Episode 232 with Kate Brody, Author of Rabbit Hole and Master of Writing Intriguing and Flawed Characters and Crackling Plotlines

Notes and Links to Kate Brody’s Work

 

 

   For Episode 232, Pete welcomes Kate Brody, and the two discuss, among other topics, her early love of, and interest in, writing and reading, The Dave Matthews Band, formative and transformative teachers in grad school and 2nd grade, and salient themes and topics and craft decisions from her novel, Rabbit Hole, including online sleuthing, true crime, moralizing or lack thereof in fiction, and grieving. 

 

    Kate Brody lives in Los Angeles, California. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Lit Hub, CrimeReads, Electric Lit, The Rumpus, and The Literary Review, among other publications. She holds an MFA from NYU. Rabbit Hole is her debut.

Buy Rabbit Hole

 

Review of Rabbit Hole in Alta Journal by Jessica Blough

 

Kate Brody's Website

At about 1:50, Lukewarm/Warm Dave Matthews Band takes!

At about 3:40, Kate talks about growing in New Jersey and about her childhood relationship with the written word, as well as her connections to Maine, a setting for her book

At about 7:00, Pete and Kate reflect on beautiful, long reading days

At about 8:00, Kate gives background on her reading and writing life in adolescence and beyond

At about 10:00, Kate discusses the transformative short story and writing classes and texts at NYU, including inspiration from Mary Gaitskill’s work and teaching and Professor David Edenbach's guidance

At about 13:00, Tali Axelrod’s (Doctor Axelrod) influence on Kate’s writing trajectory is highlighted 

At about 14:25, Kate shouts out Lindsay Hunter, Alexandra Tanner, and Jennifer Bell as contemporary writers who thrill her

At about 16:55, Kate discusses how teaching informs her writing and vice versa

At about 20:50, Pete shouts out Rabbit Hole’s dynamic first line, as given kudos by Jean Kyoung Frazier on the book blurb, and Kate provides background on the line’s genesis and her choice to use present tense right away

At about 24:30, Pete remarks on the “banality of grief” done so well

At about 25:30, Angie is characterized and the book’s exposition discussed; Kate remarks on the memories and objects left behind by Angie, while speaking to experiences in her life that connect to the book’s events

At about 29:30, The two discuss ideas of legacy and remembrance, as shown through the characters in the book

At about 30:15, Clare’s marital situations and the unique family background of the Angstroms is highlighted and explained by Kate

At about 33:35-Pete asks for casting suggestions for Teddy, the narrator’s mother, Clare

At about 34:10-Kate discusses research and connections for the parts of the book on Reddit and true crime and crime fiction 

At about 39:25, Pete brings up ideas of secrets that Teddy held about his sister and the rearrangement of memory that comes after loss

At about 40:30, Michaela, “Mickey,” is characterized

At about 46:00, Kate responds to Pete’s asking about Bill and how she sees him; she expands on ideas of moralizing in literature 

At about 49:30, Kate outlines some “detours” in the plot

At about 50:25, Pete highlights a chaotic and funny scene that involves a dinner scene

At about 52:00, Kate talks about the scenes involving Teddy and the gun range and the importance of her having a gun

At about 56:10, The two discuss a cringeworthy and craftily-drawn and hilarious school dance scene

At about 59:15, Pete makes points about loneliness as a theme running throughout the book, and Kate reflects on this throughline

At about 1:04:00, Kate discusses ways of coping with trauma in the book

At about 1:05:00, Pete highlights Kate keen writing regarding unfulfilled potential and shares a moving 

At about 1:08:50, Kate talks about her exciting next book

At about 1:10:55, P&T Knitwear, Skylight Books, and Vroman’s are highlighted as good places to buy her book

 

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    Please tune in for Episode 233 with Jazmina Barrera Velasquez, who is a fellow at the Foundation for Mexican Letters. Her book of essays, Cuerpo extraño, was awarded the Latin American Voices prize from Literal Publishing in 2013, and she is the editor and co-founder of Ediciones Antílope, and author of, most recently, Cross-Stitch. 

   The episode will go live on April 30 or May 1.

   Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, where you will find 10+ ways to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.