1.3 Pulp - "We're Not There Yet, But it's Better" with Maija
Hello and welcome back to The Community Library! In this week’s episode, Maija and I sat down and discussed Pulp by Robin Talley. We talked about the 1950s, the power of representation in books, and why Maija is definitely a Luna and I’m totally a Hermione. We also talked about the importance of recognising and appreciating the movements and battles that came before us, while still striving for change and equality. I hope you enjoy!
Content warning for the episode: During the discussion, Maija and I addressed the topics of homophobia and transphobia, suicide, death, and also the systematic violence against the queer community.
Listen to the episode here
Download the transcription here
The next discussion book is Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan. I hope you read along and join in on the discussion!
Support for queer teens
Support websites for kids and teens in Australia, USA, Canada, UK
Organisations, networks and websites for queer youth:
Minus18 (Australia)
QLife (Australia)
It Gets Better Project (USA)
Youth Line (Canada)
People mentioned
Vincent Van Gogh
Ideas mentioned
Literary works and films mentioned
Fifteen by Beverly Cleary (she’s still going strong at 102!)
Emma by Jane Austen
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
The “weird” biography of a cocker spaniel: Flush by Virginia Woolf
Love, Simon (based on Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli)
Bury Your Gays: History, Usage and Context by Haley Hulan for the McNair Scholars Journal, 2017
Cover artwork is by Ashley Ronning
Ashley’s Instagram, website, and printing studio website
Featured image: The cover of Pulp by Robin Talley. Image provided by Amazon.