Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Hardboiled Lesbian Fiction + Lady Gaga’s Mayhem

Apr 1, 2025

36:18

Sometimes we just wanna gush about the things we love. For Renee and Margot, it’s hardboiled fiction. For Ashley and Nox, it’s Lady Gaga’s new album. Tune in for two conversations around why we love the things we love.

What Is Hardboiled Fiction? with Margot Douihy (0:23)

Renee has been reading a lot of books described as “hardboiled” but what does that actually mean? Thank goodness author Margo Douihy is a friend of FBC, because she’s a literal expert on this topic. Margot shares some of the hallmarks of hardboiled fiction, some suggestions for authors queering the genre, and some examples of popular hardboiled media that you may not have realized is hardboiled.

The Measures of MAYHEM (21:47)

Lady Gaga’s latest album Mayhem released on March 7, 2025 and that’s all Ashley and Nox have been listening to. In this conversation, they share their favorite songs from the album and discuss their admiration for the promotion surrounding the release, plus some thoughts on the impact of fandoms on mental health.

Books and Resources Mentioned:

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy

Blessed Water by Margot Douaihy

The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler

The Woman in White by Wilkie White

Sara Peretsky’s V.I. Warshawski series

Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone series

Cheryl A. Head’s Charlie Mack series

Lev AC Rosen’s Evander Mills series

Ellen Hart’s Jane Lawless series

Brokeback Mountain by Anne Proulx