discrimination

Binti

Posted on June 15, 2016 Updated on June 15, 2016

Novel Ideas returns with Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, the winner of the Nebula award in the novella category this year. In this episode, we discuss empathy, outsider perspectives, colonialism, and forgiveness. We also talk about the lack of snark, kindergarten level thinking, adult hair touching, and not being a hater.

The music bump is “All is Forgiven” by the Jellyfish, which is thematically appropriate in at least two ways.

106 – Binti – Angry Young Jellyfish at Space Harvard

Our review: Good to very good, a very simply told story. Gabs would like for the story to be more fleshed out, but nothing that is necessary is omitted. No ratings this time because I forgot to get one from Gabs before she disappeared into the wilderness for the month.

Since this is a recent publication, be mindful of our spoiler policy. Short version: we spoil everything.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged adult hair grabbing, alternate history, angry young jellyfish man, averted romance, award nominees, award winners, Binti, climactic courtroom scene, colonialism, communication, cultural context, cycle of violence, discrimination, don't be a hater, empathy, forgiveness as a space saver, Himba people, IN SPACE, Khoush, kindergarten, MATH, middle grade, Nnedi Okorafor, no snark gene, novella, organic tech, otjize, outsider perspective, plucky YA protagonist, prejudice, Queen of Podcasts, sacrifice, simple style, small cast, space professors at space Harvard, technical difficulties, treeing.

Never Let Me Go

Posted on April 17, 2014

Novel Ideas returns with Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. This book is speculative fiction, or dare we say, science fiction? It is a work that raises a lot of questions, questions that we mostly don’t have answers for. Listen to the episode for our thoughts on subtlety, discrimination, sex, and possible themes. Or if you prefer, listen for our discussions of the stiff upper lip, elephant triggered bullying, silly YA adaptations, and the drama llama.

The music bump is the title track, “Never Let Me Go” by Judy Bridgewater.

Never Let Me Go – Hopes and Dreams and Clone Souls

Recommendations:

An interesting book with a lot of conversation points, and a compelling read despite nothing happening in the traditional sense of the word.

Ben: 7.5/10 One point for each of my favorite organs.

Gabs: 7.5/10 One point for each of Ben’s organs to be transplanted in the future.

Ben: Do I get a say in this?

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged ...but subdued, coming of age, discrimination, dogs love books, donation minutiae, downer ending, drama llama, elephant triggered bullying, false bioethics question, friendship, if Gabs was a bevereage she would be cough-y, incomplete sympathy, Kazuo Ishiguro, logical lovers, mean girl, Never Let Me Go, observant, realistic characters, relationships, rumors, sex, sheltering children, show don't tell, speculative fiction, stiff upper lip, subtlety, very British, W-Theme-F, YA adaptations.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Posted on July 11, 2013

Welcome back to Draco Malfoy Talk, a podcast devoted to analyzing Draco Malfoy and his hilarious antics. Or maybe it’s just starting to feel that way. This week on Novel Ideas, we discuss Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, the third book in the Harry Potter series. In this episode we don’t just talk a whole bunch about Draco and his continued status as a dick, we also talk about good teachers, possible metaphors for discrimination, overcoming fear, and holy crap plot twists. We also discuss the logic of divination, alternate universe Snape, ideas for improving the Hogwarts curriculum, and the plight of those poor flobberworms.

The music bump this week is “Seven Potters” by the Remus Lupins, a Harry Potter tribute band. They are nerdy as hell and probably more enthusiastic than talented, but I can appreciate the principle behind them.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Recommendations:

Best of the series so far! Also, if you’ve gotten this far and you’re still not convinced that you like this series, it probably isn’t for you…

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged alternate Snape, bad guy fake out, bullying, chocolate as a restorative, complexity, cowardice, debt, Dementors may be unreliable, Dementors suck (souls) for serious (Sirius), discrimination, Draco Malfoy Talk, friendship, good teachers, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hogwarts curriculum, J.K. Rowling, Lupin the laid back, no nonsense, overcoming fear, paradox, persecution of the innocent, poor flobberworms, revenge, Scabbers is... a rat!?, Sirius ethical challenges, Sirius/Lupin?, the logic of divination, werewolf metaphors, werewolves.