Episode 33: On Set
Summary: Lights, Camera, Action! In our case, sometimes the action is steamy and other times involves more knives and screaming. Devin and Holly discuss books that take place on set today, and agree that the pizzazz and magic of making films or TV shows add a fun dimension to books across genres. Devin highlighted the focus for romance authors on the “everyman” character getting their spotlight - readers won’t relate as well to famous people being famously in love. Holly appreciated how sets can callow for a great locked room environment, working with a finite group of cast and crew.
Topics Discussed:
The Dagger (4:09): Holly discussed Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth, a 640-page Literary Gothic Horror novel referred to as a “sapphic romp” set in a cursed New England boarding school. The book oscillates between 1902 and the experience of students at the Brookhants School for Girls and the 2015 film production of a “Blair Witch”-style retelling of the haunting events that closed the school over a century before. Holly’s key takeaways were:
The writing is dark, funny, and incisive; it vibrates with creepy environmental and natural horror elements (lots of wasps). Danforth drew upon stories surrounding films such as The Omen, The Exorcist, and Poltergeist as inspiration for her plotlines.
Danforth wanted her novel to focus on explicitly queer characters vs. queer coding and queer erasure. Holly appreciated the range of representation through the novel and how each character relates to their own sexuality vs. just a single perspective on how to be queer or lesbian.
The novel pivots between two storylines, which led to some confusion for the reader and ultimately a lack of cohesion. The book is quite a brick, and could probably have been edited down a bit to resolve some of the storyline pivoting.
The Heart (19:05): Devin discussed You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria, book one in the Primas of Power series. If you love Jane the Virgin or the Kiss Quotient, you’ll have a blast with this steamy telenovela-focused novel. Jasmine Lin Rodriguez and Ashton Suárez are paired up as the protagonists of a new telenovela filmed in New York City, “Carmen in Charge.” The problem? Jasmine is giving up on romance after a very public breakup and Ashton is fighting for his last shot at success in the United States before he’d forgo his Hollywood dreams - and they have zero chemistry on screen. Devin’s key takeaways were:
Jasmine and Ashton as protagonists each have their own very authentic motivations that drive the plot and ensure nothing feels contrived; they need this show to succeed, they need to have on-screen chemistry, so why not run lines and scenes together after work to get it right? *Devin winks aggressively*
Daria put heavy emphasis on an all Latinx cast and crew and representation in Hollywood. She also included an intimacy coordinator for the show which highlighted the importance of consent both in private and for the telenovela.
As is the case with most romances, the fallout of this novel hinges on a miscommunication and it left Devin feeling a little underserved - Aston is almost 40 and it would have been nice to see him use his words a bit better like a real adult.
Hot On the Shelf (37:27):
What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:42):
Holly: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes on Audiobook
Devin: Shrinking on Apple TV
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