“I honestly think that the root of racism is a lack of empathy. If you grew up only watching movies where the central character is a white dude you’re only ever going to learn how to empathise with white dudes.”

Each month we celebrate an Australian debut release of fiction or non-fiction with the Kill Your Darlings First Book Club. For July that debut is Jessie Tu’s A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing, out now from Allen & Unwin. Protagonist Jena Lin was once a child violin prodigy and now uses sex to fill the void left by fame. This book explores female desire and the consequences of wanting too much and never getting it.

Content warning: this episode contains frank descriptions and discussions of a sexual nature, as well as strong language, so it might not be suitable for all listeners.

Our August First Book Club title will be The Fogging by Luke Horton (Scribe Publications). Our theme song is Broke for Free’s ‘Something Elated’.

Further reading:

Read Ellen Cregan’s review of A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing in our July Books Roundup.

Read Jessie’s Shelf Reflection on her reading habits and the writing that inspires her.

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