Episode 220: The Taboo Topics

This week, Josh and Dietrich look at how books handle troubling or difficult topics. Josh talks about a book that tried unsuccessfully to fold spousal abuse into a soap-opera style story, and Dietrich discusses the jarring moment in which threats of violent sexual assault were brought into Janet Evanovich's previously pulpy Stephanie Plum series. While they both agree that no topic needs to be forbidden, it's also critically important that an author realizes that a different tone and approach are necessary when dealing with such ugly topics. They also talk about the challenge of using recent global disasters or commonly experienced abuses as subject matter in books. It's a challenging discussion, and one without an easy answer. In addition, Josh discusses a terrifyingly compelling book about a witch, Dietrich finds a historical book about the Civil War that captures the tragedy, cruelty, and reality of this controversial conflict, and the pair discuss a Lovecraftian novel that gets the Lovecraft part dead right. Finally, Josh raves about two extremely surreal films, Dietrich confirms that Stranger Things 2 is nearly everything he wanted it to be, and they close out discussing the unique, delightful, and utterly brilliant The Good Place. You can send questions or comments to librarypolicequestions@gmail.com.

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Additional Book Reviews by Josh Mauthe

I Let You Go, By Claire Mackintosh
​The Last Days of Jack Sparks, by Jason Arnopp​
The Croning, by Laird Barron​
Gwendy’s Button Box, by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar
A Head Full of Ghosts, by Paul Tremblay
Pump Six and Other Stories, by Paolo Bacigalupi 
​The Chains of War, by Dean F. Wilson 
​The Witch’s List, by Andrew Cairns