BSG #89: Is J.Lo X? / Biography of X / Interview with Emily Austin

Book Squad Goals

Biography, but make it fiction. Join the Book Squad for a discussion of Biography of X by Catherine Lacey. We talk about the novel’s alternative-America backdrop, the depiction of the South, X’s “art, and what is up with the narrator. After that, Kelli interviews author Emily Austin (Interesting Facts About Space, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead) about her latest novel, her writing process, the importance of queer stories, and of course, space! Plus, Emily asks Kelli some questions about designing her beautiful book covers! Then we get into some listener feedback for Looking Glass Sound and catch up with what’s on the blog. Go see the new Mean Girls movie and join us for our next Othersode on 2/6 to hear us talk about it. Then special guest Mary Kay McBrayer will join us for our next Bookpisode on Rouge by Mona Awad on 2/20! Please leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and consider becoming a patron for just $3 a month!
TOC
:30 – Welcome! And icebreaker
6:29 – Why biography?? And book intro
14:00 – Alternate history
23:39 – And how it relates to the south
35:00 – How X sucks
46:04 – What is up with the narrator?
50:37 – Kelli’s art corner
59:00 – Ratings
1:02:30 – Emily Austin interview!
1:51:10 – Listener Feedback
1:56:26 – What’s on the blog? What’s up next?
Links: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/01/catherine-lacey-that-constant-nervous-twitter-energy-repels-me-biography-of-x