028: Murder Farms and MEMories

Book Squad Podcast

Two podcasters give four thumbs up for Mem, a fab book for book clubs (and folks who like to ponder what makes a human a human and/or are into awesome books.) Also a quick hit of some neuro-divergent heroines and Asian heroes, serial killer ladies, and ancient indigenous magic. Our take on dancing, wine, and the "dog zoomies" round us out! Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/028-murder-farms-and-memories/ Bookish News: Congratulations to Bogi Takács, a Lawrencian, an author, and a LPL super-patron! Bogi won a Lambda award for editing Transcendent 2: The Year's Best Transgender Speculative Fiction. Anxious? You ain't alone. The world is madness, and books about anxiety are heckin popular. Want to know what to read next? The September LibraryReads list is OUT! Two Book Minimum: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoan Bonus shout outs to: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah Maclean, A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare When a Scot Ties the Knot, also by Tessa Dare Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men by Harold Schechter Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse Potentially pair with: Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko She Said/She Said: This episode, we go toe-to-toe discussing MEM by Bethany C. Morrow (2018) (ebook on Hoopla!) “Set in the glittering art deco world of a century ago, MEM makes one slight alteration to history: a scientist in Montreal discovers a method allowing people to have their memories extracted from their minds, whole and complete. The Mems exist as mirror-images of their source ? zombie-like creatures destined to experience that singular memory over and over, until they expire in the cavernous Vault where they are kept. And then there is Dolores Extract #1, the first Mem capable of creating her own memories. An ageless beauty shrouded in mystery, she is allowed to live on her own, and create her own existence, until one day she is summoned back to the Vault.” What follows is an incredible Sci Fi debut that looks at what makes us human, what it means to have agency in a world that doesn't expect you to, and how our memories (good and bad) shape who we are. We are both REALLY looking forward to what Morrow brings us next!