Welcome to episode 5! On the menu today is Memorial by Byran Washington, which just slips over our '2 years old' threshold - the hype is arguably still hyping - and The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, which was written 30 years ago and yet still, the hype hypes (StudioCanal just released a sparkly new version of the film.)We discuss Memorial's literary take on the 'meet the parents' romcom, the 'traumedy' genre, and why Mitsuko is one of the best characters ever written; and why The Virgin Suicides' big themes - adolescent mental health, the male gaze, the American Dream - still feel as prescient today.You can get in touch bookchatpod@gmail.comSound by Joel Grove and production by Pandora SykesBooks/articles mentioned:Memorial by Bryan WashingtonThe Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey EugenidesBewilderment by Richard PowersRomantic Comedy by Curtis SittenfeldSuch A Fun Age by Kiley ReidWhite Noise by Don DeLilloMemorial review by Maria Marchinkoski for The Harvard ReviewMemorial review by Tash Aw for The TLSMemorial review by Ron Charles for The Washington PostJeffrey Eugenides interview at The Strand bookstoreDoes The Virgin Suicides still hold up 25 years later? By Emily Temple for LitHub Pre-order Isaac and the Egg in paperbackBooks for episode 6:When I Hit You by Meena Kandasamy A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.