Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

Latest Episodes:

Wetlands (Banned Book Club 6) Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

Wanna read/watch something gross? Well we have you covered! This month's Banned Book Club is tackling Charlotte Roche's notorious, controversial German bestseller Wetlands (2008) and David Wnendt's 2013 film adaptation.

Using insights from Laura (who originally brought this to our attention), as well as Miriam, Juha, Victoria and Tea, Books & Chocolate, we tackle the gross out factor, ponder the "feminist" interpretation, and critique the ending.

Plus: why is the film more palatable? How delightful is star Carla Juri? And, that age old question: are we just prudes?

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

> July 21: Cousins by Virginia Hamilton

> Aug 18: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love, Victor Season 3 feat. Terry Mesnard Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

It's the end of the road for Disney+ & Hulu's Love, Victor, which is sad and disappointing. Sad because Brenna, Joe and special guest Terry Mesnard still love these characters, and disappointing because this final season...isn't very good.

Whether it was always designed to end here, these last eight episodes seem to forget basic plot and character beats from earlier seasons, particularly issues of class.

Plus: Doing Pilar dirty, our eternal love for Felix and male friendships and discussion about Victor's "Bravery" (aka Gay) award.

Joe & Terry's written coverage:

-Love, Victor S3 Part 1. Gayly Dreadful

-Love, Victor S3 Part 2. QueerHorrorMovies

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

-Brenna: @brennacgray

-Joe: @bstolemyremote

-Terry: @gaylydreadful

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

-June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

-July 23: Cousins by Virginia Hamilton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heartstopper Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

We're late to the party, but it's time to talk about the exceedingly cute Heartstopper, which has taken the world by storm!

The family friendly queer Netflix juggernaut is adorkable in both comic and TV form, and while we take issue with the suggestion that this is an "ideal" for queer media depiction, the inclusion of a trans girl, male bisexuality and male eating disorders is important.

Plus: Tao's less complicated TV interpretation, why Isaac is Joe's fave, and MVP stuntcasting from Stephen Fry and Olivia Colman.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

-Brenna: @brennacgray

-Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

-June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

-July 23: Cousins by Virginia Hamilton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back To 15 Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

For the first time in the show's history, we travel to South America to discuss Netflix's Brazilian series Back To 15. The time travel series features likeable actors and a fun, Being Erica-esque premise about fixing the mistakes of the past, though it maintains too tight a focus on Anita at the expense of its more interesting supporting cast.

We talk about the odd North American critiques of the show, debate about what is "messy interesting" and Joe has some issues with the trans storyline. Overall this is slight, but mostly fun!

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

-Brenna: @brennacgray

-Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

-June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

-July 23: Cousins by Virginia Hamilton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wonder May 31, 2022

Show notes

Ohhh we're nervous for this one! We know that RJ Palacio's 2012 book Wonder and Stephen Chbosky's 2017 film adaptation have a lot of devoted fans and while we're able to acknowledge the light it has shone on disability, we have some pretty major reservations about the storytelling (in the book) and the casting (in the film). From Palacio's inspiration for the story (and the creation of her Wonder mini-empire) to Auggie's perfection to the fear of acknowledging that this is disability to the inspiration porn of it all.

Plus: why is Via the most interesting character? Why is class, race and queer sidelined? Why were disabled actors auditioned if the role went to an able-bodied actor? Problems, problems, problems

References:

> Carly Findlay. “My concerns about Wonder the film (and how to talk to your kids about Wonder)”

> Ariel Henley. “What “Wonder” Gets Wrong About Disfigurement and Craniofacial Disorders.” Teen Vogue

> Ariel Henley. ‘Wonder Is a 'Feel-Good' Movie That Needed More Realism.’ The Atlantic

> Mike Moody. “Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio” Disability in Kidlit

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

- Brenna: @brennacgray

- Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

- June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

- July 23: Cousins by Virginia Hamilton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Go Ask Alice (Banned Book Club 5) May 24, 2022

Show notes

Write this in your diary: this month's Banned Book Club entry is Go Ask Alice, the 1970s "true story" and runaway bestseller that is completely and utterly ridiculous.

We're not only making fun of Beatrice Sparks' lousy writing, but also how profiteering scheme. Listeners getting in on the fun and exasperation include Victoria, Miriam, Sophie, Gavin and Tea, Books & Chocolate who take note of the fatphobia, the ethical issues and the book's curious relationship to queerness.

Plus: Sparks' other 'Anonymous' diaries, why this book is actually an important time capsule and overall mockery and disdain for the text.

References:

- Daniel Mallory Ortberg. "Lines From Go Ask Alice That, In Hindsight, Should Have Tipped Me Off That This Was Not A True Story" The Toast

- Frankie Thomas. "A Queer Reading of Go Ask Alice." The Paris Review

- Caitlin White. "Go Ask Alice Lives in Controversy." Bustle

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

- Brenna: @brennacgray

- Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

July 23: Cousins by Virginia Hamilton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If I Stay May 17, 2022

Show notes

Brenna and Joe return to the liminal space between living and death for a discussion of Gayle Foreman's 2009 novel If I Stay and its 2014 film adaptation by RJ Cutler.

Brenna grates against the prioritization of the romance, preferring Foreman's more complicated sequel, while Joe critiques the disappointing visual depiction of Mia's condition and Chloë Grace Moretz's bored performance. On the positive side, we think this is better than Before I Fall, and that the film features the best YA parents since Easy A.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

> May 19: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

> June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lumberjanes May 10, 2022

Show notes

With summer around the corner, Brenna and Joe opt for a feel good, comfort food minisode on Lumberjanes, the wildly feminist adventure comic (we read Volumes 1-3 for this episode). We discuss why the long running comic was so successful, its effortless representation and why we're still a little iffy about that animated HBO Max adaptation.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

-Brenna: @brennacgray

-Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

-May 19: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

-June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derby Girl / Whip It May 03, 2022

Show notes

Lace up those skates because we are hitting the rink with Shauna Cross' 2007 novel Derby Girl and Drew Barrymore's 2009 directorial debut, Whip It.

In addition to focusing on female friendship, the texts are a celebration of roller derby, which is brought to life exceedingly well in the film!

The book is a very fast read that's totally fine, but we're slightly frustrated by Bliss as a boring protagonist, especially in comparison to Elliot Page's inspired lead performance in the film.

Plus: BINGO buses, sucky band boyfriends, daddy/daughter bonding and that stacked film cast (who look like they're having an absolute blast).

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray
Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

May 19: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George / Melissa (Banned Book Club 4) Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

We're telling off the transphobes and celebrating radical queer joy with our latest Banned Books conversation on Alex Gino's wonderful Melissa (originally published as George). This *wholly* appropriate Middle Grade book about a young trans girl coming out amidst a production of Charlotte's Web is exactly what the world needs more of, so you better believe Brenna and Joe are on a tear about its status as the #1 banned and challenged book THREE YEARS RUNNING.

Thanks to listeners Miriam, Victoria, Sophie and Tea, Books & Chocolate for their wonderful contributions to the discussion.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

Brenna: @brennacgray

Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

May 19: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

June 23: Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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