Happy Thoughts and "Tragic Life Stories" by Steve Duffy (with Paige and Jennifer from Big Book Energy)

"Tragic Life Stories" by Steve Duffy was featured in Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror of 2011. The story follows Dan, an author who has lost everything - his wife and his book deal. Dan meets Molly shortly after this news and begins writing a new novel, Say Uncle, featuring a character called X. As the story continues, X becomes real to Dan, or so it seems. In this episode, with Paige and Jennifer from Big Book Energy, Hannah and Jon discuss the misery-lit genre, the use of comparison, and the strange ending of the story.

Hannah and Jon have a blast with the gals from Big Book Energy. They bring up other sad stories that may feature in the misery-lit genre, including Hank Green's works and My Sister's Keeper. They talk over that atrocious ending to Game of Thrones and ponder if George RR Martin will ever finish that series.

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