Episode 35: Weekend Getaway
Summary: Pack your carry-on and get the heck outta town - this week, Holly and Devin break down books centered around a weekend getaway. They agree that putting protagonists in a brand new environment acts as a fantastic plot and character development catalyst - but of course the outcome of lighting that fuse could be murder or makin’ out, depending on genre. Get ready for some armchair travel on today’s episode.
Topics Discussed:
The Dagger (3:39): Holly discussed Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney, a psychological thriller centered around Adam and Amelia Wright as they head on a weekend to Scotland in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. Holly’s key takeaways were:
After winning a trip to stay in an old, remote chapel in Scotland, Adam and Amelia jump on the opportunity to try and reignite their marriage at the advice of their marriage counselor. It quickly becomes evident, though, that they have their own plans and motives up their sleeves.
Trust is a central theme of the book; the protagonists are constantly questioning each other’s motives and actions - there’s no surprise at all why they ended up in counseling. There’s also a healthy dose of revenge as Adam and Amelia seek revenge for past wrongs.
The perspective alternates in chapters between Adam’s and Amelia’s voice and both are unreliable narrators. This allows Feeney to explore not only the nature of truth and reality, but also the complexities of marriage and maintaining relationships.
The Heart (18:41): Devin discussed Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens, a delightful romp through the Channel Isles (specifically Jersey) following Laura La Quesne, a journalist for the magazine ‘Love Life’ who decides to return to her roots near England for a piece on her parent’s tragic but profound love story and finds much more along the way. Devin’s key takeaways were:
Laura is a fun protagonist to root for, even if some of her hijinks throughout the book are cringeworthy. After accidentally taking the bag of a stranger, she roots through the contents and decides that the love of her life is the owner of said bag. Things escalate quickly from there.
There is a clear love triangle in this novel between Ted, the grumpy taxi driver who shows Laura the island and helps her hunt down her mystery man and the man himself, Jasper, who oddly enough is *not* the villain of this story.
Ultimately this book is about selfhood, searching for identity, the power of story, and the choices we make that define who we are and what love means to us. Laura seeks to understand her family history and find love, but uncovers more about herself than anything else on this whirlwind long-weekend adventure.
Hot On the Shelf (37:47):
What’s Making Our Hearts Race (41:25):
Devin: The Meg with Jason Statham
If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.
