BookLovers

BookLovers: Episode 50

Episode 50: True Biz

November 6, 2023


A statistic like that seems unfathomable, doesn’t it? But in True Biz, Sara Nović deftly and realistically explores her main character Charlie’s world: Charlie is deaf, but but her divorcing parents, especially her mother, have never attempted to communicate with her on her terms. When Charlie’s father is assigned primarily custody, things change, and Charlie is sent to a school for deaf students, where she and her father learn ASL and where her life breaks open with the help of headmistress February, roommate Kayla and classmate Austin. Nović travels between Charlie, February—a hearing woman of Deaf parents—and Austin—the golden child of a Deaf family—as they encounter various trials and tribulations through the school year. Interspersed in the novel are ASL diagrams, Wikipedia articles, and other supporting literature about Deaf culture and history, all a part of February’s attempt to educate Charlie on the difference between deaf and Deaf.

 

After hosting Sara Nović at the downtown Spartanburg library, we only thought it appropriate to discuss her seminal work of Deaf writing on the podcast. Jess & Joseph share what the event was like (spoiler: it was incredible!), the group talks about the book, and shares the mostly goofy-spooky things they’re reading in October.




Titles discussed:

  • The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
  • A Quiet Place, directed by John Krasinski
  • True Biz by Sara Nović
  • Baldur’s Gate 3, released by Larian Studios
  • Sound of Metal, directed by Darius Marder
  • Rushmore, directed by Wes Anderson
  • Our episode on disability representation in film

 

Titles from the RA Corner:

  • Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan, narrated by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews & Rebecca Soler
  • Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel
  • How Lucky by Will Leitch
  • Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Abbott Elementary season 2, starring Quinta Brunson

 

What we’re reading and watching:

  • Rea: Reproduction by Louisa Hall and My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
  • Joseph: Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri and Baldur’s Gate 3 for PlayStation 5
  • Jess: The Sky Vault by Benjamin Percy and After Yang, directed by Kogonada