Episode 8: Struggles with Depression
Summary: Holly and Devin both bring books that feature characters struggling with depression in this week’s episode. While the overall tone of each book differs greatly, they unite around key aspects of trauma, mental health, reckoning with the past and our choices, and seeking help to heal. Both Holly and Devin agree that these portrayals, when handled deftly, are helpful to any reader - especially those struggling with anxiety and depression - to ensure no one ever feels alone.
Topics Discussed:
The Dagger (2:05): Holly discussed When The Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain, a literary mystery novel that takes place in Northern California and follows a missing person’s detective, Anna Hart. Her key takeaways were:
McLain, as a historical fiction author, takes a deep look into the psychology of the characters throughout, highlighting the psychological effects of trauma and how it can drive bad decisions.
A slower burn book, it is technically a detective procedural but differs in the diligence of McLain’s analyses into not only victims and suspects but the detectives themselves.
The book explores the dangers of untreated traumas and grief leading to poor decisions, and how those traumas make us susceptible to people who will take advantage, including potentially violent predators.
The Heart (20:23): Devin discussed Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers, a romantic coming of age story that follows Grace Porter as she wraps up her Astronomy PhD and realizes that she hasn’t yet figured out who she is and what she wants from her life. Her key takeaways were:
Burnout leading to depression and the existential crisis Grace experiences should resonate with anyone who has either graduated school or had a transition that ripped the rug out from under their previous way of life.
The number of systemic barriers in place for Grace - her womanhood, her Blackness, her queerness - add extra pressure and drive her toward a deeper existential crisis than her ex-military father’s disapproval would have done on it’s own.
The dynamic between Grace and the woman she married while blacked out in Las Vegas, Yuki, helped explore the key theme of depression, loneliness, and self-exploration, but sometimes Rogers’ writing made the dynamic feel YA instead of a true adult romance.
Hot On the Shelf (38:14):
Holly: Gallant by V.E. Schwab
What’s Making Our Hearts Race (44:13):
Holly: Hot & Bothered Podcast, Season 4 “Live at Pemberly”
Devin: Abbott Elementary on Hulu
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.
