Front Porch Book Club

KATE SCHATZ joins us on the front porch for a rollicking and deeply felt conversation about her novel, WHERE THE GIRLS WERE. She's the New York Times-bestselling author of the RAD WOMEN book series; the novel WHERE THE GIRLS WERE; the 33 ⅓ BOOK RID OF ME: A STORY; and DO THE WORK: AN ANTI-RACIST ACTIVITY BOOK, co-written with “United Shades of America” host W. Kamau Bell. Kate tells us WHERE THE GIRLS WERE was inspired by her mom’s experience of having two unplanned pregnancies in 1960’s San Francisco and being sent to private homes to wait out the pregnancies. Kate had never heard of this practice. Her research eventually led her write this book.
One theme that comes through clearly in WHERE THE GIRLS WERE is the unequal burden women bear from the consequences of unprotected sex. Yet, the book mentions that for as long as there have been sex and babies, women are taking care of each other. Kate did want this truth to be evident in Baker’s story. The care women have taken, has often looked like hiding and secrecy. Kate also didn’t want Wiley to be a jerk. He’s just a dude. But she did want to show he just gets to walk away and continue his life.
Linny also mentions Nancy and her experience in visiting a commune!

Today we’re reviewing the book, WHERE THE GIRLS WERE by Kate Schatz. This book is set in 1968 San Francisco. Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Phillips, whose nickname is Baker, is a high school senior. She’s set to be her school’s valedictorian, she plans to go to Stanford for college and become a famous journalist, and probably live in Paris along the way. But then, her older and more free-wheeling cousin, Mae, invites her to a party where she indulges in what it would feel like to be the not-so–perfect daughter and she falls into a passionate, secret relationship with a young hippie, Wiley.
This book takes us to a very turbulent year in the United States, 1968, and we live through it through Baker’s eyes and the upheavals she is personally facing. 1968 was the year of the Vietnam War's Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, and intense civil unrest. 1968 saw major political shifts, including LBJ's decision not to run for reelection, violent protests at the Democratic National Convention.
1968 is also known as the beginning of a new era of sexual freedom, though it was certainly a contentious concept. The birth control pill had been approved in 1960 and IUDs in 1968, allowing women to separate sex from childbearing and facilitating the "sexual revolution".
However, access to contraceptives for single women remained restricted in many areas and most doctors required parental consent for unmarried women under 21 to receive birth control. Baker certainly isn’t familiar with any sort of birth control. So, when she and Wiley begin having sex, she inevitably becomes pregnant. When Baker does become pregnant that it is entirely her problem to solve. Wiley already moved on to other women and is off to Mexico to evade the Vietnam draft and live the surfer’s life. At one point, Baker says, “If men could get pregnant, I bet it would be different.”

We loved interviewing Debra Curtis about her debut novel book, LAWS OF LOVE AND LOGIC. Debra is fresh from her appearance on the Today Show and a dinner honoring her thrown by Jenna Bush Hager. Debra tells us the idea of writing a novel snuck up on her in her 50s. The story of these two sisters, Lily and Jane, was influenced by Debra’s experience as a sister and as the mother of twin sisters. The book explores how supposedly contrary ideas can be held simultaneously, like a belief in science and in God; the importance of being a strong woman, and of finding a good man; and of seeking social justice, and finding personal meaning.
Debra tells us about her journey to becoming a published author and how a Massachusetts psychic and a Parisian sculptor led her to her agent Felicity Blunt. LAWS OF LOVE AND LOGIC has a lot of literature, but also music. Debra says music is important to her and she listens to music, over and over for days, when she’s writing. Before we know it, we’re all singing Harry Nilsson’s WITHOUT YOU.

Our book this month has JUST been released. In fact, the publisher shared an Advanced Reader Copy with us so we could review it as it’s being released. The book is LAWS OF LOVE AND LOGIC by Debra Curtis.
Dutiful and romantic, Lily Webb is growing up in Rhode Island in 1976 and is in love with her high school football star boyfriend. There are two huge events which alter the course of Lily’s charmed life. First, her wonderful, smart, science- and God loving mom, dies when Lily is in 7th grade. This impacts her and also her younger sister, Jane, who is extremely smart and also a bit of a wild child.
Second, her boyfriend gets into a fight and accidentally causes grave physical harm to another student, sending him to prison. The rest of the book is about how Lily moves forward with her life and the life that could have been.
This is Debra Curtis’ debut novel. Friend of the podcast and best-selling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt, says this about the book, “At once sweeping and intimate, Laws of Love and Logic is a gorgeous meditation on roads not taken. Debra Curtis is not afraid to explore big questions about love and loss, but always with tenderness.”
This is another sister book! In this book, Lily is our main character, but her sister Jane plays a very important role in her life. They are very different characters, with Lily being much more conventional and brilliant Jane rebelling against the norms of society.
In our next episodes, we welcome the author of THE LAWS OF LOVE AND LOGIC, Debra Curtis, to the front porch.

In a heartfelt conversation in this episode, author Quế Mai shared her inspiring journey as a writer and the powerful themes explored in her novel, DUST CHILD. The discussion illuminated the significance of reclaiming narratives that have long been silenced, particularly the stories of Vietnamese women during and after the Vietnam War.
Quế Mai’s passion for storytelling was ignited in her childhood in Vietnam, where her family’s poverty during the American trade embargo. Despite being discouraged from pursuing a writing career due to danger and financial instability, and after a successful career in business, she returned to her writing aspirations, feeling a strong calling to tell the stories of Vietnam from the Vietnamese perspective, countering the often one-dimensional narratives presented in Western literature.

In her quest to document the experiences of Vietnamese affected by the war, Quế Mai drew from interviews with Vietnamese and Americans and their stories of regret, loss, and hope. In DUST CHILD she aimed to capture the complexities of love, sacrifice, and the deep scars left by war, especially from the viewpoint of women who were too often overlooked in historical accounts.
The novel’s central characters, two sisters, embody the diverse experiences of women during the war. Quế Mai noted how their contrasting personalities reflect the multifaceted nature of resilience and survival. One sister is dreamy and romantic, while the other is pragmatic and fiercely independent. Through their lives, the author illustrates how the war affected women differently, yet profoundly, showcasing their strength and vulnerability.
Quế Mai’s writing style blends poetic elements with prose, aiming to evoke the Vietnamese spirit in her storytelling. She shared that her upbringing in a culture steeped in poetry greatly influenced her writing approach. The result is a narrative that resonates emotionally, inviting readers to engage deeply with the characters and their journeys.
As a Vietnamese woman writing in English, Quế Mai faced unique challenges, including overcoming language barriers and cultural differences. However, her dedication to conveying authenticity drove her to refine her craft, ensuring that her characters' voices were genuine reflections of their experiences. She emphasized the importance of understanding the cultural context when representing characters from different backgrounds, as seen in her portrayal of Dan, an American veteran.
Quế Mai’s DUST CHILD is more than just a novel; it is a heartfelt tribute to the women of Vietnam and an exploration of the lasting impact of war on families and communities. Through her journey as a writer, she emphasizes the importance of reclaiming narratives and recognizing the humanity in every story. As we reflect on her insights, we are reminded of the power of storytelling in bridging cultures and healing wounds.