Hot Girls Read Podcast

Julia

I am currently reading one of the most unique and beautifully created literary magazinesI have come across, maybe ever. And that isn’t to eclipse any of the great lit. journals and magazines I have read in the past, but I am simply in awe of this one. The magazine is called ‘Debris’ and I found out about it at the zine fair I mentioned in my last post. Founded by a French woman, the creation of the journal is based in Australia – I believe she founded it when she had been living there and though she is now Paris based, the idea of the journal is to add to the Australian literary scene first and foremost.

Each edition of the magazine has its own iteration of editors who are chosen to create a theme and build the magazine around it. I actually didn’t pick up the latest issue of the Magazine, but instead, issue 04, the one previous, as I was most drawn to its theme ‘Illuminated Manuscript’. As noted by the editors in the Editor’s Note, they ‘came to the theme of ‘Illuminated Manuscript’ because it combined [their] love of God and [their] love of writing.’ In their note, they talk about Faith, and how it is necessary for things like resistance and for writing, and I found that idea not only deeply relatable but also very intriguing. So much progressive literature seems to avoid talking about God and Faith and I found it refreshing that this one does head on, and the stories, poetry, and art included in it are so different than anything I have ever read because of it. So far I have read a liturgy of a made-up religion that felt real, a short and astonishing story where a sister feeds her brother the Bible, and an essay about ancient texts and reading out loud. I can’t wait to see what will come next.   

Ayesha

Last night, I finished Slipstream by Madge Maril. As an F1 girlie, this F1 romance was a fun read! There’s tension, hot, professional athletes, and a revenge plan. While I found this to be entertaining, there were many, many moments I was getting irritated. If you’ve listened to us for sometime, you know we’re not fans of the forced quirky, awkward FMC. In fact, one of the many reasons it annoys me is because while the intention was to create an endearing character, the FMC ends up being the opposite. 

Lilah, the FMC in this book, discusses her ADHD a lot and we love representation in all forms. However, I deeply disagree with the author’s characterization, and potential stereotype, of a woman with ADHD. ADHD isn’t just being forgetful or zoning out, or as Lilah puts, walking into door knobs

The F1 setting, drama, and the driver were really the main reasons that I had positive feelings for this book. I cackled and Maril’s version of “Papaya Rules” being “Mustard Rules” and I loved seeing more women working within this heavily male-dominated industry. Overall, this can be an entertaining read and I’ve warned you that the FMC is likely to grate on your nerves.