it is, we hope you have a great time reading this month!
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 Allende Pandora - Susan Stokes-Chapman Daughter of the Moon Goddess...
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 t...
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 w...
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 inequali...
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 ...
"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...
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 w...
“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 Fro...
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 Malay...
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 loos...
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 MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4466-teddy-bear-waltz Licens...
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 MacLeod Link: https://inc...
