#262 – Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (with Katrina of Katrina’s Library)

Tune in as the podcast dives into Pride Month and spends all of it covering queer media! For this first episode of June, Katrina (@katrinaslibrary) is jumping back onto 2CC to explore Light from Uncommon Stars, the 2021 speculative fiction book by Ryka Aoki that follows the interconnected stories of a trans girl who runs away from home and dreams of being a violinist, a music teacher who has sacrificed multiple students’ souls to Hell in order to preserve her own, and a family of aliens who are managing a donut shop while taking refuge from a galactic war. Telling a tale in a way that’s oddly cozy and heavy at the same time, using extraterrestrials from outer space to explore the theme of immigration, the gritty realism of what it’s like to be trans in a transphobic world, and the ability that video game music and other forms of art have to move people comprise a few of the subjects for this episode.TW: death, transphobia, deadnaming, homophobia, racism, sexual content, rape, sexual coercion, sexual assault, self-harm, mention of suicide (in the past), domestic abuse, child abuse, pedophilia, murder, gun violence, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, and discussion of warSpoilers start at 21:10Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastrHere’s how you can learn more about Palestine and IsraelHere’s how you can keep up-to-date on this genocideHere’s how you can send eSIM cards to Palestinians in order to help them stay connected onlineGood Word:• Katrina: Mermaids• Arthur: ObsessionReach out at [email protected] if you want to recommend things to watch and read, share anecdotes, or just say hello!Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes or any of your preferred podcasting platforms!Follow Arthur on Twitter, Goodpods, StoryGraph, Letterboxd, and TikTok: @arthur_ant18Follow Arthur on Bluesky: @arthur-ant18Follow the podcast on Twitter: @two_centscriticFollow the podcast on Instagram: @twocentscriticpodFollow Arthur on GoodreadsCheck out 2 Cents Critic Linktree