There's a difference between being alone and being lonely. And loneliness is becoming increasingly recognized as a disease. For this episode, we're talking with poet Hannah Seraphim about Gail Honeyman’s debut novel, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, but more specifically we’re digging into vulnerability, adjusting to a post-cancer life, and mental health. 

Lady Lit

We Are All Completely Fine

Carmen Aguirre moved to Canada as a Chilean refugee and has navigated many identities since. She’s been a revolutionary, a writer, an actress, and a victim of a serial rapist. In this episode, we’re talking about her second memoir (the first being Something Fierce), Mexican Hooker #1: Art, Love and Forgiveness After Trauma. Our guest is Alina Anghel, the creative mind behind the Agency Life web series, an actress and writer from Vancouver. Heads up - this book discusses sexual assault.   

Trauma, Drama & Creativity

This month's episode is legitimately very fun. We're talking about Kira Jane Buxton's novel, Hollow Kingdom. It's a semi-apocalyptic story about how the animals respond to the human race suddenly becoming incapacitated. Who better to talk about a book with a crow as a narrator than two-time bird attack survivor, Trish, and actual zoologist and biology teacher, Faye? Especially with a book like this that takes poetic freedom with things like evolution.  It's a weird and wonderful story with a lot of heart, and we're very excited to share it with you this month.

Creative Zoology

Today, we're talking with the wonderful Tegan about Crystal Rasmussen's memoir, Diary of a Drag Queen. From Céline Dion's androgynous kids' clothing line and poo stories to coming out experiences and love in all of it's many forms, you may want a tissue for this one. 

Love, Céline & Oversharing

Today, Katja's back to talk with Trish about Helen Oyeyemi's 'feral fairytale,' Gingerbread. Get ready for spoilers, changelings, strange lotteries, and absolute nonsense.   Full show notes live at ladylit.club/shows

Feral Fairytales

Today, Trish is talking with writer and casual adventurer, Kristin Warkentin, about Robyn Davidson’s travel memoir, Tracks. Davidson moved to Alice Springs in 1975 when she was in her early 20s with a dream to walk from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean on the west coast of Australia with some camels and her dear dog, Diggity. For two years she worked with camels and learned how to survive in the harsh desert, then started walking. In the book, Robyn writes about the Aboriginal Land Rights movement, language preservation, eschewing modern feminine standards to be a naked lady bleeding it out in the desert, and like, a lot, about camels. Get the book here. Check out the Darug featured in this song by The Preatures: Yanada . The super cool Google Earth Indigenous Language Project.   Read Kristin’s work at girlintheworld.ca Fun Camel Fact: There are approximately 1 to 1.2 million feral camels in Australia, and their numbers are thought to be doubling every 8-9 years.

Type-Two Fun Down Under

 It’s that time of the month, and we are seeing red in this episode. For today’s show, I spoke with my friend, the fantastic Leanna Milburn, about Soraya Chemaly’s ode to female rage, Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger. Be prepared for many exasperated “ughhh” noises.  Women have a lot to be angry about, and this book is a fantastic primer on both the roots of our rage, and the social and physical implications of it.  We did a lot of self-censoring this episode, which is also indicative of how deeply we’ve internalized the messaging that women aren’t permitted to show their anger (unless, of course, it falls nicely into some of the ‘noble’ categories, such as a mother’s anger on behalf of her children). What we do get into however, is: the way anger has played into our working lives; the women in rural Canadian communities who are travelling great distances at their own personal costs to give birth; the horrifying history of women’s healthcare; and a round of Never Have I Ever: The Microaggression Edition Grab yourself a drink and let's get into it. 

Self-Censoring Anger and Rage-Inducing Drinking Games

Today, we're talking about Kim Fu's novel, the Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore, with PNW locals and long-time besties Trish and Katja. There will be survival tips, dream casting, bear facts, and spoilers. Join us as we talk about this great novel over some very hoppy west coast Deschutes IPA.  Handy Links:  Kim Fu's website Buy 'The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore' Learn more about bears Our intro music is by the magnificent Michael Peter Olsen - Check out the #ecellomoment on instagram.

Dream Casting & Bear Facts - Reading the Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim Fu

We read books written by women, then talk about them over drinks. There will be spoilers, chortling, and fun facts. Join Trish, your hostess with the mostess, and her illustrious guests from around the world for the book club you wish you were actually in. Grab yourself a drink, and let's get into it!