We tend to joke a lot about “content,” “grit,” and “scenes” in books. But today, we’re having a serious conversation (as serious as we get anyway) about the place of questionable content in fiction, if there is actually a legitimate place at all. Listen in as we get think-piece-y while discussing:

• If we should make distinctions between violent and sexual content
• What we do when we get caught off-guard by explicit content in a book
• Why it’s not good for fiction to get preachy
• If explicit content is a crutch for trash writing
• Whether or not James Bond is a sociopath
• Aaron and Barnabas’ recommendations for a fiction series for Dave to read

As always, thanks to Lagares Roasters for partnering with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Pick up a bag (or 12) today.

A few of the books we discussed on this episode

• The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett
• The Coroman Strike series by Robert Galbraith
• The Conquerer series by Conn Iggulden
• Ashtown Burials by N. D. Wilson
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Struck by Russ Ramsey
• Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
• A Gentleman’s Game: A Queen & Country Novel by Greg Rucka

Sharing and supporting the show

• Leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This only takes a second and will go a long way to helping other people find the show.
• If you know someone who would benefit from listening, share the show on your favorite social media network.
• Give us a follow on Twitter at @malContentsPod
• We use affiliate links from Amazon to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the podcast. Be sure to purchase a book or ten that we talk about on every episode.
• Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.

We love our listeners—you are as much a part of this show as we are, with your questions, feedback, and more than a little shade that gets thrown at us. On today’s episode, we introduce a new way for you to participate in the show with our illiteracy helpline! With the help of Google Voice, we set up a new number for you to call in with your questions, and asked a few of you to test it out. And boy, did you ask some great questions! Listen in as we discuss:

• How Barnabas’ personality lines up with the temperament of a cat
• What book we would wipe out of existence if we could
• Which movie based on a book we think are better than the original book
• How we organize our books
• What books we didn’t expect to like but we wound up really enjoying (or vice versa)
• A challenge for you: help us get to 100 reviews on iTunes

As always, thanks to our sponsors:

• Lagares Roasters has partnered with us to make the Table of (mal)Contents blend. Pick up a bag (or 12) today.
• Gospel-Centered Discipleship, which produces resources to help make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus. Check out gcdiscipleship.com/books and enjoy a special discount on all ebooks by using the coupon MALCONTENT at check out.

And if you have a question for the show, call our illiteracy helpline at 615-538-7473 and leave us a message. Your question may be featured on a future episode.

A few of the books that we discussed today (that we wouldn’t wipe out of existence):

• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
• The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson

Sharing and supporting the show

• Leave a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This only takes a second and will go a long way to helping other people find the show.
• If you know someone who would benefit from listening, share the show on your favorite social media network.
• Give us a follow on Twitter at @malContentsPod
• We use affiliate links from Amazon to help us pay for the costs of producing and hosting the podcast. Be sure to purchase a book or ten that we talk about on every episode.
• Interested in sponsoring Table of (mal)Contents? Let’s talk via email or DM @malContentsPod on Twitter.