In this episode of Narrative Edge, Peter and Orlando explore the Georgia story at the heart of Brad Snyder’s book You Can’t Kill a Man Because of the Books He Reads. The book follows Angelo Herndon, a Black labor activist arrested in Atlanta during the 1930s for possessing political literature. His case, rooted in Georgia law and courtroom drama, helped shape the national understanding of First Amendment rights.

In this episode, Peter Biello and Orlando Montoya dive into In the Rhododendrons: A Memoir with Appearances by Virginia Woolf by Heather Christle. The memoir blends personal trauma, family history, and literary obsession, as Christle explores her past through the lens of Virginia Woolf’s life and work. The hosts discuss Christle’s emotional journey, from revisiting the site of a childhood assault to breaking into the grounds of a historic house tied to Woolf’s novel Orlando. It’s a thoughtful, surprising read about healing, memory, and the power of art to make sense of pain.

Peter Biello and Orlando Montoya explore The Way You Want to Be Loved by Aruni Kashyap, a short story collection that tackles identity, displacement, and resilience. Through conversations about folklore, campus life, and queer love, the episode highlights how Kashyap’s writing confronts cultural blind spots with depth and sensitivity.